Curiosity in the Australian Open qualification: Corona-positive Denis Kudla one round further
In the first qualifying round for this year's Australian Open there was a curiosity today. Denis Kudla defeated the Moroccan Elliot Benchetrit in this, but received a positive COVID-19 certificate during the game.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 11, 2021, 07:17 pm
According to the revised ATP calendar for the new season, there are no longer two opinions that the tennis year 2021 will also be significantly influenced by COVID-19. While highlights such as the ATP Masters 1000 event from Indian Wells don't even appear on the usual date, the decision was made in Down Under to postpone the Australian Open - and the qualification to take place just under a month earlier in Doha or Dubai .
In the course of this, a curious incident occurred on Monday. The US-American Denis Kudla was actually already in the second round after a 4-6 and 3-6 success over Elliot Benchetrit. But instead of fighting for a ticket in the main draw of the first Grand Slam of the year, Kudla now has to go into quarantine. At a score of 5: 3 from his point of view, the 28-year-old received a positive COVID-19 test result.
Benchetrit is also threatened with quarantine
That is also quite bitter for his opponent Benchetrit, who, if he had won the game to 5: 4 in the second set, would have walked into the second round and would now have to be in quarantine as a close contact. "If that happens, it's a double blow. Because I lost the match against a (Covid-19) positive player and they didn't get the test result before the match. In addition, I would have to be quarantined at the hotel for a week stay ", quoted the small newspaper the 22-year-old.
In the meantime, Dustin Brown provided some clarification as to how this incident could have come about. "Although we were told that the usual waiting time was eight to fourteen hours, in most cases this was not the case. Many players waited over 24 hours in their rooms for the result," said the German. Denis Kudla has also waited that long - but not in the room - for his result. For a bitter result.