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Granted:
The Australian Open’s big warm-up tournament was canceled on Tuesday, with organizers accusing uncertainty about the Covid-19 rules players face in Melbourne.
This is the second year that the Kooyong Classic, which is normally played in the weeks leading up to the opening season of the Grand Slam, has been scrapped due to a coronavirus pandemic.
Kooyong President Adam Cossar said he was disappointed that the event could not be held in January 2022, but hopes it will return in 2023.
“Due to the high level of uncertainty in recent months, it has not been possible to make the best plans for the organization of the best and safest sport (event) from the arrangements put in place in January,” he said in a statement.
Players are still waiting to find out if they need to be fully vaccinated to participate in the Australian Open, including Melbourne, and other tennis tournaments in the country.
Such a claim would call into question the ability of nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic to defend his title – he is one of many players who have refused to share their vaccination status.
A WTA email leaked this week suggested that unvaccinated players could participate if they spent 14 days in a hotel quarantine. However, double players enjoy “complete freedom of movement”.
However, the Prime Minister of Victoria – the state where the Grand Slam will be held – said he wanted all players to be fully vaccinated.
“All the people who watch tennis at the Australian Open, they get into double wax, all the people who work there get into double wax,” Dan Andrews told public radio.
“Obviously, if you want to get into the country to participate in that tournament, you also have to be double-xxxed.”
© 2021 AFP
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