Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[Lynda2475]

Maybe they should have let NSW run the AO this year. NSW would not have locked everyone up this way at all.

You are probably trying to be funny.

NSW HQ prgram for overseas arrivals is fit for purpose. There have been some breaches (Clenaer, transport Driver who cised Berala outbreak) but its never got out of control the way Vic did back in July.

There was no need for AO to go ahead.

The argument that it would mean losing AO for good is a furphy. Even if somewhere else in asia hosted a tennis tournment in Jan because AO didnt go ahead, it wouldnt have been the AO, and in no way meant that Vic wouldnt be able to run it next year. In 1986 there was no AO.

To date all the AO has done is given Australia as a whole bad press internationally, highlight that Vic values $ over returning Aussies.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Tick tock tick tock. More discontent in the tennis traveling party. How long until it blows up I wonder or will sanity prevail...

 

[Lynda2475]

That mouse needs to be quarantined - close contact of a close contact!

Suspect that mouse is no longer of this world.

 

[Lynda2475]

No idea who this person is, but lots of contradicting info being posted:

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There was no need for AO to go ahead.

The argument that it would mean losing AO for good is a furphy. Even if somewhere else in asia hosted a tennis tournment in Jan because AO didnt go ahead, it wouldnt have been the AO, and in no way meant that Vic wouldnt be able to run it next year. In 1986 there was no AO.

To date all the AO has done is given Australia as a whole bad press internationally, highlight that Vic values $ over returning Aussies.

It is not losing the AO that is of concern, it is losing its Grand Slam status to another country that is the concern.

If the AO was no longer a Grand Slam event it would become a minor tournament.

PS: In 1986 their was no AO as

The Australian Open was not held in 1986 due to the Open changing dates from December to January. This allowed it to count as a Grand Prix event after the movement of the Grand Prix Masters from March to early December.

So in effect it was only delayed 2 months and not a whole year. Back in 80's the AO was struggling to attract quality players and was becoming irrelevant. That is why the event was re-imagined in a number of ways.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It is not losing the AO that is of concern, it is losing it as a Grand Slam status to another country that is the concern.

If the AO was no longer a Grand Slam event it would become a minor tournament.

PS: In 1986 their was no AO as

The Australian Open was not held in 1986 due to the Open changing dates from December to January. This allowed it to count as a Grand Prix event after the movement of the Grand Prix Masters from March to early December.

So in effect it was only delayed 2 months and nota whole year. Back in 80's the AO was struggling to attract quality players and was becoming irrelevant. That is why the event was re-imagined in a number of ways.

So the Australian Open is more important than allowing people who live here, who are in largely or completely covid free areas, from returning to their homes.

It's blatantly unfair.

I wish the consequences of a case leaking out were not so severe for everyone because part of me is fully expecting it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You are probably trying to be funny.

NSW HQ prgram for overseas arrivals is fit for purpose. There have been some breaches (Clenaer, transport Driver who cised Berala outbreak) but its never got out of control the way Vic did back in July.

There was no need for AO to go ahead.

The argument that it would mean losing AO for good is a furphy. Even if somewhere else in asia hosted a tennis tournment in Jan because AO didnt go ahead, it wouldnt have been the AO, and in no way meant that Vic wouldnt be able to run it next year. In 1986 there was no AO.

To date all the AO has done is given Australia as a whole bad press internationally, highlight that Vic values $ over returning Aussies.

There was no Australian Open in 1986 because dates were changed from December to January. I think the point is that there was a chance it might not be the 'Australian Open' if we lost it... it would be the Shanghai Slam or The Singapore Sling, whatever.

Changing the rules after players have arrived is poor form.

I don't see how hosting the AO has given Australia a bad reputation. It should be our opportunity to showcase that we can put on great events even under tough conditions. If Tokyo can run an Olympics, surely we can run a grand slam?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

6 Cases in NSW - 5 family members of the guy from yesterday and one close family friend.

Test numbers still low given the number of recent local cases.

 

[SydneySwan]

No idea who this person s, but lots of contradicting info being posted:

View attachment 238202

Bencic is ranked no 12 in the world.

 

[Pushka]

Wimbledon was canceled this year. They had excellent insurance. That’s all.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Bencic is ranked no 12 in the world.

It would be interesting to read a copy of the six page letter that was sent to each entrant prior to the tournament.

Aus Open players face fines or even DEPORTATION for Covid-19 breaches

All Australian Open players have now been sent a six-page letter from organisers, seen by Sportsmail, assuring them that they will imminently receive their charter flight details for next week.

www.dailymail.co.uk

All Australian Open players have now been sent a six-page letter from organisers, seen by Sportsmail, assuring them that they will imminently receive their charter flight details for next week.

But it also makes clear the severity of the clampdown on those who break rules after arriving, which include only being out of their hotel rooms for five hours' practice per day during the initial fortnight's quarantine.

They will be issued with a 14-day 'Detention Notice' on arrival and any breach by a support staff member will be considered a breach by the player employing them.

The listed sanctions include a fine of up to £11,500, deportation, arrest, 'isolation in a government-mandated hotel room' and forfeiture of prize money.

With Melbourne having endured a four-month lockdown last year, local authorities are desperate not to lose their hard-won gains in suppressing Covid, although there continue to be outbreaks.

