Melbourne COVID-19 case stops Thursday play in ATP Cup, WTA tournaments

“We will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible.”

Victoria’s Health Department late on Wednesday night said the individual last worked at the Grand Hyatt on January 29 and was tested at the end of his shift, returning a negative result.

Subsequently, the worker developed symptoms and was tested again on February 2. He returned a positive result late on Wednesday.

The Grand Hyatt was one of three main quarantine hotels used by players and personnel arriving for the Australian Open. Most players were released from quarantine on January 29 and 30.

“They are considered casual contacts. They must immediately isolate and get tested,” the department said.

Australian Nick Kyrgios, who defeated Harry Bourchier on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Murray River Open, asked on Twitter: “Am I playing tomorrow?”

About 1200 players, coaching staff and officials arrived in Australia at the middle of last month for the year’s first grand slam and went into a mandatory 14-day isolation.

The players were allowed five hours outside for training but 72 of them were confined to hotel rooms for the two weeks after passengers on three charter flights taking them to Australia tested positive to COVID-19.

Participants of the Australian Open were given the green light to begin exiting COVID-19 quarantine from end of last week with most of them involved at the warm-up events at Melbourne Park.

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“At this stage there is no impact on the tournament proper,” Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said. “I must say (the Australian Open) is important to us but the issues are much broader and that is about public health and public safety.”

Australia beat Greece 2-1 in their ATP Cup tie on Wednesday after the doubles pairing of John Peers and Luke Saville beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and Michail Pervolarakis. John Millman had earlier accounted for Pervolakis before Tsitsipas levelled proceedings with a straight sets win over Alex de Minaur.

Russia and Italy have already qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s team event.

with Reuters