Denis Kudla has entered quarantine at an Australian Open qualifying event in Doha after reportedly receiving the results of a positive coronavirus test during a match.
American player Kudla beat Morroco's Elliot Benchetrit 6-4 6-3, but his opponent claimed the test result came through at 5-3 in the second set.
Benchetrit claims the game in progress had to be completed, which coincided with Kudla winning the match. Had Benchetrit won the game, he would have been handed a walkover.
Australian Open
Unvaccinated players could be allowed to play at Australian Open
11 HOURS AGO
Kudla has now withdrawn from the tournament.
“At 5-3, they got the result. So to sum up: if I’d won that game at 5-3 to make it 5-4, I’d have qualified for the second round,” Benchetrit claimed on Instagram.
Argentine Francisco Cerundolo is also in quarantine in his hotel due to a positive test result, and had been due to play Spanish player Mario Vilella Martinez.
Australian teenager Dane Sweeny will be given a bye instead of facing Kudla and will go into the last round of qualifying.
Tennis Australia announced the positive tests in a statement.
“Two players have returned a positive Covid-19 test at AO men’s qualifying in Doha, Qatar. Both players have been withdrawn from the tournament and transferred to a quarantine hotel,” it read.
“Local health authorities, the tournament physician and medical team are monitoring each individual. Contact tracing is currently under way to notify close contacts.”

Top shots from 2020 Australian Open

Australian Open
World number one Barty will not defend WTA Finals title
23/10/2021 AT 09:09
Australian Open
'I liked what Novak said' - Medvedev backs Djokovic over vaccine being 'personal'
22/10/2021 AT 10:35