For two weeks now, charter flights have brought from abroad, to Melbourne and Adelaide, the elite of world tennis who, due to the health protocol put in place by the Australian authorities, was forced to observe a 14-day quarantine .
On paper, all players benefited from a derogation allowing them to go out for five hours to train, in order to better prepare for the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
In reality, not all were able to benefit from it.
The beautiful mechanics seized up very early on when eight people positive for the coronavirus were detected among the thousand players, coaches and companions who had arrived in Australia, a country where the epidemic is currently rather contained.
In total, 72 players who had traveled with the patients were confined much more strictly, with a radical ban on going out.
And many have been reduced to hitting balls against mattresses on the wall in their hotel rooms.
Some have moaned on social networks against these living conditions, drawing the wrath of Australian public opinion.
The end of the ordeal is near, however, since the first players were to come out of quarantine on Thursday, followed by the others, depending on the date of their arrival in Australia.
"We are the privileged"
Rafael Nadal
Serious things will therefore finally be able to begin.
And at full speed since no less than six ATP and WTA tournaments will take place over a week from Sunday in Melbourne, before the Australian Open begins.
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who is aiming for a 21st Grand Slam title and hopes to overtake Roger Federer (20 Grand Slams), who did not make the trip to Australia, said he was "privileged" to be able to play.
“It's a different situation than usual, it's much sadder for everyone.
But at least we're here, we're going to have a chance to play.
The world, as a whole, is suffering, so we cannot complain.
We are the privileged because we are fortunate enough to continue doing our work, ”he told CNN this week.
Serena Williams, who continues to ogle a 24th Grand Slam success that would bring her to Australian Margaret Court's record level, shared a similar sentiment.
She pointed to "super, super strict" rules while adding, "They do what needs to be done."
Most of the players have been in Melbourne for two weeks.
But Nadal, Williams and other stars like Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka spent their 40s in Adelaide, where they will participate in an exhibition tournament on Friday.
Nadal, 34 years old and No. 2 in the ATP ranking, will start his season with a confrontation with Austrian Dominic Thiem (No. 3), while world No. 1 Djokovic will face young Italian Jannik Sinner.
Direction Melbourne, then, where Djokovic, Nadal and Thiem will participate from Tuesday in the ATP Cup, a team event whose field has been reduced from 24 to 12 teams.
Those not taking part in the ATP Cup will have two tournaments in Melbourne to prepare their minds.
For the women's circuit, two tournaments also on the program in Melbourne, from Sunday.
A third tournament will start on Wednesday for those who have experienced the strictest confinement and have not been able to train at all on the courts, including two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber.
Australian Ashleigh Barty, who has hardly played for a year, said she expected to regain her legs very soon.
“It has been itching for the last two, three weeks, I was a little impatient,” admitted the world No. 1.
"It's been a long preseason, and I'm definitely ready to go."
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