Tokyo Olympics: Gutted Alex de Minaur out after testing positive for Covid-19

The mother of the first Australian athlete to test positive for Covid-19 has made a startling revelation about their vaccination status heading into the Tokyo Olympics.

Alex de Minaur’s mum has shared her son’s heartbreak in not being able to compete at the Olympics following testing to positive to the coronavirus.

Esther de Minaur said her son was gutted after contracting Covid, and that he didn’t know how or where he got it.

“It is awful, it is crushing,” she told News Corp Australia.

“We are all so shocked. He was so looking forward to it, he loves representing his country.”

She said so far none of Alex’s close contacts, including his girlfriend, had tested positive to the virus.

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Alex de Minaur on Margaret Court Arena at this year’s Australian Open. Picture: Michael Klein

“He is devastated and he doesn’t want to talk to anyone right now,” she said.

“He is in his own mental bubble trying to deal with the situation.”

His mum said de Minaur had received one shot of the Pfizer vaccine.

He is said to be in a good physical condition and only suffering from throat pain and a headache.

The IOC has said it would not force athletes to be vaccinated.

According to his mother, de Minaur has only received one shot of the Pfizer vaccine.

‘Shattered’ Aussie Olympian tests positive for Covid-19

Aussie tennis star Alex de Minaur is out of the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive to COVID-19 in pre-departure swabs.

De Minaur had not yet arrived in Tokyo.

The news has been confirmed by the AOC’s Chef de Mission, Ian Chesterman.

“We have been advised that Alex de Minaur has had a positive test, at his mandatory 96-hour, and 72-hour pre-departure tests,” Chesterman said.

“As a consequence, sadly, Alex will be unable to join the Australian team here in Tokyo,” Chesterman said.

Alex de Minaur is out of the Olympics.

“We’re very disappointed for Alex, he’s said that he’s shattered (at) not being able to come.

“It’s been a dream since he was a child to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, but he has sent his very best wishes for the rest of the team.”

The positive Covid test is a devastating blow for de Minaur, who was excited about his Olympic chances in singles, and was also slated to play doubles with John Peers.

Peers faces a nervous time because the International Tennis Federation may award de Minaur’s vacant slot to an athlete from another country, destroying his Olympic dream.

“Our thoughts are with Alex because we know how much he was looking forward to his first Olympics,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said.

“He thrives on representing his country and it always brings out the best in him. Hopefully there are more Olympic opportunities for him later in his career.”

De Minaur will not be replaced in the men’s singles but it is understood Tennis Australia are scrambling for his replacement in the mixed doubles.

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Matt Reid and De Minaur during their men's doubles first round match at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images

De Minaur had gone to his Spanish home after Wimbledon, having tested negative on July 5. The Australian team doctor David Hughes said de Minaur tested positive on July 10 and subsequently tested positive again.

“We are very upset for Alex that he misses out,’’ Dr Hughes said, adding that de Minaur has had no contact with any other players since he tested negative on July 5.

At Wimbledon, de Minaur said he had invited other Australian tennis players to his Spanish home to rest and train before travelling to Tokyo but it is unclear if anyone had taken up the offer.

“We know the whole Olympic movement needs to make sure that when athletes arrive in Japan they are of Covid, we need to protect this bubble. Alex has been caught up in the system, but it does show the system is working. Alex understands the reasons why he cant be with us,” Chesterman said in Tokyo on Friday.

The world No 17 is the latest big name tennis star to with draw due to contracting Covid after Great Britain’s Dan Evans and Johanna Konta were forced out after returning positive tests pre-departure.

The list of tennis stars skipping the Olympics is extensive. Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Serena Williams opting to stay at home with Novak Djokovic this morning (Friday) saying would compete as he chases the Golden Slam.

Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber also withdrew on Friday.

On the Australian front, hope rest with Wimbledon champion Ash Barty after Nick Kyrgios confirmed he would not travel to Japan.

Another Olympian, Opals star Liz Cambage is also in doubt pending a full report into “an incident’’ that occurred prior to the start of a friendly match against Nigeria in the United States.

Sources have told ESPN that Cambage, 29, was involved in a physical altercation, and testy verbal exchanges with Nigerian players on Thursday with discussions within Basketball Australia about whether she should be removed from the Olympic team on disciplinary grounds.

Chesterman said he was awaiting a full report from Basketball Australia, but believed Cambadge was also carrying an injury, which could impact on her Olympic plans.

The mens basketball team is also caught up in a Covid scare, after two members of Team USA have been put in isolation. The upcoming final exhibition match against the US is now in extreme doubt.

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics: Gutted Alex de Minaur out after testing positive for Covid-19