ATLANTA: Frances Tiafoe on Saturday joined the list of tennis players to contract coronavirus, pulling out of an exhibition in Atlanta organised by former top 10 player John Isner who had controversially dismissed critics of the tournament as ‘coronabros’.

Ranked 81st in the ATP rankings, Tiafoe said he had tested negative in Florida last week before travelling to Georgia where around 450 spectators have been watching the eight-man event each day.

“Unfortunately, I tested positive late on Friday for Covid-19 and have to withdraw from the All-American Team Cup special event this weekend,” the 22-year-old posted on Twitter. “Over the past two months, I have been training in Florida and tested negative there as recently as a week ago.”

On the eve of the tournament, Isner had lashed out at skeptics who claimed it could not be held safely.

“You coronabros can stay in your basement all you want. I choose to live my life and play/promote the sport I love in a safe manner,” he said.

Fellow US player Sachia Vickery responded on Saturday: “Now would be a great time to RIP this tweet for good...”

Tiafoe’s announcement follows the slew of players who contracted Covid-19 after appearing at Novak Djokovic’s exhibition event in the Balkans last month.

World number one Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive at an Adria Tour where social distancing was at a minimum, raising serious questions for professional tennis’ return from lockdown in August.

Alexander Zverev, who tested negative in the Balkans, was then blasted as selfish for partying despite promising to self-isolate.

Organisers of the event in Florida reacted to Tiafoe’s news on social media, saying that he and all the other players were tested on their arrival in Atalanta and subjected to daily temperature tests.

“Tiafoe has left the event site and will not participate in the remainder of the event. We will continue to diligently enforce all guidelines from local health officials.”

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2020