‘I’ll analyse my options’: Nadal tests positive for Covid-19 – Update: his coach Moya too
The 20-time Grand Slam champion broke the news on his social media feeds
Tennis – Mubadala World Tennis Championship – International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 18, 2021 Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his 3rd place play-off match against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)
Rafael Nadal has tested positive for Covid-19 – which throws into doubt his participation in the Australian swing and most significantly the Australian Open.
The Spaniard has just returned home after competing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship – his first competitive matches since a foot injury ended his season in August.
And despite testing negative while in Abu Dhabi, a PCR test has now come back positive.
“Hello everybody. I wanted to announce that on my return home from the Abu Dhabi tournament, I have tested positive for Covid in the PCR test that was carried out on my arrival in Spain,” he wrote in Spanish on social media.
“In Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, we passed tests every two days and all of them were negative, the last one being on Friday with the results coming on Saturday.
“I am going through some unpleasant moments but I am confident that I will get better little by little. I am now isolating at home and have informed the people who have been in contact with me of the result.
“As a consequence of the situation, I have to have total flexibility with my schedule and I will analyse my options depending on how things go.
“I will keep you informed of any decisions about my future tournaments! Thank you all in advance for your support and understanding.”
On Tuesday, Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya also announced on social media that he had tested positive after a PCR test. He added that he had already been double-vaccinated and was feeling better already.
People in this post
More tennis news
Tennis fans: Balance match excitement with digital fun
US Open mixed doubles semi-finals set as all four specialist teams eliminated, Serena and Alcaraz lose in quarters
August 26, 1986: The day John McEnroe lost in the opening round of the US Open for the first and only time
“Maybe I should start a career in pickleball” – Medvedev jokes after Damm becomes his fourth loss in five matches
Roger Federer backs Novak Djokovic for a 25th major and breaks down the injury wave hitting Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner