Emma Raducanu tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of SPOTY 2021 award ceremony

Emma Raducanu has tested positive for Covid-19.

Emma Raducanu has had to withdraw from this week’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship after testing positive for coronavirus.

The 19-year-old had already traveled to the United Arab Emirates - where she was due to face Olympic champion Belinda Bencic on Thursday.

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"I was very much looking forward to playing in front of the fans here in Abu Dhabi, but unfortunately after testing positive for Covid-19, I will have to postpone until the next opportunity," Raducanu said.

"I'm isolating as per rules and hopefully will be able to get back on court soon."

The announcement comes the day after Raducanu was nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year 2021 award.

The teenager was due to attend the ceremony at MediaCity in Salford on Sunday 19 December.

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Raducanu was confirmed as the overwhelming favourite to win the award today and, if she is to claim the trophy, then she will have to watch on from quarantine.

Raducanu’s nomination and potential SPOTY award comes following her spectacular US Open title, where she became the youngest player to reach the final since Maria Sharapova in 2006.

Following her victory, she was named The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year and has become a brand ambassador for Tiffany & Co and Dior.

The SPOTY award ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC at 6:45pm.

Raducanu won’t be the only nominee absent from the event, with Tyson Fury threatening BBC with legal action on two occasions following his successive nominations.

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