NEW YORK (US) – American player John Isner has decided not to attend next month’s Australian Open as pandemic protocols in place would keep him away from his family for an extended period, said the Tennis Majors on Monday.
Players arriving in Australia for the Grand Slam have to undergo two weeks of quarantine. They will only be permitted to train for five hours outside their hotel rooms.
“I’m staying home,” said the world number 25.
“At this stage of my career and in my life I’ve always had visions of being able to travel with my family.
“It really was just a situation where I didn’t want to be away from my family for that long.”
Celebrated for his massive serve and towering appearance, the 35-year-old Dallas resident has been ranked as high as number eight in the world.
Though he has 15 ATP singles titles to his credit, he is still searching for his first major championship. He has also never gone beyond fourth round at Melbourne Park.
In the quarter-finals of the Delray Beach Open on Monday, he lost three sets to fellow American Sebastian Korda.