Australia's Victoria state has recorded its 17th straight day without any new local coronavirus cases as officials focus on keeping the community separated from staff and players here for next month's Australia Open.

According to Reuters, as many as 72 players have been confined to their hotel rooms for two weeks upon arrival and unable to train for the Feb 8-21 Grand Slam after passengers on three charter flights tested positive.

That's led to complaints from some frustrated tennis players, although others have urged their fellow competitors to show more respect for the efforts by the state, which went through one of the world's strictest and longest lockdowns last year, to stamp out the virus.

There were three new cases recorded among international arrivals in hotel quarantine in Victoria, the state's health department said. It was not immediately known whether the new cases were linked to the Australian Open.