As per latest reports, the year’s first Grand Slam is likely to start on 8 February, with players arriving in Melbourne between 15 to 17 January. Everyone will need to remain in quarantine till 1 February in a hotel room, during which they will be able to leave the room only for five hours a day.
There could also be some restrictions on the support staff that accompany the players to the tournament site, and who they can practice with during the quarantine.
But at the US Open in New York earlier this year, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic had chosen not to stay at a similarly arranged player hotel. The USTA had allowed players to rent their own houses if they ensured that they followed all the guidelines, and Djokovic had opted for that.
Rasheed believes that players will need to follow the protocols if they want to play the Australian Open. Health officials in the state of Victoria are going all out to ensure that coronavirus does not re-enter their community, and the Australian Open participants will have to adhere to any rules that are put in place.
Novak Djokovic wasn’t the only player who opted for private housing at the US Open
Novak Djokovic was, in fact, not the only player to opt for private housing at the US Open. 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams was another who had rented a private house in New York, as she had lung issues.
While the USTA had specified guidelines that players opting for private housing needed to adhere to, recent reports suggest that players will be able to move around freely in Melbourne post quarantine. That could mean Novak Djokovic and all other players would be able to choose whether they stay in a hotel or a private house once the quarantine is complete.
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