Rigours of travel in Covid era to make life tough for players
Rafael Nadal congratulates Australia’s ‘amazing’ effortsLleyton Hewitt has forecast a “brutal” year for Australia’s top
Tennis hopes beyond their home grand slam. Six tournaments will be held simultaneously this week ahead of the
Australian Open from 8 February, when thousands of fans will descend on Melbourne Park in a feat that has Rafael Nadal raving.
![Tennis tour hardship looms beyond Australian Open, says Lleyton Hewitt](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/27442ff5af41bc85ed58d20696d93a531ee4952e/0_133_3105_1863/master/3105.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=34d5c197f7b0985909e73d21026ddd51)
But with Australia a world leader in containing the virus, Hewitt expects headaches when players such as Brisbane-based world No 38 John Millman and Spain-based Alex de Minaur plot their next moves.