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Hardly have the first tennis professionals around the German number one Angelique Kerber set foot on Australian soil after a lavishly organized journey than more than 70 of them are hit by the full extent of the corona dilemma.

Should those affected actually have to stay in strict hotel isolation for 14 days and not be allowed to train on the pitch during this time, the Australian Open would degenerate into a farce.

The organizers definitely want to start the first Grand Slam tournament of the season on February 8th with a three-week delay.

They have undertaken almost grotesque efforts with only sparsely loaded charter aircraft and exemptions for the top stars in the industry - and then that: Kerber has to because of positive corona tests on flights with which the professionals and the reduced staff were brought to Melbourne and around 70 other professionals enter a two-week quarantine.

No training allowed

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According to the current state of affairs, political guidelines mean that they are not allowed to leave their hotel room for at least five hours a day, as originally planned.

The 2016 Melbourne winner is therefore not allowed to train on the tennis court, fitness is only possible in the hotel.

"We have just been informed that a person on our flight from Abu Dhabi gave a positive corona test," Kerber tweeted from Melbourne over the weekend.

Angelique Kerber also has to be quarantined

Source: dpa / Scott Barbour

As a consequence, everyone on board would have to isolate themselves in their rooms for 14 days.

“That's all I know right now.

Let's wait and see, "added the 32-year-old and said good-bye to the metropolis of Victoria with a good night kiss.

The situation hadn't changed fundamentally on Sunday either.

Kerber & Co. had no choice but to wait and hope.

Would the busy tournament director Craig Tiley manage to accommodate any other special requests?

Distortion of competition threatens

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Because it is also clear: If Kerber and the other affected parties are actually not allowed to leave their rooms for two weeks, they should hardly be competitive for a 14-day Grand Slam test of strength with the best of the best.

There is talk of distortion of competition and inequality of opportunity.

Especially since the top stars like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams did not start their officially ordered quarantine in Melbourne, but in Adelaide, 650 kilometers away.

And what should happen after the quarantine?

Do you want to play one of the tournaments in the first week of February without proper preparation?

Would you rather train for a few days to minimize the risk of injury?

In any case, Tiley emphasized that the Australian Open should take place and not be postponed.

Fellow travelers tested positive

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"How to turn it around, it is a very bad scenario," said Sunday from the environment of a prominent professional.

Some players are "frustrated and desperate".

However, everyone involved was aware of the possible consequences, the rules were clear and had to be signed by all professionals, supervisors and fellow travelers.

Top star Naomi Osaka arrives at Adelaide Airport

Source: AP / Morgan Sette

The authorities were also unequivocal: The passengers of the people who tested positive must be completely quarantined, the start of training for the rest of them will be delayed until at least Monday because not all test results are available, said Emma Cassar, the head of the quarantine in the state of Victoria, on Sunday .

According to her, a broadcaster tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving from Los Angeles.

In addition, a member of the crew and a tennis trainer as well as a coach who arrived from Abu Dhabi tested positive.

Kerber also affected

Kerber had also flown from Abu Dhabi on the charter plane.

The coach of the former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu announced on Saturday that he had given a positive test and apologized for the consequences.

On Sunday the tournament bosses announced another case.

The authorities in Victoria warned the professionals in isolation against disregarding the strict rules.

Cassar threatened with fines of 20,000 Australian dollars (12,750 euros) even for minor violations.

The occasion: A player is said to have spoken to a training partner - illegally - in a hotel corridor.

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