WTA players arrive in Melbourne, quarantine for Australian Open

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A lot of WTA players have already arrived in Melbourne on charter flights. Let’s have a look at how they’re spending their first days in Australia. We can notice that general mood is gratefulness, as the athletes are happy to have the opportunity to travel and compete despite a ban on international arrivals into the country and two-week quarantine they have to endure.

Daria Kasatkina expressed her appreciation of Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley for the hard work he’s done to make all this possible.

Victoria Azarenka is also among the first of about 1,200 players, team members, coaches and officials that landed late Thursday. The last batch of travelers will arrive by early Saturday. Before boarding their flights, restricted to 25% capacity, players underwent COVID-19 tests and they will be tested a handful more times during the quarantine period.

Elina Svitolina showed us her luxury suite with the city view.

As you can see, most players are enjoying the Melbourne cityscape from their hotel rooms.

Johanna Konta is busy working out.

Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova, Magda Linette, and Kiki Bertens will not play the 2021 Australian Open. Keys and Anisimova will miss the tournament because of their positive COVID-19 tests, Linette’s knee injury got severely worse and she’ll have to undergo a minor surgery, while Bertens is still nursing her Achilles injury. Dayana Yastremska is the strangest case: the Ukrainian has arrived in Melbourne, but it’s unclear how she would be allowed to compete because of her provisional doping ban.

The Australian Open is scheduled to start on February 8.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Im so disappointed in and for Amanda. She is my fave active player and she really seemed to have a careless off season. I hope she learns form this and takes her career a bit more seriously from now on. As for Madison I really do feel sorry for her. She has been very unlucky over the years.

  2. I have to admit there has been a lot of bad press and ill feeling from the public here in Aus about letting this event go ahead and letting players into the country before Aus citizens who want to get home. While I totally understand why they are angry and I would be too if I was overseas and wanted to get home I also hope the event goes well and doesn’t cause any more concern.

  3. Andy, you can never please everyone. Tennis Australia has the best intention to keep tennis alive, but it is definitely a very challenging task. Even at the very beginning they are facing difficulties as some ppl from one of the charter flights has tested positive.

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