Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori revealed Sunday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes two weeks before the US Open, where Nishikori had his best performance on a Grand Slam in 2014 when Marin Čilić beat him in the Final.
Nishikori explained that he is self-isolating in Florida and he pulled out of the Western and Southern Open. The event was moved from its traditional venue in Cincinnati to New York, as it will act as a warm-up event for the US Open, which takes place from August 31 to September 13.
“Hi everyone, I have some unfortunate news today. This morning while still in Florida, I got tested for COVID-19 and tested positive,” Nishikori said in a statement. “I am feeling well and have very little symptoms.”
Nishikori is ranked 31st in the world and he has not played a competitive match since undergoing elbow surgery in October, 2019.
The 30-year-old said that he “will obviously be in complete isolation for the safety of everyone.”
Kei Nishikori also reached the US Open semifinals in his last two appearances (2016 and 2018). He reportedly got the positive COVID-19 test result the day before he was scheduled to fly to New York with his team.
Rafael Nadal, Ash Barty and Simona Halep are some of the players who have announced their decision to withdraw from the US Open over fears of contracting COVID-19.
“I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision,” Halep said.
“After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living, I have decided that I will not travel,” she told the BBC.
