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AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Feb 8 - 21.
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Recent Posts
- Four or more finals @ Australian Open: WTA. Sharapova lost THREE of them? Wonder who beat her!!!!!!!!!!!! Graf just five appearances? Serena with eight?
- The 10 Most Memorable Matches in Australian Open History. One of them in quarterfinals?
- Australian Open Quarantine | What the players have been up to?
- Some Big Three stats.
- Big three (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic) and Australian Open titles.
- Photos.
- Media: Margaret Court set to receive top Australian award.
- Chatting with Daniela : Belinda Bencic.
- Top 10 ATP Tennis Comeback Wins! 🔄
- Who from among the top 10 players lost the MOST times to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. 7-0 and more. There are THREE with 17-0 record? One of them is an active player?
01/21/2021
Soul plane is funny..........I think.
It's free on YouTube. Type in 'free you-tube movies' and it may be there. Geeeeezzzzz!!!!!!!
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Case of 'why would anyone want her to NOT retire'. From Gary Moser. Thanks.
GARY MOSER
https://sports.yahoo.com/laura-robson-hints-her-career-192424931.html
Wow.....a not-so-Happy Birthday here, huh?
Even with the advantage of "modern-medicine" in the form of 2 previous hip surgeries
before this third one --- and having just clocked 27 years on her odometer ---
she hasn't made it past R1 of a Slam in the past SEVEN...FREAKING...YEARS!
Why would even the staunchest of her supporters encourage her to continue?
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01/20/2021
01/19/2021
How many five setters have Federer and Nadal played against each other @ a Slam final? Just four?
| 2017 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | F | Roger Federer |
| 2009 | Australian Open Australia |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal |
| 2008 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | F | Rafael Nadal |
| 2007 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | F | Roger Federer |
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Players who REALLY REALLY thought that their certain record will NEVER be broken - while they were creating it. How about among active players?
Borg: Five Wimbledon titles.
Sampras: Seven Wimbledon titles.
Connors: 109 career titles.
Connors: 160 straight weeks @ No. 1.
McEnroe: Single season match record of 82-3. It still stands.
Lendl: 11 Slam finals lost.
Agassi: Won every tournament at least once. Still stands. Federer is missing Olympics. Nadal WTF. Djokovic?
ACTIVE:
Nadal: 13 FO titles.
Federer: 310 weeks @ No. 1.
Federer: 8 Wimbledon titles.
Djokovic: 8 AO titles.
Djokovic: Most total weeks @ No. 1 (320?).
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Players who have won a Slam five STRAIGHT times. No Djokovic @ AO? Then he cannot be he the GOAT - of ANY orientation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Borg: Wimbledon.
Federer: Wimbledon.
Nadal: FO.
Federer: US Open.
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Photos.
JANUARY 18, 2021: MELBOURNE, VIC: (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) American tennis player Mackenzie McDonald looks out of the window during COVID-19 quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne, Victoria. (Photo by Mark Stewart/Newspix via Getty Images)
JANUARY 18, 2021: MELBOURNE, VIC: (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) American tennis player Mackenzie McDonald looks out of the window during COVID-19 quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne, Victoria. (Photo by Mark Stewart/Newspix via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Tennis players are seen arriving at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Park will host WTA and ATP events along with the ATP in the lead up to the 2021 Australian Open. Melbourne Park is currently under strict lockdown due to players quarantine conditions travelling from overseas into Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: A general view of Melbourne Park on January 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Park will host WTA and ATP events along with the ATP in the lead up to the 2021 Australian Open. Melbourne Park is currently under strict lockdown due to players quarantine conditions travelling from overseas into Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Tennis players are seen arriving at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Park will host WTA and ATP events along with the ATP in the lead up to the 2021 Australian Open. Melbourne Park is currently under strict lockdown due to players quarantine conditions travelling from overseas into Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: A tennis player is seen warming up at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Park will host WTA and ATP events along with the ATP in the lead up to the 2021 Australian Open. Melbourne Park is currently under strict lockdown due to players quarantine conditions travelling from overseas into Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. daughter of Serena Williams sterilizes her hands held by her father Alexis Ohanian arrives at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Serena Williams with her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. arrives at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Rafael Nadal arrives at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Naomi Osaka arrives at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Novak Djokovic arrives at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14:Dominic Thiem arrives at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Bus leaves with players at Adelaide Airport on January 14, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Adelaide for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine before being able to compete in Adelaide and then to Melbourne for the Australian Open and lead up events. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Tennis players and their support teams are seen disembarking Flight EY460 carrying tennis players and their support teams participating at the Australian Open at Melbourne Jet Base adjoining the Melbourne International airport on January 14, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine and will be housed across three hotels; the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View Melbourne. