French Open semi-finalist Marin Cilic has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after he tested positive for Covid on Monday - just days after the former finalist trained with defending champion Novak Djokovic.
The Croatian was set to potentially face men’s Grand Slam all-time record leader Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals and he was seen playing on Centre Court with Djokovic last Thursday. Cilic was scheduled to face American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.
Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, reached the Wimbledon final in 2017 where he lost in straight sets to Roger Federer. The 33-year-old took to social media to confirm he was suffering from Covid after an earlier statement by the All England Club suggested Cilic had withdrawn due to ‘illness’.
It is believed he avoided being indoors in close proximity with anyone since beginning to feel uneasy. On Instagram, Cilic insisted he was ‘heartbroken’ about the news and wrote: “Hey guys, I am sad to share that I tested positive for COVID.
“I have been self-isolating and was hopeful I would be ready but unfortunately I am still feeling unwell and unable to compete at my best.”
Cilic was originally seeded 14th and was considered a strong outside contender after he reached the last four at Roland Garros. He also made the semi-finals at the ATP 500 tournament at Queens, the traditional warm-up tournament before Wimbledon.
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News of the veteran’s withdrawal will undoubtedly come as a boost to Nadal, who is chasing the coveted Calendar Slam after he won the Australian Open and the French Open. It allowed him to move clear of Djokovic and Federer in the battle for most Grand Slam titles, as he now has 22 - two clear of his rivals.
Cilic has been replaced in the draw by Nuno Borges. In 2020, Wimbledon was cancelled amid the Covid pandemic and returned last year under strict protocols. There is still deep cleaning, but the protocols have been significantly eased this year.
“We are following UK guidance around assessment and isolation of any potential infectious disease,” said a spokesperson for the All England Club.
