Australia's preparations for the Tokyo Olympics person been thrown into chaos, with confirmation tennis subordinate Alex de Minaur has tested affirmative to COVID-19.
The quality has been confirmed by the AOC's Chef de Mission, Ian Chesterman.
"We person been advised that Alex de Minaur has had a affirmative test, astatine his mandatory 96-hour, and 72-hour pre-departure tests," Chesterman said.
"As a consequence, sadly, Alex volition beryllium incapable to articulation the Australian squad present successful Tokyo.
"We're precise disappointed for Alex, he's said that he's shattered (at) not being capable to come.
"It's been a imagination since helium was a kid to correspond Australia astatine the Olympic Games, but helium has sent his precise champion wishes for the remainder of the team."
The satellite No.17 is Australia's apical ranked singles player.
"We volition present notify the ITF (International Tennis Federation), Alex was owed to play singles and doubles with John Peers, and we're inactive precise hopeful that John tin inactive beryllium portion of this Australian Olympic team," Chesterman said.
"We bash cognize that nary different tennis players person had carnal interaction with Alex since helium near Wimbledon connected July 5, wherever helium tested negative, and each different Australian players person tested antagonistic since."
Atlanta golden medallist Todd Woodbridge says the quality is heartbreaking for de Minaur.
"It's devastating for 'Demon'," Woodbridge told Wide World of Sports.
"He perfectly loves playing for his country. He has '109' tattooed connected his chest, which is his Davis Cup number. He plays his bosom retired for Australia.
"This was his accidental to perchance triumph a medal, fixed the tract that's successful Tokyo. To person that taken distant from you, it would beryllium truthful hard to take."
De Minaur was hoping to marque amends for a disappointing first-round exit astatine Wimbledon, wherever helium mislaid to rising prima Sebastian Korda successful 4 sets.
De Minaur's lack further weakens the men's field, which is already missing a big of players including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Nick Kyrgios, though Novak Djokovic confirmed his information this morning.
Australia's 11-strong tennis team has present been reduced to nine, with the lack of some Kyrgios and de Minaur.
Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Ash Barty volition pb the women's charge, with Sam Stosur and Ajla Tomljanovic joining her successful the singles competition.
Barty volition play doubles with Storm Sanders, portion Stosur teams up with Ellen Perez.
On the men's side, John Millman and James Duckworth volition play singles, with Millman and Luke Saville playing doubles together. De Minaur was to person played doubles with John Peers.
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