Bernard Tomic has told the on-court umpire that he is certain to test positive for COVID-19 after making a typically bizarre start to Australian Open qualifying.
Newly dressed in a peroxide blonde hairstyle, Tomic carried on with his usual antics in a match against Russian rising star Roman Safiulin at the Kia Arena in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Tomic came out fast in just 57 minutes, losing 6-1 6-4.
Tomic, who was 1-2 in the second set, told umpire Aline da Rocha Nocinto during the change that he thought he had the virus.
"I'm sure I'll test positive in the next two days, I'm telling you," the 29-year-old said from his chair.
"If I don't test positive in three days I will buy you dinner, otherwise you will buy me dinner (for the umpire)."
Tomic told him he couldn't believe there was no official PCR test for the players, only a quick test needed.
"They are allowing players to come on the court with rapid tests in their rooms, come on... there is no official PCR test," he said.
A sluggish tomic was noticed by the trainer at the first change in the opening set and was seen taking his pulse while out on the court.
The 29-year-old was broken in the fourth game and lost quickly, losing the first set in just 23 minutes.
The former world number 17, now ranked 257th, had not played in the ATP tournament since September, when he retired in the first round of the qualifier event in Kazakhstan.
The defeat was his fifth consecutive defeat but he reached Melbourne vowing to climb up the rankings again.
Safiulin, 24, was an unlikely star in Russia's race to the ATP Cup semi-finals last week.
Another Australian, Nick Kyrgios, had to withdraw from the Sydney Tennis Classic after contracting COVID-19.