Sandgren allowed to board Australian Open flight despite positive test

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - September 15, 2020 Tennys Sandgren of the U.S. in action during his first round match against Italy's Salvatore Caruso Pool via REUTERS/Riccardo Antimiani

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Tennys Sandgren was granted special permission to board a chartered flight from Los Angeles bound for the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday despite testing positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, Tennis Australia said.

Sandgren said on Twitter he had tested positive in November and returned another positive test on Monday and might not be able to board the flight, one of 15 carrying players and coaching staff to the first Grand Slam of the year.