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Associated Press

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka was among the earliest arrivals into Melbourne on one of the 15 charter flights bringing players and officials into the city for the first grand slam tennis tournament of the year.
And she wanted everyone to know she was pleased to be in Australia despite all the Covid-19 restrictions around the world and a tournament-enforced 14-day quarantine period in Melbourne.
Azarenka, who won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, tweeted on Friday: “Made it to Melbourne! Thank you everyone so much for making it happen. I can only imagine how many hours of work and compromise it took for us to be here! Thank you.”
She included what appeared to be a selfie next to a window with downtown city views.
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The Australian Open is set to start on February 8.
Stan Wawrinka, who won the Australian Open in 2014, also posted a photo of himself and two other players, all wearing masks, from what appeared to be the business class section of one of the charters. Elina Svitolina, a two-time quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park, posted a video of her spacious Melbourne hotel suite.

Made it to Melbourne! Thank you everyone so much for making it happen. I can only imagine how many hours of work and compromise it took for us to be here! Thank you pic.twitter.com/Jt0ywFIEj4
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 15, 2021

The charters and the early arrivals are all part of Tennis Australia’s attempt to have the tournament happen despite a ban on international arrivals into the country. To do so, they are having players undergo Covid-19 tests before they board their charter flights, again after they arrive and frequently during the quarantine period.
The first of about 1,200 players, coaches, entourage and officials landed late on Thursday. The players were met by airport staff and biosecurity officials wearing personal protective equipment including masks and face shields, before being taken to hotel quarantine.
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The virus news wasn’t so good for five-time finalist Andy Murray, whose status for the Australian Open was put in doubt after he tested positive for Covid-19 only days before his planned flight to Melbourne. The tournament says that the three-time grand slam champion, who was given a wild card for Melbourne, is isolating at home.
Tennis Australia said Murray will miss the charter flights and won’t be able “to go through the quarantine period with the other players.” His chances of appearing at the tournament appear to be in serious doubt.
Also Americans Madison Keys and Tennys Sandgren returned positive tests, but Sandgren was given permission to fly.
“I unfortunately tested positive for (Covid-19) before I was supposed to fly to Australia,” Keys said on social media. “I’m very disappointed to not be able to play in the coming weeks after training hard in the off-season ... I am self-isolating at home and will continue to follow all the necessary health precautions. I look forward to being back on tour next month.”
Sandgren originally tested positive in November, with Victorian state health authorities in Australia determining he was no longer contagious though still shedding viral particles.
“My two tests were less than 8 weeks apart. I was sick in November, totally healthy now,” Sandgren tweeted. “There’s not a single documented case where I would be contagious at this point. Totally recovered!”

The Australian Open has already been delayed three weeks because restrictions in place for the Covid-19 pandemic. And because of the Australian restrictions, the men’s and women’s qualifying tournaments – in Doha, Qatar and in Dubai – were held outside of Australia for the first time.
The 15 charter flights were restricted to 25 per cent capacity, and were set to arrive over a 36-hour period ending early on Saturday.
Once a negative result has been returned, players can train within a strictly supervised environment for five hours per day.
The Australian Open draw will be held on February 4, four days ahead of the start of the main tournament, which ends February 21 with the men’s singles final.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams will be among a group of players involved in an exhibition event in Adelaide, South Australia state, on January 29. Those players were expected to fly straight to Adelaide to begin their hotel quarantine period.
All other tournaments will be in Melbourne, including the 12-team ATP Cup starting on February 1 and two WTA events in the week leading into the Australian Open.


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Australian Open 2021

Australian Open: players arrive and head straight into quarantine

Serena Williams and her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jnr arrive before heading straight to quarantine for two weeks’ isolation. Photo: AFP

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka arrives before heading straight to quarantine for two weeks isolation ahead of her Australian Open warm up matches in Adelaide on January 14, 2021. (Photo by Brenton EDWARDS / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

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The Formula One Chinese Grand Prix is expected to be postponed. Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Australian Open: Roger Federer ‘runs out of time for rigours of grand slam’ after knee surgeries

Switzerland’s Roger Federer will not play in the Australian Open this year. Photo: Reuters

FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2020 file photo, Switzerland's Roger Federer serves to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. Federer’s agent tells The Associated Press, Sunday, Dec. 27, that the 20-time Grand Slam champion is withdrawing from the Australian Open. Tony Godsick says Federer is still preparing to return to action after two operations on his right knee. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File)

Australian Open organisers optimistic for January go-ahead despite coronavirus measures

Tournament organisers are confident that the Australian Open will go ahead as planned in January next year. Photo: AP

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2020, file photo, Serbia's Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Austria's Dominic Thiem in the men's singles final of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. The political leader of Australia's Victorian state says Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, despite "incredibly complex" negotiations, he is confident January's Australian Open tennis tournament will proceed. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Sport

Tennis


Five-time finalist Andy Murray’s chances of appearing in serious doubt after he tests positive for Covid-19
Players fly in for two weeks quarantine



Five-time finalist Andy Murray’s chances of appearing in serious doubt after he tests positive for Covid-19, while players fly in for two weeks quarantine.


Coronavirus pandemic

Australia

Australian Open: players arrive and head straight into quarantine

Five-time finalist Andy Murray’s chances of appearing in serious doubt after he tests positive for Covid-19 Players fly in for two weeks quarantine

Five-time finalist Andy Murray’s chances of appearing in serious doubt after he tests positive for Covid-19

Players fly in for two weeks quarantine