‘I’m so grateful’: What it’s like to be a tennis player out of hard lockdown

It feels so unusual to not have to wear a mask and to see a lot of people out and about in Melbourne without masks.

I have become so used to wearing one that I remember at the US Open last year I accidentally wore the mask in the shower, and didn’t realise it was on until I was under the water.

After 14 days inside my hotel room, with no practice or ability to leave because of a positive test on my charter flight, it felt amazing to get outside. I am so grateful.

Sitting at the restaurant with my friends for the first time I just looked around, surrounded by people, and was trying to understand and realise this is actually normal for Melbourne.

I was so excited to eat with real cutlery because we have used bamboo cutlery in the hotel, and to have a nice meal straight from the kitchen that wasn’t delivered.

It was nice to go for a walk in the sun and in the fresh air, and I am planning to go shopping too, and take more strolls in the coming days.

As I waited for the clock to countdown to midnight on Friday night, I was so excited I couldn’t focus on anything else other than getting out.

As soon as I got out of the room I felt so happy, more than normal, just appreciating being outside in the sun and getting my tan back. All these little things you normally wouldn’t think of.

We got taken down to the lobby, then into a car to my new hotel.

Unlike some players I didn’t do a midnight practice session. My coach didn’t want me to do that, fortunately.

I hit for the first time on Saturday afternoon, we pushed training back because of the late night.

I don’t remember being this excited for a practice for a very long time, if ever.

It was almost like I couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

It felt really good. I don’t usually struggle after breaks, I get back into it quite quickly. You have to be careful not to tweak something so I took it easy in the first few sessions to allow my body to be OK playing tennis again, the movement and all that.

I have played tennis for almost 20 years, you don’t forget the shots, you can still play. It just takes the body a little bit of time to get used to the intensity and moving and breathing.

In the room I did intervals to help my fitness, and the first few days out it wasn’t so hot in Melbourne, so it would be tougher if it was really hot as it can be here.

I haven’t struggled with the heat but hopefully I can acclimatise to it when it gets hot. My muscles are not used to playing, the movement is so different to what you can do in the room so some muscles are getting tight and sore from playing but it’s been OK.

I will play my first match on Wednesday in the WTA event. I can’t wait for the Australian Open and to play in front of crowds.

The last crowds we played in front before COVID-19 were in February, in Dubai and Doha. Then there were also a small amount of spectators allowed at Palermo. But the last proper big crowds were at last year’s Australian Open.

I love playing in front of crowds and I like the big courts, and love having people around. There’s a buzz and people are excited to see you play. It gives so much to the sport and having fans and people around motivates us.

We feel it both ways. We can feel that people love coming to watch us, and feel lucky and grateful they can do that in Melbourne.

Anett Kontaveit was an Australian Open quarter-finalist in 2020.

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