Australian Open 2021: Fans left the event just before the five-day Victorian lockdown

Strange scenes have hit the Australian Open when Novak Djokovic’s epic war against American Taylor Fritz was briefly called off as fans were forced to withdraw midway through the fourth set.

It was already a strange sight to see Djokovic wrestling at Rod Laver Arena, but at 11.30pm, fans were kicked out of the venue as part of Tennis Australia’s compliance with the five-day Victorian lockdown that began at 11.59pm ( AEDT) on Friday night.

The closure announcement sparked a day of chaos in Melbourne Park with anti-closure protesters flooding the site to take a stand against the third hard closure of the Melbourne metropolitan area.

The crowd has been vocal at the Australian Open during the first week of the tournament, but the COVID group linked to Victoria’s hotel quarantine system has seen the city locked down again.

As part of the lockdown, spectators have been banned from tennis for at least the next five days.

Under the restrictions posted on Fridays, no public gatherings are allowed.

The bizarre scenes were triggered when Fritz pushed Djokovic to breaking point after he had previously taken medical time to be treated for a lateral strain.

With the World No. 1 struggling to move around the court and Fritz rolling with full momentum, the 11.30am deadline marked the end with the epic battle very much in the balance and a potential boil ahead.

Fritz took the third set 6-3 and broke Djokovic before the game was called off as fans were escorted off the scene.

There was a loud chorus of boos as the chair umpire announced that all non-essential personnel must leave the arena with the fourth set at 3-2.

Those fans missed the moment Fritz served the fourth set to send it to a decider.

In an epic fifth set played in the eerie and cavernous silence of Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic showed his champion fighting spirit to weather the storm and finally emerge with a 7-6 6-4 3-6 4-6 6- 2 win after 3.5 hours on the court.

The clock had passed to 12:20 am when he sealed the victory. He roared a deep, guttural scream that sounded really strange within the deserted stadium.

He let his emotions play out after surviving the shock that had left his quest for a record ninth Australian Open crown hanging by a thread.

He said that he understood why the game had to be stopped to kick the spectators out.

“With the bad news we received today, everyone knew that midnight would be the deadline that we will be locked in for five days, so in a way it’s a shame for the crowd that we didn’t finish the game with them watching the end. “. ,” he said.

“They were certainly enjoying it.”

Previously, players were also asked to leave the pitch as fans expressed their frustrations at being kicked out of the stadium.

The confusion had been stitched up when a rumor began to circulate on social media that fans at the stadium could keep their tickets with the exemption to stay out past 11.30pm.

It was quickly proven not to be true.

It came at a fascinating point in the game after Djokovic was left with two sets to love the lead, but a slip had the No. 1 seed to make the splits and require medical attention.

The Australian Open issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying: “Tennis Australia continues to work with the government to ensure the health and safety of all.

“We are notifying ticket holders, players and staff that there will be no fans at the AO venue for five days, beginning Saturday, February 13.

“Full refunds will be available to anyone who has tickets for these sessions and will be informed on how to apply as soon as possible.”