MELBOURNE: The Australian Open was Thursday pushed again to February 8 as a consequence of coronavirus points, with a sequence of lead-up occasions introduced by the ATP Tour in Melbourne after gamers full 14 days of quarantine.
Affirmation got here after protracted negotiations with Tennis Australia and the Victorian state authorities in Melbourne, which solely emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19 circumstances.
Initially as a consequence of begin on January 18, gamers will now arrive in Australia from January 15 to serve two weeks of quarantine, a lot of them coming from nations when the pandemic continues to be raging.
Earlier stories mentioned they must stay at designated lodges however can be allowed to practise and train for as much as 5 hours a day, shuttled between their lodging and Melbourne Park.
There was no fast affirmation from Tennis Australia.
The ATP mentioned males’s qualifiers for the Grand Slam can be held from January 10-13 in Doha, earlier than gamers and assist workers journey to Australia.
There has but to be affirmation on the place the ladies will play their qualifiers.
A slimmed-down 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide Worldwide, and a ATP 250 event will all be held in Melbourne forward of the Slam which is now scheduled from February 8-21.
“The reconfigured calendar for the beginning of the 2021 season represents an enormous collaborative effort throughout tennis, below difficult circumstances,” mentioned ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.
“Along with the assist of our event and participant members, companions, and Tennis Australia, now we have been in a position to adapt and create an thrilling begin to the season.
“Well being and security will proceed to be paramount as we navigate the challenges forward, and I wish to thank everybody concerned for his or her dedication to discovering options to launch our 2021 season.”
Serb Novak Djokovic will probably be aiming for a ninth Australian Open title after overcoming Austria’s Dominic Thiem in a titanic five-set battle earlier this 12 months.
American Sofia Kenin is about to defend her maiden Grand Slam ladies’s crown after defeating Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in three units.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley had been hoping that Melbourne Park crowds can be between 25 and 50 % of regular capability.
However coronavirus now below management in Australia their are hopes that could possibly be boosted if there are not any extra group transmissions of Covid-19.
The boys’s season will begin with the ATP 250 Delray Seashore Open alongside a brand new single-year ATP 250 occasion in Antalya, Turkey earlier than shifting to Doha for the Australian Open qualifying.
ATP occasions not happening in 2021 as a result of pandemic embrace the ASB Basic in Auckland and the New York Open, whereas the Maharashtra Open in India is below a cloud.
The Rio Open is not going to happen as initially scheduled, with the ATP saying different dates had been being thought-about.
Affirmation got here after protracted negotiations with Tennis Australia and the Victorian state authorities in Melbourne, which solely emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19 circumstances.
Initially as a consequence of begin on January 18, gamers will now arrive in Australia from January 15 to serve two weeks of quarantine, a lot of them coming from nations when the pandemic continues to be raging.
Earlier stories mentioned they must stay at designated lodges however can be allowed to practise and train for as much as 5 hours a day, shuttled between their lodging and Melbourne Park.
There was no fast affirmation from Tennis Australia.
The ATP mentioned males’s qualifiers for the Grand Slam can be held from January 10-13 in Doha, earlier than gamers and assist workers journey to Australia.
There has but to be affirmation on the place the ladies will play their qualifiers.
A slimmed-down 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide Worldwide, and a ATP 250 event will all be held in Melbourne forward of the Slam which is now scheduled from February 8-21.
“The reconfigured calendar for the beginning of the 2021 season represents an enormous collaborative effort throughout tennis, below difficult circumstances,” mentioned ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi.
“Along with the assist of our event and participant members, companions, and Tennis Australia, now we have been in a position to adapt and create an thrilling begin to the season.
“Well being and security will proceed to be paramount as we navigate the challenges forward, and I wish to thank everybody concerned for his or her dedication to discovering options to launch our 2021 season.”
Serb Novak Djokovic will probably be aiming for a ninth Australian Open title after overcoming Austria’s Dominic Thiem in a titanic five-set battle earlier this 12 months.
American Sofia Kenin is about to defend her maiden Grand Slam ladies’s crown after defeating Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in three units.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley had been hoping that Melbourne Park crowds can be between 25 and 50 % of regular capability.
However coronavirus now below management in Australia their are hopes that could possibly be boosted if there are not any extra group transmissions of Covid-19.
The boys’s season will begin with the ATP 250 Delray Seashore Open alongside a brand new single-year ATP 250 occasion in Antalya, Turkey earlier than shifting to Doha for the Australian Open qualifying.
ATP occasions not happening in 2021 as a result of pandemic embrace the ASB Basic in Auckland and the New York Open, whereas the Maharashtra Open in India is below a cloud.
The Rio Open is not going to happen as initially scheduled, with the ATP saying different dates had been being thought-about.
