Tiley urges fans to return to ‘happy’ Australian Open

AUSTRALIAN Open boss Craig Tiley has urged fans to celebrate the return of a live major sporting event as the tennis showcase begins in Melbourne on Monday.

After months of lockdown, Mr Tiley said tennis fans should enjoy a covid-safe Grand Slam and predicted several days of the event would sell out as fans got a longawaited live sporting fix: “It will be great to have live tennis back and everyone will be talking about how great it is we’re having the Australian Open and how great Australia and Melbourne is at handling the pandemic,’’ he said.

“We’ll still be the slam.

“We will be the safe slam but also the happy slam.’’

A maximum of 30,000 fans happy are can attend the opening day of the two week Open with Mr Tiley predicting the event would reaffirm Melbourne’s status as a sporting city.

Face masks will be compulsory indoors, following a state government backflip on spectators having to wear them when the roof is closed on Rod Laver, Margaret Court and John Cain Arenas.

Crowd caps will be in place, strict zones dictate which parts of Melbourne Park fans can access and digital tickets and cashless food and drink outlets will operate.

But Mr Tiley said no restrictions on fans cheering or singing would apply like Japan Olympic officials announced last week for the Tokyo Games.

He added Olympic bosses should study Australian Open protocols for the Games: “Honestly, if they were to replicate what was done here that would be successful.

“We would be happy share all of our leanings.

“There hasn’t been a sporting event that has had to bring so many people from so many places and so many hot spots since the pandemic began and the next really big one will be the Olympics.’’ to

Tickets for the middle weekend of the Open were likely to sell out and the final few days of the event were “almost at capacity’’.

With digital only tickets, fans have been urged to download their seats at home and check entry gates before arriving at Melbourne Park.

Mr Tiley said the fact fans would have more space, with strict daily crowd limits, would make this year’s event unique.

“I think it will be magnificent and it will be good to see fans out there,’’ he said.