French Open tennis: Two players from men's draw test positive for Covid-19

news.com.au

3 Jun, 2021 02:00 AM2 mins to read

Two players have tested positive for Covid-19 at the French Open. Photo / AP

There is chaos at the French Open after two stars tested positive for Covid-19.

The tournament released a statement Thursday morning announcing two players from the same doubles team have been isolated and removed from the tournament as a result.

The identities of the players has not been released, however, reports have emerged that top seeds in the doubles draw Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic have both been removed from the tournament and have been replaced in the draw.

Doubles pair Feliciano Lopez and Jaume Munar have also disappeared from the draw and replaced by an alternative team that is yet to be announced.

The Roland Garros statement confirmed the first positive test comes after 2446 tests were carried out on the players and their support teams before this bombshell result.

"The Roland Garros tournament organisers confirm that two players from the men's doubles draw, on the same team, have tested positive for Covid-19," the tournament statement confirmed.

"In line with the tournament's public health and safety protocol, the pair have been removed from the draw and the two players placed in quarantine.

"They will be replaced by the first team on the alternate list."

Organisers said that since the start of qualifying for the Grand Slam on May 24, there had been 2,446 tests performed.

"This is the first occurrence in which the tournament organisers must remove players, in accordance with their health protocol," they added.

The tournament was already being played with significant restrictions in place.

A French government Covid-19 curfew of 9pm means that nine out of the 10 scheduled evening sessions at the tournament have to be played without spectators inside the 15,000-capacity Court Philippe Chatrier.