The first of 1200 international tennis players, support crew and officials are expected to arrive in Melbourne for the Australian Open, as the state records no new COVID-19 cases. Victoria has now gone eight consecutive days without a local or interstate-acquired coronavirus case. It also reported no cases in hotel quarantine. Some 16,533 tests results were received in the 24 hours to the morning of January 14. Meanwhile, a charter flight carrying tennis athletes and staff is scheduled to land at Tullamarine early Thursday evening. It will be the first of 15 incoming private flights over a 36-hour window in preparation for the annual grand slam at Melbourne Park. All of the players are expected to be “processed” in airport hangars, away from prying eyes and cameras, before being ushered away to quarantine. The tournament has been delayed two weeks to February 8 after the Victorian government and tennis officials …