(ANSA) – MELBOURNE, 24 GEN – The organizers of the Australian Open modified the calendar of the tournaments prior to the first Grand Slam of the year so that the 72 quarantined tennis players can train properly
“After various consultations between the players and the circuits, Tennis Australia devised a new program, taking into account the limited time that many players had to prepare,” reads a note issued by the organizers of the first “Major” of the year
The women’s circuit will offer three WTA 500 tournaments, including the two initially scheduled from Sunday 31 to Saturday 6 February with the number of participants slightly reduced
A third tournament, intended for those who could not train, will take place from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 February
For men, meanwhile, the respective starts of two ATP 250 tournaments and the ATP Cup will be postponed one day
“The two ATP 250 events will begin on Monday, February 1 with an increase of 56 places for the individual main draw, while the ATP Cup will begin on Tuesday, February 2,” the text states
The statement highlights that “this is a particularly difficult time for athletes who are in quarantine and we, along with the WTA and ATP, do everything possible to help them,” said Craig Tiley, director of the Australian Open.
The first Grand Slam tournament of the season will begin on February 8 and players who were placed in isolation for two weeks for sharing flights with people who tested positive for coronavirus
The organizers’ communication also referred that these athletes will have a permit to leave their respective hotel rooms for 5 hours a day to train, as long as they test negative for Covid-19. (ANSA)
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