• A tennis player waits in his hotel for a training session in Melbourne on January 19, 2021, as players train while quaratining for two weeks ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. AFP
    A tennis player waits in his hotel for a training session in Melbourne on January 19, 2021, as players train while quaratining for two weeks ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. AFP
  • Storm Sanders walks back to the hotel after a training session in Melbourne. AFP
    Storm Sanders walks back to the hotel after a training session in Melbourne. AFP
  • Marcelo Melo of Brazil walks back to the hotel after a training session. AFP
    Marcelo Melo of Brazil walks back to the hotel after a training session. AFP
  • Latisha Chan of Taiwan. AFP
    Latisha Chan of Taiwan. AFP
  • Tennis players wait to leave the hotel for a training session in Melbourne. AFP
    Tennis players wait to leave the hotel for a training session in Melbourne. AFP
  • Australian tennis player Ivana Popovic leaves the hotel for a training session. AFP
    Australian tennis player Ivana Popovic leaves the hotel for a training session. AFP
  • French tennis player Alize Cornet. AFP
    French tennis player Alize Cornet. AFP
  • Australian tennis player John-Patrick Smith leaves the hotel. AFP
    Australian tennis player John-Patrick Smith leaves the hotel. AFP
  • Novak Djokovic on the balcony of the M Suites, where some Australian Open competitors are currently under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, in North Adelaide, Australia. EPA
    Novak Djokovic on the balcony of the M Suites, where some Australian Open competitors are currently under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, in North Adelaide, Australia. EPA
  • Tennis fans gather outside the M Suites. EPA
    Tennis fans gather outside the M Suites. EPA
  • Novak Djokovic on the balcony of the M Suites. EPA
    Novak Djokovic on the balcony of the M Suites. EPA
  • Pakistan tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi reacts during a practice session in Melbourne. AFP
    Pakistan tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi reacts during a practice session in Melbourne. AFP
  • An unidentified tennis player hits a return during a practice session in Melbourne. AFP
    An unidentified tennis player hits a return during a practice session in Melbourne. AFP
  • Support staff appear with Dominic Thiem on the balcony of the M Suites, where some Australian Open competitors are currently under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, in North Adelaide, Australia. EPA
    Support staff appear with Dominic Thiem on the balcony of the M Suites, where some Australian Open competitors are currently under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, in North Adelaide, Australia. EPA
  • Romanian tennis player Ioana Raluca Olaru hits a return during a practice session in Melbourne. AFP
    Romanian tennis player Ioana Raluca Olaru hits a return during a practice session in Melbourne. AFP
  • Security at the M Suites in North Adelaide. EPA
    Security at the M Suites in North Adelaide. EPA
  • A radio station welcomes tennis players across the road from the M Suites, where some Australian Open competitors are currently under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, in North Adelaide, Australia. EPA
    A radio station welcomes tennis players across the road from the M Suites, where some Australian Open competitors are currently under quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, in North Adelaide, Australia. EPA
  • Tennis balls are pictured in front of the Australian Open logo. Reuters
    Tennis balls are pictured in front of the Australian Open logo. Reuters

Novak Djokovic holed up in Adelaide as rivals train for Australian Open in Melbourne - in pictures


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Organisers of the Australian Open on Tuesday ruled out reducing the men's tournament at the Grand Slam to best-of-three sets due to players' inability to train at required level amid the strict Covid-19 quarantine rules.

A total of 72 players are currently not allowed to leave their hotel rooms for 14 days after some passengers on three charter flights to Australia tested positive for Covid-19 infections.

The rest of the players, who travelled by 14 other charter flights from across the world, are allowed five hours daily outside their hotel rooms to spend on preparing for the year's first tennis major from February 8-21.

Some players and pundits have said they feared the lack of training activities could make athletes vulnerable to injuries during the Grand Slam and called on organisers Tennis Australia to consider reducing the men's event from best-of-five sets.

"A few players came up with the idea to bring it down to three sets this time, which I think would make a lot of sense," Japanese player Taro Daniel told the Herald Sun.

"Because even for guys who are able to train these two weeks, it's not optimal training. You're limited to two hours a day and one hour of gym – so five sets would be pretty brutal this time.

"I have no idea if they'll be able to do it or not, but I think perhaps they should."

Players have also complained about the quarangtine conditions, and men's world No 1 Novak Djokovic, currently holed up in accommodation in Adelaide, sent governing body Tennis Australia requests for restrictions to be eased, drawing a backlash from Australians.

Tiley said he had a call with 500 players to address concerns and the "vast majority" had been supportive of Australia's strict protocols.

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