Burning Question: Will Aussie Open's COVID precautions affect players?

Melbourne may be among the safest places in the world for a tennis tournament at the moment. Unlike Europe and the U.S., where cases rose this fall, the city largely contained the virus with strict lockdowns. But that also means it will be strict with its international visitors, no matter how famous they are. At press time, the Australian Open was set to begin three weeks later than normal, on February 8, and players were expected to begin quarantining in mid-January.

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If all goes as planned, it shouldn’t be a bad deal for the pros. Their chartered flights and hotel stays will be paid for; the tournament’s prize money will remain the same; and they’ll get to practice during quarantine. Rather than benefitting any one contender over another, all of that undisturbed training time may benefit fans most. By then, the players should be rested, focused, and ready to bring their best.