Australian Open 2022: French tennis star Benoit Paire rages after testing positive for Covid-19 for “250th time”, tennis news
Benoit Paire has had bad luck during the pandemic and another positive Covid test threatens to derail his Australian Open.
French tennis player Benoit Paire has revealed he tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Australian Open next month.
The world number 46 was scheduled to play in a preliminary tournament in Melbourne from January 4, but those plans were disrupted.
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Pair appear to be isolated in quarantine at an unknown location after testing positive for Covid, and he’s clearly fed up with the ordeal.
“Hey my name is Benoit Paire, and for the 250th time I tested positive for Covid !!” he said in an Instagram story posted Wednesday.
“Honestly, I can’t handle this Covid shit anymore. How I go? Because of the Covid I have a runny nose, but because of all these quarantines spent in a hotel room on the other side of the world, I am not feeling well mentally.
“Last year was tough, and this year starts off exactly the same !!”
The 32-year-old is vaccinated and said he was “100%” in favor of the vaccines.
“Just one thing, I am 100% for the vaccine, but let’s live as before Covid, otherwise I don’t see the point,” he added.
The Australian Open kicks off on January 22, giving Paire a few weeks to test negative and assess whether he is fit to play in the tournament.
His latest positive test continues a string of bad luck for the flamboyant player, who has reached the fourth round of the Grand Slam on several occasions.
Pair was kicked out of the 2020 US Open after testing positive for Covid just days before their first game.
Then earlier this year, he was forced to undergo 14 days of hard quarantine before the Australian Open after someone on his flight to Melbourne tested positive for Covid.
Paire then lost in the first round and launched an astonishing attack against the Australian Open, calling the tournament “s ** t” and attacking the organizers for not treating the players with respect.
He was banned from representing France at the Tokyo Olympics following several offenses on the pitch, including spitting and blatant tanking of a match.
The Australian Open could do without several big names, as many top players face Covid or injury.
Rafael Nadal and Russian Andrey Rublev tested positive for Covid last week, while Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will miss the Australian Open with injury.