by A.P.
British number one Johanna Konta says a decision to prevent players arriving for the Australian Open in mid-December has come as “a bit of a shock”.
Tennis Australia had been hoping players would be able to fly to Melbourne in time to quarantine for two weeks, and then start the season on 1 January.
But the government of Victoria has intervened, and sources have indicated players will not be allowed into the state until the end of December at the earliest.
“Everyone was very much looking forward, and had kind of got their head round the 14 December date, and I think it came as a bit of an adjustment, a bit of a shock,” Konta, the world number 14, told BBC Sport.
“Everyone is obviously a bit frustrated. However, it’s not under our control, it’s not under Tennis Australia’s control – it’s a government decision.