Coronavirus: Open and shut case to shelve Australian Open tennis

With more than 1200 players and support staff arriving in Melbourne this week for the Australian Open, fears are growing that the much-vaunted ‘tennis bubble’ could leak.

There have been calls to cancel the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Picture: AAP

With a contingent of more than 1200 players and support staff arriving in Melbourne this week for the Australian Open, fears are growing that the much-vaunted “tennis bubble” could leak, leading to another COVID-19 outbreak.

The discovery of several cases of the highly infectious UK and South African virus strains among passengers entering Australia in the past week has prompted fresh calls for the event to be postponed or played without spectators.

UNSW adjunct professor and infectious diseases expert Bill Bowtell wants national cabinet to reconvene to delay the Open, due to start on February 8, with warm-up events scheduled from January 31.

“They shouldn’t allow people in for the Australian Open, that should go to history like the Grand Prix did,” Professor Bowtell said. “I really think they have to explain now why they’re not stopping flights from the UK and having — as in Hong Kong — three week quarantines.”

Most of the players and their support teams are due to arrive in Melbourne this week on chartered aircraft from seven cities to begin mandatory two-week quarantine in several inner-city hotels but will be allowed to train in five-hour blocks at a separate facility.

The self-indulgent antics of some star players have added to concerns. Novak Djokovic tested positive to the virus last year after flagrantly ignoring social distancing rules and partying at a nightclub in Belgrade. Alexander Zverev flouted a promise to self-isolate, dancing at a private club in Monaco.

A contract to quarantine the players and their entourages at The Westin Melbourne was torn up last week after several owners raised health concerns.

The UK strain of the virus has been detected in at least 15 returned travellers, and a family of four was found to be carrying the South African variant last week.

The British strain is thought be up to 70 per cent more infectious than other strains, while the South African variant may also make vaccines less effective.

“A variant that is resistant to some or all forms of vaccines that are proposed to be expedited is a very bad idea,” said Professor Bowtell. “We’ve just got to get ahead of it – either we control the virus or it controls us.

“We cannot go ahead with the Australian Open, and we can’t go ahead with the Fourth Test.”

University of NSW epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws agreed that it was dangerous to allow 1200-plus travellers to arrive under the current standards of quarantine.

“I think that it’s a little cavalier because we haven’t tightened up all potential areas of seeding into the community from quarantine,” Professor McLaws said.

“I would be inclined to postpone it so that we can get the vaccine rolled out as soon as possible.”

The arrival of the UK and South African strains increased the potential problems with rolling out the vaccine, she said.

“Because then we’ll find it very difficult, like England has, trying to do two things at once and that is controlling the outbreak of a highly infectious variant while trying to vaccinate as well.”

Tennis Australia has defended its handling of the Open, pointing out the strict protocols under which the event is taking place.

“We’re working closely with the Victorian government to ensure we minimise risk at every step,” a Tennis Australia spokesperson said.

The precinct has been divided into three separate zones with no movement between them. Any player leaving quarantine without permission could be liable for a fine of up to $19,000 and face disqualification and forfeiture of prizemoney.

“Our zero tolerance approach to any breach of protocols has been communicated consistently to the players and their teams over the past few months,” the spokesperson said.

“They understand the seriousness of the situation and we’ve outlined the sanctions for breaches.”