Player tests positive for COVID-19 as Spain speaks up for confined competitors

"Today I received a positive COVID-19 test result. I’m feeling unwell and have some symptoms, but I'll try to recover as soon as possible listening to the doctors. I've been taken to a health hotel to self-isolate and be monitored."

The confirmation of the first Australian Open participant to return a positive test came as Spain's national federation expressed its support for players "suffering the consequences of confinement in Australia".

The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation has backed claims among some players that there was insufficient communication before travelling to Australia about the prospect of doing hard quarantine if players were deemed close contacts of COVID-19 cases.

It cited concerns about Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, 17, one of the more than 70 players in lockdown, who was considered a minor and that "his season could be seriously damaged by a 14-day lockdown".

The letter said: "The players were warned and informed of their exclusion from the Australian Open and of their entry into the country if they were positive in one of the many PCR tests that were carried out.

"However, they were not informed about the possibility that they would be severely confined in the event of travelling on the same plane with a passenger who tested positive, regardless of the physical proximity of the players affected with that positive.

"We understand all the precautions and measures taken for the good of the health of players, spectators, workers and residents, but we believe that these measures should have been compatible with the mental and physical health of the athletes.

"The affected tennis players are elite athletes who need to be active in order to perform and not injure themselves. Not to mention the psychological damage that affects the athlete in a sport in which the mental aspect is so demanding."

Tennis Australia has been contacted for comment.

On Friday Badosa also expressed her gratitude about being in Australia. "Please, don't get me wrong. Health will always come first and I feel grateful for being in Australia. Quarantine and preventative measures are pivotal right now. I talked about rules that changed overnight but I understand the sad situation we are living. Sorry guys. Stay safe," she tweeted.

Badosa has now entered at least a further 10 days of isolation in a "hot hotel" where positive cases are housed. If she has the UK virus strain, that time period will be 14 days.

She must be free of symptoms for three days before being allowed to leave.

When Badosa found out she had to do 14-days of hard quarantine last week she claimed players did not know they would need to do so if someone on their flight was positive. This has been disputed by Tennis Australia, the government and other players.

"At the beginning the rule was who was positive in the section of the plane, who was with that person, had to quarantine," Badosa wrote in a tweet that has been deleted. "Not the whole plane. Not fair to change the rules last moment. And to have to stay in a room with no windows and no air."

Seventeen chartered flights took players to Australia over three days last week. Players and their entourages then needed to go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine ahead of the tournament.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria's strict rules had been vindicated.

"It is certainly proof the hard quarantine measures were necessary. You do need to manage each and every case with a great deal of precaution," he said.

"This has been questioned but it’s been entirely appropriate … everyone on those flights are considered close contacts. And they are managed in strict quarantine for that reason."

Australian Open main-draw play is due to begin on February 8 at Melbourne Park. As it is, that is a three-week delay to the start of the hard-court major championship because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Badosa made the fourth round of the French Open in October and lost in the second round of the 2020 Australian Open.

with AP