The Australian Open, the first ‘Grand Slam’ of the season, will begin in 2021 in the second week of February, a delay of almost a month compared to its more traditional and initially scheduled dates, as announced by the ATP on Wednesday at the last minute.
The information in the last weeks dropped that the Melbourne tournament was not going to be played in January, as is usual, due to the coronavirus restrictions. It was scheduled to be played from January 15 to 31, but has finally moved to February, from 8 to 21.
“The reserved dates of January 15 to 31 will allow travel and a 14-day quarantine period for all players and companions of their teams who come to Melbourne, in accordance with the requirements of the Australian public health and immigration authorities” , indicated ATP.
The agency stressed that this “controlled quarantine will allow players to prepare before the ATP Cup in Melbourne with 12 teams,” said the ATP “and clarified that the men’s preliminary phase of the ‘big’ will take place in Doha from 10 to 13 from January.
The Association announced an update of its first seven weeks of competition for 2021, which will not start in Australia or Asia as is also usual, but will start in the United States with the Delray Beach tournament and in Europe, in Antalya (Turkey) . At the end of January, the action will move to Oceania with two preparatory tournaments for the Australian Open in Melbourne and the second edition of the ATP Cup, which will be from February 1 to 5.
“Details for weeks 8-13 will be announced separately, while the remaining sections of the 2021 calendar beginning with the spring clay court tour in week 14 will remain unchanged, with all tournaments scheduled to take place in the scheduled dates, “said the circuit.
