Trouble flies inCharter flights carrying more than 1,200 people from seven separate cities began to arrive in Melbourne on January 14. With positive tests recorded by non-playing personnel on flights from Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi, 72 players, including Britains Heather Watson and Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, were deemed as close contacts and ordered to remain inside their hotel rooms for two weeks. Videos soon emerged of players hitting balls against mattresses and windows.

Grumbling over grubFor some players, the food in quarantine was not up to scratch. Fabio Fognini, the world No 17 from Italy, was among those to post uncomplimentary photographs of the meals being delivered to his room, while Frances Benot Paire decided to order a McDonalds delivery for breakfast

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Anatomy of... the Australian Open Covid crisis | Sport | The Sunday Times - The Times