WASHINGTON, January 15, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
On Thursday, news broke that both three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray of Great Britain and Madison Keys from the United States had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Australian Open confirmed reports that Murray “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.”
Wishing you all the best with your recovery @andy_murray pic.twitter.com/SRMQeuIxLp
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2021
Andy Murray’s representatives now confirming his positive test. Here’s the story: https://t.co/0xSPLE4fk9
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 14, 2021
Murray, who has spent recent weeks training at the LTA National Tennis Centre in Roehampton where he played in the most recent Battle of the Brits competition and scored a couple of wins against Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie, is at home self-isolating. Murray is believed to be experiencing only minor symptoms.
Following reports that @Andy_murray is self-isolating at home after a positive test for Covid-19, we are all wishing him a speedy recovery.
We know how hard he has been working and & we hope he is back on court soon. pic.twitter.com/uTQuVH1D1L
— LTA (@the_LTA) January 14, 2021
Keys revealed through her social media channels that she was “very disappointed to not be able to play in the coming weeks after training hard in the off-season and knowing Tennis Australia and the tours did so much to make these events happen.”
Although not explicitly stated that either Murray or Keys is out of the Australian Open, the clear implication was that neither player can compete in the next month’s first Grand Slam tournament of the 2021 season.
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) January 14, 2021
Halep, Wawrinka among the first players to arrive in Melbourne
On Thursday, social media was buzzing a variety of players wrote on Twitter and Instagram that they were either airborne or had arrived in Melbourne to begin their mandatory 14-days of quarantine in advance of competing in the Australian Open, which commences February 8.
Can’t be happier about making it to Australia. Thank you so much Tennis Australia and everyone that helped. Starting my quarantine in D’s beautiful city, Adelaide. #seesouthaustralia
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) January 14, 2021
We’ve made it to Melbourne🤞🏼 thanks @CraigTiley and @ausgov for making this possible❤️🦘 14days🔛 pic.twitter.com/JH0yocW4BW
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) January 15, 2021
Daria Kasatkina and Stan Wawrinka posted photographs of themselves on social media inside their respective aircraft charted by Tennis Australia to shuttle them Down Under. Each of the players appeared to be in good spirits. Undoubtedly, having to be shuttered inside their hotel rooms for 19 hours a day (they will be allowed to train during the other five) will be a daunting challenge for even the fittest.
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Elina Svitolina: Welcome to my new world
Hello from #Melbourne 🇦🇺😁! Thank you @AustralianOpen and everyone who is involved to make this huge effort for events to happen 🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/pGQhiTridS
— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) January 14, 2021
What they’re writing
In an exclusive interview for the Tennis Majors website, Kevin Anderson spoke to Simon Cambers about the possibility of a merger between the ATP and WTA, plus the challenges the Tour faces in navigating protocols of the coronavirus pandemic.
Exclusive: @KAndersonATP speaks to @scambers73 about the possibility of an ATP/WTA merger – and the challenges the Tour faces this year as coronavirus rages —> https://t.co/lgljrEoXX1 pic.twitter.com/aCCIzFZqX8
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) January 14, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Victoria Azarenka / Made it to Melbourne
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
Petra Kvitova / It’s nice to see you again
Well hello there beautiful Melbourne.
It’s so nice to see you again 🇦🇺❤️#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/jf2KsTOrwj
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) January 15, 2021
Daniel Vallverdu / Day 1 of 14
Day 1/14 @AustralianOpen @TennisAustralia Well done for making it happen 👏🏻🔝🎾 pic.twitter.com/FLmLUueIfP
— Daniel Vallverdu (@danielvallverdu) January 14, 2021
