Australian Open start pushed back until February 8

3 week delay for the opening major of the year.
Season will commence on January 8 with events in Delray Beach and Antalya.
Australian Open qualifying has been moved to Doha starting January 10 through January 13.
There’s two events in Melbourne as warm up as well after the 14 days quarantine requirements in Australia. Both events run simultaneously.

Jeff Navarro wrote:3 week delay for the opening major of the year.
Season will commence on January 8 with events in Delray Beach and Antalya.
Australian Open qualifying has been moved to Doha starting January 10 through January 13.
There’s two events in Melbourne as warm up as well after the 14 days quarantine requirements in Australia. Both events run simultaneously.

It was necessary given that players arriving in Australia need to self-isolate and would want to have at least warm-up tournament. That would not have been possible with the usual dates.

Very sensible move by the AO organisers. I think what ever happens with the virus we'll get a full year of tennis, although there could be few, or even no, spectators at some events.

At least I can carry on playing at my local club which is in Tier 4 now. Unlike during the November lockdown, the club is open and singles are permissible.

Sad news as far as I'm concerned. Roger Federer has pulled out of the Australian Open.

As much as I respect Nadal, Djokovic and the other players, the AO will not have the same appeal for me now that Federer will not be there.

https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12173967/roger-federer-to-miss-australian-open-despite-strong-progress-on-knee-injury

Was really hoping Fed would be back for Melbourne. His eye will now be on being as fit as possible for the grass.

I see Murray has taken a WC into Delray Beach which has been moved forward to the beginning of the year. Not surprisingly, Andy has a WC into the AO.

Andy Murray's testing positive for Covid means he'll have to delay his journey to Australia. It's been speculated he may have to miss the tournament. Let's hope not.

In Delray Beach, Cameron Norris got to the semis before losing to Korda who went on to lose the final to Hurkacz. De Minaur won the Antalya tournament.

Murray does seem to have no luck over the last couple of years. Hopefully, he will make it but can’t imagine he will be in any real shape to compete - given he won’t have played any warm up events even if he is able to travel on time.

On a happier note, Briton Francesca Jones, 20, has qualified for the AO.

She was born missing two fingers and three toes so her performance is even more commendable.

It's pretty clear now that the Aussie open should not be going ahead, tennis players being prioritised over actual citizens is just plain wrong.

Soul Requiem wrote:It's pretty clear now that the Aussie open should not be going ahead, tennis players being prioritised over actual citizens is just plain wrong.

Yes it's getting a fair bit of criticism here too now , though not unanimous . Some people here see the whole thing as an unnecessary risk , other (tennis fans) reckon they'll control things well enough.

The local State government is generally reckoned to have done a pretty sound job over the pandemic (despite some glitches) but it's notable that they've insisted in going ahead with this despite some doubts - and last March they basically had to be bullied into cancelling the formula one event by the drivers despite it being fairly obvious it was an unacceptable risk...money in sports seems to talk.

Decisions made though. Hope all goes well. Or as well as can be expected...

Andy Murray WON'T be playing in the AO. He was unable to sort out, with the Aussie authorities, the necessary quarantine arrangements.

He said he was very upset not to play. But I can't help thinking that he would be far better of starting with a three-set tournament than plunging into a five-set GS match.