Australian Open 2021: Updates on the number of personnel allowed, location for the qualifying event

Australian Open 2021: Updates on the number of personnel allowed, location for the qualifying event
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Australian Open 2021 will commence from February 8

The Australian Open 2021 qualification was to be held outside Australia in the initial few weeks of January. There were three places, Tennis Australia had shortlisted to hold the qualifying tournament. The three locations were: Dubai, Doha and Singapore and later, Los Angeles joined in.

However, it is reported that Dubai could be the place chosen for the qualifying event from January 8. Dubai has also been ahead of other cities in terms of it’s safety protocols. The Dubai Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event takes place in the start of the year every year. Even this week, an ITF tournament is being played with the presence of 13 of the top hundred players in the world.

Australian Open pushed back to February

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The Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

The Australian government has imposed strict quarantine rules and is no mood of letting the coronavirus enter it’s community again at any costs. The Australian Open, scheduled to begin from January 8, initially has now been postponed to commence from February 8.

The players will arrive in Australia between 15-17 January and will have to undergo two weeks of mandatory quarantine and will be permitted to leave their rooms for only five hours each day. Only upto 1000 people are permitted to enter Australia for the tournament. Speculations are also being made that up to 4 additional members will be allowed for former Australian Open champions, three for top ten ranked players, two for main draw players and one for each doubles player (two for a team).

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