Rafael Nadal said on Monday he had tested positive for Covid-19 when arriving in Spain after making his comeback from injury in the event exhibition Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi last week.
20 time Grand Slam champion said he had some “fun moments” but expect to feel better immediately and will keep people informed about a plan on future tournaments.
“I want to announce that on my return home after the tournament to play Abu Dhabi, I have tested positive for COVID the PCR test has been done to me when I arrived in Spain,” Nadal wrote on Twitter.
The 35-year-old said he had tested negative every time when he was in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, and was then tested negative on Friday.
Spaniard’s comeback from injury at the exhibition event – his first tournament appearance since the Citi Open in Washington in August – expires in two close defeats Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov.
“I had some fun moments but I hope that I will improve little by little.
I now stay at home and have reported the results to those who have been in contact with me,” he wrote.
“As a result of a situation I should have total flexibility with my calendar and I will analyze my choice depends on my evolution.
I will keep you informed of any decision about my future tournaments,” he added.
Nadal spent four months on the sidelines with a foot injury.
He was knocked out in the Roland Garros semi-final and was forced out of Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics and the US Open.
He said he could not guarantee he would travel to the Australian Open, which begins on 17 January.
Rafael Nadal’s positive test for Covid-19 after the Abu Dhabi event
