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Australian Open preparations in disarray with 47 players forced to quarantine

47 players will be unable to train for two weeks ahead of the upcoming Australian Open tennis aft...



Australian Open preparations i...
Other Sports

Australian Open preparations in disarray with 47 players forced to quarantine

47 players will be unable to train for two weeks ahead of the upcoming Australian Open tennis after being forced to quarantine.

A passenger on a flight carrying 23 players to Melbourne from Abu Dhabi has tested positive for COVID-19 while another flight with 24 players traveling from Los Angeles had two positive cases on board.

Reports in Australia claim that ex-US Open winner Sloane Stephens and former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka were among those who arrived from LA.

Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that none of the three people who returned positive tests were athletes.

All the affected players are now in quarantine hotels, and will not be able to leave their room for 14 days and until medical clearance.

Andy Murray's participation in Melbourne is in major doubt after the former world number one confirmed that he's self-isolating after returning a positive coronavirus test.

The Scot has not yet traveled to Australia and says he's in good health and remaining hopeful that he'll still be able to play at the tournament.

"Andy Murray has advised that he has tested positive to Covid-19 and is isolating at home in the UK," tournament organisers announced in a statement.

"Unfortunately this means he will be unable to join the official AO charter flights arriving in Australia in the coming days to go through the quarantine period with the other players.

"The AO fans love Andy, and we know how much he loves competing here in Melbourne and how hard he'd worked for this opportunity."

The delayed first Grand Slam of the year starts on February the 8th.

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Andy Murray Australian Open Tennis