The Australian Open’s qualifying match has been hit by its first optimistic COVID-19 exams, gifting a 19-year previous Aussie younger gun a free move to the ultimate spherical of qualifying.
In the meantime, Bernard Tomic’s hopes of reviving his profession have been given a lift.
Tomic is now two wins away from qualifying after taking down Jozef Kovalik 6-4 3-6 6-4.
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He has fallen to No. 228 on the planet rankings however views a possible berth within the Australian Open as an opportunity to revitalise his profession.
Tomic’s subsequent opponent is West Australian hopeful Schoolkate, who defeated Gudio Andredozzi 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.
In the meantime, fourth seed Denis Kudla defeated Elliot Benchetrit however is out of the match after testing optimistic for COVID-19.
Francisco Cerundolo additionally examined optimistic and has been withdrawn from the Doha-based occasion.
Kudla’s opponent Benchetrit would have gone via however information of the optimistic take a look at got here simply too late for him.
“At 5-3, they obtained the outcome [of his test]. So if I’d gained that recreation at 5-3 to make it 5-4, I’d have certified for the second spherical,” Benchetrit stated in a video posted on Instagram.
Now he faces a nervous wait to see if he’s labeled as a detailed contact.
“If I’m it’s a double whammy. As a result of I misplaced the match, performed in opposition to a [COVID-19] optimistic man and so they didn’t get the outcome earlier than the match,” he added.
“And on high of that, I’d have to remain per week within the room [under quarantine].”
He added that receiving the take a look at outcome mid-match was not perfect and posed potential hazard to others concerned.
“The idea of a take a look at is to have the data beforehand in order to not endanger the linesman, the opponent or just each particular person the participant might meet earlier than or after his match,” he advised TennisMajors.
It’s devastating information for Kudla however works within the favour of 19-year previous Aussie Dane Sweeny, who was slated to face Kudla in his second match.
As a substitute the Queensland now goes straight via to the final-round qualifying.
Sweeny was not the one Aussie to style success on day two with Tomic, Max Purcell, Olivia Gadecki, John-Patrick Smith, Andrew Harris and Tristan Schoolkate all claiming victories.
How did the opposite Aussies go?
Andrew Harris defeated Ruben Bemelmans 6-4 5-7 6-3
John-Patrick Smith defeated Paolo Lorenzi 7-5 6-1
Dane Sweeny defeated Marius Copil 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3
Max Purcell defeated Hugo Baston 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-3
Olivia Gadecki defeated Lara Salden 2-6 7-5 6-3
Storm Sanders defeated by Kaja Juvan 7-6 (7-4) 6-2
Alexandra Bozovic defeated by Greet Minnen 6-3 6-4
Abbie Myers defeated by Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 6-3
Ivana Popovic defeated by Lesya Tsurenko 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz defeated by Viktoriya Tomova 6-4, 6-3
Seone Mendez defeated by Marie Benoit 6-0, 6-2