ATP: Begin of 2021 calendar incorporates delayed Australian Open up

Djokovic

Andy Wong / AP

In this Monday, Feb. 3, 2020 file image, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic retains the Norman Brookes Obstacle Cup right after defeating Austria’s Dominic Thiem in the men’s singles ultimate of the Australian Open up tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. The 2021 Australian Open will begin a few months afterwards than prepared. That is section of a pandemic-altered 2021 tennis calendar released by the men’s expert tour Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open up is set to start Feb. 8, 3 weeks later on than prepared, as section of a pandemic-altered 2021 tennis calendar introduced by the men’s professional tour.

The ATP mentioned that men’s qualifying for the season’s first Grand Slam match is remaining moved to Doha, Qatar, from Jan. 10-13.

That will be adopted by a interval of about 2 1/2 months set apart for travel to Melbourne and a 14-working day quarantine interval for players and their coaches or other help personnel.

A 12-workforce ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide Intercontinental and an added men’s event will be held in Melbourne to give players a probability to get ready for the tricky-court Australian Open.

In advance of an predicted Tennis Australia announcement on the tournament, neighborhood media reported Thursday that gamers in the principal attract would be permitted to provide only two team members into the place and that the federal and condition governments experienced capped the most variety of players and teams permitted into the state at 1,000.

Victoria point out went by a significant next wave of COVID-19 in the previous 50 % of the year, ensuing in a lot more than 800 fatalities after lockdowns and right away curfews ended up instituted. But the state has not had any new energetic circumstances in additional than six months.

Gamers will also have limited observe times at Melbourne Park and then ought to expend the remainder of the time in their resort rooms. They will be transported in between their downtown resort and the tennis middle in biosecure transportation.

There will also be comprehensive COVID-19 testing accomplished before the players arrive and through a two-7 days quarantine time period ahead of the match.

The ATP Cup, two ATP situations and two WTA tournaments will take area in Melbourne the week ahead of the Australian Open. A person WTA tournament will materialize all through the second week of the Australian Open, regional media reported.

The ATP reported the time will begin with a event starting in the to start with 7 days of January in Delray Seashore, Florida. That celebration was contested in February this calendar year, shortly prior to the coronavirus pandemic took keep. There also will be an early January event in Antalya, Turkey.

More 2021 calendar programs for later on months will be declared individually, the ATP explained.

Other tournaments that will not just take area following year incorporate the New York Open up and an occasion in Auckland, New Zealand. The ATP is on the lookout for new dates for the Rio Open, which was supposed to start Feb. 17 but now conflicts with the two-7 days Australian Open up key draw.

As with other sporting activities, tennis was disrupted this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak, together with a number of months with no level of competition, the postponement of the French Open’s commence from May to September, and the cancellation of Wimbledon for the 1st time given that World War II.