• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Sports

Australian Open 2021: Jamie Murray on Melbourne life, quarantine & Football Manager

Australian Open 2021: Jamie Murray on Melbourne life, quarantine & Football Manager
Newsexplored
5th February 2021
6
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2

Jamie Murray BBC Sport Columnist graphic

Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 8-21 February
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and online; Live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app.

Great Britain’s seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jamie Murray is in Melbourne for the Australian Open. In the first of his regular columns for BBC Sport, the Scot talks about arriving in a country where coronavirus has been contained, concerns over the tournament and his obsession with Football Manager.

All of the players are thankful for the chance to be here for the Australian Open with the opportunity to compete at another Grand Slam.

These three weeks will probably be the best weeks we have on the tour for a while, so we’re all ready to get stuck in.

Once we had completed our 14-day quarantine period it was weird getting out and going into this Covid-free world in Melbourne.

It just shows how your behaviours change depending on your set of conditions.

For the past year in Britain, we have had to wear masks all the time and not socialise with anyone other than our household.

On the streets back home, everyone has their head down and you body-swerve and scuttle past people.

Here, you can do pretty much what you want.

People walking along the Yarra River in Melbourne
Australia has imposed some of the world’s toughest restrictions over the past year in a bid to suppress coronavirus. The state of Victoria – of which Melbourne is the capital – has reported 20,452 cases and 820 deaths.

You still have to wear masks indoors in a public place. If you go to a restaurant you have to sign in at the door and in some of the restaurants you order online and they bring you the food.

Eating in restaurants gets taken for granted, especially when you’re travelling to play tournaments, but I haven’t been able to do that for ages.

data-ad-format="auto">

When the ATP Tour resumed in August last year we weren’t allowed out anywhere at events. It was just yourself and your team on the courts or in the hotel.

So to be able to go out and feel there is an atmosphere again is really nice.

You’re able to mix with who you want here in Melbourne and you don’t have to stay in your bubble. So I’ve been out with my friends that live here and the British guys are all planning to go out for a dinner before the Australian Open starts.

Seeing other people is a great feeling. Hopefully the restrictions back home will be able to be eased sooner rather than later so you can enjoy more freedom again too.


Having said that, I think the buzz of a Melbourne summer is still missing.

The city always has a fun vibe around the Australian Open which – in normal circumstances – takes place in the summer holidays here.

Melbourne Park is located right in the city centre, just a short walk along the Yarra River from Flinders Street station – the main train station – and Fed Square, which usually has a big fan park.

This year, everything definitely feels quieter. It seems like those who usually work in the city are still working at home, but I’ve not been out to the beach so I’m not sure how busy that is.

Either way, there is still a lot more activity here than there is at home in Britain.

Once these tournaments in Melbourne have finished we have got to go back to Europe and things will be very different again – either a lockdown or a tournament bubble.

So I want to go into the city a little bit more and to maximise the opportunity of having some freedom and relative normality.

People walk around the shops and cafes in Melbourne's Central Business District
Melbourne’s streets are busy, but not as bustling as they usually would be during the Australian Open

‘Everyone has been on edge after hotel scare’

There has been further disruption to the tournament this week with 160 players being told to isolate again until they had taken another coronavirus test and returned a negative result.

That news came on Wednesday night after a worker at one of the hotels where some of the players did their quarantine tested positive.

I wasn’t in that hotel – the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne’s Central Business District. I was staying in another hotel close to Albert Park, which is just outside the city centre and where the Formula 1 race is usually held.

Everyone who stayed in the Hyatt was a little bit on edge after that news. They had to get up on Thursday, take a test and wait for their result.

People were worried about what effect it would have on the Australian Open and whether they would have to go into quarantine again.

We know the government here could potentially shut down the tournament at any moment if things get out of control.

Thankfully all the tests came back negative and hopefully we can get on with things as planned.

Players queue for a coronavirus test at a hotel in Melbourne
People connected to the Australian Open queued for coronavirus tests at a Melbourne hotel on Thursday

What it is like travelling across the world in a pandemic

My preparations for the Australian Open started by leaving London in early January and training in Dubai for five days, before catching the chartered flight from there to Melbourne.

There was about 50 or 60 people on the flight, including players, coaches and staff from the Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation. So it was pretty empty and there was loads of space.

When we arrived in Melbourne, there was a private terminal and we went through the arrival protocols in one big hanger.

Everyone there was wearing personal protective equipment – gloves, face masks, face shields, glasses. They were taking no risks.

Then we were transferred on to the buses to our hotels and the checking-in process was a strange situation.

