After one of the tournament’s favorites Matteo Berrettini became the second former finalist to withdraw, fears of a Covid outbreak among Wimbledon’s major male players have increased.
Berrettini, second only to Novak Djokovic last year and practicing with Rafael Nadal last Thursday, was scheduled to play at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, but this time he will replace Elias Ymer of Sweden.
Eighth-seeded Berrettini recently won the Queen’s title and won the last nine games on the lawn after defeating Andy Murray to win the Stuttgart title.
“I hurt my heart,” Berrettini said. He said he had the flu symptoms and was isolated for the past few days.
It follows Monday’s withdrawal, when 2017 finalist Marin Cilic had practiced on the center court with Djokovic last Thursday.
Wimbledon was canceled due to the 2020 Covid pandemic and returned last year according to a strict protocol. In common with most sporting events, these protocols have been significantly mitigated this year, despite the recent surge in the wider community of Covid infections.
As major players share the same locker room, there is growing concern that the tournament could be further confused by a wider outbreak.
Cilic made it to the Wimbledon final in 2017, losing to Roger Federer on a straight set and confirming on Instagram that he was suffering from Covid. According to a previous statement from the All England Club, it is understood that the 33-year-old boy withdrew due to “illness” and felt sick, so he avoided being near someone indoors.
“Hey everyone, it’s sad to share that I tested positive for Covid,” Cilic said, adding that he was “broken heart” to see his season at the end of the grass.
“I was self-isolated and wanted to be ready, but unfortunately I still feel sick and can’t compete at best.”
After reaching the semi-finals at the French Open, Cilic, seeded in 14th place, was considered a strong outside bet and was replaced by Nuno Borges in a draw.
Wimbledon said they continue to follow Covid’s guidance, but the protocol being implemented requires a Covid pass to show that the crowd is declining and fans are vaccinated or the test is negative. It has been significantly relaxed compared to last year.
“As a major event, we continue to work with the UK Public Health Department and local governments,” said a spokesman for the All England Club.
“We maintain enhanced cleaning and hand disinfection operations and provide complete medical support for those who feel sick. We provide UK guidance on the assessment and isolation of potential infections. Our athlete medical team also continues to wear face masks for consultation. “