Australian Open says players with Covid-19 can compete at 2023 tournament | Tennis News

Players at this month’s Australian Open will not be required to take a Covid-19 test and can play even if they have the virus, tournament director Craig Tiley said Monday.

The health policy, which Tiley said reflects what is happening in the wider community, is a marked change from the strict protocols that have surrounded the tournament for the past two years.

The 2021 tournament is being held in a bio-secure bubble with spectators closed for days following an outbreak of the virus in the community, while last year nine-time champion Novak Djokovic was expelled for his stance on vaccines.

“We just want to follow what’s going on in the community right now,” Tiley told reporters at Melbourne Park ahead of the tournament, which runs from January 16-29.

“We have gone further by recommending to stay away when you are sick, and the medical staff will continue to monitor them, as well as the players individually.”

Cricketer Matt Renshaw continued to play for Australia in the five-day Test match against South Africa in Sydney last week despite testing positive for Covid.

The batsman was isolated from his teammates for the first three days of the match but returned to the home dressing room after several negative tests.

“We’ve made it clear to the players, as well as the staff, that if anyone is unwell, stay home,” added Tiley.

“This is a normal environment for us and, unlike cricket, there will be players who will compete with Covid.”

Melbourne endured some of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world during the pandemic, but recommendations have long since replaced the mandate as the cornerstone of the city’s public health policy.