In addition to the previously established departure points of Dubai, Los Angeles and Singapore there will be planes going from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Miami and Antalya in Turkey. These will arrive into the private section of Melbourne's Tullamarine airport.

Players have been told they must have a negative test no more than 72 hours before departure to board the planes, which will carry only around 75 passengers each.

The guidelines also warn players that their allocated hotel rooms will not have balconies and that 'you will not be able to cook or prepare meals while in quarantine'. However, alcohol can be ordered as part of room service.


That article also provides information about players being able to cook or prepare own meals while in quarantine.

EDIT: Note that will be a six-page letter sent to a particular player. Other players may well have had different letters including those that are in the Adelaide AO Bubble.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Wimbledon was canceled this year. They had excellent insurance. That’s all.

Lets stick to topic Australian (Open) Reports of Virus Spread

Wimbledon has much more prestige...lol There is no pandemic insurance this year.

 

[Anna]

I thought the rule was a player is allowed out to train 5 hours per day with 1 other person (apart from the ones on the infected plane).

But either that is only the rule for the players in MEL or else Serena is breaking the rules because this morning I saw her training with her coach, her training partner (both of whom I recognised from tv coverage of her matches) and a white woman I didn't recognise. I think there may have been another person on the court too but I couldn't swear to that. I didn't have a great view because they've put screens up, but from my gym you can see over the top of the screening to the back half of one of the courts which is being used for training.

I keep walking past their hotel hoping to get a glimpse of Rafa I live 2 streets from their medihotel so it's not stalking

 

[Anna]

The guidelines also warn players that their allocated hotel rooms will not have balconies

Novak has a balcony, he came out on it yesterday to the delight of the Channel 10 camera guy loitering outside all day. And Rafa posted a photo of his view on his FB page that looked like it was taken from a balcony.

 

[Pushka]

I thought the rule was a player is allowed out to train 5 hours per day with 1 other person (apart from the ones on the infected plane).

But either that is only the rule for the players in MEL or else Serena is breaking the rules because this morning I saw her training with her coach, her training partner (both of whom I recognised from tv coverage of her matches) and a white woman I didn't recognise. I think there may have been another person on the court too but I couldn't swear to that. I didn't have a great view because they've put screens up, but from my gym you can see over the top of the screening to the back half of one of the courts which is being used for training.

I keep walking past their hotel hoping to get a glimpse of Rafa I live 2 streets from their medihotel so it's not stalking

Interesting. I expect MrP to report back this afternoon. If he sees Rafa I’ll let you know.

Post automatically merged: Jan 17, 2021

Lets stick to topic Australian (Open) Reports of Virus Spread

Wimbledon has much more prestige...lol There is no pandemic insurance this year.

It’s a relevant question to ask why this event is happening. I don’t buy the ‘someone else will get it’ in a pandemic. I’d expect Wimbledon to be at great risk of another cancellation as well.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

If Tokyo can run an Olympics, surely we can run a grand slam?

Pretty big "if".

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I thought the rule was a player is allowed out to train 5 hours per day with 1 other person (apart from the ones on the infected plane).

But either that is only the rule for the players in MEL or else Serena is breaking the rules because this morning I saw her training with her coach, her training partner (both of whom I recognised from tv coverage of her matches) and a white woman I didn't recognise. I think there may have been another person on the court too but I couldn't swear to that. I didn't have a great view because they've put screens up, but from my gym you can see over the top of the screening to the back half of one of the courts which is being used for training.

I keep walking past their hotel hoping to get a glimpse of Rafa I live 2 streets from their medihotel so it's not stalking

It would seem that SA Health is more lenient than Vic DHHS. In Vic it is that team members apart from the hitting partner have to stay in their quarantine rooms.

Serena's hitting partner was meant to be her sister Venus.

 

[Anna]

I’d expect Wimbledon to be at great risk of another cancellation as well.

Yes. And normally Wimbledon would be preceded by the French Open. Last year the latter was delayed till September. I don't know whether they are hoping to run it in May 2021 or delay it again.

 

[OATEK]

Those poor AO players are being tortured! Apparently not what they signed up for:

‘TORTURE’: FURIOUS BACKLASH TO STRICT LOCKDOWN

French player Alize Cornet, who is in Melbourne but was not on either plane, called the situation “insane”.

“Soon, half of the players from the AO will actually have to isolate,” she wrote in a since-deleted tweet.

“Weeks and weeks of practice and hard work going to waste for one person positive to COVID in a 3/4 empty plane. Sorry but this is insane.

“We’ve been told that the plane would be separated by section of 10 people and that if one person of your section was positive, then you had to isolate. Not that the whole plane had to.

“This seems to be a very sensitive subject and I understand it. We are privileged, indeed, but please try to get our point of view too. And btw, I was not in this plane.

“But we are not asking the Victorian residents to play a professional sport afterward. The risks of injury after a two-week break is huge. Maybe I’m too focused on my side of the story, but that’s also why we are here for.”

Ukrainian star Marta Kostyuk added “being alone is such a torture” while other players claimed that the rules governing confinement have been changed.

Outraged tennis stars slam quarantine rules after virus causes Australian Open chaos

Forty-seven players were barred from practising for a fortnight in a major setback to their Australian Open preparations after passengers on two charter flights that brought them to Melbourne tested positive to COVID-19.

www.news.com.au