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The Australian Open is fast approaching and, with it, an increased fascination with everything tennis. We’ll certainly watch the game periodically throughout the year , but we must admit it – during the time that it’s the Australian Open is on our interest in tennis becomes more intense.
If, like us you’ll be watching the AO, looking forward to seeing an Aussie win victory on the blue court, then we’ve covered everything you need to be aware of.
When will be when is the Australian Open?
In 2022, the Australian Open will kick off on 17 17th in January, 2022. There will be an Women’s Final to air on the 29 day of January, and the Men’s Final set to air on the 30 the 27th in January. The Wheelchair event will start at the beginning of the 23rd 3rd of January, and end with the final on January 27 day.
Before the official tournaments begin, the majority of players will also be participating in smaller tournaments in Australia. Below are the key dates for each major city:
NSW: ATP Cup (Jan 1-9), Sydney Tennis Classic (Jan 10 through 15).
VIC Melbourne Summer Set 1 (Jan 4-9), Melbourne Summer Set 2 (Jan 4 – January 9), Bendigo and Traralgon Internationals (Jan 4-9), Victorian Wheelchair Open (Jan 8-12), Melbourne Wheelchair Open January 15 to 19).
SA: Adelaide International 1 (Jan 3 – Jan 9) + Adelaide International 2 (Jan 10 – 15).
Notification: The Brisbane International, Hobart International and Kooyong Classic aren’t scheduled to be played this year.
What is the COVID-19 and the vaccination rules?
Support staff, players officials, fans, and everyone else who wishes to participate in tennis court must be vaccine-free or have a medical exemption. Except for those less than 12 years old and 2 months.
International players needed to provide evidence of a negative test within the timeframe of 72 hours prior to travel to Australia and had to be isolated until they returned to Australia for a second negative test upon the arrival.
However there are stars who have not been able to pass their tests after arriving.
Who has been ejected from the Australian Open 2022?
Novak Djokovic pulled out of the ATP Cup, with ongoing discussion about whether Novak Djokovic will play at the Australian Open due to the vaccine requirement.
On the 5th of January – on the day New South Wales, Victoria and several other regions reported the highest number of cases yet of COVID-19 – it was revealed that Novak was granted an exemption to travel within Australia. Novak posted a message on Instagram to confirm that he was heading to Australia.
However on the 6th of January following a massive public outrage about the announcement that tennis player said to have was denied a visa from the Border Force while at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne.
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“The ABF will continue to ensure that people who arrive at our border are in compliance with our laws and entry requirements.” the Australian Border Force said in an announcement.
“The ABF can confirm that Mr. Djokovic was not able to provide adequate proof of his entry requirements for Australia His visa was later annulled. Non-Citizens who don’t have an active visa at entry or have had their visas removed will be held and exiled from Australia. The ABF is able to confirm that the claim that Mr. Djokovic was able to access his mobile.”
The exclusion and visa controversy is only two weeks since Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley confirmed that Novak has to have a full vaccination before he can participate during this year’s Australian Open. However, based on all the assertions he’s made in the media, Novak has not been vaccinated, and doesn’t support vaccination mandates.
Acting Minister for Sports Jaala Pulford stated of the exclusion: “No-one is or will receive special treatment for who they are or what they have accomplished professionally. I believe that a lot of people from that Victorian community will consider this to be disappointing however, the issue is what it is. There has never been any particular treatment.
“What Novak – his experience as well as that of a few of other applicants through this process has proven is the capability to meet not only the commonwealth government’s requirements for admission, but also something more than the requirements,” she said.
The response on the waiver was greeted with rage on January 5 the day prior to when his visa was refused.
“I don’t care how skilled an athlete he is in tennis. If he’s refusing vaccines, he shouldn’t be allowed into the facility,” wrote esteemed Victorian emergency department physician Stephen Parnis.
“If that exemption proves indeed true it sends a demeaning message to all those seeking to lower the risk of COVID-19 for the public and to themselves. Vaccination shows respect, Novak.”
Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew stated: “I think for so many people especially from Victoria it’s the end of all the frustration we’ve felt, not just over the past two years but more so in the past couple of weeks of testing delays and not being able meet with family. The people who haven’t been allowed medical exemptions for themselves or their family members to go see their loved ones that are dying and now there’s tennis players arriving.”
Tennis players were also questioned regarding the announcement and Aussie Alex de Minaur diplomatically declaring in an interview: “It’s very interesting. This is all I’m going say.”
In the meantime, Scottish athlete Jamie Murray, the older brother of Andy Murray, said he “kind of” is able to believe that the exemption to be legitimate.
“I think that if it was me who wasn’t vaccinated, I would not be able to get exempted … however, congratulations to him on getting cleared to go to Australia and be a part of the competition,” Jamie said.
“At time’s end,, you need to be sure that the doctor has an appropriate reason for an exemption for medical reasons.”
What is the best place to stream this year’s Australian Open 2022?
The Australian Summer of Tennis will play out on the Nine Network as part of their Wide World of Sports coverage. You can catch the main events’ coverage via Channel 9 throughout the tournament and stream every game on their streaming platform 9Now.
