72 players under strict quarantine ahead of Aussie Open

The number of players under a strict quarantine ahead of the Australian Open has grown to 72 after another person aboard a charter aircraft headed to Melbourne tested positive for COVID-19.

Players under the mandated hard quarantine won't be allowed to practice or train for at least two weeks.

These players flew to Australia on flights arranged by the tournament and three planes had at least one person aboard test positive. In all, five people have tested positive.

The latest case stems from a charter flight from Doha, Qatar, which transported 58 passengers, including 25 players. Qualifiers were held in Doha.

“The 25 players on the flight will not be able to leave their hotel room for 14 days and until they are medically cleared,” the Australian Open said in a statement.

Many Australians have questioned the decision to host the tournament, with organizers flying in 1,200 players and their entourages when thousands of citizens are stranded overseas due to the pandemic.

Players who travelled to Melbourne aboard other planes also are under a 14-day quarantine, but they're allowed to leave their rooms for five hours of training each day.

Some players took to social media to voice their concerns. Other players have countered that they're not bothered by the quarantine, but that they're expected to be in top form soon after their quarantine ends.

“We're not complaining to be in quarantine,” Belinda Bencic of Switzerland tweeted. “We are complaining because of unequal practice/playing conditions before quite important tournaments.”

Tournament director Craig Tiley said the tournament remains scheduled to begin on Feb. 8. The season's first Grand Slam already was pushed back from its typical January start.

“The Australian Open is going ahead and we will continue to do the best we possibly can do to ensure those players have the best opportunity,” he said.

Australian media reported that world No. 1 Novak Djokovic issued an open letter to Tiley with demands for the players. Djokovic is quarantining in Adelaide, Australia, and not Melbourne.

His letter included requests for fitness and training equipment to be put in all hotel rooms, for permission to visit a coach or trainer if all have tested negative, for reduced isolation time, and for as many players as possible to be moved to private homes with tennis courts and better food.

“People are free to provide lists of demands, but the answer is no,” Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria state, said Monday.