Nadal tests positive for COVID-19 after Abu Dhabi comeback

Wednesday, 22 December 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Rafael Nadal in action during his semi final match against Britain's Andy Murray - Reuters

REUTERS: Rafael Nadal said on Monday he had tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from his comeback appearance at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week.

The 20-times Grand Slam champion and former world number one said he was having some “unpleasant moments”, but was hoping to feel better soon and would keep people informed about his plans over future tournaments.

The positive test casts further doubt on whether the 35-year-old participates in next month’s Australian Open – a tournament he has won once and finished runner-up four times – having already said he could not guarantee (https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/nadal-casts-doubt-over-australian-open-participation-2021-12-19) he would play.

“I wanted to announce that on my return home after playing the Abu Dhabi tournament, I have tested positive for COVID in the PCR test that has been performed on me when I arrived in Spain,” Nadal wrote on Twitter https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1472881126989570053.

Nadal said he had tested negative at all times when he was in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi and had last tested negative on Friday last week.