Despite fears of a cancellation or lengthy delay, the 2021 tennis season will begin in Australia with the Australian Open held at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, however with the nation’s bubble beginning on January 8, the tournament has been pushed back to a potential February 1 start-date.
Information about the arrival of tennis’ biggest stars in Melbourne has been sketchy of late, with different rumours appearing on a daily basis.
Yet, MARCA has learned that the individuals will arrive between January 1 and 8, as part of Australia’s mandated 14 days of quarantine.
Tennis Australia have proposed the creation of what is essentially a tennis bubble in the city from the same date, rather like the NBA did in Orlando or the Great British Bake Off did in Bishop’s Stortford.
Officials, tournament organisers and players will likely be housed within a strictly confined area of Melbourne and then the tournament can begin once everyone has completed the 14-day period of isolation.
Within the aforementioned bubble, players will be able to train but not play any tennis on the courts unless it is a scheduled fixture within the competition.
Everything suggests that the Australian Open will begin on February 1, especially if the matches in the men’s category are the best of five sets.