Only one person could enter the hotel at a time, you gave your name at reception and then you were escorted to the lift. Someone opened the lift for you, you weren’t allowed to touch the button, they radioed to a colleague to say you were going up to your floor, then a security guard on the floor met you and took you to the room.

We were in the room for two and a half days before we were allowed out. After that, we were allowed out for five hours each day.

We had an app on our phones where every night we would get our schedule for the next day.

Some mornings we practised from 7am to 9am so we’d get picked up outside the room door at 6.45am and escorted to the court for a two-hour session.

After that, someone would escort us to a gym pod and then back to the hotel for one hour of nutrition – again in your own pod. Then it was back to the room until you were allowed out the following day.

I was a lot luckier than most players. My flight didn’t have any issues, so I didn’t have to do a ‘hard’ quarantine and I had a good view out across the city.

But I still had plenty of time to pass particularly in those two and a half days where I couldn’t leave the room. So I got back into playing Football Manager.

I hadn’t played it for years. But with the detail the game goes into now you can kill so much time playing it.

You get so absorbed in it. I have even been watching YouTube videos about which players to sign and highlighting different tactics.

I’ve been managing AFC Wimbledon – I picked them because they are my local team – and I got them promoted to the Championship.

In fact, AFC Wimbledon are searching for a new manager in real life. Somehow I don’t think this qualifies me to throw my hat into the ring… I’ll stick to tennis!

AFC Wimbledon
Murray describes himself as a “proactive and adaptable” football manager, with Dons pair Joe Pigott and Will Nightingale among his star players

Jamie Murray was talking to BBC Sport’s Jonathan Jurejko

Banner Image Reading Around the BBC - BlueFooter - Blue

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsaustralianfootballjamiemanagermelbournemurrayquarantine
Sports
5th February 2021
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsaustralianfootballjamiemanagermelbournemurrayquarantine

More in Sports

  • Read More
    Euro 2020: Glasgow and Dublin at risk of being cut from host cities

    Views:2 Glasgow’s Hampden Park is set to host three group games and one last-16 game Glasgow and...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    India v England: Hosts on top in final Test in Ahmedabad

    Views:2 Ben Stokes top-scored for England with 55 before falling to Washington Sundar Fourth Test, Ahmedabad (day...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Kieran Hardy: Wales scrum-half ruled out of Six Nations

    Views:2 Kieran Hardy scored a try for Wales before having to leave the field against England Venue:...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Curtis Jones: Liverpool’s ‘streetwise’ youngster with ‘unusual belief’

    Views:2 Curtis Jones (right) celebrating with Roberto Firmino in the victory over Sheffield United on Sunday When...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Deese Kasinga: What happens when the Premier League academy dream dies?

    Views:2 The brutal reality of Premier League academies: Deese Kasinga’s story Deese Kasinga was 17 years old...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Kieron Pollard hits six sixes in West Indies’ win over Sri Lanka

    Views:2 Kieron Pollard joined Herschelle Gibbs and Yuvraj Singh in hitting six sixes in an international First...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side held in dull encounter

    Views:2 Manchester United rarely threatened at Selhurst Park Manchester United’s already slim Premier League title hopes were...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Andy Murray loses to Andrey Rublev in Rotterdam Open second round

    Views:2 Andy Murray served five aces but three double faults Britain’s Andy Murray has been knocked out...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Sheffield United 1-0 Aston Villa: David McGoldrick scores winner for bottom club

    Views:2 Aston Villa lost away from home for the first time since 27 January Bottom club Sheffield...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Livingston 0-1 Rangers: Late Morelos goal puts visitors within four points of title

    Views:2 Alfredo Morelos’ (centre) late winner sparked wild celebrations at the Tony Macaroni Arena Rangers manager Steven...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Formula 1: Porsche & Volkswagen Group considering entering F1

    Views:2 Head of Porsche motorsport Fritz Enzinger (left) is considering F1 Porsche and parent company the Volkswagen...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
  • Read More
    Manchester City 3-0 Fiorentina: Lauren Hemp and Ellen White score in first-leg win

    Views:2 England’s Ellen White scored in the Champions League for the first time since moving to Manchester...

    Newsexplored 5th February 2021
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Super Bowl half-time show: How did The Weeknd do?
    Entertainment8th February 2021
  • LeBron James: NBA superstar’s evolution from high school prodigy
    USA4th March 2021
  • What is Biden doing differently at US border?
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Coronavirus: Texas and other states ease rules despite warnings
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Golden Globe Awards 2021: Stars prepare for virtual ceremony
    USA28th February 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Australian Open draw: Dan Evans to play Cameron Norrie in first round
England in India: Joe Root marks 100th Test with century as tourists dominate day one
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok