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Ros Satar
Craig Tiley CEO of Tennis Australia, at the 2020 launch of the Australian Open, Melbourne
Craig Tiley CEO of Tennis Australia, at the 2020 launch of the Australian Open, Melbourne | (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Tennis | Australian Open 2021 | Tiley confident of Monday start despite Thursday schedule postponement after positive test

Ros Satar
Tennis

  • Tennis hotel quarantine worker tested positive
  • Thursday’s sessions for six tournaments cancelled
  • Australian Open draw delayed but Craig Tiley still aiming for Monday start
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Tennis Australia’s chief executive, Craig Tiley, is confident that all lead-up events will complete in time for a Monday finish.

 

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Positive test throws lead-up events into chaos

The precarious plans for the running of the Australian Open were once more in the balance after a hotel quarantine worker at one of the largest hotel’s accommodating players and support staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The Grand Hyatt in Melbourne houses just over 500 of players and staff and testing has been ingoing, with 160 players in that group remaining in isolation until they receive their test results back.

The results are beginning to come in, and Australian Open chief executive Craig Tiley is still hopeful that the events can continue on Friday and that the Slam will start as planned on Monday.

Press Conference starts at 10:36 (h/t @9NewsAdel )

Tiley said: “We know we have a period now where we have to work with those 507 players and their staff. The probability is very low that there’ll be an issue though. We expect them all to test negative.

“The plan is to continue to play tomorrow as planned. We have three and a half weeks of tennis to play and we’ll go on as scheduled.”

With inclement weather in the clouds for Friday, the three stadium roofs are likely to be in play, as well as the use of eight indoor courts and they could look at shortening scoring formats to get the matches through and to allow enough rest for those affected before the start of the Australian Open.

The draw for the Australian Open, which will now be behind closed doors, has moved from Thursday to Friday afternoon and the decisions as to which halves of the draw start on Monday will be made on Saturday.

 

 

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