In potentially worrying news for the the Australian Open, Greek tennis player Michail Pervolarakis has tested positive for coronavirus after flying out of Australia.
The 24-year-old did not play in this year’s Open, but he appeared in the ATP Cup, and played doubles alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is a current competitor.
He confirmed news of his positive test overnight on his Instagram stories, saying:
“Hi everyone. After a 24-plus hour travel day from Australia South Africa, I’ve been diagnosed positive to COVID-19. I am completely asymptomatic at the moment I will have to quarantine in an isolation facility in Potchefstroom.”
He went on to complain about the size and facilities of his hotel room, although the more immediate concern was for the implications of him testing positive after being in Melbourne.
Michail Pervolarakis went on to say that he does not believe he caught coronavirus in Australia, adding another story that said:
“Just to clarify few things… got tested negative in Melbourne before leaving and the nurse said that I most likely got it on the plane or on my stop in Doha.”
Tennis Australia has confirmed that he was tested on Monday February 8th and received a negative result on Tuesday 9th, the same day he flew out.
This was the same day that a staff member at the Brunetti Cafe in Terminal 4 worked while infected with coronavirus, however, it has been confirmed that he did not fly out of Terminal 4.
The impact of this news on the Australian Open, if any, remains to be seen, but the tournament is currently going ahead without crowds, as Melbourne remains under lockdown.
