Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal allays Covid fears after Matteo Berrettini 'contact'

Rafael Nadal on Tuesday clarified that he did not have any health concerns in the wake of Italy's Matteo Berrettini, with whom he had practised on Thursday, testing positive for Covid-19. "Difficult to be (termed) a close contact when you are outside, when you are practicing," the 22-time Grand Slam champion said after his nervy 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Argentine Francisco Cernundolo in the first round.

Read AlsoBerrettini pulls out of Wimbledon 2022 due to positive Covid-19 test

Eighth seed Matteo Berrettini, runner-up at last year's Wimbledon, became the second top player to pull out of the Championships after testing positive for COVID-19.

"For the moment I am feeling great, no problems at all. Main thing is I feel very sorry for him because he was playing fantastic, winning two tournaments before the (Wimbledon) start. "I know how sad probably he will feel today, no? Wish him a quick recovery." World No. 6 Berrettini withdrew from Wimbledon, announcing his positive test on Twitter. Croatia's former US Open champion Marin Cilic also had tested positive for the virus a day earlier.

The Italian made the decision to pull out of the tournament himself, but Nadal disagreed that, as per the rules, he could have continued to play had he wished. "If I (am) not wrong, Matteo have been sick for a couple of days … the information that I had personally, I don't know (if it) is right or not, is if you have some symptoms, (it) is up to you that if you want to have a test or not. If you want to have a test, and the test is positive, then you are out," Nadal said. The Spaniard, who collected a record-extending 14th French Open title last month, also denied suggestions that players had continued to play despite testing positive at