Aussies cancel Kooyong event as COVID brings Melbourne to a halt

Australia’s warm-up event, the Kooyong Classic has been called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The traditional pre-Australian event in Melbourne for men and women, is normally played in the week before the Grand Slam in January.

“We’ve made the big decision to push the pause button on the Kooyong Classic for 2021,” Australia tennis officials said.

“With everyone’s safety first and foremost in mind, and still so much uncertainty over the outlook for the rest of 2020 and beyond, we feel that this is the right thing to do.”

Melbourne is currently under lockdown because of a second wave of the virus.

Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said contingencies were in place, with reduced seating due to social distancing, players in a bio-security “bubble” and the likelihood of no overseas spectators.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Draper devours semi-final bagel to finally school Alcaraz

Jack Draper will crack the ATP top 10 for the first time after the Brit defeated two-time…

11 hours ago

Swiatek breaks the speed limit in rapid-fire win

Iga Swiatek switched to warp speed after rain delayed her fourth-round match by an hour,…

5 days ago

Alcaraz hits 14 in a row at Indian Wells

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz ran his hot streak at the Indian Wells Masters to 14…

5 days ago

Sabalenka steamrolls modest Italian opposition

Aryna Sabalenka spent just an hour and a quarter in dispatching Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1,…

5 days ago

Gauff scrapes through despite double-fault disaster

Coco Gauff wasted five match points while double-faulting four times in the final game but managed…

6 days ago

Draper increasing confidence with IW win

Jack Draper used the confidence earned just weeks ago in Australia to power past Jensen Brooksby…

6 days ago