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues set up at Melbourne Park, the National Tennis Centre and Albert Reserve. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Players and officials arriving for the Australian Tennis Open are seen disembarking on chartered flight QR7176 arrives at Melbourne Jet Base adjoining the Melbourne International airport on January 14, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine and will be housed across three hotels; the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View Melbourne. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues set up at Melbourne Park, the National Tennis Centre and Albert Reserve. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: A general view of the entrance and Signage of the Grand Hyatt hotel which is one of the three hotels being used for quarantine of players and accompanying staff competing in the Australian Open on January 14, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine and will be housed across three hotels; the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View Melbourne. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues set up at Melbourne Park, the National Tennis Centre and Albert Reserve. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: A police car is seen at the back entrance of The Pullman Hotel in Albert Park which is one of the three hotels being used for quarantine of players and accompanying staff competing in the Australian Open on January 14, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine and will be housed across three hotels; the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View Melbourne. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues set up at Melbourne Park, the National Tennis Centre and Albert Reserve. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: A general view of the entrance and signage of The Pullman Hotel in Albert Park which is one of the three hotels being used for quarantine of players and accompanying staff competing in the Australian Open on January 14, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine and will be housed across three hotels; the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View Melbourne. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues set up at Melbourne Park, the National Tennis Centre and Albert Reserve. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Flight QR7176 is seen taxiing into Melbourne Jet Base adjoining the Melbourne International airport on January 14, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. All players and staff arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine and will be housed across three hotels; the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View Melbourne. Quarantining players will be able to leave their rooms for up to five hours a day, but only to attend dedicated quarantine training venues set up at Melbourne Park, the National Tennis Centre and Albert Reserve. Players will only be permitted to train once their day two COVID-19 comes back negative. All other staff and officials will need to remain in their rooms at all times for the 14 days of quarantine. The 2021 Australian Open will be the largest international sporting event to be held in Australia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
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01/17/2021
Australian Open: 72 players now forced to comply with strict 14-day hotel quarantine but organizers reject talk of tournament delay.
Another plane-load of incoming players will have to serve out a strict quarantine in Melbourne, because of a positive Covid test in their midst. This takes the total number of players who cannot leave their hotel for the next 14 days to 72.
This flight had come in from Doha, the venue for the men’s qualifying tournament. There were 25 players aboard, including most of the 16 male qualifiers, plus up to six reserve players who could yet get their chance as “lucky losers” if someone pulls out.
The two British men in qualifying – Liam Broady and Jay Clarke – both lost in the first round, so they were not travelling on to Australia. Previously, the 47 affected players from the first two Covid-carrying planes had included just one Briton in Heather Watson.
To recap, 17 charter flights have carried around 370 players to Melbourne and Adelaide over the last few days, and three of those have now been affected by positive tests. This is shattering news for the players aboard, who had previously expected to spend the next two weeks practising on the Melbourne Park courts and also training in the gym. Now they will have to do without their promised daily five hours of release from the hotel.
Just to add to the sense of frustration and injustice, a handful of elite players have begun a far more relaxed regime in Adelaide, where they have been filmed travelling in shuttle buses without facemasks. These superstars are also entitled to take larger entourages with them. Some have claimed that Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem have ten support staff and family members apiece, whereas those in Melbourne were allowed to bring a maximum of two others into the country.
Djokovic, who sees himself as the primary representative of the locker-room, has written to Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley about the quarantined players. Djokovic asked Tiley to “move as many players as possible to private houses with courts to train”. He also suggested that they should be provided with fitness training and allowed to see their coaches and physical trainers.
But Stan Wawrinka, who won this title in 2014, replied to Djokovic’s statement on social media with the disdainful words “From Adelaide? Ahhahah.”
Also on social media, several players posted videos of themselves finding ways to train in their rooms. Yulia Putintseva bounced groundstrokes off her wall, while Belinda Bencic did the same with her window and Ons Jabeur hit forehands into her pillows.
Grand slam preparation 😅 pic.twitter.com/ALvc4EugN6
— Yulia Putintseva (@PutintsevaYulia) January 17, 2021
The most inventive clips were posted by Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas, who began by donning his swimming trunks and simulating surfing on his bed as it rolled towards the camera. He then turned his mattress on its end, leaned it against the wall, and bashed backhands into it with full power.
