Japanese professional tennis player Kei Nishikori has tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida at the brink of the US Open that begins in New York on 31 August.
The 30-year-old former world No 4 has confirmed the report, and has ultimately pulled out of the upcoming Western & Southern Open, which will take place before the Grand Slam event at the Flushing Meadows.
In a statement on his official app, Nishikori says: “Hi everyone, I have some unfortunate news today. This morning while still in Florida, I got tested for Covid19 and tested positive. I will have to pull out of the Cincinnati tournament at this time.
“Me and my team will get tested again on Friday, at which point I will have another update. I am feeling well and have very little symptoms, but will obviously be in complete isolation for the safety of everyone.
“We were planning to fly to New York tomorrow, but will obviously now stay in Florida. Next update will be on Friday.”
Nishikori who has now slipped to 31 in the world, has yet to feature competitively since undergoing elbow surgery in October last year, with the ongoing pandemic, which caused lots of activities and events to shut down temporarily meant he has missed less tennis than he might ordinarily have done.
A number of players especially the high profile tennis players have already signaled their intention to avoid any part in this year’s US Open over fears of contracting the coronavirus.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal and women’s world No 1 Ashleigh Barty are among those who refused to travel, while reigning women’s champion Bianca Andreescu has also pulled out, saying the pandemic had compromised her ability to reach her highest level of form.
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