Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Premier Andrews on SBS news just now, defending holding the Australian Open Tennis, with 1,000+ being brought in from overseas, including infectees. Its not an exact quote, but close enough:

"If we don't hold the Australian Open, another city will. There are dozens of cities around the world who would want to hold a Grand Slam event."

Really.

Well that's actually true. lol
Its already been mentioned on this thread.
There should be another thread for all this haha

 

[Toula92122]

We had plenty of Aussies complaining at the beginning! Was in the news daily. Just not so much of a story anymore.

I did quarantine at my own expense and have to say I thought most of the food was dire and by week 2 70% of it was in the bin. We were of the mind of an attitude of gratitude, instead of wasting time complaining or posting photos on line we did what people with our privilege are able to do, we sourced better food from outside. Now if I was able to do that, I am sure these privileged overpaid sportspeople can certainly do the same seeing they are not paying for the quarantine. I certainly was not in a spacious room with a window that opened or a balcony. I was not provided with an exercise bike to help me stay healthy.

The best thing that appears to have come out of the outcry about the tennis contingent being allowed is the Federal Government appear to have been shamed into doing something about the repatriation flights to get citizens home. It's hard to believe that after 6+ months of hotel quarantine being imposed, there is still not an adequate system in place to allow appropriate numbers to return. There shouldn't be any discussion of who is worthy of a bed in the system. I'm beginning to question the ability of the government to put in place a working system to roll out vaccines if they haven't yet worked out how to facilitate the return of citizens. ScoMo with his all Australians should return, all just empty words because he's done little to ensure they can.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I did quarantine at my own expense and have to say I thought most of the food was dire and by week 2 70% of it was in the bin. We were of the mind of an attitude of gratitude, instead of wasting time complaining or posting photos on line we did what people with our privilege are able to do, we sourced better food from outside. Now if I was able to do that, I am sure these privileged overpaid sportspeople can certainly do the same seeing they are not paying for the quarantine. I certainly was not in a spacious room with a window that opened or a balcony. I was not provided with an exercise bike to help me stay healthy.

I'm not sure if I went to Paris/London/New York tomorrow and was put into quarantine that I'd know where to source better food from outside? These players are in a strange city.

Australia should be showcasing itself during this period with the best hotels, best food and best service. 500 tennis players raving about how good Melbourne is can't do harm for future tourism!

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I'm not sure if I went to Paris/London/New York tomorrow and was put into quarantine that I'd know where to source better food from outside? These players are in a strange city.

Australia should be showcasing itself during this period with the best hotels, best food and best service. 500 tennis players raving about how good Melbourne is can't do harm for future tourism!

Tennis players generally come to Melbourne every year.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The Williams clan are currently quarantining in Adelaide. Both sisters, her child and likely others.

Venus Williams is like her sister an entrant in the AO. The child is 3 years old and not part of the quota.
However as both are entrants they may well have overlapping people in their shared total quota of people.

As a lower ranked player initially she would have been in the Melbourne Bubble and not the Adelaide Bubble.

However as the tennis players need to train with a hitting partner (another AO entrant) a number of players were allow to change to the Adelaide Bubble where the top-ranked players were being quarantined.

The idea of keeping two separate bubbles is something unique. According to it, the elite male and female players will travel to Adelaide where there would be an exhibition on January 29. On the other hand, the remaining players will travel to Melbourne directly for the quarantine. Although the places are different, the protocols remain the same and each player will have to follow a 14-day quarantine.​

​

This would mean that Venus Williams will be able to travel along with Serena to Adelaide. It would also mean that along with Jannik Sinner, either Dennis Novak or Filip Krajinovic, can travel to Adelaide. It will certainly be beneficial for players, as they will not have to find new hitting partners in their quarantine break.​

An article on the Venus sisters competing in the AO 2021

​

‘Wouldn’t Count Venus and Serena Williams Out in 2021’ Says Former Australian Open Champion​

​

By

Kshitij Tayal​

January 15, 2021 10:49 pm​

​

​

​

Having competed on the WTA tour for over two decades, Serena Williams and her elder sister, Venus Williams, are now at the twilight of the careers. With the career clock nearing completion, the 2021 season might be the last time we witness the Williams sisters in action.​

‘Wouldn’t Count Venus and Serena Williams Out in 2021’ Says Former Australian Open Champion - EssentiallySports

Former Australian Open champion believes Serena Williams and Venus Williams will be able to beat the clock in 2021.

www.essentiallysports.com

 

[Lynda2475]

I'm not sure if I went to Paris/London/New York tomorrow and was put into quarantine that I'd know where to source better food from outside? These players are in a strange city.

Uber Eats is universal. Plus there are now also gourmet delivery services, google can provide wll the info they need. Plus im sure if they call their agents something would be organised for them.

 

[love_the_life]

Uber Eats is universal. Plus there are now also gourmet delivery services, google can provide wll the info they need. Plus im sure if they call their agents something would be organised for them.

I am sure they aren't doing it tough.

 

[Ric]

I believe you cannot have outside deliveries at all in Howard Springs.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well that's actually true. lol
Its already been mentioned on this thread.
There should be another thread for all this haha

Yes it is actually true. I must be showing my age.....

The Australian Open was the poor cousin of the 4 Grand Slams and many off the best players rarely turned up. And there was talk at the time of it loosing its Grand Slam Status. Other countries sought to instead become one of the four Grand Slam Events.

Then in 1988 the Australian Open became an event and not just a tennis tournament. It regained its status and once again became a genuine Grand Slam Events with the best players eager to play there.

