Roger Federer, whose participation in the Australian Open is not certain, and Serena Williams, who will attempt to lift a record 24th Grand Slam in Melbourne, both former number one, appear on the list of participants released this December 24 by the tournament organizers scheduled for February 8-21.
During the first Grand Slam of the season, delayed three weeks by the pandemic, “our world No. 1 (Australian) ‘Ash’ Barty will return to Grand Slam competition, like Roger Federer, who returns after an injury,” he said. Tournament Director Craig Tiley on the event website.
On Saturday, Tiley had already assured that “the best players in the world, including Roger Federer, (had) committed to coming to Melbourne.”
Away from the slopes for much of the 2020 season after undergoing two operations on one knee, the 39-year-old Swiss acknowledged in mid-December that he was not sure whether to participate in the Australian Open, even outlining the end of his career.
Also 39, “Serena (Williams) will try to win her eighth Australian Open title,” Tiley said.
Since her 2017 victory in Australia, the American is chasing a 24th Grand Slam title in singles that would allow her to equal Margaret Court’s record. But he has not played an official match since his abandonment in the second round at Roland Garros at the end of September, due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Excited for what’s to come????#thisistennis @atptour pic.twitter.com/vFEfJVRjxj
– Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) December 11, 2020
The Australian Open was originally due to begin on January 18, but tennis organizers and governing bodies had to delay the tournament dates at the request of the Australian authorities to establish unprecedented sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the covid-19.
Players will have to arrive in Australia from January 15 to hold a two-week quarantine in a “health bubble” installed around Melbourne Park, the venue for the tournament.
Participants will also have to stay in the hotels that will be reserved for them and may not be outside the hotels for more than five hours per day for their training sessions.
The champions for Black female founders are here to stay. It’s time we all play on the same court. https://t.co/1H3sGeR8qL
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) December 16, 2020
The qualifying rounds for this first ‘major’ of the year will take place in Doha for men and in Dubai for women from January 10-13.
