Australian Open 2022: Tournament director Craig Tiley backs Rafael Nadal to play

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has instilled renewed hope that Rafael Nadal will play in the Melbourne grand slam event.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal tested positive for Covid-19 but is on track to play in the Australian Open. Picture: AFP

Twenty-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal is on track to overcome his positive Covid-19 test and play in the Australian Open, tournament director Craig Tiley says.

The Nadal news came as Tiley revealed a “very small” percentage of player support staff – but not players – had medical exemptions that would not require them to be vaccinated.

Victorian government and Australian Open rules state players must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine to compete or must have been granted an official exemption.

Tiley said exempted players and staff, which includes those who tested positive in the past six months, would not have to quarantine and would be treated as if they were vaccinated.

“Everyone coming in is vaccinated and there will be a small percentage – a very small percentage – that will have a medical exemption,” Tiley said.

“So, if any player, fan (or) workforce is on-site here, you’re either vaccinated or you have a medical exemption that’s been approved and you’re on the Australian Immunisation Register.

Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal is recovering well from Covid-19 and hopes to play in the Australian Open. Picture: AFP

“That provides us with an extra level of safety and sense of comfort on-site.”

The Australian Open boss also said there was no indication that crowd numbers would be capped, adding that ticket sales were going “surprisingly well” despite the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Nadal plunged into doubt his status for the Melbourne Park event when he revealed on Monday night that he had tested positive for the virus, but he is already on the way to recovery.

The former world No.1’s involvement in the Australian Open would be a major boost given there remains serious doubt about Novak Djokovic, while Roger Federer and Serena Williams are already out.

Nadal is one of several big-name players who have tested positive in recent times, including Emma Raducanu, Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur.

They were all connected to the big-money Abu Dhabi exhibition event.

Tiley has communicated with Nadal’s team, and the Spaniard believes he may have contracted the virus at the airport.

Emma Raducanu is among the tennis stars who have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent weeks. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m confident Rafa will be here,” Tiley said.

“I haven’t spoken directly to Rafa – I sent him a note – but I’ve spoken to his team and he’s disappointed that he came back from an exhibition in Abu Dhabi and tested positive.

“When was that? December 17 or 18? So, 10 days (until he is due to fly to Australia). He’s still got two weeks before the event.”

International tennis stars and their staff will largely begin arriving in Melbourne and Sydney from December 28 on chartered and commercial flights.

They must have returned a negative PCR test in the 72-hour period before flying to Australia and will be tested again on arrival, after which they will isolate until they receive another negative result.

That negative result will be required for tournament accreditation.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley is preparing for more positive Covid-19 cases among tennis players and support staff. Picture: Getty Images

Tiley expects further positive cases and those who do must isolate for at least 10 days – and may be transferred to a health hotel or hospital if their symptoms are particularly bad.

Close contacts will also have to isolate until they return a negative result.

“If you test positive and in the window where you are not going to be able to play, you will then be done with the event,” Tiley said.

“But if you’re a close contact (that won’t be the case) because we can turn around your test result pretty quickly.”

Tiley advised players to stay in a hotel room by themselves to avoid a seven-day isolation period as a close contact if a roommate tests positive.

The ATP Cup in Sydney starts on January 1, while further chartered flights will be required to transport players competing in the Adelaide International from January 3.