Should the Aussie open be taking place ?

christ · Futures level

Should the Aussie open be taking place ?

Armchair · County player

Selfishly I want to see grand slam tennis, but I can't see that happening in a meaningful way.

When the outcome is decided by what flight you were on - hence practice or not. I can't imagine this being what I would want to see. The players are functioning under very different regimes and conditions in the quarantine period . I can manage a two week quarantine in one room but I'm not an elite athlete expected to perform at their best.

It's hard to know whether the AO has conveyed the restrictions adequately to the players in advance. But it does seem some players have chosen to hear what they want to, and on this I think management and coaches should be held to account. Some players function in a very narrow view of the world.

Andy, it's not worth the hassle as much as I want to see you back on court....

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Vote looking like it is 15 to 6 in favour of it shouldnt be played, at least not right now.

brittak · Satellite level

I am in a complete quandary over this.

Before Christmas, I was very much in favour and was delighted that Tennis Australia had seemed to find a way to get the event on. That probably coincided with me feeling a bit more optimistic about us finding a way out of this. And I was so looking forward to seeing some top level tennis again.

Obviously since then we have had the new variants emerging, fresh lockdowns etc and this coupled with the quarantine issues that we are now seeing is making me feel that perhaps it should have been postponed/cancelled, (I do think allowing tennis players in but not residents trying to return home is a bit of an own goal). I suspect that the organisers though are now in a position where cancelling would be immensely difficult and dare I say it, there is now too much money at stake for this to be an option.

Perhaps by the time the action gets underway, a limited degree of optimism will return and we can enjoy the event although I think we might see some surprising winners given the number of players that are having to spend two weeks in full quarantine.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Vote looking like it is 15 to 6 in favour of it shouldnt be played, at least not right now.

Interesting voting, now 18 to 9 saying it shouldnt be taking place and most of those saying it is just wrong.

As Brittak says it wont be cancelled now, but public opinion worth noting, if we can be regarded as the public

indiana · Tennis legend

I wonder what the general opinion is of the Australian public?

flamingowings · All-time great

@Brittak - no change on the WTA side then! ("surprise winner")

Andy Parker · Club Coach

My Aussie mates are as split over this as people in the UK are over Covid rules. One of my friends still holds to the idea that it is all a conspiracy by big corporations to keep state control over the public, but I know others who rail at anyone being allowed out of their house - the Aussies have been so strict over lockdown, that it is a surprise that the Australian Government has allowed this event to happen.

I was due to be flying out to Australia for a three week trip last May, that then moved to November 2020, then to May 2021, and presumably will move again. I think Australia will be one of the last places on earth to allow anyone to visit there for tourism, so seeing sport happening is a surprise. Part of the Australian fears are that Aborigines may be really vulnerable to dying from Covid, so there are lots of extra protections in place where indigenous Australians live (for instance areas near Alice Springs). The other part is that the Australia economy is booming enough to not really need visitors economically, so as an island with lots of money, it is easier and less painful to impose strict restrictions.

emmsie69 · Top national player

Andy Parker wrote:
My Aussie mates are as split over this as people in the UK are over Covid rules. One of my friends still holds to the idea that it is all a conspiracy by big corporations to keep state control over the public, but I know others who rail at anyone being allowed out of their house - the Aussies have been so strict over lockdown, that it is a surprise that the Australian Government has allowed this event to happen.

I was due to be flying out to Australia for a three week trip last May, that then moved to November 2020, then to May 2021, and presumably will move again. I think Australia will be one of the last places on earth to allow anyone to visit there for tourism, so seeing sport happening is a surprise. Part of the Australian fears are that Aborigines may be really vulnerable to dying from Covid, so there are lots of extra protections in place where indigenous Australians live (for instance areas near Alice Springs). The other part is that the Australia economy is booming enough to not really need visitors economically, so as an island with lots of money, it is easier and less painful to impose strict restrictions.

Australia aren't even due to start their vaccination programme till March. Doubt anyone will be going there much before 2022.

ETA Also far easier to manage Covid when there is only 25 million people on a huge Island and your closest landmass is 1500km away.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Sunday 17th of January 2021 09:34:09 AM

christ · Futures level

indiana wrote:
I wonder what the general opinion is of the Australian public?

In general I think that the Australian public is better than their sports stars.

SuperT · Futures level

I voted yes although I wouldn't agree with the "I'm quite happy" bit. I think it would have been better to cancel the tournament, but now that the players are all there I feel they have to go ahead in the safest way possible. Surely it's not fair to fly people half way round the world and then cancel?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I think I aimed the question more about should it have taken place at all - it will clearly go ahead now , too much vested interest to cancel, but should it have happened or at this time or in this format.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Our vote is 19 to 12 now, closed up a little. Be interesting to see what we would all say in maybe another 2 weeks as the first warm up events start...might run it again.

brittak · Satellite level

flamingowings wrote:
@Brittak - no change on the WTA side then! ("surprise winner")

Good point!!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Given the amount to which players preparation will be sub par, not sure 5 sets mens singles is in anyones interests. Surely best of 3 should be considered ?