'It's worth it': Serena Williams praises 'insane' quarantine rules

Serena Williams has opened up about the ‘super intense’ Australian quarantine conditions, but has praised the country for doing its part to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 within its borders.

The 23-time Grand Slam champ is quarantining in Adelaide, along with other stars such as Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, ahead of an exhibition tournament.

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But of more than 1200 players, coach and officials to fly into Australia ahead of the Australian Open, 72 were forced into hard quarantine after being aboard flights with confirmed positive coronavirus cases.

Many players have been vocal about the tough conditions, especially the 14 days quarantine without practice for some, ahead of a gruelling Grand Slam tournament.

Spaniard Nadal weighed-in on the furore and said he ‘can’t complain’ about quarantine after watching the global pandemic wreak havoc in his home country.

Now Williams has revealed her thoughts on the strict protocols.

The seven-time Australian Open champ said quarantine has proved to be a challenge with her young three-year-old daughter, Olympia, sharing a hotel room.

But, Williams put the rules into perspective and said Australia was doing so ‘amazing’ with the virus and safety was the main priority.

“It’s (quarantine rules are) super, super strict, but it’s really good,” she said on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“So, Australia right now has, the last I heard, zero cases of Covid. So that is unbelievable, right, the whole country? That is really amazing.

“So when we come here in Australia, everyone has to quarantine in a room for 14 days.

“It’s insane and super intense but it’s super good because after that you can have a new normal like we were used to this time last year in the United States.”

“They’re (Tennis Australia) doing it right. It’s definitely hard with a three-year-old to be in the hotel all day, but it’s worth it because you want everyone to be safe at the end of the day.”

Williams suspects trophies gone missing

She also told The Late Show with Stephen Colbert she suspected a couple of trophies had gone missing after a particularly rambunctious party she’d hosted.

“I think one or two or three are missing or have been taken,” Williams said.

“Honestly, I feel like I had a house party years ago and someone got a little too happy at it, and, like — I don't know, but I always wonder, ‘Wait, is that where one of my Wimbledon trophies went?’

“But fortunately enough I’m not attached. I’m not really attached to things.”

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