Australian Open organizer's spent a fortune on putting on this tournament safely.

They're flown in 1200 players, officials and coaches into Melbourne on special charter flights on paid for their rooms in quarantine hotels so they could meet Australia's strict two week mandatory quarantine.

The total bill for all this will be upwards of $30 million.

But Organizer's think it's well worth it because it gives people here a sense of normality in strange times.

Off those people who flew into Australia for the tournament, there were eight positive cases, including one player that was Spain's power producer, the women's world number 67.

She had to spend another few days in quarantine because of it and really wasn't happy.

Apart from that, there were another 70 old players who are unable to train during quarantine.

On that was because on the planes that they flew in on them, there were passengers who also tested positive.

It remains to be seen with those players have had more limited preparations are at a disadvantage when the tournament starts on February 8.

Australia has been quite successful of managing the health situation, but authorities remain on high alert.

That means crowds at the Australian Open are going to be limited to 30 people per day, which is about 50% of the normal capacity.

The loss will be divided into three separate zones and won't be able to wonder from court to court as they would in years past thes social distancing measures so that authorities will be able Thio do contact tracing if any issues arise.

As to the tennis once again, Novak Djokovic looms is the man to beat at Melbourne Park is defending champion his number one.

He's going to a record extending nine Australian Open title here.

He's also under a little bit of pressure, isn't wanna slam in a year and was disqualified from the U.

S Open for whacking a ball into aligned at his throat off the people who can beat him.

There's maybe Dominic team, the Austrian who pushed Jackovich to five sets in last year's classic final.

And then there's, of course, Ruffin, Nadal, Spanish great with Roger Federer.

It out of the picture, and the dog can have a crack at a 21st Grand Slam title, which would give him the old time record, leaving Roger on 20 in the dust women's tournament.

A bit more of a lottery.

But many fans.

We tune in to see where the Serena Williams, the 39 year old American month, can finally grab that elusive 24th Grand Slam title.

That would draw her level with Australia's all time great Margaret Court, defending champion of Severe Kevin.

But a bigger threat may actually be Naomi, a soccer of Japan.

She's going for 1/4 Grand Slam title at the age of 23.

Win it.

He would make her a worthy successor to Serena.

Home fans will, of course, be going for the laid back world number one ash body.