Two more Australian Open players have tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities revealed, taking to the number of cases linked to the tennis tournament to 10.

It is the latest blow to preparations for the year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne — which has already be delayed by three weeks due to the pandemic.

A string of infections detected by Australian authorities have forced 72 players to be confined to their hotel rooms for two weeks, AFP reports.

Victoria state police minister Lisa Neville said two players and two non-players associated with the tournament had tested positive over the last 24 hours. One of the players, she told reporters, “has absolutely been in hard lockdown because he came in on one of the flights where we had positives”.