Alexander Zverev drops Covid-19 bombshell about Australian Open protocols

Alexander Zverev reckons there are probably more players at the Australian Open who have Covid-19 but claims they are not being tested daily.

In order to compete at the first Grand Slam of the year players must be fully vaccinated, a rule that forced the government to deport world No.1 Novak Djokovic due to his unvaccinated status.

Players have access to daily rapid antigen tests (RATs) but are only subject to mandatory testing for Covid-19 if they’re symptomatic.

World No.3 Zverev is concerned about the current protocols in place that has already seen the likes of Bernard Tomic and Ugo Humbert isolate after testing positive.

‘I think this year in Australia is a lot more cases than last year, simple as that,’ said Zverev after his straight-sets second-round win over Australia’s John Millman.

‘And we are allowed to go outside to eat, allowed to do whatever we want, so I think it’s natural that more people get Covid.

‘My brother [Mischa Zverev], when he arrived, he had it. He was in quarantine in Sydney, and now he obviously doesn’t have it anymore, but I think quite a few players had it when they arrived. Quite a few players I think have it now.

‘We are not getting tested, so I think if we would get tested there would be probably more positives than there are now, in a way.

‘I’m somebody, I’m here to play the tournament, and I understand that there is a lot of cases in Melbourne, there is a lot of cases in Australia all around.’

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Tennis Australia are yet to respond to the claims but according to the Sydney Morning