Wolfgang Thiem: 'We are yet to see Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic in Adelaide'

The majority of the Australian Open players were placed in Melbourne hotels a week ago. Due to the positive coronavirus tests on their flights, 72 of those can't leave the room for 14 days, skipping the scheduled practice sessions at Melbourne Park and doing their best to stay in shape. On the other hand, the leading figures from the ATP and WTA Tour are in Adelaide, serving a different quarantine and hitting the practice court without problems. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem shared the flight from Spain, but they are yet to see each other since landing in Adelaide. Wolfgang Thiem said that his son hasn't seen Rafa or Novak for a week, following strict health rules and measures.

Three rivals will share the court during the exhibition match on January 29, and they still don't know if they would be able to train together next week or stick to the players they brought with them to Adelaide. After that, Djokovic, Nadal and Thiem will travel to Melbourne and join the rest of the field ahead of the second edition of the ATP Cup, ready to leave their countries in the battle for the team trophy.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem are in Adelaide.

After that, the world's leading players will enter the season's first Major, standing as the top favorites and the ones to look at during the fortnight. In the last year's Australian Open final, Novak Djokovic defeated Dominic Thiem in five sets, trailing two sets to one and shifting into a higher gear to lift the eighth Melbourne trophy.

"Every player is completely protected on its own floor. We haven't seen Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal since we arrived at the airport together. The training is divided into three sessions, the first from 7:00 am to 12:00 as, the second until 5:00 pm, and the third until 10:00 pm. We use those five hours outside on a journey to the tennis club, training and fitness. When the second week is over, we can live a normal life in Melbourne; it is understandable that all travelers to the country are potentially positive and would first have to be isolated," Wolfgang Thiem said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3pcJRI0