MELBOURNE: Roger Federer and Serena Williams had been among the many entries introduced Thursday for the coronavirus-disrupted Australian Open, with event director Craig Tiley vowing a “joyful Slam” after months of painstaking planning.
All of the world’s high gamers have signed on, led by world quantity ones Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty.
There was a query mark over Swiss nice Federer, who warned this month he was in a “race towards time” to be match after two rounds of knee surgical procedure.
However he has begun coaching in Dubai and was amongst these entered to play at Melbourne Park as he targets a seventh title.
US celebrity Williams, who like Federer turns 40 subsequent 12 months, can also be dedicated as she as soon as once more makes an attempt to drag degree with Margaret Court as a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Her final triumph on the majors got here in Australia in 2017 when she was pregnant.
“There are such a lot of nice storylines for AO 2021,” mentioned Tiley.
“Serena is gunning for her eighth title whereas Novak, who typically appears invincible at Melbourne Park, goes for a document ninth title.
“Our personal world No.1 Ash Barty will return to Grand Slam competitors, as will Roger Federer as he comes again from damage.”
The opening Grand Slam of the 12 months, which might be performed in entrance of a minimum of 50 % of regular crowds, has been pushed again three weeks till February 8.
All gamers should endure a compulsory 14-day quarantine on arrival, throughout which they may continually be examined for Covid-19 however allowed to coach for 5 hours a day in a bio-secure bubble.
“Though the AO will look a bit completely different to earlier years, the protection of everyone seems to be our high precedence,” mentioned Tiley.
“We’ve the chance to stage a really secure, and joyful Slam, and provides the gamers the expertise of competing in entrance of crowds once more, one thing they’ve missed for many of this 12 months.”
The lads’s and girls’s qualifiers might be held in Doha and Dubai respectively from January 10-13, with gamers arriving in Melbourne from January 15 on particular constitution flights.
A slimmed-down, 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide Worldwide, and a ATP 250 event will all be performed in Melbourne as soon as gamers are out of isolation.
Two WTA 500 tournaments are additionally deliberate to be held concurrently at Melbourne Park on January 31-February 7.
Melbourne solely emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam and methods to permit so many gamers and assist employees to enter the nation safely.
Australia has largely contained the coronavirus though a brand new outbreak in Sydney final week has sparked recent restrictions in components of town and even state border closures.
All of the world’s high gamers have signed on, led by world quantity ones Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty.
There was a query mark over Swiss nice Federer, who warned this month he was in a “race towards time” to be match after two rounds of knee surgical procedure.
However he has begun coaching in Dubai and was amongst these entered to play at Melbourne Park as he targets a seventh title.
US celebrity Williams, who like Federer turns 40 subsequent 12 months, can also be dedicated as she as soon as once more makes an attempt to drag degree with Margaret Court as a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Her final triumph on the majors got here in Australia in 2017 when she was pregnant.
“There are such a lot of nice storylines for AO 2021,” mentioned Tiley.
“Serena is gunning for her eighth title whereas Novak, who typically appears invincible at Melbourne Park, goes for a document ninth title.
“Our personal world No.1 Ash Barty will return to Grand Slam competitors, as will Roger Federer as he comes again from damage.”
The opening Grand Slam of the 12 months, which might be performed in entrance of a minimum of 50 % of regular crowds, has been pushed again three weeks till February 8.
All gamers should endure a compulsory 14-day quarantine on arrival, throughout which they may continually be examined for Covid-19 however allowed to coach for 5 hours a day in a bio-secure bubble.
“Though the AO will look a bit completely different to earlier years, the protection of everyone seems to be our high precedence,” mentioned Tiley.
“We’ve the chance to stage a really secure, and joyful Slam, and provides the gamers the expertise of competing in entrance of crowds once more, one thing they’ve missed for many of this 12 months.”
The lads’s and girls’s qualifiers might be held in Doha and Dubai respectively from January 10-13, with gamers arriving in Melbourne from January 15 on particular constitution flights.
A slimmed-down, 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide Worldwide, and a ATP 250 event will all be performed in Melbourne as soon as gamers are out of isolation.
Two WTA 500 tournaments are additionally deliberate to be held concurrently at Melbourne Park on January 31-February 7.
Melbourne solely emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam and methods to permit so many gamers and assist employees to enter the nation safely.
Australia has largely contained the coronavirus though a brand new outbreak in Sydney final week has sparked recent restrictions in components of town and even state border closures.
