Querrey reportedly tests positive; Giraldo retires at 32

Officially, Sam Querrey withdrew from the St. Petersburg
Open because of "illness." Photo courtesy of mvtpr.com

   An unidentified player, reportedly Sam Querrey, was removed from the St. Petersburg Open draw after testing positive for the coronavirus.

   Although the ATP Tour did not confirm that the 33-year-old San Francisco native was the player in question, he withdrew from the tournament because of "illness," according to the draw.

   The ATP Tour said the player is in isolation and asymptomatic.

   The 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Querrey, now based in Las Vegas, is 0-4 since the ATP Tour resumed in August following a five-month hiatus caused by the pandemic.

   Giraldo retires — Santiago Giraldo, a thoughtful Colombian who peaked at No. 28 in the world rankings in 2014, announced his retirement from professional tennis last week at 32.

   "I started at 15, and now at almost 33, I've decided to say thank you and put a full stop at the end of this journey," Giraldo, who won two Challenger singles titles in Northern California, said on atptour.com. "I did the best I could, and I gave everything I have.

   "I remember that curious, unique, explorative and rebellious boy who left home at just 12 years of age, carrying only his rackets and his dreams, until he arrived here today. I don't regret anything I did."

   Giraldo, 6-foot-2 (1.88 meters) and only 166 pounds (75 kilograms), played in two ATP Tour singles finals, losing to Tommy Robredo at Vina del Mar, Chile, in 2011, and Kei Nishikori at Barcelona in 2014. Giraldo's biggest wins came against then-No. 8 Andy Murray at Madrid in 2014 and then-No. 10 Marin Cilic at Geneva in 2015. All four tournaments were on clay.

   Giraldo won 10 Challenger singles titles, the last one coming in Fairfield, Calif., in 2016. Before his first-round match in Fairfield, Giraldo placed a tennis ball with a smiley face drawn on it on the chair next to his to remind himself "how lucky I am ... in everything in my life," he said then. Giraldo also hoisted the trophy in Sacramento, Calif., in 2009.
   After taking some time to relax, Giraldo plans to coach and hopes to become Colombia's Davis Cup captain eventually.