Frenchman Benoit Paire Removed From U.S. Open Draw After Testing Positive For COVID-19

Frenchman Benoit Paire has become the first player to test positive for COVID-19 at the U.S. Open and has been withdrawn from the tournament.

The tournament did not single out Paire by name, but said the player who tested positive is asymptomatic.

The French newspaper L’Equipe reported the player is Paire, who is ranked No. 22 in the world, seeded No. 17 and owns three career singles titles.

The tournament said the player “must isolate for at least 10 days. In addition, contact tracing has been initiated to determine if anyone must quarantine for 14 days.”

The 31-year-old Paire arrived in New York to play the Western & Southern Open last week, a tune-up for the U.S Open, but he did not complete his first-round match against Croatia’s Borna Coric.

Paire appeared to be unwell during the match, asking for a doctor in the opening set before retiring in the second while trailing 6-0, 1-0.

Paire will be replaced in the men’s singles draw by Marcel Granollers, a 34-year-old Spaniard ranked No. 134. Granollers will now face Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak in the first round on Tuesday.

Ironically, Granollers tested positive for coronavirus antibodies earlier this month.

With additional reporting from Reuters