5 week Melbourne pocket for tennis season

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

5 week Melbourne pocket for tennis season

Constant · Lower Club Player

What Bob just posted looks like the new plan.

The timetable has to have at least 3 weeks before AO with the tournament itself either side of Easter.

But everytime a statement is made the plans change so expect this to change also.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

How is the Australian Open being held in April going to fit in with the rest of the tennis season such as the clay court season? Will it be cancelled in 2021?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

ROSAMUND wrote:
How is the Australian Open being held in April going to fit in with the rest of the tennis season such as the clay court season? Will it be cancelled in 2021?

Agreed, the knock on effect into Indian wells, miami, clay, roland garros, and grass would be massive. It may be a slam but It has no rights over other events to dictate and i would have thought most other events will want to ensure their place in the calendar as well.

Personally, I think it should stay where it is as a single event, it doesn't need lots of other satellites around it, a bubble like to us open is the only way if the authorities allow it. If not, cancel and focus on northern hemisphere events.

flamingowings · All-time great

AO should have a warm up tournament otherwise it's just asking for trouble in the way of injury and lack of prep/climatisation. Also would make the quarantine "worth it". Trouble is actually making this a reality.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

flamingowings wrote:
AO should have a warm up tournament otherwise it's just asking for trouble in the way of injury and lack of prep/climatisation. Also would make the quarantine "worth it". Trouble is actually making this a reality.

I'm ok with that and in effect it could be like Cinci/NYC was.

So aus going back a week or so works. It is the march april idea and the idea of a whole aussie season that I struggle with.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Of course it assumes that flights will be available to Australia at a reasonable price which is not the case at the moment.There is also the question of what the weather is like at the end of March and beginning of April which is coming into autumn for Melbourne.

Madadman · Top national player

Going on the possibility that there are no tournaments down under in January I wonder what if any tournaments there will be in January. Will the ATP try and out some on your just start up again in Feb. Only problem with leaving it is it create a trickle down affect and impacts entry into challengers/itfs.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
Going on the possibility that there are no tournaments down under in January I wonder what if any tournaments there will be in January. Will the ATP try and out some on your just start up again in Feb. Only problem with leaving it is it create a trickle down affect and impacts entry into challengers/itfs.

I'm not sure what uae and qatar are like in terms of covid. But january is perfect and the facilities in dubai, abi dhabi and qatar are good. I'd be working on a back up option of 3 back to back events down there , in mens terms, maybe 48 draws at atp500 level with 16 pair doubles events. Location perfect in terms of geography and weather, facilities are tennis centres with large stadium courts outdoors. Theyve all got history of running decent events. Maybe they could run a 250, 500 and a 1000 event with similar for womens. Lots of good hotel accommodations that will be empty as well.

Constant · Lower Club Player

Latest report today says just delaying the tournament by a week. News keeps changing but at least they are talking.

flamingowings · All-time great

Jon Wertheim
@jon_wertheim

Official @AustralianOpen word coming soon, but hearing most likely scenario:
Jan. 5-7: travel period for players (which dooms ATP Cup).and start of 14-day quarantine
Jan. 25 week: qualies plus tour events
Feb. 1: start of play, with 128-player draws

ROSAMUND · Futures level

flamingowings wrote:
Jon Wertheim
@jon_wertheim

Official @AustralianOpen word coming soon, but hearing most likely scenario:
Jan. 5-7: travel period for players (which dooms ATP Cup).and start of 14-day quarantine
Jan. 25 week: qualies plus tour events
Feb. 1: start of play, with 128-player draws

That schedule would mean that the BJ King Cup ties on 5th and 6th February would not be held.

Madadman · Top national player

Will be interesting to see if all those who fall into the qualifying bracket travel. Flights wont be cheap plus at least 2 weeks probably 3 hotel costs. 1st round qualies losers £11k last year. Probably enough carrot to get most there but might be some who opt for European or Americas challengers. Especially those who prefer clay.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Being reported by Sally Daisy on Twitter - who is very reliable - that the AO is now starting on the 8th Feb.

seagull · Hall of fame

Yep. Craig Tilley has confirmed it. I think schedule will be:

Week 1 - Doha
Week 2 - Dubai
Week 3/4 - Quarantine
Week 5 - Melbourne warm up
Week 6/7 - Aus Open