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The 2021 Australian Open will likely start later than planned, Victorian Sports Secretary Martin Pakula said.
The first Grand Slam of next season is due to start on January 18, but the race could be postponed one or two weeks ahead.
“Several potential dates are being discussed. I have seen reports suggesting a postponement of one or two weeks. I think such a scenario still exists. But this is not the only option either. As you know, the French Open Championship took place several months later than planned, but the Wimbledon Championship was canceled altogether, ”Pakula said on Wednesday.
The Victorian state sports minister predicts that the tournament will be postponed for a short time. The tournament usually takes place in the second half of January, when Australian schools have summer holidays.
At the moment, 14 days of self-isolation is required upon arrival in Australia, but there is a possibility that players will play the tournament in a “bubble” similar to what happened in the USA and Paris.
Last week, the Australian Tennis Association announced that tournaments in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide would not take place this year, with tennis players competing in Victoria instead. However, the state government has not yet approved these tournaments.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Melbourne had a long-standing state of emergency with strict restrictions. However, there has been a small number of new infections in the last month and the last death of Covid-19 was reported on 28 October.
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