Alexander Zverev reckons some more players at the Australian Open may have COVID-19 but they may have gone undetected because they weren't tested.
"I think quite a few players had it when they arrived. Quite a few players, I think, have it now," the German No.3 seed said on Wednesday following his win over Australian John Millman at Melbourne Park.
"We're not getting tested, so I think if we would get tested there would be probably more positives than there are now, in a way."
Frenchman Ugo Humbert revealed earlier on Wednesday he'd tested positive for COVID, a day after his first round defeat by compatriot Richard Gasquet, which had forced him to isolate for a week in Australia.
"We are allowed to go outside to eat, allowed to do whatever we want, so I think it's natural that more people get COVID," Zverev said, adding that he'd taken his own extra precautions to avoid infection by being in a "bubble for myself".
Australian player Bernard Tomic had criticised the COVID-19 testing protocols during the qualifiers last week, saying: "I can't believe nobody is getting tested.
"They're allowing players to come onto the court with rapid tests in their room ... No official PCR testing."
Tomic himself then tested positive two days later.
Zverev is taking no chances, saying: "I understand that there is a lot of cases in Melbourne, in Australia all around. So I don't do much outside, I haven't been to any restaurants yet, I haven't been out.
"I haven't been anywhere but the hotel room and the courts, so I'm kind of doing a bubble for myself, simply because I don't want to take any risks and I want to give myself the best chance possible to do well here."
When asked about how COVID protocols were affecting her, Australian women's world No.1 Ash Barty added: "My routine? I'm a hermit. It doesn't affect me too much. For us, it's pretty low-key.
"We come and practice and do what we need to do. Otherwise, a good book and a coffee and I'm set."
With Reuters
