Andy Murray has said he will not be travelling to Australia to compete in the Australian Open having failed to find a “workable quarantine” after he recovered from coronavirus.
The former world No 1 is out of self-isolation, but could not find a solution to the logistical challenge of getting to Australia and then quarantining before the grand slam, which starts on 8 February.
“Gutted to share that I won’t be flying out to Australia to compete at the Australian Open,” he confirmed. “We’ve been in constant dialogue with Tennis Australia to try and find a solution […] but we couldn’t make it work.
“I want to thank everyone there for their efforts, I’m devastated not to be playing out in Australia. It’s a country and tournament that I love.”
It is another blow for Murray’s hopes of returning to the top of the men’s game after injury severely hampered his 2020 campaign. A five-time runner-up in Melbourne, Murray was unable to travel on one of the charter flights laid on by tournament organisers after recording a positive test.
Murray, who was asymptomatic, had hoped to arrive in Melbourne at a later date, but could not come to an agreement over quarantine, despite constructive talks with tournament director Craig Tiley.
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