2020 ATP General News

[Carol]

Marg, if you are around , I've read that maybe the tournament could be moved to April but it's not official, do you know something about it? it could be a mess for the following tournaments. You are lucky because your Country is doing so well with the pandemia

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Marg, if you are around , I've read that maybe the tournament could be moved to April but it's not official, do you know something about it? it could be a mess for the following tournaments

Hi Carol.....there are many rumors floating around that the AO could be moved to March,April? another rumor is it could be move to February,at present Craig Tiley is still working with the Victorian Government regarding dates etc,he said yesterday he will release an official statement as soon as possible.Ticket sales for the AO usually go on sale in 2 weeks,so I expect we will hear confirmation around that date or earlier.

 

[Front242]

February would be fine and would also give Federer some more recovery and practice time. Doubt any of the players would mind a longer off season either so good all round if you ask me.

 

[Carol]

Hi Carol.....there are many rumors floating around that the AO could be moved to March,April? another rumor is it could be move to February,at present Craig Tiley is still working with the Victorian Government regarding dates etc,he said yesterday he will release an official statement as soon as possible.Ticket sales for the AO usually go on sale in 2 weeks,so I expect we will hear confirmation around that date or earlier.

Thanks Marg, the other question is about if they are going to play the ATP Cup and where?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks Marg, the other question is about if they are going to play the ATP Cup and where?

All pre tournaments eg, ATP Cup,Brisbane International,Adelaide Tournament and Hobart International have been moved to Melbourne,hopefully they will be played before the AO.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

February would be fine and would also give Federer some more recovery and practice time. Doubt any of the players would mind a longer off season either so good all round if you ask me.

If they have to change the AO date of the 18th January,to me February would be the obvious choice.

 

[Carol]

All pre tournaments eg, ATP Cup,Brisbane International,Adelaide Tournament and Hobart International have been moved to Melbourne,hopefully they will be played before the AO.

Wow, we'll see what they are going to decide, hopefully they can play on the same dates like every years

 

[Carol]

If they have to change the AO date of the 18th January,to me February would be the obvious choice.

Agreed

 

[Carol]

After 3 surgeries and 1 year out of the court and 40 years old? sorry but it would be a big surprise if he would be able to win one GS, what he did in 2017 was a miracle!!!

If Australian Open court is quick don’t bet against Federer, say Paul Annacone & Andy Roddick

Paul Annacone, Andy Roddick and Jim Courier recently discussed Roger Federer's return on a video chat. Federer's former coach Annacone in particular is quite optimistic about the Swiss' return.

www.sportskeeda.com

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Dominic Thiem will return to defend the Laver Cup for Team Europe next September in Boston.

 

[Vince Evert]

Dominic Thiem will return to defend the Laver Cup for Team Europe next September in Boston.

That's an early call. In these challenging times, anything can happen. What if the French Open tennis has to be moved to a late date?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That's an early call. In these challenging times, anything can happen. What if the French Open tennis has to be moved to a late date?

I know..........even the start date of the AO 2021 is not confirmed for January 18th.....

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Muta Madrid Open announced on Wednesday that as from 2021,it will be a two week tournament,it will take place from 27th April to 9th May.In 2021,the Mutua Madrid Open will start on Tuesday 27th April with WTA qualifying round,while the first round of the main draw in the women's tournament will take place on Thursday 29.The ATP qualifers will begin on Saturday 1 May with the first round starting on Sunday 2.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Karen Khachanov who has started his pre-season training in Dubai,unfortunately his wife,son and himself have tested positive for COVID-19.They are self-isolating and hopefully will be healthy soon.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tuesday 1st December 2020 -Summer-update #2

Statement from Craig Tiley,Tennis Australia CEO.

Tennis Australia continues to work productively with the Victorian Government and we are confident we will be in a position to finalise details for AO 2021 very soon.

We are also in constant communication with the global tennis community,including the Tours,the players and their teams,as we consult with them on plans for the event and how players can safely practise and prepare for a Grand Slam tournament under the Victorian Government's proposed quarantine conditions.

Understandably there has been public speculation on the various plans under consideration as well as the many confidential conversations that has taken place and our positions remains clear-everything will require approval and agreement from the Victorian Government before it can be confirmed.

