Andy Murray tests positive for coronavirus and is a serious doubt for the Australian Open

British tennis player Andy Murray has tested positive for covid-19, which calls into question his participation in the Australian Open, as confirmed by several local media on Thursday.

The athlete, former world number one, is currently isolated at home despite planning to travel to Australia on one of the 18 charter flights enabled by the tournament organization.

Murray, who is in good health at the moment, he is confident that he will be able to arrive in Australia later than initially planned and participate in the first Grand Slam of the year, which will begin on February 8.

The tennis player and his team are, according to the UK media, trying to reach an acceptable solution with the competition director, Craig Tiley.

At the moment, players are expected to start arriving in the country in the next 24 hours in time for them to complete a two-week quarantine period. during which they are allowed to leave their bedrooms to train for five hours a day.

The tournament organization had stipulated that a A positive result for covid-19 before flying to that country would imply that the affected tennis player would not be allowed to travel.

Sandgren tests positive, but travels to Melbourne

The American Tennys Sandgren, who had regretted not being able to take the plane to travel to the Australian Open after having tested positive for covid-19 on Monday, he was finally able to board because the medical authorities considered that he was cured, indicated the organization this Thursday.

“Players can only enter the country for the Australian Open with a Covid-19 negative test test carried out before departure or with a travel authorization, in case of cure, evaluated by the Australian government authority, “the organization of the first major of the year, scheduled for February 8-21, said in a statement.

Sandgren, 50th on the ATP rankings, first tested positive for COVID-19 in November, before revealing on Twitter on Thursday that he had tested positive again. “Positive for covid on Thanksgiving. Positive for covid on Monday. So are PCR tests the benchmark, “he wrote.

An hour later, the American was grateful: “Wow, I'm on the plane, I can't hold my breath too long. Craig Tiley (tournament director) is a wizard.” The organization justified its decision: “In Sandgren's case, which was positive at the end of November, his medical file had to be examined by the health authorities of the State of Victoria. After this examination he was allowed to fly. “

“My two tests were in less than eight weeks. I was ill in November and now I am in perfect health. There is not a single documented case in which it can be contagious at this time,” added the American on Twitter. Like the rest of the participants, Sandgren will now undergo a strict 14-day quarantine, imposed by the tournament organization on all players from abroad. Participants must spend 19 hours a day in their hotel room and will only be allowed to go out to train for five hours and under strict sanitary conditions.