Australian Open: Two players test positive ahead of major tournament  

Two Australian Open tennis players have tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in the city of Melbourne, amid growing controversy over the event.

A third case involved a "non-playing participant", BBC Sport reports, citing the state of Victoria's chief health officer.

Some 1,200 people, including players, staff and officials, have flown into Australia for the tournament, which begins on 8 February.

But a row over quarantine rules has cast a shadow over the upcoming event.

Some players have expressed frustration about being confined to hotel rooms full-time while other rivals are not.

And some residents in Melbourne - a city which endured one of the world's longest lockdowns last year - have their own concerns about the potential Covid risk posed by the tournament.