Verdasco ‘outrage’ at Roland Garros test procedures

Fernando Verdasco has questioned the French Open’s COVID-19 testing protocols after having to withdraw from the tournament because of a positive result – which he believes was false.

Verdasco, 36, pulled out of the Grand Slam on Thursday, alongside Milos Raonic and Belinda Bencic.

The world No.58 criticised the French Open’s procedures after he was denied a re-test, adding he had returned a negative result on several occasions before he arrived in Paris, including at the Italian Open in Rome.

“In August, I passed the COVID-19 asymptomatically,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Since then I have done multiple PCR tests, with negative results… I tested negative again a few days ago in the test I took before going to Hamburg.

“My team and family travelled to Paris on Tuesday… they all tested negative except me. I explained my history and situation to try to request another test.

“I want to communicate my total frustration and outrage with the organisation of Roland Garros for taking away my right to participate even without giving me the opportunity to take another test with a new sample to confirm that the result of the first could be an error,” he said.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Halep seething over Swiatek wrist-slap doping penalty

Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…

3 weeks ago

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

1 month ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

1 month ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

1 month ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

1 month ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

2 months ago