JORDANNE Whiley can focus on her quest for Paralympics glory after she was cleared to play following a Covid case in the wheelchair tennis set-up.

The 13-time Grand Slam winner, who lives in Steventon, gets under way in the women’s singles and doubles this weekend after the virus reared its head in Japan.

One of the wheelchair tennis staff members tested positive for Covid before arriving at the Athlete Village on Monday, having produced a negative swab upon arrival in the country and at the preparation camp.

They are self-isolating and ParalympicsGB worked with Tokyo 2020 organisers to establish close contacts of the individual, with Whiley and the rest of the seven-strong squad today given the green light.

A statement read: “ParalympicsGB can confirm that all our wheelchair tennis players have been cleared to practice and compete at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games.

“Tokyo 2020 authorities have confirmed that they are not close contacts of the positive staff member.

“ParalympicsGB have a number of enhanced safety precautions around the wheelchair tennis squad including enhanced daily testing to ensure the safety of the whole team.”

Whiley won wheelchair doubles bronze at London 2012 and Rio 2016, but a singles medal at the Games is the one prize missing from her impressive CV.

The fourth seed has been handed a tough first-round draw, with Colombian world No 9 Angelica Bernal on the other side of the net on Saturday.

There are 32 participants in the women’s singles, so the 29-year-old must reach at least the semi-finals to be in with a chance of a medal.

Whiley could face Bernal again on Sunday, when she begins her doubles campaign with Lucy Shuker.

The No 2 seeds were automatic qualifiers for the quarter-final and will play the winner of Bernal and Johana Martinez or South Africans Kgothatso Montjane and Mariska Venter for a place in the last four.

Whiley said: “I’m really excited about the Games and so happy that I will be wearing Great Britain on my back once again and representing my country.

“I know everyone will be watching back home – especially our juniors and aspiring players.

“It’s always good for them to see what they can aspire to be or aspire to do.

“I can’t wait to get out there and start competing.”

The wheelchair tennis squad prepared at a holding camp at the Tennis Training Centre in Kashiwa City, less than one hour from Tokyo, after arriving in Japan.