[Walsall]

Kudla was leading 6-4 5-3 when an official came to announce that Kudla had the COVID
Official gave the rule: if Benchetrit wins the ongoing game, he wins. If Kudla serves out the match, he wins the match. Kudla won that game, making it 64 63.
But question: is he automatically out of QR2? What about contacts with opponent + umpire + ???

 

[FelipeL]

LOL, what a mess

 

[NextGenKing]

Wow. 2020 breaks back and levels the match

 

[BodyServe]

Still won, quite hilariously...

That's all you need to know about the severity of his illness. Unfortunately he will be withdrawn from the tournament now.

 

[Le Vautour]

Has Cerundolo also tested positive? The AO website has given Vilella Martinez a W/O into QR3.

If the news about Kudla is true, then it seems highly likely that the winner of Copil and Sweeny will go straight into QR3 as well.

EDIT: AO draw just updated, Kudla is out, winner of Copil and Sweeny moves to QR3

 

[enlightenedth]

Oh damn, this sucks massively. Hope Benchetrit didn't catch it.
That's great news for Copil, if he could just fucking beat Sweeny. He was never going to beat Kudla.

 

[poordentist]

what a freakin joke. are you kidding me?. how was he not disqualified immediately. moreover, how was he even allowed to play the match

 

[FedererGrandSlam]

So if the news had come like 3 minutes earlier, Benchetrit would have won?

 

[Le Vautour]

Cerundolo confirmed to also be out due to testing positive for Covid:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1348622998006333449

 

[a1canada]

Hard to understand how this is possible, with so little reported cases in the area

Must have arrived with it, I'm sure that is going to catch the attention of Australia

 

[Jolyon]

What a successful organization of AO Qualies by Doha!

 

[Johnny Groove]

At least he gets his QR2 points and money

 

[Boogalo]

Still won, quite hilariously...

That's all you need to know about the severity of his illness. Unfortunately he will be withdrawn from the tournament now.

He wasn't ill and probably won't be. But he is infectious.

 

[Boogalo]

Benchetrit beaten by Covid-positive Kudla — THE ONLY TENNIS SITE

. In a turn of events that is probably a first in tennis, Morocco’s Elliot...

opencourt.ca

 

[SuperG]

great publicity stunt for the atp.

 

[SuperG]

I heard a rumor AO will announce if anyone in the crowd sneezes during a match, the whole tournament will be canceled. Any truth to this rumor?

 

[Budadiii]

Ridiculous.

Just let him play with it, morons.

 

[enlightenedth]

What a successful organization of AO Qualies by Doha!

What are they supposed to do? This could've happened anywhere. If you want to bash Qatar, you can find other things, but this isn't it.

 

[iGOAT]

What an absolute mess. I thought the whole point of the tests was so that players would only play if they test negative. And then if he was informed before winning of course Benchetrit should move through (even if he didn't really deserve it). Plus now Benchetrit and the ball kids (are there any?) plus possibly others have been exposed. But as someone else here said, it also goes to show how ridiculous the hysteria surrounding this virus is.

 

[Hypnotize]

I heard a rumor AO will announce if anyone in the crowd sneezes during a match, the whole tournament will be canceled. Any truth to this rumor?

I'm sure you'll report it as fact in your next blog anyway.