Australian Open won’t bend five-set format

Quarantine stress and lack of match fitness will be no excuse for players, with men still required to play the best of five sets when the delayed Australian Open gets underway on February 8.

Local supremo Craig Tiley laid down the law to competitors after an initiative to cut the matches to best-of-three in view of the quarantine chaos currently reigning in Melbourne.

“We are a Grand Slam tournament,” Tiley told host broadcaster Nine Network.

“The rule is three winning sets for men and two for women. We will not give that up.”

Due to a handful of positive COVID-19 tests on incoming charter flights, up to 100 tennis visitors – players and support staff – are currently serving no-exit isolation decrees.

Some players caught in the predicament had suggested the dialing back of matches due to their restrictions on not leaving their rooms for 14 days.