Así pasa Pablo Cuevas sus días de cuarentena en la habitación del hotel en Australia 😅 pic.twitter.com/y96Yh8Ty0U
— Respiro Tenis (@Respiro_Tenis) January 17, 2021
There were others who broke the protocols without thinking. Two male players were rebuked by Correctional Commissioner Emma Cassar in an interview with Channel Nine news, although she stopped short of naming them.
Cassar spoke of one player “who opened the door to try and have a conversation with his training mate down the hallway.” She also mentioned “another gentleman [who] shouted some UberEats to some other people on the floor and was praising himself for his great efforts – and opened his door to do so. It is really low-level but really dangerous acts which we just can’t tolerate.”
According to Channel Nine, both players have now been given formal warnings by the Victorian police. Fines for a second offence could reach A$20,000. But one other player who admitted opening her hotel door – Putintseva – deserved some sympathy in the circumstances. She had previously taken a video of a mouse running around her room, and said she was only trying to let it out.
In another Channel Nine interview, Tiley rejected suggestions that he might be forced to delay the Australian Open beyond its planned start date of Feb 8. He did admit that the unavailability of training facilities for some players “makes it an uneven playing field so what we have to do is mitigate it as much as possible in the circumstances. What we’re trying to do is to make it as fair as possible for those players.”
For those whose charter flights returned no positive tests, practice at Melbourne Park was supposed to start on Sunday at 3.45pm. In fact, it ended up being suspended until Monday because of a shortage of staff to deep-clean the buses - an awkward detail that highlights the many challenges facing Tennis Australia over the coming weeks.
https://sports.yahoo.com/australian-open-72-players-now-130321849.html
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01/15/2021
Did you know?
You should never flush the toilet without the lid closed because fecal matters travels at least 15 feet. How far is your toothbrush etc.?
Click here for more.
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What is an inside out forehand?
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Multiple-time opponents in the open era: Australian Open. Djokovic and Murray rule?
In 2016, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray reached the same final for an unprecedented fourth time in six years; no other pair of players have contested more than two Australian Open finals in the Open era, and only the four finals between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the French Open matches the record in any of the other Slams during the Open era.
| Opponents | Record | Finals meetings | |
| Most Wins | Most Losses | ||
 / Johan Kriek |
Steve Denton |
2–0 | 1981, 1982 |
| Jim Courier |
 Stefan Edberg |
2–0 | 1992, 1993 |
 Roger Federer vs.  Rafael Nadal |
1–1 | 2009 (Nadal), 2017 (Federer) | |
 Novak Djokovic |
 Andy Murray |
4–0 | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| Novak Djokovic |
Rafael Nadal |
2–0 | 2012, 2019 |
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Attendance: AO.
The following record of attendance begins in 1987, when the tournament moved from being held in December to in January (the immediate preceding tournament was December 1985). 1987 was the last year that the Kooyong Tennis Club hosted the tournament; since 1988 it has been held at Melbourne Park. The average growth rate over the period covered below is more than 7%.
- 2020: 812,174
- 2019: 796,435
- 2018: 743,667
- 2017: 728,763
- 2016: 720,363
- 2015: 703,899
- 2014: 643,280
- 2013: 684,457
- 2012: 686,006
- 2011: 651,127
- 2010: 653,860
- 2009: 603,160
- 2008: 605,735
- 2007: 554,858
- 2006: 550,550
- 2005: 543,873
- 2004: 521,691
- 2003: 512,225
- 2002: 518,248
- 2001: 543,834
- 2000: 501,251
- 1999: 473,29
- 1998: 434,807
- 1997: 391,504
- 1996: 389,598
- 1995: 311,678
- 1994: 332,926
- 1993: 322,074
- 1992: 329,034
- 1991: 305,048
- 1990: 312,000
- 1989: 289,023
- 1988: 244,859
- 1987: 140,089
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Australian Open finalists. Nadal among top five? 24 players got there just once - and lost? Murray got there FIVE times - and never won? The other two multiple 'arrivals' without win: Pat Cash and Some Denton.
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Players arrive for Australian Open; straight into quarantine.
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 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.''
The Australian Open is set to start Feb. 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 quarterfinalist at Melbourne Park, posted a video of her spacious Melbourne hotel suite.
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 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.
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 charter flights were restricted to 25% capacity, and were set to arrive over a 36-hour period ending early 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 Feb. 4, four days ahead of the start of the main tournament, which ends Feb. 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 Jan. 29. Those players flew straight to Adelaide to begin their hotel quarantine period.
