Portugal’s Joao Sousa withdraws from Australian Open as more COVID-19 cases emerge

Portugal's top player Joao Sousa says he will not be able to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open, despite returning a negative test for COVID-19.

Joao Sousa during his men's singles first round match against Federico Delbonis of Argentina at the Australian Open on 21 January 2020. Source: AAP

Portugal’s Joao Sousa says he will not travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open despite returning a negative test for COVID-19 due to the Australian government’s strict protocols on a mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arrival.

Seventy-two players are currently confined to their rooms in Melbourne ahead of the Feb. 8-21 Grand Slam after positive cases were discovered on three flights ferrying them to Australia.

Sousa said he tested positive for COVID-19 before his departure but has since returned a negative test and is asymptomatic.

“Even though I already tested negative and have no symptoms, due to the strict rules of the Australian government, I won’t be able to travel,” Sousa wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

Sousa has not missed the main draw of a Grand Slam since 2013 when he was eliminated in the Wimbledon qualifiers.

The 31-year-old joins former world number one Andy Murray among players withdrawing from the year’s first Grand Slam after testing positive for the virus.

Joao Sousa says he has returned a negative test for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic. Source: AAP

Victorian authorities on Saturday reported one new case linked to the Open, a man in his 20s who is not a player.

A further three non-players - two men in their 30s and one in his 50s - have meanwhile been confirmed to have the highly contagious UK strain of the virus.

COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria said all three had been in hard lockdown since they landed in Melbourne.

"The residents arrived in Melbourne on a dedicated Australian Open charter flight on 15 January and returned their first positive tests on 15, 17 and 18 January," a spokesperson said.

There are 10 active cases linked to the Open and 970 people associated with the tournament in quarantine.

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