A COVID-19 case at a quarantine hotel in Melbourne left up to 600 tennis players and staff isolated until they received a negative test result four days before the Australian Open began.
Why it matters: The first case in the state of Victoria in 28 days resulted in the implementation of new restrictions and the cancellation of all warm-up games scheduled for Thursday.
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Driving the news: A 26-year-old volunteer firefighter, who worked with the Open as a support officer residing at the Grand Hyatt hotel, tested negative for coronavirus at the end of his shift on January 29, but later developed symptoms. Prime Minister Dan Andrews announced on Wednesday.
For registration: Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told reporters that “the intention is to start the Australian Open on Monday” as scheduled and that “preparatory events have also been planned to be completed”.
Of importance: Although it is unclear which players were affected by the isolation order, tennis stars Serena Williams and Novak Djokic will not have to isolate themselves while spending their mandatory 14-day quarantine in the city of Adelaide, in southern Australia.
Flashback: Djokovic was among a group of tennis players who last month sent a letter demanding that Victorian authorities tighten quarantine rules for players before the start of the season on February 8.
The big picture: Melbourne had one of the biggest blockades in the world, with restrictions on the city of 5 million for 139 days before being suspended last October.
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