Premier confident Open will happen
MELBOURNE: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he is confident the 2021 Australian Open will proceed — but it remains to be seen how many international stars will compete as confusion reigns over quarantine requirements.
Andrews on Monday cast fresh doubt over the Open going ahead as scheduled on January 1831 amid reports overseas players would not be allowed into Victoria in December.
Tennis Australia has been sweating for months on the Victorian and Australian Governments allowing players to quarantine in a special training hub with their restricted entourages in Melbourne from midDecember.
That would allow the traditional leadup events, including the multicity ATP Cup, to be shifted from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide to Melbourne while some state borders remain closed.
Open tournament director Craig Tiley has categorically ruled out the Open being staged if players were forced into two weeks of hard quarantine before the seasonopening grand slam.
Premier Andrews’ claim on
Monday that the Open proceeding was ‘‘not a done deal’’ prompted the ATP to issue a concerning memo to its representatives, including superstars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic.
‘‘We understand there is uncertainty about the start of the 2021 season, and we are working as hard as possible to deliver the best possible calendar of events to players.’’
TA is understood to be frustrated by the Victorian Government’s approach, but Andrews yesterday said negotiations and planning were ‘‘incredibly complex’’.
‘‘It has to be done safely; it has to be done properly,’’ he said.
‘‘We are working very, very closely with Tennis Australia.
‘‘They are working [with] all of their partners and we’re confident that we’ll finish up with an Australian Open.’’
But if players are unable to start their quarantine period until January, that would mean no leadin events being held before the gruelling fortnightlong Open — unless the biggest event on the annual Australian sporting calendar was pushed back into February.— AAP