Rafael Nadal tests positive for COVID-19 after return from Abu Dhabi, Australian Open in doubt

The Spaniard already cast doubt over his Australian Open participation by dodging a question about it after his Abu Dhabi event explaining that he will make a decision once he talks to his team. Now that participation is in even greater doubt after Nadal tested positive for Coronavirus upon his return to Spain. The Spaniard announced the news today on Instagram and Twitter.

He wrote:

"Hi, all. 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 was performed on me when I arrived in Spain."

The charter flights for Australia leave in a week so if Nadal does not test negative for the virus until then he might not be able to enter the country despite being vaccinated. As a vaccinated individual, he should be fine and beat the virus quickly so there is a chance he still tests negative for it before the flights leave. World No 6 said he took Covid tests every two days while in Kuwait for the opening of his new Rafa Nadal Academy and in Abu Dhabi for the three-day exhibition event, with all his tests returning negative.

Nadal's last test was on Friday with the results received on Saturday, in which he was still negative.