Australian Open 2021 - Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem receive coaching setbacks after Covid-19 tests

ByRichard Newman

Updated 14/01/2021 at 12:05 GMT

Two of the world’s top three tennis players will likely be without their coaches for the Australian Open, after Carlos Moya confirmed he won’t travel with Rafael Nadal to Melbourne and Dominic Thiem’s coach Nicolas Massu tested positive for Covid-19, although there’s still hope he could link up with the Austrian.

Rafael Nadal will be without his coach at the Australian Open, after Carlos Moya confirmed he won’t travel to Melbourne so that he can stay with his family during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dominic Thiem could also be missing his coach Nicolas Massu, who tested positive for Covid-19 shortly before flying to Australia.

Moya announced on Twitter that after speaking to Nadal, he will stay with his “family, parents and kids due to the delicate situation that Spain is living with the virus”, adding that he’ll follow the first Grand Slam of the season from home.

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Massu could yet link-up with Thiem in Melbourne, according to the Austrian’s father Wolfgang, who told newspaper Kleine Zeitung that the Chilean will take another test in the coming days, when it is hoped a negative result could allow him to travel.

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All players will need to quarantine for 14-days at three designated hotels on arrival in Australia, and will also be tested daily. After two days of isolation, they can train on courts but must stick to strict schedules which minimise mixing.

Thiem, who won his first Grand Slam at the US Open last year, will train with fellow Austrian Dennis Novak during the quarantine period.

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