Russian world No.6 Andrey Rublev has made the extraordinary revelation that he was granted entry into Australia for the first major of the year while infected by COVID-19.
Rublev’s Australian Open participation was thrown into doubt when he tested positive on December 27, but almost a month later he’s progressed to a third-round match against 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
“I am not being tested personally now because I just got over the coronavirus,” Rublev told European sports channel Sport Klub.
LIVE UPDATES: Kyrgios’ parting shot after all-night battle
READ MORE: Kyrgios’ warning to critics of boisterous fans
READ MORE: Defeated Raducanu reveals ‘annoying’ truth
“When I flew to Australia I was still positive, but the level of COVID ‘SS’, as it is called – I will not lie, it was very low and not dangerous.
“I was allowed to enter the country.
“In addition, I spent more than 10 days in quarantine.”
The admission comes several days after unvaccinated world No.1 Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia following a federal court’s decision to uphold his cancelled visa.
That cut the Serbian from the Australian Open and ruined his pursuit of a record 21 singles grand slam titles.
Frenchman Ugo Humbert revealed that he had tested positive to COVID-19 after his first-round defeat at the Melbourne Park event.
The 23-year-old said he would spend a week in isolation before departing Australia.
Richard Gasquet competed in his second-round clash despite Humbert’s positive test, but he was eliminated in a match against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!