Confirmed: Australian Open will begin February 8th
- Thread starter Aussie Darcy
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they will be on a different continent...
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Quarantine bubble. They will begin to arrive here January 15 to begin the 2 week bubble otherwise it would’ve been too early/short notice to start arriving internationally as I don’t think we are opening until end of December.
Why cant they arrive now...spend 2 weeks in quarantine (since they resting anyway) and then mid december start training in australia,,,
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Players probably want to spend Christmas with their families? They don’t usually get here til January 1 anyway.
Tennis_Freak99
Hall of Fame
wimbledon
For a start, our borders are closed and they'd need an exemption (which I'm sure would not be a problem).
But the real reason would be Christmas. So much whinging in here about our sensible protocols that have worked very well, can you imagine if players were expected to come here before Christmas?
Truth is, the smart ones will apply for an exemption and be here in a few weeks.
Jack the Hack
Hall of Fame
Honestly, mid-February is probably when the Australian Open should be played regardless of a pandemic. That would give more time for a proper slate of run up tournaments throughout the summer months in the southern hemisphere. As it usually is, there are only a handful of tournaments in the early part of January and some exhibitions before the Australian Open starts. I'd rather see that time stretched out a bit with more events. As it stands, there is kind of a dead period between the end of the Australian and Indian Wells that would be better served with a permanent schedule shift in my opinion.
They could spend Christmas with Kyrgios
Everyone gets a Playstation and Lakers top.
Hellenic Hero
Rookie
Theoretically that should be the case, but it won't happen due to the Australian Open's school holiday timing
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
So it’s basically not a strict quarantine.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Isn’t this the same thing they did at the US Open where they were in a bubble? Not sure what the problem is?
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
They will only train with one other partner, so it's a balance between isolation and training.
It will be strict enough if all the employees do their job properly and players co-operate.
It will be strict enough if all the employees do their job properly and players co-operate.
Thank you Bart!
The problem is if they are practice at Melbourne Park, it's VERY hard to stop them coming into contact with people (drivers, centre staff, caterers, etc). Do they control how many come in contact with each other for practice, or could one case potentially take out half the draw?
Now I'm sure the government is all over this, but it's fraught with "potential" problems.
That is exactly what I was trying to assess. It does seem a risky process especially that you guys are 100% virus free. One case can change all that.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Unlike RG and the USO I think you’ll find if we get even one person positive the tournament will shut down as we don’t want to risk Covid returning to community transmission in Australia. It is fraught with problems, I just hope nobody has the damn virus.
Nadal_Django
Hall of Fame
So all the time spend, logistics, nerves, money, resources, will be for nothing if just one Covid case occurs... Well, good luck with that... 
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
weakera
Legend
It just further underlines the reality that Australia is the weakest slam by far, perhaps even weaker as a tournament than Indian Wells or Basel.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
That's an opinion that is not shared by many, so you're pulling it out of your rear ... yet again.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Craig Tiley confirmed it?
Australian Open start date confirmed
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has confirmed the 2021 Australian Open has been postponed until February 8th.
www.news.com.au
Karma Tennis
Hall of Fame
If you have been following all the discussion and articles over the past two weeks, you would know not to trust anything being published by news.com.au at this stage.Craig Tiley confirmed it?
Australian Open start date confirmed
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has confirmed the 2021 Australian Open has been postponed until February 8th.
Tiley has stated 8th Feb. but it has not been confirmed by the Victorian State Government or the ATP or WTA at this stage.
Doesn't mean it won't happen on the 8th Feb but other rumours are suggesting it will be 15th Feb. All the info I'm getting says NO EARLIER THAN 8th FEB!
Let's wait and see.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Considering the sources from multiple news sites saw the emails from Tiley with the players (not hard to know who the players who would've passed it on to media given who they've been chatting with the last 2 weeks), it's confirmed.
skypadq
Professional
karma tennis , any chance on 2021 AO bening cancelled ??
Karma Tennis
Hall of Fame
Imho @skypadq, the only way the AO could be cancelled now is if ...
- Victoria is hit by a Third Wave of the virus due to the influx of international travelers from Dec 7th being mismanaged.
- Victoria is hit by a Third Wave of the virus because an incoming international traveler breaches Quarantine and starts spreading the virus
- The ATP and / or WTA advises players not to attend the AO and TA decide it is to expensive to conduct the event
So there is still a chance, but it is very very slim. As I said in the other thread, I think it will go ahead unless someting major happens.
skypadq
Professional
thank you for info
It would be logical to have some masters tournaments as a lead up to AO
How is weather in march in Australia , i take it ideal for tennis?
Karma Tennis
Hall of Fame
March is a pretty good month for Tennis to be played in Victoria. The main reason why the AO is now staged in January is because it is a good fit for Australian Summer Vacation Season, weather is great, no schools in operation etc. However, the date will never be changed to March because March is the beginning of the AFL Season and also the month of the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Very tricky question. Hard to answer. Unlikely the Event would be cancelled. However, it may be "Paused" for three or four days while everyone was Tested for the virus.
will it be full crowd?Craig Tiley confirmed it?
Australian Open start date confirmed
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has confirmed the 2021 Australian Open has been postponed until February 8th.
Karma Tennis
Hall of Fame
Should be. But we don't know what conditions the Victorian Government has set to allow the event to go ahead.
One of those conditions might be that the Event is "Paused" or even cancelled if a certain number of participants Test Positive.
skypadq
Professional
karma tennis , any chance on victoria government not allowed 2021 AO happen ?
Karma Tennis
Hall of Fame
Not a chance of a Full Crowd. Will be either 25% or 50% depending on the circumstances.
Karma Tennis
Hall of Fame
Always possible, The Victorian Government has the FINAL say. It can close it's Borders at any time.
It cancelled the 2020 Australian F1 Grand Prix on the first morning of the Event.
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