Tennis: Australian Open, ATP Cup no "done deal", says Victoria premier
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[November 16, 2020]
By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Victoria premier
Daniel Andrews has said staging the Australian Open in January and
other tennis tournaments in the southern state is no "done deal" due
to COVID-19, putting the brakes on Tennis Australia's (TA)
scheduling plans.
TA boss Craig Tiley told Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper that the
ATP Cup and other events would be held in Victoria in the leadup to
the year's first Grand Slam in January, because of logistical
challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Andrews said health authorities had not signed off on TA's
plans.
"The notion that .... there's going to be all these tennis players
turn up now, that is not settled, not settled at all," Andrews told
reporters.
"We've got to work through those things in a methodical way. (The
Australian Open) is an important event. Absolutely. But avoiding a
third wave is arguably even more important, but we'll keep working
through those issues.
"I think we can have the event go ahead, but it's going to have to
look different."
The Australian Open starts Jan. 18.
Once the epicentre of a second wave outbreak of COVID-19 mid-year,
Victoria has recorded 17 consecutive days of no new cases following
a four-month lockdown.
But the country is back on outbreak alert after South Australia
state reported more than a dozen new cases on Monday, a dramatic
increase from the previous day, prompting other states to tighten
internal borders.
Tiley told the Herald Sun that the men's season-opening ATP Cup and
other Australian Open warmups, including the Brisbane International
and events in Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra, would be moved to
Victoria.
"There is now no risk of the Australian Open going ahead without
everyone in Victoria and we didn't have that guarantee previously,"
the paper quoted him as saying.
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The O2, London, Britain -
November 15, 2018 Tennis Australia CEO, Craig Tiley during a press
conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
TA declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
Tournament directors for the Brisbane, Hobart and Adelaide events
said their tournaments would be played in Victoria.
"Tennis fans in Queensland will understandably be feeling a little
flat with the decision however the current COVID-19 protocols meant
a Melbourne-only summer of tennis is the safest and most feasible
option for the playing group," Brisbane International tournament
director Mark Handley said in a statement.
Tiley told the Herald Sun players would be able to train and compete
in a biosecure bubble during a two-week quarantine after landing in
Melbourne but would then be free to move around Victoria and mix
with fans.
"So the Australian Open will be played in an open environment with
players moving around freely, as well as fans - at least up to 25%
(capacity)," he said.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Toby Davis and
Christopher Cushing)
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