Audio By Carbonatix
Five-time finalist Andy Murray will miss the Australian Open after a solution to find a "workable quarantine" following his positive test for coronavirus could not be found.
The 33-year-old Briton was set to fly out to Melbourne last week, but was not allowed to travel on a charter flight after being found to have Covid-19.
The former world number one had hoped to travel safely and compete as planned on the back of a negative test.
Murray said he was "gutted" not to go.
He was asymptomatic and is now out of self-isolation, but finding a way for him to travel to Australia and then going into quarantine before the tournament starts on 8 February proved too difficult.
"We've been in constant dialogue with Tennis Australia to try and find a solution which would allow some form of workable quarantine, but we couldn't make it work," said Murray.
"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."
Murray was able to play only seven official matches in 2020 because of a lingering pelvic injury, and the five-month suspension of the tours because of the pandemic.
At 123rd in the world, he was ranked too low to gain direct entry into Australian Open so the three-time Grand Slam champion was given a wildcard.
The Australian Open at Melbourne Park is starting three weeks later than usual because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Players had to test negative before taking one of the 15 chartered flights - which were put on last week by tournament organisers and operated at 25% capacity - to Australia.
On arrival, the players and their support staff went straight into a 14-day quarantine under the conditions imposed by the Australian government.
That agreement allowed them out of their rooms for up to five hours a day for food and practice.
However, 72 players have been confined to their rooms in a tougher quarantine - which led to some complaints and creative ways of staying fit - after they travelled on three flights where positive cases were found on arrival.
Latest Stories
-
NAIMOS has failed in galamsey fight; it’s time for a state of emergency – DYMOG to President Mahama
2 hours -
Mahama to open African Court judicial year in Arusha, mark 20th anniversary
2 hours -
Ghana begins partial evacuation of Tehran Embassy as Middle East tensions escalate
2 hours -
EPA tightens surveillance on industries, moves to cut emissions with real-time monitoring system
3 hours -
Police conduct show of force exercise ahead of Ayawaso East by-election
4 hours -
Ghana launches revised Early Childhood Care and Development Policy to strengthen child development framework
5 hours -
AI to transform 49% of jobs in Africa within three years – PwC Survey
5 hours -
Physicist raises scientific and cost concerns over $35m EPA’s galamsey water cleaning technology
5 hours -
The road to approval: Inside Ghana’s AI strategy and KNUST’s leadership
6 hours -
Infrastructure deficit and power challenges affecting academics at AAMUSTED – SRC President
6 hours -
Former US diplomat sentenced to life for abusing two girls in Burkina Faso
6 hours -
At least 20 killed after military plane carrying banknotes crashes in Bolivia
6 hours -
UK reaffirms investment commitment at study UK Alumni Awards Ghana 2026
6 hours -
NCCE pays courtesy call on 66 Artillery Regiment, deepens stakeholder engagement Â
6 hours -
GHATOF leadership pays courtesy call on Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah
6 hours