But major sporting events are an arms race these days and if you stand still there are plenty of suitors. That is one reason why Melbourne and Tennis Australia have regularly upgraded the facility. Though with it later merging and overlapping with the Arts Precinct it has grown into so much more.

How the 1988 Australian Open started a new era for the grand slam​

Before the 1988 tournament, the Australian Open had always been seen as the poor relation of the grand slam events. Played at the Kooyong Tennis club on grass courts that had at times brought criticism from the world's finest players, the scheduling of the event – in December until 1985 – also proved troublesome in attracting the biggest names. Bjorn Borg played the tournament just once in his career; Jimmy Connors took part twice; and Chris Evert decided not to play between 1975-1980.

A move to a new venue was desperately needed, so when the event switched to Flinders Park (Melbourne Park) in January 1988, the rest of the tennis world sat up and took notice. A spanking new £28m "space-age" National Tennis Centre greeted the players and media on their arrival, with both suitably impressed by the facilities. "Australian tennis deserves to be congratulated," said Ivan Lendl, with Martina Navratilova also bowled over: "From what I have seen so far, they have thought about everything.

How the 1988 Australian Open started a new era for the grand slam

That 1980s Sports Blog: Remembering a tournament that featured a new surface, a new venue, anti-apartheid protests, a return to form for Chris Evert and an epic men's final between Pat Cash and Mats Wilander

www.theguardian.com

 

[Toula92122]

I'm not sure if I went to Paris/London/New York tomorrow and was put into quarantine that I'd know where to source better food from outside? These players are in a strange city.

Australia should be showcasing itself during this period with the best hotels, best food and best service. 500 tennis players raving about how good Melbourne is can't do harm for future tourism!

If they are on Twitter moaning they could be on Twitter asking for recommendations from adoring fans. As others have suggested, this is not likely their first rodeo in Melbourne so it's not like they are flying blind. I was in a strange city and was able to use this wonderful thing called the internet to work things out. I am sure they have minders appointed to take care of their needs.

If 500 tennis players can't show any gratitude for being given the opportunity to earn some real cash because of a few meals not to their liking, not sure there is much hope for them. Also who needs to worry about future tourism to Melbourne when it looks like it will be years before anyone is allowed in.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Uber Eats is universal. Plus there are now also gourmet delivery services, google can provide wll the info they need. Plus im sure if they call their agents something would be organised for them.

Yes, it is alcohol they do not allow to be ordered in.

 

[Pushka]

Venus Williams is like her sister an entrant in the AO. The child is 3 years old and not part of the quota.
However as both are entrants they may well have overlapping people in their shared total quota of people.

As a lower ranked player initially she would have been in the Melbourne Bubble and not the Adelaide Bubble.

However as the tennis players need to train with a hitting partner (another AO entrant) a number of players were allow to change to the Adelaide Bubble where the top-ranked players were being quarantined.

The idea of keeping two separate bubbles is something unique. According to it, the elite male and female players will travel to Adelaide where there would be an exhibition on January 29. On the other hand, the remaining players will travel to Melbourne directly for the quarantine. Although the places are different, the protocols remain the same and each player will have to follow a 14-day quarantine.​

​

This would mean that Venus Williams will be able to travel along with Serena to Adelaide. It would also mean that along with Jannik Sinner, either Dennis Novak or Filip Krajinovic, can travel to Adelaide. It will certainly be beneficial for players, as they will not have to find new hitting partners in their quarantine break.​

An article on the Venus sisters competing in the AO 2021

​

‘Wouldn’t Count Venus and Serena Williams Out in 2021’ Says Former Australian Open Champion​

​

By

Kshitij Tayal​

January 15, 2021 10:49 pm​

​

​

​

Having competed on the WTA tour for over two decades, Serena Williams and her elder sister, Venus Williams, are now at the twilight of the careers. With the career clock nearing completion, the 2021 season might be the last time we witness the Williams sisters in action.​

‘Wouldn’t Count Venus and Serena Williams Out in 2021’ Says Former Australian Open Champion - EssentiallySports

Former Australian Open champion believes Serena Williams and Venus Williams will be able to beat the clock in 2021.

www.essentiallysports.com

Yep. Well aware that both are contestants. I was just stating the situation.

 

[Pushka]

I am sure they aren't doing it tough.

Likely chefs and dieticians are part of the deal.

Today in SA we saw one male from the tennis party and Djokic on the bus with neither wearing masks. I did think at the time at least the latter has had it.

 

[jase05]

And now a positive on a EY Tennis charter flight from AUH-MEL
64 onboard including 23 players.
Positive believed to be a non player

https://twitter.com/x/status/1350372902378487812

 

[lovetravellingoz]

This now the second flight with a positive. Presumably most of the 80 charters will have arrived by now.

 

[love_the_life]

You do have to wonder about the wisdom of running the AO in this climate.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Likely chefs

So Spurrier more generous than her Victorian counterparts then?

 

[jase05]

View attachment 238155



This now the second flight with a positive. Presumably most of the 80 charters will have arrived by now.

I was led to believe there was only 15 charter flights

 

[Flashback]

Two passengers on flight QR7493 have tested positive and due to this all passengers now have to go in the stricter isolation protocols.

This is an update from the player Santiago González who was on the flight.

View attachment 238089

Player Santiago González who posted the above the above tested negative.

View attachment 238090


View attachment 238091

I wonder what a 14 day quarantin is? Is that quarantine light or something?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I wonder what a 14 day quarantin is? Is that quarantine light or something?

Probably just the latin accent on his version