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The world’s top three male and female tennis players will be quarantined for the Australian Open in Adelaide instead of the tournament’s host city Melbourne, organizers revealed.
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are among those who will compete in an exhibition event in Adelaide in the run-up to the first Grand Slam of the season.
The one-time competition, scheduled for January 29-30, was held after Australian Open organizers said they had reached the maximum number of people they could quarantine in Melbourne.
“We are on the brink of the number of people we can quarantine in Melbourne, so we needed some relief, so we approached the South Australian government on the possibility of quarantining at least 50 people,” the tournament said. Australian Open. director Craig Tiley told the Tennis channel.
“But they would have no interest in doing it because there is no benefit to them that puts their entire community at risk.
“But it would be a benefit if there was an exhibition just before Melbourne.
“The Premier agreed to house 50 people in a quarantine bubble and have those players play in exhibitions.”
Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem will join Djokovic for the men’s event in Adelaide, while the women’s competition will feature Williams, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep.
All other Australian Open players will be quarantined in Melbourne.
Organizers were forced to find a replacement hotel to quarantine the players after plans to keep them at the Westin Melbourne were scrapped due to concerns from residents at the site.
The apartment owners at the luxury hotel had threatened legal action, claiming they had not been consulted and were concerned for the health of the elderly residents.
According to the Daily mail, players, coaches and support staff who violate the isolation rules could face penalties including a fine of up to £ 11,500 ($ 15,600 / € 12,800), deportation, arrest, “isolation in a government-ordered hotel room” and confiscation of prize money.
Players will be able to practice up to five hours a day under strict bubble arrangements devised by Tennis Australia.
The Australian Open is scheduled to run February 8-21.
The event was delayed until February to allow for the quarantine period after the players arrived in the country, while the men’s and women’s qualifying events moved to Doha and Dubai, respectively.
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