Players with Covid-19 can compete at Australian Open while tournament chief dismisses ‘bizarre claim’

The Australian Open will allow players to compete at this year’s hard-court Grand Slam even if they have Covid-19, tournament director Craig Tiley has revealed, but he was having none of it when it was suggested the event should reconsider its time slot in the calendar.

The first Grand Slam of 2023 will get under way next week and nine-time champion Novak Djokovic will be involved after missing last year’s edition due to visa issues over his lack of vaccination status.

Last January’s tournament occurred amidst the backdrop of Djokovic’s controversy and with players being tested daily while the previous Open in 2021 took place in a bio-secure bubble.

Rules have been relaxed in the country during the past 12 months and last week cricketer Matt Renshaw was able to play for Australia in a Test against South Africa in Sydney despite contracting Covid-19.

‘Novak is back’ – Australian Open chief’s support for Novak Djokovic

“It’s a normalised environment for us and, not dissimilar to the cricket, there will potentially be players that will compete with Covid,” Tiley told reporters at Melbourne Park in addition to revealing competitors are not required to test for coronavirus this year.

“We just wanted to follow what’s currently in the community.

“We have gone a step further by making a recommendation around staying away when you’re ill and that our medical staff will continue to monitor that with players individually as well.

“We’ve made it clear to our players, as well as our staff, if anyone is feeling unwell, stay at home.”

Tiley also dismissed suggestions that the Australian Open should reconsider its time slot following several high-profile withdrawals as world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz and two-time champion Naomi Osaka won’t feature in the event.

Some feel that the date of the tournament coupled with the lengthy tennis season will always have an impact on the season-opening Grand Slam, but Tiley insists it won’t be changed.

“I did read that. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous – a bizarre claim,” he said. “You talk to every player, this is the season. It starts in January. It starts here in Australia.”

He added: “The sport does need to get together and look at the length of [the season]. It finishes with Davis Cup late on the men’s side and not as late on the women’s side but I do think it’s a long season. We’ve been talking about that for a long time.”

Tiley insisted that most players accept that the tournament takes place in early January and they are happy to head Down Under at that time of the year.

“But Australia is the summer, Australia is January and this event is, from the players’ perspective, one of their favourite places to play.

He continued: “They’re coming here earlier, we’re now seeing players here for six weeks, for seven weeks and the preparation for the Australian summer is very normalised. They know what they need to do.”