Paul McNamee backs Australian Open to be a hit once quarantine storm passes

Paul McNamee has defended the integrity of the Australian Open despite the preparation of dozens of players being disrupted due to strict quarantine.

Aryna Sabalenko takes on a hotel quarantine challenge.

Davis Cup champion Paul McNamee has defended the integrity of the Australian Open despite the preparation of dozens of players being disrupted due to strict quarantine.

The former Australian Open tournament director is confident the event will be a success when it finally begins at Melbourne Park on February 8.

There are 72 players now serving strict quarantine for the next fortnight in Melbourne.

As they wait out the period in their hotel rooms, their rivals are allowed to practise daily during a five-hour window at either Melbourne Park or Albert Reserve in Melbourne or Memorial Drive in Adelaide.

Those fortunate enough to train were finally able to hit the courts for the first time on Monday afternoon in Melbourne after sessions were abandoned on Sunday.

In an email to players, the ATP Tour blamed a government arranged transport link for the delays.

Former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

Despite several players being disadvantaged by strict quarantine, McNamee disputed suggestions the Australian Open will carry an asterisk.

He pointed to the success of the recent US and French Opens, saying every tournament experiences challenges.

World No 1 Ash Barty, who will return to competitive play for the first time in nearly a year in February, and Roger Federer are among those absent from the last two majors of 2020 for varying reasons.

““There are always going to be compromises,” McNamee said. “A player might not be able to come due to injury, for example.

“If we are going to put an asterisk on the Australian Open, we would have to put one on the French Open, where Rafa won, and (Dominic) Thiem (when he) won in New York.

“Ash did not go to the other two slams and no one is saying that (Iga) Swiatek did not deserve her success in Paris. I would not single the Australian Open out.”

Petra Kvitova in hotel quarantine exercising and doing her stretch routine in her room. Picture: Instagram

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley flagged the prospect of tinkering with the schedule for the week leading into the major given the strict lockdown of six dozen players.

But it is not yet clear if there will be a change for what will be a hectic week in Melbourne.

Alex de Minaur will lead Australia in the 12 nation ATP Cup, which runs in conjunction with two WTA events and another two ATP Tour tournaments at Melbourne Park.

Some of the players now in strict quarantine have said they will not be able to compete in the first week for fear of injuring themselves given their hindered preparation.

But of those in quarantine, it is estimated 25 are either qualifiers or lucky losers.

Given their lower rankings, they are unlikely to have been able to compete in the first week and will have approximately nine days to train properly before the Australian Open.

There are also several doubles players who are in lockdown. Their Australian Open will not start until at least February 10, which means they will have additional time to prepare on court.

The problem with the WTA events in the opening week is that several leading contenders are in lock down.

American tennis player Desirae Krawczyk. Picture: AFP

Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, dual-winner Victoria Azarenka, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens are among those unable to train throughout quarantine.

But Peter Johnston, who runs three ATP Tour events globally and once headed the Asia-Pacific region for the WTA Tour, is not certain the tournaments will be compromised.

Johnston believes the leading women will prioritise the Australian Open.

But he is certain some will be keen to include at least one match in their preparation despite the predicament they are in.

“I don’t see many withdrawals in that week,” he said. “You do have nine days from the last day of quarantine to the Australian Open. As brutal as it is, they do have those nine days to try to get themselves right for the AO.”

McNamee, who is a mentor to the world’s top-ranked women’s doubles player Hsieh Su-Wei, spent a fortnight of quarantine in Adelaide after returning home last year.

The former Australian Open semi-finalist applauded the ingenuity of players like Pablo Cuevas, who are hitting against a mattress in quarantine to keep their eyes in.

“I would not have thought of that. I would have used a soft ball for some exercises, but that is brilliant,” McNamee said.

“The ones who are disciplined should come through this. Of course you can do a lot of work with your own body and interval training is a must. Every player should be requesting an exercise bike.”