So he was right! Tuesday, Bernard Tomic had, in the middle of the Australian Grand Slam qualifying table, pushed an unexpected rant on the court. “I am convinced that I have the Covid, I tell you, in a few days I will be positive, then explained the Australian player to the referee. I invite you if I am not positive, but if I manage to show you the opposite, it is you who invites me to dinner. I don’t understand why no one gets tested. The players do self-tests in their rooms. “
We do not know if the referee raised the bet but Tomic – who lost in two sets (6-1, 6-4) and 58 minutes – had sensed things. This Thursday, 48 hours after the fact, the Australian received the result of a test carried out in the wake of the match. A test… positive for Covid.
“I still feel pretty sick,” the 29-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. I feel worse mentally than physically because I was really motivated to make a comeback and show the Australian public that I can be the tennis player they expect of me. I am disappointed that this virus prevented me from doing so. But this is the start of my return. Due to the illness, I didn’t have the energy to fight. I will do everything to get back to the top. I really appreciate everyone’s support. “
Kyrgios also positive
The positive result of the former world number 17 (currently ranked 257th in the ATP) may make the situation even more anxiety-provoking during this singular Australian Open – which is already dragging the psychodrama Novak Djokovic like a ball in the paw – and question the reliability of the health protocol.
Officially, the Southern Grand Slam requires a first test on the day of arrival in Australia, with isolation pending the result, then a second on the sixth day of presence on the territory. If both results are negative, the players have complete freedom of movement. This was the case with Tomic, who tested negative until now.
Tomic is the second Australian player to test positive. On Monday, the whimsical Nick Kyrgios announced on his Instagram account that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and gave up the ATP tournament in Sydney, specifying on the other hand that he hoped to play the Australian Open.