End of quarantine
Start of the tennis season: In Australia the stadiums are already full again
Tennis fans in Adelaide during the match between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem
© Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images
The only preparation tournament for the Australian Open is currently taking place in Adelaide. From a distance, the pandemic-plagued observer is presented with an astonishing picture: masses of people in the stands.
A good week before the start of the Australian Open, the first tennis professionals have ended their 14-day quarantine and have already played the first show matches. At the “A Day at the Drive” event, the 4,000-seat Center Court of Memorial Drive Park in Adelaide was almost sold out in the best weather – pictures that are currently unthinkable in Europe in the middle of the pandemic.
The 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner Serena Williams from the USA defeated the current US Open winner Naomi Osaka from Japan with 6: 2, 2: 6, 10: 7. The world number one Novak Djokovic was late against the South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner. The 33-year-old Serb initially had to be treated because of a blister on his right hand and was replaced by his compatriot Filip Krajinovic.
© Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images
Adelaide as the only tournament before the Australian Open
He won the first set 6: 3 against top talent Sinner, who was the training partner of Spaniard Rafael Nadal during the two-week state-ordered quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic. Djokovic went on for the second round and also won 6: 3. For the night session (local time), games by Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep were scheduled.
The event in Adelaide is the only tournament in preparation for the Australian Open that is not taking place in Melbourne. The other tournaments, including three WTA events for the women and the ATP Cup team competition, start in Melbourne on Sunday. Then the quarantine ends for around 500 professionals after entering Australia. The first Grand Slam tournament of the new season is set to begin in Melbourne on February 8th.
The German top player Angelique Kerber belongs to the group of 72 professionals and supervisors who were not allowed to leave the hotel because of a corona case on her flight. The other players were allowed to train for five hours a day.
