Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Australian Open warm-up events recommence after player Coronavirus tests return negatives

Australian Open warm-up events recommence after player Coronavirus tests return negatives
February 5, 2021

Australian Open warm-up events have resumed today with officials confirmed that all 507 tests of players and officials for COVID-19 had come back negative.

With pre-tournament events halted yesterday after a worker at a quarantine hotel for Australian Open players tested positive for Coronavirus, forcing players and staff back into isolation, the one-day postponement of the WTA and ATP events has meant the remainder of the tournaments have been condensed into three-day schedules.

Following the confirmed positive test result of the hotel worker, all players who were housed at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt have been tested for COVID-19.

Commenting on the disruption, Tennis Australia Chief Executive and Australian Open Tournament Director, Craig Tiley, told Melbourne radio station 3AW “this is a hurdle we’ve faced over the last 24 hours, we look forward to hopefully getting through it, and then to continue on.

“The players have been remarkable … they’ve been 14 days in quarantine, some of them longer, and it took them a while to get used to that as we all know with their comments.

“But the majority have been fantastic.”

Tiley confirmed that the first major tennis tournament of 2021 will see 30,000 fans allowed into Melbourne Park each day, noting “the site will be an extremely safe place, there is a health check coming in, there’s contact tracing set up, and it’s divided into zones for physical distancing.”

With the Australian Open set to start on Monday, the Victorian Government has confirmed new rules governing the wearing of masks during the tournament, with mask wearing restrictions in Melbourne Park’ roofed arenas depending on whether its roof is open or closed.

When roofs are open, stadiums will be taken as outdoor venues, and mask use will not be required while seated.

The rules will apply to the three main courts at Melbourne Park, including Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena.

Spectators will be required to wear masks in the concourse area of each stadium, as these are indoor spaces.

The plans are similar to last month's Australia-India cricket Test in Brisbane, where COVID restrictions allowed fans to avoid wearing masks while in their seats, but made it compulsory to wear them when going to the bathroom or to buy food and drink.

Images: Australian Open action at Melbourne Park's John Cain Arena (top) and Tennis Australia Chief Executive and Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley (below).

Related Articles

4th February 2021 - Australian Open lead-up events impacted after quarantine hotel worker tests positive for COVID-19

1st February 2021 - Work completed on Melbourne Park’s new Show Court Arena roof

30th January 2021 - Victorian Government approves crowd limit of 30,000 per day for Australian Open

29th January 2021 - Australian Open tennis players start leaving hotel quarantine

21st January 2021 - Tennis Australia commits to Australian Open and paying for players’ hotel quarantine

12th January 2021 - Australian Open players and officials to face world’s ‘strictest rules for tennis’

7th January 2021 - Melbourne Park to be divided into three zones to ensure fan safety at Australian Open

23rd December 2020 - Melbourne Park’s three main venues to operate with at least 25% capacity for Australian Open

19th December 2020 - Victorian Government confirms Australian Open’s February dates and future at Melbourne Park

17th December 2020 - ATP reveals 2021 schedule with Australian Open to start on 8th February

2nd December 2020 - Australian Open to be moved back to February to allow player quarantine period

9th November 2020 - Victorian Government announces funding for completion of Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium as a 40,000 seat venue

4th October 2020 - Australian Open looks for 2021 event to run at half capacity

11th September 2020 - Victorian Government plans look at venues reopening from 26th October

13th August 2020 - Tennis Australia’s Craig Tiley anticipates 2021 Australian Open will go ahead with fans in Melbourne

3rd July 2020 - Tennis Australia commits to staging 2021 Australian Open in Melbourne

4th February 2020 - Australian Open 2020 welcomes largest ever tournament crowds

2nd February 2020 - Australian Open showcases best of the nation for international tourists

28th January 2020 - Australian tennis great Margaret Court honoured at Australian Open

28th November 2019 - Rod Laver Arena named as a top 10 highest grossing venue

9th September 2019 - Latest stage of Melbourne Park redevelopment now complete

21st August 2018 - New name for Melbourne’s Hisense Arena


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

SimplySwim

    SimplySwim is a school management solution that helps swimming school owners and managers optimize operations by automating functions such as managing class schedules, billing and…

read more

Aquatics / Education / Recreation / Safety / Technology

 
 

Parkequip

Parkequip is an approved supplier under the NSW LGP Contract 308 for a range of products including play equipment, shade, shelters, safe fall, park furniture and school outdoor seating. All materials…

read more

Fitness / Parks / Play / Recreation / Surfaces

 
 

BioLab Australia Pty Ltd

BioGuard is Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted supplier of premium, innovative and affordable commercial water treatment systems and chemicals. BioGuard offers a comprehensive range of…

read more

Aquatics / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

APT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

APT (Advanced Polymer Technology) is the leading global manufacturer of polyurethane-based materials, acrylic coatings and synthetic turf products for sporting and recreational applications. From…

read more

Environment / Sport / Surfaces / Technology

 
 

GREENEDESK

Track. Engage. Retain GreeneDesk is a suite of cloud based software solutions helping health clubs, leisure centres and swim schools to effectively track progression, improve customer engagement and…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Education / Fitness / Technology

 
 

ProSlide Technology

ProSlide is the global leader in water ride design and manufacturing, supplying high-performance water attractions to new and expanding water parks around the world. For over three decades, ProSlide…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Waterparks

 
 

AIS Water

AIS Water, the trading name of Australian Innovative Systems, is a multi-award winning, Australian owned leader in the design, production and supply of commercial and residential chlorine generators…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology

 
 

PerfectGym

Perfect Gym Solutions is a software as a service (SaaS) solution purpose-built to service the fitness industry, with over 1000 clients servicing over two million gym members across 40 countries making…

read more

Access / Fitness / Marketing / Recreation / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business