Abu Dhabi, Dec 13 (AP) U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu tested positive for COVID-19 and pulled out of an exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

Organizers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship announced Raducanu's withdrawal, saying the British teenager is isolating and following protocols.

Also Read | India Inducts 148 Athletes, Including 20 New, in First List of TOPS Athletes for 2024 Games.

A replacement for Raducanu is being sought to fill in and play Belinda Bencic in Abu Dhabi.

Raducanu won the U.S. Open in September to become the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam singles title. Ranked just 150th at the time and winning 10 consecutive matches in straight sets, she became at age 18 the youngest female winner of a major championship since Maria Sharapova was 17 at Wimbledon in 2004.

Also Read | India's Tour of South Africa 2021-22: Quinton de Kock Could Miss Part of Test Series With Wife Expected To Give Birth.

Raducanu recently was voted the WTA Newcomer of the Year.

“After testing positive for COVID-19, I will have to postpone until the next opportunity to play in front of the fans here, which I was very much looking forward to," Raducanu was quoted as saying in the news release issued by the event's organizers.

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

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)