Australian Open 2021: Craig Tiley - "We need commitments from governments and health authorities"
After the US and French Open went on stage relatively uneventfully, the Australian Open is now just around the corner. Tournament director Craig Tiley would like support from the authorities to ensure that the event is as successful as possible.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 15, 2020, 08:04 pm
Organizing a tournament, a major event, an event in the time of COVID-19, this is probably one of the most demanding tasks that have to be mastered in event management these days. The same applies of course to tennis, which started up again at the end of August this year. While the health of the players and their entourage has the highest priority, of course the profitability of these events must also be considered.
Consequently, it is entirely in the interests of the organizers to be able to take part in front of as many spectators as possible. What worked rather mediocre at the US Open and French Open should come much closer to normal at the upcoming Grand Slam, the Australian Open. With around 25% spectator capacity, they are planning these days in Down Under - because the spectators themselves are at least not the biggest problem that the organizers are confronted with.
Rather, it is the restrictive entry restrictions for the entire continent that give the team around tournament director Craig Tiley something to think about. Specifically, it is about the mandatory two-week quarantine for every person entering, which Tiley would like to see lifted. "You can't ask players to be quarantined for two weeks and then go out and be ready to play a grand slam," said Tiley.
"Coming into the decisive phase"
According to the Australian, negotiations are currently underway with the responsible bodies and authorities. With the aim of "creating a quarantine environment in which the players can commute between the hotel and the courts during these two weeks. We are now entering the crucial phase. We need the promises of the governments and the health authorities."
It is necessary to know what will be possible within the next two weeks, at the latest in a month. "Whether we can open the borders and have an event across multiple cities. If that is not possible, we have to rethink everything," explains Tiley. Should this be the case, the tournament director of the first Grand Slam of the year cannot rule out that the ATP Cup and the traditional tournaments in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart will not also be held in Melbourne, as was the case with the US Open with the Westerns & Southern Open was the case.
"Anything is possible right now, it's all on the table," Craig Tiley told the Canberra Times . Nevertheless, the Australian is "confident" that the Australian Open can take place as planned from January 18th to 31st. Novak Djokovic will start as defending champion in Melbourne, and Roger Federer is also planning to celebrate his comeback down under.