Former world No.1 Roger Federer, whose participation in the Australian Open is uncertain, and Serena Williams, who will attempt to clinch a record 24th Grand Slam in Melbourne, are on the list of participants unveiled by organizers on Thursday. of the planned tournament, from February 8 to 21, 2021.
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Four Belgians are also registered: David Goffin (ATP 15) in the men’s table, Elise Mertens (WTA 20), Alison Van Uytvanck (WTA 64) and Kirsten Flipkens (WTA 86) in the women’s one.
During the first Grand Slam round of the season, postponed for three weeks due to the pandemic, “our world No.1 (Australian) ‘Ash’ Barty will be re-entering Grand Slam competition, like Roger Federer, who is coming back after an injury, ”tournament director Craig Tiley told the event site.
Saturday, Craig Tiley had already assured that “all the best players in the world, including Roger Federer, (had) committed to come to Melbourne”.
Left off the courts for much of the 2020 season after undergoing two knee surgeries, Roger Federer, 39, admitted in mid-December that he was not sure he would participate in the Australian Open, even going until he considered the end of his career.
Also aged 39, “Serena (Williams) will try to win her eighth Australian Open title,” said Craig Tiley.
Always the “sanitary bubble”
Since her 2017 victory in Australia, the American has been chasing a 24th Grand Slam singles title, which would see her equal Margaret Court’s record. But she has not played an official match since her retirement in the second round at Roland Garros at the end of September, due to an Achilles tendon injury.
The Australian Open was originally scheduled to start on January 18, but tennis organizers and governing bodies have had to postpone tournament dates at the request of Australian authorities to put in place unprecedented health measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Covid-19.
Players will have to arrive in Australia from January 15 to observe a two-week quarantine period in a secure “health bubble” set up around Melbourne Park, the tournament site.
They must therefore stay in hotels reserved for them and must not stay outside these hotels for more than five hours per day for their training.
Qualifications for this first major tournament of the year will take place for men in Doha and for women in Dubai from January 10 to 13.
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