Gaurav Natekar is of the view that while it is difficult to follow quarantine rules, specially hard quarantine, that most of the players bound for the Australian Open this year are facing, mental toughness will be the key to overcome it.

Asked whether the quarantine will affect their form, since practice and regular fitness regime are compromised, the former Davis Cupper and Asian Games gold medallist, said: “Rules and regulations are same for almost everyone. There are only a few players who did not take the chartered flights to Melbourne or are based in Australia, who may have a very slim advantage. But it comes down to mental toughness and the attitude of the players. It depends on how they can overcome the quarantine experience and focus on the tournament proper.”

He agreed with Rafa Nadal’s view that under the pandemic situation, it is a privilege to be able to play at the first Grand Slam of the year.

“I agree with Nadal. He is absolutely right to say that it is a privilege for the players to be able to play a sport they love and earn from it, when thousands are being affected by the pandemic. Also Australia is a country where the coronavirus has been controlled well,” he said.

Covid-19 has left India’s Rohan Bopanna in a rather tough situation. He is without a partner for the Grand Slam since Portugal’s Joao Sousa had tested positive and had to pull out.

“It is very difficult for me to say who he can play with now, since I really don’t know who all are available. He has to find someone who is fit, who is also looking for a partner and most importantly someone he can gel with,” said Natekar.

Roger Federer is giving Melbourne a miss this year. Asked if there may be a surprise winner, breaking the stranglehold of the top three in men’s tennis, Natekar said it will be difficult to see beyond Noval Djokovic and Rafal Nadal. “There is a lot of depth in men’s tennis. But unless these guys have real bad days it will be tough to predict anyone else as the would be champion. The women’s side is more interesting perhaps with no such clear favourite. Yes, Naomi Osaka has been very consistent and you can never write off Serena Williams. But I still feel the field is very open there,” he added.

With a pandemic-hampered 2020 which resulted in lack of off-season training and warm-up tournaments, Natekar feels the players may be a bit under-prepared. “They will be under-prepared, but these are top-level athletes who have practised for hundreds of hours and their muscle memory is tremendous. There may be some rustiness in the first couple of days, but am sure they will get over it as the tournament progresses.”

He also added that life in a bio-bubble can be stressful, lonely and tough. “Most of these players are used to living in the best of facilities. But this is a very tough situation. It can get very lonely and boring since they are also travelling with smaller groups of support staff.”

The Australian Open will be telecast live on Sony Six, Sony Ten 2 and 3 from February 8.