clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has reportedly told a number of players that the first Grand Slam of 2021 will be held three weeks later than usual, starting on Feb. 8 instead of in mid-January.
Craig Tiley, the head of Tennis Australia and tournament director of the Australian Open, has informed several players on the tour that he intends to host the 2021 Australian Open from February 8-21, or three weeks after the originally scheduled date. The number of people with whom Tiley has been in contact regarding his plans remains unclear, but his current proposals have been confirmed.
This is what Tennis Australia has planned for the upcoming Australian Open, as of Wednesday afternoon:
In his communication, Tiley offered some additional explanations. First of all, following their quarantine the players will have have the freedom to go wherever they want in Melbourne. He also underlined the prospect of playing matches in front of a “massive audience,” which would be a new scene on tour following several months of closed doors or very light crowds on the ATP, WTA, and ITF Grand Slam circuits. It remains to be seen if close to 100 percent capacity at Melbourne Park is envisaged.
There had been previous leaks in the media involving even tighter restrictions for the Australian Open, but seemed to know that those would be unacceptable to the players. Reducing the sizes of their teams was seen as a real issue for the best players in the world leading up to the 2020 US Open, which was played in the New York bubble. Tiley and his staff hope the new proposal will gain more favor with the players.
Alexander Zverev recently said that playing the Australian Open without proper preparation would make the title completely up for grabs while also creating an additional injury risk for players. Even if that is not entirely the case, Tennis Australia’s current restrictions are such that players’ preparation in terms of both practice and physical training for a new season–and specifically the first Grand Slam of the year–will not up to its normal standard.
www.tennismajors.com
Craig Tiley, the head of Tennis Australia and tournament director of the Australian Open, has informed several players on the tour that he intends to host the 2021 Australian Open from February 8-21, or three weeks after the originally scheduled date. The number of people with whom Tiley has been in contact regarding his plans remains unclear, but his current proposals have been confirmed.
This is what Tennis Australia has planned for the upcoming Australian Open, as of Wednesday afternoon:
- Three-week postponement of the tournament, which will run from February 8 through 21
- Strict quarantine for players between January 15, 16 or 17 (whenever they arrive in Australia) and February 1
- During quarantine, only five hours outside of the hotel (and under strict conditions)
- A COVID-19 test two days before flying to Australia
- Five COVID-19 tests during quarantine and a 14-day confinement for any player and his entourage in the event of a positive test
- Only one training partner allowed during the first week of quarantine
- Three different training partners, in “groups of four,” during the second week
- Only one coach at the Melbourne Park site
- Two hours on court and two hours of physical training in the Melbourne Park bubble
- Confinement to the hotel room seven hours a day outside of the five hours of “preparation.”
In his communication, Tiley offered some additional explanations. First of all, following their quarantine the players will have have the freedom to go wherever they want in Melbourne. He also underlined the prospect of playing matches in front of a “massive audience,” which would be a new scene on tour following several months of closed doors or very light crowds on the ATP, WTA, and ITF Grand Slam circuits. It remains to be seen if close to 100 percent capacity at Melbourne Park is envisaged.
There had been previous leaks in the media involving even tighter restrictions for the Australian Open, but seemed to know that those would be unacceptable to the players. Reducing the sizes of their teams was seen as a real issue for the best players in the world leading up to the 2020 US Open, which was played in the New York bubble. Tiley and his staff hope the new proposal will gain more favor with the players.
Alexander Zverev recently said that playing the Australian Open without proper preparation would make the title completely up for grabs while also creating an additional injury risk for players. Even if that is not entirely the case, Tennis Australia’s current restrictions are such that players’ preparation in terms of both practice and physical training for a new season–and specifically the first Grand Slam of the year–will not up to its normal standard.
Tennis Australia says 2021 Australian Open will be February 8-21
Craig Tiley has informed several players on the tour that he intends to host the 2021 Australian Open from February 8-21, or three weeks later than usual.
www.tennismajors.com
