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The first major tennis tournament of the year, the Australian Open, starts on February 8 and runs through February 23. Right now, some players are quarantining while others are out of quarantine and practicing on tennis courts. Check out updated info on how things are going as the best in the world prepare for tennis’ first Grand Slam event of 2021. Let’s get right to it so you can get your bets ready and place them against their Tennis odds.

COVID-19 Tennis Update – January 27th Edition

2021 Australian Open

When: February 8, 2021 – February 23, 2021
Where: Melbourne Australia

How tennis handling the first major tournament during a pandemic

Aussie Open tournament director Craig Tiley said that the Australian Open won’t delay any further. Tiley and Australian Open executives already pushed the tournament to February from a January start date.

Players have complained about quarantining protocols, getting to Australia, and an inability to properly prepare for the first major of the year.

When asked about player complaints, Tiley provided the following answer, “These are high-performing athletes, and it is hard to keep a high-performing athlete in a room. This is the contribution that they have to make in order to get the privilege of when they do come out to compete for $80 million ($62 million U.S.) in prize money.”

Australia’s having none of it. You’re complaining about something everyone in Australia has had to put up with for a while now, Tiley seems to be saying.

Players finding creative ways to prepare for Aussie Open while in quarantine

Many players have accepted their situation and are coping the best way they can. Some are even finding ways to train while in quarantine.

Not all players are forbidden to practice. Those who arrived on flights with a single coronavirus positive are. Two of those players, Victoria Azarenka and Belinda Bencic, are making the most of the situation.

After a long cry, Azarenka said she decided to get over it and find things to “keep her busy”. Bencic taped up the window in her isolation apartment to create a makeshift tennis court. She tweeted the following.

Wrong surface but that doesn’t matter for us💪🏽 — Belinda Bencic (@BelindaBencic) January 17, 2021

Don’t think for a moment a good attitude won’t translate to the courts. Don’t be surprised that even without proper preparation Azarenka and Bencic make it to at least the fourth round.

Djoker remains a +100 favorite, Naomi’s odds plummet to +550

Novak Djokovic remains a strong even money favorite to win on the men’s side. That’s not surprising.

Djoker has won more Australian Open titles than any other major championship. Noami Osaka’s odds plummeting another 150 to +550 is surprising, though.

The competition is crazy deep on the women’s side. Osaka is a great player, maybe the best in the world. But she mut beat Serena, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu, and plenty of other great players to grab another major title.

No doubt, Naomi can win the Australian Open. At +550, though, she offers underlay odds.

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?