- Moderator
- #1
Think this will become a big talking point in this country and around the world. What are we going to do.
The dates are set, that much is sure. (January 17-30). Talk from the Daily Mirror is that Tennis Aus are planning to do something similar to this year. That is, charted planes for the players and then some type of quarantine system. What is different is that players who are vaccinated will have more freedoms. But tennis players have been slow in the uptake of the vaccines and IIRC, only around 50% of them are fully vaxxed.
And as Yaco says on the general tennis thread(I need to learn how to move posts), I am not sure how many players would be willing to do what they did this year, especially over X-mas.
Then, what will happen to the lead-up tournaments in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart? Are we going to have Melbourne 1-2-3 again?
And other places around the world, like the Qatar Open. The Auckland Open 2022 has already been canned. Could a player boycott leave Tennis Aus no choice but host it in the Middle East. It seems like Qualies will again take place in the Middle East.
I have found no other sources yet, which I find strange. The Australian Open is going to find itself in the middle of a war between us opening up to the world or one which is trying to continue the way we are at the moment. That will be different in different parts of the country.
I am going to guess that it will be a Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne(plus any new state with covid) Summer of Tennis. And that only Vaxxed, qualified players are allowed into the country via Sydney with limited testing. I can't see tennis being played in "safe" areas like Perth or Hobart.
Again, I think the Ashes will be a good indication of what will happen for tennis.
The dates are set, that much is sure. (January 17-30). Talk from the Daily Mirror is that Tennis Aus are planning to do something similar to this year. That is, charted planes for the players and then some type of quarantine system. What is different is that players who are vaccinated will have more freedoms. But tennis players have been slow in the uptake of the vaccines and IIRC, only around 50% of them are fully vaxxed.
And as Yaco says on the general tennis thread(I need to learn how to move posts), I am not sure how many players would be willing to do what they did this year, especially over X-mas.
I am struggling to understand why qualifying has to be off-shore considering Australia would have reached its vaccination coverage by January - You either have a proper tournament with all its 'bells and whistles' or you move the whole tournament off-shore - It's bizarre, when you consider that going back to May, all the other Grand Slams had their qualifying done in the same country.
Edit: it seems that the AO want all players in Australia before XMAS - Could this result in some players missing the tournament.
Then, what will happen to the lead-up tournaments in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart? Are we going to have Melbourne 1-2-3 again?
And other places around the world, like the Qatar Open. The Auckland Open 2022 has already been canned. Could a player boycott leave Tennis Aus no choice but host it in the Middle East. It seems like Qualies will again take place in the Middle East.
Christmas is CANCELLED for those playing in the Australian Open
Anyone hoping to emulate US Open champion Emma Raducanu by qualifying for the next tennis Grand Slam will probably have to cancel their Christmas.
www.dailymail.co.uk
I am going to guess that it will be a Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne(plus any new state with covid) Summer of Tennis. And that only Vaxxed, qualified players are allowed into the country via Sydney with limited testing. I can't see tennis being played in "safe" areas like Perth or Hobart.
Again, I think the Ashes will be a good indication of what will happen for tennis.