Tennis: Greek player tests positive for COVID-19 after leaving Melbourne

MELBOURNE: Greek player Michail Pervolarakis has said he tested positive for the coronavirus after leaving Melbourne, where he played last week's ATP Cup, a warm-up for the Australian Open.

Pervolarakis, who played singles and doubles for Greece at the team event, said he tested positive on arrival in South Africa.

"After a 24-plus hour travel day from Australia to South Africa I've been diagnosed positive to COVID-19," he wrote on Instagram.

"I am completely asymptomatic at the moment and will have to quarantine in an isolation facility in Potchefstroom."

Reports cited Tennis Australia as saying the 463rd-ranked Pervolarakis tested negative before leaving Australia on February 9.

READ: Melbourne starts snap COVID-19 lockdown, no crowds at Australian Open

The 24-year-old played ATP Cup doubles alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is into the Australian Open's last 16, and singles against Australia's John Millman and Pablo Carreno-Busta of Spain.

The Australian Open has endured significant disruption over COVID-19, and started three weeks late to allow international players to quarantine.

On Saturday, fans were barred and players went into a biosecure "bubble" as Victoria state's six million residents began a snap, five-day lockdown to curb an outbreak at an airport hotel.

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