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Roger Federer and Serena Williams had been among the many entries introduced Thursday for the coronavirus-disrupted Australian Open, with match director Craig Tiley vowing a “happy Slam” after months of painstaking planning. All the world’s prime gamers have signed on, led by world quantity ones Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty. There was a query mark over Swiss nice Federer, who warned this month he was in a “race against time” to be match after two rounds of knee surgical procedure. But he has begun coaching in Dubai and was amongst these entered to play at Melbourne Park as he targets a seventh title.
US celebrity Serena Williams, who like Federer turns 40 subsequent yr, can be dedicated as she as soon as once more makes an attempt to drag degree with Margaret Court as a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Her final triumph on the majors got here in Australia in 2017 when she was pregnant.
“There are so many great storylines for AO 2021,” stated Tiley.
“Serena is gunning for her eighth title while Novak, who often seems invincible at Melbourne Park, is going for a record ninth title.
“Our personal world No.1 Ash Barty will return to Grand Slam competitors, as will Roger Federer as he comes again from harm.”
The opening Grand Slam of the year, which will be played in front of at least 50 percent of normal crowds, has been pushed back three weeks until February 8.
All players must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival, during which they will constantly be tested for Covid-19 but allowed to train for five hours a day in a bio-secure bubble.
“Although the AO will look a bit completely different to earlier years, the protection of everyone seems to be our prime precedence,” said Tiley.
“We have the chance to stage a really secure, and joyful Slam, and provides the gamers the expertise of competing in entrance of crowds once more, one thing they’ve missed for many of this yr.”
The men’s and women’s qualifiers will be held in Doha and Dubai respectively from January 10-13, with players arriving in Melbourne from January 15 on special charter flights.
A slimmed-down, 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide International, and a ATP 250 tournament will all be played in Melbourne once players are out of isolation.
Two WTA 500 tournaments are also planned to be held concurrently at Melbourne Park on January 31-February 7.
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Melbourne solely emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam and how one can permit so many gamers and help workers to enter the nation safely.
Australia has largely contained the coronavirus though a brand new outbreak in Sydney final week has sparked recent restrictions in elements of town and even state border closures.
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