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.
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Kudla has now withdrawn from the tournament.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 Both players have been withdrawn from the tournament and transferred to a quarantine hotel,” it read.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.”

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