New York (AFP)
Japan's Kei Nishikori announced on Wednesday that he was now negative for the coronavirus, but still decided to forfeit the US Open which is due to start on Monday at Flushing Meadows.
"I am happy to report that I have tested negative for Covid," Nishikori, the world's 31st player, wrote on social media.
"I will slowly resume my planned training tomorrow. That said, I (in consultation with my team) decided to skip the US Open this year. After such a long break, I think playing matches at the best of the five sets is not very smart until I'm completely ready to do it. It's disappointing because I love the US Open where I have great memories, "he explained.
Nishikori, 30, announced last Friday that he was still positive for the coronavirus and that he would remain in quarantine until the beginning of this week.
A 2014 US Open finalist, Nishikori tested positive on August 16 in Florida and forfeited the Cincinnati Masters 1000, which was moved and started on Saturday on the same courts as the US Open.
The US Open has already registered the forfeits of Spanish title holder Rafael Nadal (due to health conditions), Swiss Roger Federer, injured, Canadian title holder Bianca Andreescu (insufficiently prepared) and world No. 1 Australian Ashleigh Barty (fears related to Covid-19).
On the other hand, Serbian world No.1 Novak Djokovic, Briton Andy Murray and American Serena Williams must participate in the New York Grand Slam tournament.
© 2020 AFP