Murray's season to begin at ATP Challenger instead of Aussie Open

Andy Murray starts his season on Tuesday at the ATP Challenger in Biella, Italy, but he's still  frustrated that he isn't in Melbourne instead.

The 33-year-old tested positive for the coronavirus just before he was scheduled to leave the United Kingdom, and could not travel to Australia in time to complete the required two-week quarantine.

Murray, who pointed to the LTA's National Training Centre as the source of his infection, told British press it wasn't just his tennis plans that were affected.

"I was p*ed off from a personal perspective, but then the wider more important point, is that it’s not just about a tennis tournament when I am going back and giving the virus to all of my family," he said. "For two days, I was pretty ill. I basically stayed in my room for five or six days, because I didn't want my family to get it, if possible. But then five to six days my wife tested positive, then in a few days the kids tested positive."

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Murray criticized the protocols and enforcement at the national training center, saying he did not go anywhere else where he could have picked up the virus. Others who were using the center also tested positive while Murray was training there during the off-season.

"An indoor venue where they are using all six courts, there were tons of people in the gym, and it was just totally different," the former No. 1 said. "When we went to the NTC in April, if there are six indoor courts, you could only practice on No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5... Now it's kind of back to what it was in April, which is good. It's a completely different building. All the communal areas are severely restricted."

In a statement to British press, the LTA said it had used "stringent and appropriate restrictions" that followed government guidelines.

Though Murray, who is currently ranked No. 124, says he has now recovered from the virus, he still has to make up for lost ground after his off-season training was ruined by the positive test. "It was probably the best training that I’ve done for two or three years," he said.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has played a limited tour schedule since his most recent hip surgery in 2019. He'll start his 2021 season against Germany's Maximilian Marterer.