Australian events bubble in 2021, but will they play?

ATP Cup, ATP Challenger and W25, WTA Brisbane International, WTA Hobart International, WTA Adelaide International and of course the Australian Open. In January 2021, according to Peter Rolfe of the Sun Herald, all pre-Australian Open tournaments will be played in a bubble at Melbourne Park.

One oo what has already happened in Flushing Meadows for the Westers and Souther Open and for the US Open. A decision that would serve to maintain health standards and counter the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Playing all these events in a bubble is a decision due to the impossibility for the other locations to provide the infrastructure for quarantine and to ensure the ability to move freely between cities.

At the beginning of the new year and, therefore, of the new tennis season, the players will go directly to Melbourne, where the bubble will be organized, the various movements to the facilities, hotels and all levels of safety that will guarantee the health of tennis players, staff, media, tournament organizers and all workers involved. Before being admitted, however, they must be twice negative on the swab. Once the quarantine is over, however, they will be free to move.

Australian events in a bubble in 2021, but..

Melbourne Park and perhaps Bendigo and Traralgon should host the venues for all Australian events scheduled for January. Daniel Andrews, Prime Minister of Victoria, said: "This is very speculative. The idea that the matter is already closed, and that now the players will all come to Melbourne, is simply wrong, nothing has been decided yet. We have to work methodically. , because it is an important event, but avoiding a third wave is even more so, and we will continue to try to solve the problems of the case.

I believe that the tournament can take place, but it will be different from usual. We want the Grand Slam to be played, just as we want cricket's Boxing Day Test to be played, but for this cricket sport the number of athletes to be quarantined is significantly lower, so the challenges surrounding the Australian Open will be very different."

Craig Tiley, No. 1 of Tennis Australia said: "The great news is that we are now aiming for only one place, namely Victoria, because that's where the Australian Open is played. Now there is no more risk. that the Australian Open can be played without players. I am sure that if we remain at zero cases until January then the government will review the issue of the public. Now it is only a question of finalizing the quarantine details with the local government to ensure the safety of the community and the players involved."

At the Australian Open, there should be between 25 and 50 percent of the maximum crowd capacity. Still, however, it is uncertain whether there will be the presence of the crowd or not: the official bubble in Melbourne is expected first.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3fLKvZa