This period leading to the 2021 Australian Open has been far from a smooth ride. As many as 72 players are now confined to their hotel rooms after being on flights with positive COVID-19 cases. Even though it’s extremely difficult to stay in form in such a strict lockdown, players are doing their best to motivate themselves to train hard every day. It’s sad that they are forced to practice in this way, but it’s also good to see how creative they are and determined to get through this two-week quarantine as winners.
Wrong surface but that doesn‘t matter for us💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/R8FsdyGafy
— Belinda Bencic (@BelindaBencic) January 17, 2021
Belinda Bencic was one of the most vocal complainers, but she calmed down and started working with what she has. However, her hitting this ball into the glass is making me anxious.
Hsieh Su-Wei is also testing the hotel windows.
Quarantine Tingzzzzz @AustralianOpen ✌🏾😝 pic.twitter.com/mevsbwifVX
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) January 19, 2021
Coco Gauff at least put a curtain as a barrier.
As you all know, I am one of the players that has been placed in full isolation. Not the easiest news to get but staying strong and making the best of it. I am committed to do whatever it takes to get ready despite the circumstances. Time to get creative 😜 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/pTdZDy0saM
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) January 18, 2021
Ons Jabeur and her team use the mattress — the best solution, no noise, no broken glass.
Preparation for @AustralianOpen with @NastiaPav is in progress😛 #DD pic.twitter.com/RG1EtL66Dl
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) January 16, 2021
Daria Kasatkina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova are making fun of the bizarre situation.
Any workout songs suggestions? #tryingtostaypositive 🙄 pic.twitter.com/zi8GfSVqiD
— Yulia Putintseva (@PutintsevaYulia) January 18, 2021
Yulia Putintseva is frustrated, but she’s trying to focus on training (despite mice in her hotel rooms).
Day 5/14 – squat press with a leather chair (& bangers on in the background 🎶) pic.twitter.com/YwrKGJyV2c
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) January 19, 2021
Heather Watson is running for miles in her room, playing tennis without a tennis ball and also uses furniture as a workout prop.
One way to do my quarantine workout in my hotel room…
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Trening podczas kwarantanny w pokoju hotelowym? Można i tak.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/1OiItCwTnB— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) January 17, 2021
Iga Swiatek and Laura Siegemund seem to be having a good time.
Marta Kostyuk is using water bottles as weights.
All of you who got lazy during this pandemic can find motivation in these videos. There are no excuses. Just do it. It’s easy to complain, but work needs to be done, even if it means running 5 km within the constraints of a hotel room.
