“Unfortunately we have been informed by the health authorities that two people on your flight AR7493 from LAX that arrived at 5.15am on Friday 15 January have returned positive COVID-19 PCR tests on arrival in Melbourne,” the letter, which The Age has seen, read.
“The Chief Health Officer has reviewed the flight and has determined that everyone on board needs to isolate and will be confined to their rooms for the 14 day quarantine.”
“We know this is not how your imagined your preparations for the AO would start but our entire team is here to support you and do everything that we can to get you through this.”
As the Open’s quarantine program started on Thursday night two other players, Andy Murray and Madison Keys, were unable to take their spots on the chartered planes after they returned positive tests before flying.
New York Times journalist Karen Crouse reported on Saturday (AEST) that the two new positive cases were on the charter flights from Los Angeles.
“I feel terrible for all the players aboard who now won’t be allowed to practice for the next two weeks except on the exercise bikes the Australian Open delivered to their rooms,” she tweeted.
“In the name of full transparency, I hope the Australian Open will divulge the names of the passengers on the LAX charter flight who tested positive in their day-of-arrival Covid test.”
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have contacted Tennis Australia and the Victorian government for comment.
More to come
