Biosecurity is the keyword associated with Australia’s 2021 Open, a tennis tournament that was almost forced into cancellation earlier this year amid the bushfires. Information regarding the safety measures for 2021 was released by Craig Tilley, the Chief Executive Officer of Tennis Australia. He emphasized that organizers & health experts have determined how the venue will unfold in January, noting that reduced seating is being maintained to enforce social distancing.

Players in the Association of Tennis Professionals & Women’s Tennis Association will be forced into a “Biosecurity Bubble”, which means that a small number of personnel can surround that athlete. Craig Tilley clarified that international attendees wouldn’t be permitted in 2021, marking the 1st time in decades that Australia won’t allow worldwide visitors.
March 12th marked the date when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 an international pandemic, more than a month after Sofia Kenin & Novak Djokovic had acquired victory at the 2020 Australia Open. This venue saw crowds of 800+ thousand, with Novak raising the “Men’s Singles Trophy”, and Sofia lifting the “Women’s Singles Trophy”. Fans roared for their victory.

Craig Tilley spoke with the Australian Associated Press, indicating that their decision was made earlier into the week. He clarified that multiple options are being considered but that their primary strategy is near complete. Sentiments from Tilley mentioned that attendance numbers would drop tenfold, noting that 821 Thousand global citizens attended the 2020 Australian Open. Tilley anticipates that 15% of that record-number will be seen for the 2021 tournament, with all in attendance receiving special permission & residing in the borders of Australia.

Is there enough time?

The Australian Open refused the concept of postponing their tournament, being given ample time to determine proper strategies & rulesets that govern over those competing or attending. Craig Tilley suggested similar protocols to the United States Open, which arrives on August 31st and ends on September 13th. It’s known that the US Open will maintain mandatory testing, substantial levels of quarantine, and reduced entourages of five.

Craig Tilley believes that Melbourne will have curbed their spread of COVID-19 by January 2021. Pandemic levels in this region are growing daily throughout July, with the Melbourne region experiencing twenty-one consecutive days of confirmed infections in the triple-digitals.

The sport of tennis is gearing up for the inaugural U.S. Open, but it will not be without changes. One of those changes will see is being held without the crowds of adoring fans. The event, which is scheduled to run from the 31st of August through to the 13th of September however will not enforce restriction on the teams that travel with players.

As expected, Flushing Meadows will play host to the Grand Slam event even though a number of top-seeded players have expressed concerns over its location in New York City. The plan submitted and approved by New York’s Mayor, Andrew Cuomo, will be without qualifying matches or mixed doubles matches.

Mike Dowse, the US Tennis Association chief commented that “We can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport.” To date, there has not been any tennis tournaments played since March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. However, in order to accommodate the U.S. Open, a firm health and safety plan has been provided to players, their teams and various other organizations involved in its running. These include:

• Among the details in the US Open’s health and safety plan, which has been widely shared on social media, were:
• All players who travel to New York to attend the tournament will be restricted to staying at hotels outside of Manhattans and may only book a maximum of two hotel rooms.
• Only two people per room will be permitted however options for renting private residences is allowed
• Players travelling to New York will be entitled to two rooms in an official hotel outside Manhattan.
• No Players entering the U.S will need to get tested before leaving but will not be required to undergo quarantine
• Throughout the tournament, all players, coaches and event staff will be tested once or twice a week and will have to submit to daily temperature checks.
• All in attendance at the venue will be required to wear mask unless working out, playing in a match or practising.

United States has highest death toll from coronavirus cases

Currently, the United States has seen an implosion in the number of reported confirmed cases of CIVID-19. They also have the highest death rate with current reported deaths reportedly now surpassing 100,000. The state of New York has been the one hit the hardest with over 30,000 deaths being recorded, hence the added precautions, although many would argue the Open should be postponed.
On the decision to move ahead with the U.S. Open, US Tennis Association chief Mike Dowse said, “We recognise the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times. We will do so in the safest manner possible, mitigating all potential risks.”

The 2020 Tennis Calendar is dwindling with each passing week, with venue after venue confirming that their events have been terminated. The number of cancelled events exceeds forty, with all cancellations following after the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted extensive damage. Additional tournaments were cancelled, with the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association both confirming that there won’t be any planned matches until July or August. Conflictions on when the season will resume have occurred, with the WTA believing a July restart is possible. The ATP doesn’t see regulated tennis being planned until August.

Another notable cancellation for the tennis community this year was “The International Tennis Hall of Fame”, who confirmed that this year’s introduction ceremony had been postponed until 2021. That means that Goran Ivanisevic & Conchita Martinez won’t be inducted into the HOF for another twelve months or longer. Organizers didn’t provide details on when the new ceremony will be hosted.

