MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will be among the top men and women players heading to Adelaide to serve their mandatory 14-day quarantine before traveling to Melbourne for next month’s Australian Open. the organizers said.
Hundreds of players and entrants will arrive in Australia from January 15 and receive a mandatory 14-day quarantine as part of COVID-19 health protocols ahead of the Australian Open February 8-21 at Melbourne Park.
Australian Tennis Chief Executive Craig Tiley said the organizers needed a second city to make sure they did not cross the limit set by the authorities for quarantining people in Melbourne.
Adelaide will now host the top three male and female players, including Ash Barty and Simona Halep, who will also play a show event before heading to Melbourne to play warm-up events at the Australian Open venue from 31 January.
“We have notified the South Australian government of their ability to recruit at least 50 people,” Tiley told Tennis Channel.
“But they would not be interested in doing it, because it is not in their best interests to endanger their whole community.
“But it would be an advantage if there was a show just before Melbourne. So we selected the top three men and three women and they will play a show on January 29th and 30th. ”
The players will be allowed five hours outside of their hotel rooms to train through the 14-day quarantine and Tiley confirmed that health rules would be the same in Adelaide.
South Australian Prime Minister Steven Marshall called the demonstration event a “huge win” for the state.
“We’ve been working hard with Tennis Australia,” Marshall said. “Some of our best seed will be playing here ahead of the Australian Open. ”
Tiley said he expected Melbourne Park, which saw around 800,000 people attend the Grand Slam last year, to be 50% to 75% of the normal fan base in February.
Rod Laver, however, will not be one of them this year at Melbourne Park, whose main display court is named after the Australian great.
“I have decided to stay at home this year and unfortunately I will miss the Aus Open,” said Laver, the only player ever to win all four major tennis tournaments in a calendar year twice. , on Twitter.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing tennis start again in my house at RLA (Rod Laver Arena) and I’ll have a meaningful front row seat! Best wishes to all who compete and to Tennis Australia for making it happen. ”
Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Edited by Robert Birsel