Australian Open 2021: Victoria's premier confident
Although there are "incredibly complicated" negotiations , the Prime Minister of the state of Victoria (Australia), Daniel Andrews, has expressed optimism about the Australian Open being held in January 2021 in times of the coronavirus pandemic.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 19, 2020, 02:43 pm
Tennis Australia has been fighting for months for a permit for tennis players to enter the country in December in order to ensure preparation for the Australian tennis summer in a specially imposed quarantine.
The organizers had already announced last week that they would move all tournaments to the state of Victoria , instead of having players in different cities hit the whole country and they may be stranded there. Andrews made people sit up and take notice that this plan was by no means set in stone.
The ATP responded and sent a circular email to players, which only raised question marks. "In discussions with Tennis Australia, we were informed that there are several new challenges to the planned early arrival dates for players and coaches," the broadcast said. The world association will continue to work to host the tournaments in January.
Cricket yes, tennis no?
Prime Minister Andrews put his statements into perspective again on Wednesday. "It has to be done in a safe way," he said. "We work very closely with Tennis Australia and are confident that the Australian Open will be the result."
Andrews and his government team ensured an early long-term lockdown of all Melbourne residents during the second wave of deaths from COVID-19. The measures were harshly criticized, but had an effect. The whole of Victoria has not had a single corona-related death in 20 days.
Other sports leagues such as rubgy, Australian football or cricket could be continued. "We want the Australian Open to take place," said Andrews. "But in cricket there is only a small group of people who have to be quarantined. The Open is a huge event."
The organizers of the Australian Open hope for admitted spectators during the tournament. For a planned cricket match between Australia and India, the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground can be used up to 25 percent.