The protection and safety of the community remains paramount in the discussions.Our team continues to work on delivering a fantastic and safe AO 2021 for the players,the fans,our partners and staff.We look forward to announcing more details,including when tickets will go on sale,very soon.

 

[El Dude]

If they push it back even just a month, the vaccine might be part of the picture. Then we will haveThe Australian Open: I Am Legend Edition.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just a press release from the Age Newspaper,

The Australian Open will go ahead but has been pushed back,set for a start date of February 8.
Tournament boss Craig Tiley has sent a note-seen by The Age and the Sydney Morning Herlad-to players outlining strict guidelines set out by the DHHS,which will allow the Grand Slam to go ahead.
Players will be able to train 14-day quarantine,but only after testing negative to COVID-19 on the second day of isolation .Testing will take place in each player's hotel room on days one,three,seven,10 and 14.Players will be able to undertake quarantine from January 15.
"It's taken a while,but the great news is it looks like we are going to be able to hold the AO on February 8", Tiley said in the letter.
In what will come at a huge cost,Tennis Australia says it will pay for charter flights,player and entourage quarantine,costs,meals and accommodation.
Tiley also said the tournament will pay the 'full $71 million prize money' and are working with the tours on redistribution with large increases to the early rounds and a likely first round purse of $100k.
Players will be arriving via chartered flights between January 15-17 but quarantine won't start until the last player arrives.
Once the players test negative to COVID-19 after the first day of isolation,they will be permitted to train with one other player from days two to seven.From day eight and after 3 negative tests,players will then be able to practise in groups of up to four.Tiley said a start date of February 8 will give the players the best possible preparation for a Grand Slam.
All Players will be allowed out of their hotel rooms for a maximum of five hours,two hours on court,two hours in the gym and one hour to eat on site.
All movement outside of the hotels will be limited to Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve Tennis Centre.Players will only be able to take one coach with them when they train.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Just a press release from the Age Newspaper,

The Australian Open will go ahead but has been pushed back,set for a start date of February 8.
Tournament boss Craig Tiley has sent a note-seen by The Age and the Sydney Morning Herlad-to players outlining strict guidelines set out by the DHHS,which will allow the Grand Slam to go ahead.
Players will be able to train 14-day quarantine,but only after testing negative to COVID-19 on the second day of isolation .Testing will take place in each player's hotel room on days one,three,seven,10 and 14.Players will be able to undertake quarantine from January 15.
"It's taken a while,but the great news is it looks like we are going to be able to hold the AO on February 8", Tiley said in the letter.
In what will come at a huge cost,Tennis Australia says it will pay for charter flights,player and entourage quarantine,costs,meals and accommodation.
Tiley also said the tournament will pay the 'full $71 million prize money' and are working with the tours on redistribution with large increases to the early rounds and a likely first round purse of $100k.
Players will be arriving via chartered flights between January 15-17 but quarantine won't start until the last player arrives.
Once the players test negative to COVID-19 after the first day of isolation,they will be permitted to train with one other player from days two to seven.From day eight and after 3 negative tests,players will then be able to practise in groups of up to four.Tiley said a start date of February 8 will give the players the best possible preparation for a Grand Slam.
All Players will be allowed out of their hotel rooms for a maximum of five hours,two hours on court,two hours in the gym and one hour to eat on site.
All movement outside of the hotels will be limited to Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve Tennis Centre.Players will only be able to take one coach with them when they train.

Margaret, are there gonna be warm-up tournaments before the Australian Open?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Margaret, are there gonna be warm-up tournaments before the Australian Open?

At this stage I don't know,though looking at the time of arrival for players to go into quarantine for 2 weeks from the 15th of January,which will end around the 29th of January all going to plan,that does not leave much time for a warm up tournament?
I guess we will have to wait for a further announcement from Craig Tiley.Quite frankly if I was a player I would not be happy playing the first GS tournament of the year,or any GS tournament for that matter without a warm up tournament.Craig Tiley did say there would be warm up tournaments,again that is up to the Victorian Government to give the go ahead.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Del Potro eyes Tokyo 2021 for Another Comeback.
Del Potro hasn't played a match since the summer of 2019 when he went down at Queen's Club with a right knee cap injury.
Despite all the setbacks and injuries in his career to date,he is still eying a comeback,competing in Tokyo for the rescheduled 2021 Olympics.Del Potro is not willing to call Tokyo a limit,just a goal,as his plan is to retire on his own terms.