Richard Gasquet is forced to postpone his first match of 2022. The French tennis player, who is in Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open (January 17-30), has tested positive for Covid-19, says L'Equipe this Monday.
The 35-year-old, 87th in the world, was forced to cancel his participation in the ATP 250 tournament in Melbourne, preparation for the first Grand Slam lift of the season.
He was scheduled to face Belarusian Ilya Ivashka on Tuesday.
Gasquet, who played the last edition of the Davis Cup with France in November, is therefore placed in solitary confinement for seven days, in accordance with local protocol.
If his participation in the Australian Open is not, for the time being, called into question, the French will have to deal with a disrupted preparation.
Vaccinated, he was already infected with the coronavirus in March 2021.
Package for the last three editions
The Biterrois has missed the last three editions of the tournament at the antipodes.
Last year, he had only played one game in the Melbourne 250 tournament before giving up the main meeting at the start of the season due to a foot injury.
Tested positive for Covid-19 after an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi in December, Rafael Nadal will participate in this tournament in Melbourne.
In search of confidence, the Spaniard will line up in doubles with his compatriot Jaume Munar.