Frances Tiafoe tested positive for COVID-19
Another COVID-19 case in professional tennis . During the All-American Cup , Frances Tiafoe announced that it had tested positive for the corona virus. The American was on the square the day before.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jul 04, 2020, 08:12 pm
The United States is one of the countries most affected by COVID-19. The country recently set a new negative record since the outbreak of the coronavirus with over 50,000 new cases in one day. At the same time, the USA is also the country in which the ATP tour is to be resumed, after the ATP 500 event in Washington there are in New York City with the relocated ATP Masters 1000 event by Cincinnati and the US Open two top-class players on the program.
A kind of dress rehearsal for these events is taking place these days in Atlanta, where the eight best American tennis players compete with each other at the All-American Cup. An event that was previously criticized by Noah Rubin, for example, who said: "If you weigh the pros and cons and if I go through it quickly in your head, it doesn't work. What do we gain if we do Take the risk now? The numbers of COVID-19 cases are going in the wrong direction. Georgie is one of the countries where there is an increase. It just doesn't make sense if I add it all up, " said the world ranking list 225.
Criticism that was particularly misunderstood by John Isner, who caused a sensation with an extremely controversial tweet. "Your Corona brothers can stay in your basement as long as you want. I choose to live my life and play / promote the sport that I love safely," said the service giant on Twitter .
Also critical with regard to the US Open
Now it turns out that the criticism from Rubin and Co had its justification, with Francis Tiafoe one of the players at the All-American Cup had to announce that they had tested positive for COVID-19. "Unfortunately I did a positive COVID-19 test late Friday and have to withdraw from the special event of the All-American Team Cup in Atlanta at the weekend," said the world ranking 81. A week before his arrival in Atlanta, the American would have been tested negatively. After the positive result, Tiafoe would have already been quarantined and will be tested again at the beginning of next week.
The organizers announced that they had subjected the entire event site to special cleaning to ensure the health of players and fans. Fans, yes, because the All-American Cup is played in front of spectators, even if it is only 30% of the stadium's capacity with 450 people. Nonetheless, this is a development that is also to be regarded as quite negative with regard to the planned North American swing at the restart of the tour. And the Francis Tiafoe case shows that despite security measures, the COVID-19 risk is not immune.