Australian Open lead-up events impacted after quarantine hotel worker tests positive for COVID-19

Thursday's matches at Australian Open warm-up events in Melbourne Park have been cancelled after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive to COVID-19.

With the infected man having last worked at quarantine hotel the Grand Hyatt on 29th January, up to 600 players and support staff connected to the season's first Grand Slam will now have to isolate until they have been tested.

In a statement, Tennis Australia, organisers of the Australia Open, advised yesterday evening about lead-up events for the Australian Open, amid fear of further spread of the virus.

The statement advised “we will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible

"There will be no matches at Melbourne Park on Thursday. An update on the schedule for Friday will be announced later today."

Emphasising that the Australian Open will go ahead as of next week, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews advised "there's a number of - about 500 or 600 people - that are either players and officials and others who are casual contacts.

"They will be isolating until they get a negative test. And that work will be done (on Thursday).

"At this stage, there's no impact to the tournament (Australian Open) proper."