The International Tennis Federation also shocked loyal supporters, announcing that all planned matches and tournaments are cancelled until July 2020. This extends towards Disabled, Junior, and Senior Leagues. Updates on when this seasonal postponed will be lifted are expected to come by June 15th. That’s when official dates for the ITF 2020 Season will be revealed.

Previous Postponement

Tennis Professionals had begun hunkering down for the long haul when it was announced on April 1st that all tours were postponed until July 13th. The International Tennis Federation and Women’s Tennis Association are still abiding by that preplanned schedule. The Association of Tennis Professionals is the exclusive international league that’s considering a longer postponement. Their medical experts have informed them of outbreaks can still occur for prolonged periods, that is until a vaccine is released internationally.

Recent cancellations under the updated postponement period include the 2020 French Open, 2020 United States Open, and Wimbledon. Both the French & US Open are considering rescheduling their venues for August 30th to 31st. We’ll provide our readers with updates regarding this situation. Regardless of what happens with the 2020 Tennis Schedule, spectators won’t be permitted, and social distancing measures will be forced.

Organizers behind the French Open have provided supporters with updated insights into their future proceedings. This Tennis Tournament was slated to begin in May 2020, with postponements being enforced following the COVID-19 Pandemic outbreaking in France. This forced organizers to delay the venue until September 2020, with it now being revealed that attendees won’t be permitted at the Clay Court Grand Slam – French Open. It’ll come as a significant loss to profits with supporters not allowed at the September 20th to October 4th tournament. The French Tennis Association isn’t concerned about declining profits, with their worries more on local civilians. It should be mentioned that the FTA will be refunding the cost of tickets, or reimbursing supports with new passes for the 2021 French Open.

The French Tennis Associations President provided formal insight into their strategic plans. He noted that attendees not being permitted doesn’t terminate all finances, with television contractions and partnership agreements still present. This brings millions into the French Open yearly, with Bernard Guidicelli looking into other methods of earning revenue as well. Bernard has felt the requirement to obtain FTA Athletes additional finances, which follows after he was forced to suspend seasonal matches in Early March. The standard French Tennis season isn’t returning until 2021, with specialized tournaments like the Open being permitted under specific conditions.

The French Open isn’t the exclusive tournament that was forced into cancellation this year. Wimbledon was also terminated because of COVID-19, marking the 1st time since WWII that this infamous competition was postponed by 12+ months. After Wimbledon was concluded, the United States Open would also cancel their August dates.

Reassessing the Season Calendar

The French Tennis Association – Operations Division, is working with their respective governing bodies to determine if the 2020 Season Calendar can be revised. The FTA hopes that the season can be resumed, allowing for the well-known French Grand Slam Tournament to move forward in 2020. PR Representatives with the association have mentioned they hope to move forward with the GSA on September 27th. Maintaining all these respective matches is dependent on when the approval of the FTAs governing bodies.

The Coronavirus Pandemic has forced governments worldwide to implement financial relief, with this extending towards multiple sporting associations. The latest association to confirm their relief aid for athletes is the French Federation. They confirmed that €35 Million would be provided towards individuals within the professional tennis community. It follows after international tennis venues were postponed until July 15th, with cancellations of significant events following. Instead of Wimbledon being played from May 24th to June 7th, it’s been reformatted for September 20th to October 4th.

One of the most influential sports throughout France is tennis, with its community dominating over the European Union. There’s an additional relief fund available to professional athletes through the ATP & WTA, which is worth €70 Million. Most of those funds were provided to France, ensuring that their community is protected during this unprecedented period.

Financial severe difficulties have strained athletes in the Tennis community, with requirements to ensure their safety during this health crisis becoming mandatory. Affiliated clubs with the Association of Tennis Professional or French Professionals will receive an unknown valuation of relief funds. This will extend towards coaching staff, international officials and FFT organizers.

Coronavirus in France

The COVID-19 Pandemic throughout France has become detrimental, resembling the black plague from old. More than 10+ thousand deaths have followed for civilians acquiring the coronavirus infection. They now stand as the 4th highest nation with confirmed deaths, exceeding the volume that was seen throughout Italy and Spain. Fatalities in France are expected to rise drastically throughout the next two weeks. Just like the United States of America, their 1st wave won’t finish until summer. Because of the volume of fatalities, a 2nd and 3rd wave will unfold before a vaccine is provided to the civilians of France.

It’s expected that after the vaccine is created and distributed worldwide, civil unrest throughout France will resume. Significant protests and riots could see substantial damage in the country. It wouldn’t be the 1st time that France citizens had proven themselves ignorant when their government-assisted them. It also won’t be the last time, with France being historically built on civil unrest. COVID-19 will restart what history has already shown us.