“Frankly, I will still ask myself questions when I get on the plane…” This Thursday noon, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 37 years old and finalist in the last doubles Masters, embarks for Doha.
In the capital of Qatar, the Ile-de-France will take a seat in one of the eighteen charters specially chartered by the Australian federation to allow more than 1,200 people (players, staff, etc.) to reach Melbourne, the scene of the first Grand Slam of tennis of the season, scheduled from February 8 to 21.
See you soon Petra ✈️ https://t.co/YGXe9YgPnQ
- #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2021
Covid requires, each flight will only be filled to 20% of its capacity.
“It's still weird to think that we're going to play there while Australians who have left their country no longer even have the right to return home,” smiles the Frenchman.
Two or three days ago, it was a total blur.
I didn't even have a flight confirmation.
They make every possible effort so that we can play but the restrictions are still very strong.
I'm not sure how it will be there… ”
The local authorities have however given a small idea.
We are not kidding with the pandemic.
To limit the number of travelers, the qualifications took place… in Doha (men) and Dubai (women).
As soon as they arrive in the State of Victoria, the athletes and their entourage will be placed in a fortnight in one of the three official establishments (Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and View), where all employees will have to submit to the same constraint.
Daily tests, alarmed hotels and panty markings
In total, players will have the right to leave their rooms five hours a day with a single accompanying person to go to one of the three training venues (Melbourne Park, National Tennis Center and Albert Reserve), closely followed by a chaperone.
Nasal and salivary tests will be performed daily, the floors placed under surveillance and the exits of the hotels have been placed under alarm to prevent any prohibited exit.
Any offenders will be liable to a fine of 20,000 Australian dollars (approximately 13,000 euros), withdrawal of their accreditation, or even prosecution.
"We have the strongest and strictest rules in the world for tennis in place," said Lisa Neville, Victoria's Minister of Police.
“Usually, when we go to Australia, we have bananas, the weather will be nice.
There, it is stressful, continues “ERV”.
There is a small lump in the stomach.
I saw how it was at the US Open
(Editor's note: it was Benoît Paire's contact case)
where I spent seven days locked up.
But, there, it is even further.
If something happens and we have to go home ... That's what's scary.
"
To limit interactions as much as possible, each will have a unique training partner for the first week and will join another duo for the second.
Thus, Roger-Vasselin, who must play in doubles with Nicolas Mahut during the ATP Cup (February 1 to 5), the national team event, will not see his compatriot until then!
The winner of Roland-Garros 2014 in doubles will start with Finland's Kontinen, his partner on the circuit, before continuing with the German pair Mies-Kraviets.
Very happy and can't wait to defend our colors at @ATPCup with @Gael_Monfils @benoitpaire and @nmahut #TeamFrance 💪🇫🇷🎾🤩 pic.twitter.com/MQGBn8QQNm
- EdouardRogerVasselin (@ERogerVasselin) January 4, 2021
Mahut, he had already engaged with Adrian Mannarino.
“We trained in Paris before leaving with Nico
(Editor's note: they make up the France team with Monfils and Paire)
but we will perhaps type only once before the competition, notes the Habs.
But that's the lot for a lot of teams.
"
The best ... in Adelaide
However, not everyone is in the same boat.
The organizers cringed a lot of teeth last week by announcing a new health bubble of fifty members in Adelaide.
A VIP square for the top 3 male and female (plus Serena Williams) with a view to an exhibition scheduled for January 29 and 30.
With some facilities, especially in terms of personal staff and preparation.
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“It really ticks because it's not fair,” explains Roger-Vasselin.
That they are in the best hotels, it is always the case in all tournaments.
On this, no one said anything and it is well deserved.
But, there, if they can train better and prepare themselves, it is not normal at all.
For a lot of players like me, obviously that doesn't change a thing.
But imagine for the 4th, 5th or 6th world!
"
See you soon @ThiemDomi @ChristinaMcHale & Dennis Novak ✈️
📸 Instagram.
pic.twitter.com/A2u6mVeqiO
- #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2021
Even Novak Djokovic, eight times crowned at the antipodes, seems embarrassed to the underbelly.
A fine strategist and "politically" ambitious, the No. 1 at ATP, who founded a new union, hardly wants to alienate his little playmates. The Serbian, invited with Nadal and Thiem, does in any case, the suspense over its presence in the capital of South Australia will last.
At the end of the fifteen days of isolation, everyone is supposed to regain freedom of movement in compliance with health rules.
After the ATP Cup and the preparation tournaments called Melbourne 1 and Melbourne 2, the Australian Open is due to start on February 8.
An additional cost of at least 25 million euros
With public, which will be divided into three sealed areas with traffic flows.
Craig Tiley, tournament director, knows he is walking on eggshells, subject to rules that may change from hour to hour.
But he hopes to fill the stands between 50% and 75% of their usual capacity.
A gauge never seen since the recovery last August.
In total, the measures related to quarantine and health security will represent an additional cost of at least 40 million Australian dollars (25 million euros).
"It's hard to predict exactly where it's going to end," Tiley conceded.
I know we are incurring an operating loss of several million dollars.
We do not have the choice.
If we manage to bring in over 1000 people, isolate them for two weeks, protect the community after that time, have an event and broadcast it everywhere, we believe that will be the start of a real return of entertainment and sport.
"
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