Early-season WTA events and Australian Open qualifying events to be staged in Middle East?
The 2021 WTA tennis season will reportedly kick off in the Middle East with the region also set to host the Australian Open qualifying events.
With the coronavirus causing havoc to the tennis schedule this year, it is also expected to have a major impact on the start of the new campaign.
The WTA season traditionally starts in Australasia, but the Auckland Open has already been cancelled while the Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart events are set to follow suit due to quarantine restrictions.
Meanwhile, the Australian Open is likely to be pushed back from its original 18-31 January date with 8-21 February set to be the new time slot.
2021 Australian Open set for 8 February start with players allowed to train during quarantine – reports
However, it emerged last week that the Australian Open qualifiers for both the ATP and WTA will be moved to the Middle East with Dubai set to host the event.
And the report from Gulf News claims “the first week of the new season will see Abu Dhabi hosting a WTA 500 event from January 5-13 for the first time”.
“The tennis plan of action at the moment is to have the WTA 500 tournament in the first week of the season at the International Tennis Complex of Zayed Sports City from January 5 to 13 followed by the Australian Open qualifiers at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium from January 9 to 13,” the report adds.
As for the Australian Open qualifiers, it is set to be staged at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium from 9-13 January.
The players who qualify for the hard-court Grand Slam will then “travel on charter flights from Dubai to Melbourne to serve the mandated quarantine period ahead of the season-opening Grand Slam”.
“There are quite a few top tennis players who have chosen Dubai for their off-season preparations, and these players will join the qualifiers in special charter flights heading to Melbourne,” an official told Gulf News”.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Australian Open‘Players upset’ over Adelaide privileges afforded to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem
“It’s not apples and apples here, but apples and pears.”
-
-
NewsMore Australian Open players go into isolation taking number up to 72
Forty-seven had already been quarantined.
-
NewsHow Australian Open players are keeping themselves occupied in quarantine
A total of 47 players forced to quarantine.
-
NewsAustralian Open preparations rocked by fourth positive Covid case
A positive test was returned on a charter flight from LA.
-
NewsPlayers were made aware of isolation risks on arrival to Australia – Craig Tiley
Forty seven players to remain in their hotel rooms.
-
Australian OpenAndy Murray’s waiting game as anger mounts after tennis players fly in for Australian Open
Will Andy Murray be allowed to fly to Melbourne?
-
NewsPositive Covid cases on flights to Australia put 47 players in 14-day quarantine
Three people across two chartered flights carrying the Open hopefuls tested positive for coronavirus upon their arrival in Melbourne.
-
Tennis NewsBernard Tomic still has drive to compete, saying ‘I don’t need to play tennis again, I’ve got enough money’
“I’m risking my life, and I’m playing and competing.”
-
Tennis NewsDominic Thiem: ‘My wish for 2021 is to win a second Grand Slam title’
Dominic Thiem eyes a second Grand Slam trophy.