All other tournaments will be in Melbourne, including the 12-team ATP Cup starting Feb. 1 and two WTA events in the week leading into the Australian Open.
https://sports.yahoo.com/players-arrive-australian-open-straight-quarantine-034647233--ten.html
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Nadal, Thiem suffer coaching setbacks ahead of Australian Open.
World number two Rafa Nadal and last year's Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem have both suffered setbacks with their coaches unable to make the trip Down Under for the year's first tennis Grand Slam.
Players and officials have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival in Australia before they participate in warmup events from Jan. 31 at Melbourne Park, where the major will be held from Feb. 8-21.
Nadal's coach Carlos Moya said he would not be travelling to Australia due to the strict health restrictions.
"After speaking with Rafa, we have decided that I won't travel to Australia with the team," Moya, a former world number one, said on social media.
"I will follow the tournament from home and will stay with my family, parents and kids due to the delicate situation that Spain is living with the virus. Best of luck to the team."
Nadal, U.S. Open champion Thiem, ranked No.3 in the world, and defending Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic will be among top players quarantining in Adelaide and then head to Melbourne for the team-based ATP Cup and the Grand Slam.
Thiem's coach Nicolas Massu of Chile was not on the flight to Australia, having tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
"Before we took off, we received the surprising message from Nicolas Massu that he had a positive test," Thiem's father Wolfgang was quoted as saying by Austria's Kurier daily.
"Nico will be tested again in a few days. We hope that he will be negative then and he will be able to follow suit soon."
With restrictions on arrival in Australia, it was unlikely that Massu, a former top 10 player, could be part of Thiem's team at Melbourne Park.
Thiem, who lost to Djokovic in the 2020 final, will train with fellow Austrian player Dennis Novak during the quarantine period when the players are allowed five hours outside their hotel rooms to prepare for the major.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nadal-thiem-suffer-coaching-setbacks-062046427.html
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01/14/2021
Unsportsmanlike behavior from Federer that’s unprecedented in the history of sport (sports?) - meaning no one has done it - EVER. How many you got?
-Publicly humiliated his opponent’s parents sitting in the stands during the match with ‘Keep quiet’.
-Screamed - with extreme anger - at fans to ‘SHUT UP’ when all they (he?) did was call the ball out.
-Rudely refused on-court interview request from Bud Collins after losing Roland Garros finals to Nadal.
-Asked Wimbledon chair umpire to turn off Hawk Eye after losing close call at the baseline to Nadal.
-Cried uncontrollably - like a little entitled girl - after losing AO final to Nadal thereby brutally, inexcusably and completely ruining Nadal’s ONLY moment at AO. Nadal has won just one AO.
-Did not even make a fake attempt to save Zverev from abusive fans after Zverev - legitimately - pointed at ball boy releasing the ball on the court during the point. Instead Federer appeared to revel in the ‘beating’.
Heck, at one time point he was encouraging the fans by raising both hands at them again and again behind Zverev’s back when he was doing the on-court interview!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Eternally produced the long horse face while holding the runners-up trophy for the photographers next to the winner - ruining something for somebody - somewhere. Click here.
-Rudely turned down Nadal’s humble request to marry Diana Federer - even though both were genuinely in love.
-Fraudulently (sickness) evaded Swiss army draft
-Married an older immigrant to snuff out ANY possibility of a rebellion at what he did with Wawrinka and Wawrinka - and others. Later he admitted receiving the tip from his father who, for rock people, is married to an immigrant - and - who freaking knows……….Toni????????
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Active players who reached just ONE Slam final - and lost. How many you got? Most @ US Open?
Tsonga: AO.
Raonic: W
Nishikori: USO.
Zverev: USO.
Medvedev: USO.
Got more?
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Australian Open titles won by 7 or more Slam winners. Is it a coincidence that Borg and McEnroe have zero?
Djokovic: 8
Federer: 6.
Agassi: 4.
Wilander: 3.
Sampras: 2.
Lendl: 2.
Nadal: 1.
Connors: 1.
Borg: 0.
McEnroe: 0.
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Stats to support the argument that not every player who "stalled at #2" was equally impressive in that particular regard. From Gary Moser. Thanks.
GARY MOSER
Number of weeks at #2:
34 - STICH
17 - IVANISEVIC
29 - CHANG
14 - KORDA
02 - CORRETJA
06 - NORMAN
06 - HAAS
For context click here.
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