Andy Murray tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Australian Open

The Scottish former world number one was due to travel to Australia on one of the 18 charter flights laid on by tournament organisers but is still isolating at home.

Murray, who is said to be in good health and only experiencing minor symptoms, is hoping to be able to arrive in Australia at a later date and participate in the year’s first grand slam, which begins on February 8.

The 33-year-old two-time Wimbledon champion and his team are working closely with tournament director Craig Tiley to try to come up with an acceptable solution.

Tournament organisers spent several months negotiating an arrangement that was acceptable to local and national government agencies regarding the admission of more than 1,000 tennis players and associated personnel to Australia.

Players are due to begin arriving in the country within the next 24 hours before completing a two-week period of quarantine, during which they are allowed out of their rooms to practise for five hours a day.

They were told that a positive test prior to flying would mean they were not allowed to travel to Australia.

Murray said last year he believes tennis players should be required to have a Covid vaccination in order to play in tournaments.

Speaking in November, he said: “I would hope that all the players would be willing to [be vaccinated] for the good of the sport – providing everything has proved to be safe, clinical trials and everything have been done and there are not any significant side-effects.”

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