Alex de Minaur out of Tokyo Olympics after tennis star positive for COVID

The Australian Olympic Committee has confirmed that tennis star Alex de Minaur is away from the Tokyo team after testing positively for COVID-19.

Chef de mission Ian Chesterman said De Minauri had mandatory pre-tests that had become positive, so Sydneysider could not come to Tokyo to join the team.

“We’re very disappointed with Alex and he’s fragmented because he can’t come,” Chesterman said.

“His dream has been to represent Australia at the Olympics since he was a child, but he sent his best wishes to the team.”

De Minaur played at Wimbledon, losing to American Sebastian Korda in the first round.

“We know that no other tennis player has had any physical contact with Alex since he left Wimbledon on July 5, where he was negative,” Chesterman said.

“All other Australian players have been testing negative since then. We look forward to receiving these athletes from our team.”

De Minaur was scheduled to play both doubles and doubles in Tokyo.

He was due to partner John Peers in the men’s doubles event, and Chesterman said the team was “still very hopeful” that Peers would be part of the team.

According to the Australian chef, the COVID tests were there for a reason.

“The whole Olympic movement needs to make sure that when players, athletes arrive in Japan, they are in a situation where they don’t have COVID-19,” he said.

The news comes after Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Olympic team after the news that the IOC had banned spectators in Tokyo.