Australian Tennis Open 2021

[BruceK]

It looks like the (slightly delayed) first tennis Grand Slam of 2021 proceeds in Melbourne tomorrow. Competitors and teams are out of quarantine(most if not all)and ready to go,perhaps a tad rusty from lack of usual pre Grand Slam match practice. Womens no.1 Ash Barty just won a warm up comp, the wood carving she holds aloft is of an Aussie marsupial,the wombat. Generally regarded as little bulldozers rarely thwarted by a fence and capable of undermining a house with the tunnels they construct.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02...arty-wins-yarra-valley-classic-final/13130124

 

[garmstro55]

We were going to be there for the Open this year, with a side trip to NZ for the America's Cup. Alas, it was not to be.

 

[BruceK]

We were going to be there for the Open this year, with a side trip to NZ for the America's Cup. Alas, it was not to be.

That`s unfortunate, maybe next year. It`s going well, a few surprises, Azarenka,Goffin and Simon are gone early,Tomic made the second round, his opponent retired with injury, usually it`s Tomic,citing injury, disinterest,being rich, etc. There are substantially less people attending than allowed under the attendance limits, tickets are available and reduced. Players "touch racquets" at match end instead of shake hands/embrace etc. No lines judges, line calls are synthesized, presumably via "hawkeye" or similar, likely more accurate though they come later so the advice is hit almost everything even if it looks out. Challenges seem to have disappeared, but players can ask to see the hawkeye shot.

 

[garmstro55]

Curious, are foreigners required to quarantine if they come to attend?

Gary

 

[BruceK]

Curious, are foreigners required to quarantine if they come to attend?

Gary

Except in special circumstances,Australia is not allowing entry by anyone other than returning citizens and permanent residents, and they go into 14 day quarantine. We declared "Pandemic" before the WHO.

Quarantine included tennis competitors and support staff. Most were allowed out of accommodation to practice and exercise,in supervised quarantine conditions. Some, considered "close contacts", were placed in hard "no leaving the room" hotel quarantine because someone on their charter flight here came down with Covid. One protestor against that actually came down with Covid and had to be quarantined longer.

Sydney has a former "Quarantine Station" located just inside the harbour. In the late 1700s and 1800s, ships arriving would unload pax at the Station, and if they survived and remained well, could continue on to Sydney town after a period. So it`s not really new.
Our island status facilitated the controls we set up, which have largely been successful. Had we allowed free entry, we could be in the parlous state of many other countries, and there may have been no Australian Open, on any terms.

 

[BruceK]

No spectators allowed at the Australian Open as Victoria panics and goes into a 5 day hard lockdown from midnight. The UK version of Covid has escaped returnee quarantine.
Competitors and their entourage are in a kind of "bubble", they should be ok, but who can say.