Spectators will likely be welcome at the Australian Open again starting Thursday. Australian media reported that the Australian state of Victoria will come out of lockdown overnight from Wednesday to Thursday (local time).
The Australian government had already decided on Tuesday that the lockdown would end. Only a large number of coronavirus infections on Wednesday could change their minds.
Since last Saturday, the Australian Open has not been welcomed by the public. Authorities announced a lockdown of at least five days in Victoria.
As of Saturday, 30,000 spectators were welcomed into Melbourne Park every day. This number will actually shrink to 25,000 fans per day in the second week. It is not yet known how many fans will be welcomed as of Thursday.
The fans were forced to leave the Rod Laver Arena on Friday during the match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz.
The fans were forced to leave the Rod Laver Arena on Friday during the match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz.
Photo: ANP
The tournament finale is approaching
The reason for the closure was the outbreak of the so-called quarantine hotel in Victoria. This did not have dire consequences for the tennis players, who had to remain in quarantine for fourteen days upon arrival in Australia.
On Thursday, most likely on the first day the public is again attending, the women’s championship semi-finals and men’s semi-finals are shown.
Demi Shores is one of two Dutch people still active in Melbourne. On Wednesday, she will play her US partner Nicole Meleshard in the semi-final against second-placed Elise Mertens / Arena Sabalenka.
Mattwe Middelkop went into the men’s quarter-finals on Wednesday. In doubles, the duo confront Jimmy Murray / Bruno Soares with Marcelo Arevalo.
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