By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday December 23, 2021
Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur have both tested positive for Covid-19. Bencic, ranked 23 and Jabeur, ranked 7, were both a part of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Also Read: Nadal Tests Positive for Covid
Bencic called her symptoms “quite severe.” The Swiss took to Twitter on Tuesday and said she would make her way to Australia as soon as she was cleared and past the isolation period.
Jabeur also took to Twitter on Tuesday to say she is isolating in Tunisia.
The Tunisian star also cited strong symptoms and, like Bencic, said that she had been vaccinated.
Bencic and Jabeur will likely get to Australia in time to take their place in the Australian Open draw, much like Rafael Nadal, who also tested positive after playing at Abu Dhabi last week.
But a handful of top players have already pulled out of the Australian Open for various reasons – here is our current list.
Karolina Pliskova, World No.4 – Hand injury
Bianca Andreescu, World No. 46 – Resting and recovering
Jennifer Brady, World No.25 – Foot injury
Serena Williams, World No.41 – Citing health reasons.
Karolina Muchova, World No.42 – Injury not disclosed.
Natalia Vikhlyantseva, World No.194 – Vaccination not accepted by Tennis Australia.
Roger Federer, World No.16 – Rest and recovery.
Stan Wawrinka, World No.82 – Still recovering from surgery.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert, World No.110 – Not vaccinated.