Australia Open tournament Director Craig Tiley has revealed that players at the upcoming Grand Slam event will be allowed to continue competing even after testing positive for COVID-19.
In a shift in the strict health policies that have governed the game for the last two years, Tiley also revealed that the athletes will no longer be required to take coronavirus tests or isolate when they are ill.
“We just wanted to follow what’s currently in the community,” he said.
“We have gone a step further by making a recommendation around staying away when you’re ill, and that our medical staff will continue to monitor that, with the players individually as well.
“We’ve made it clear to our players, as well as our staff, if anyone is feeling unwell, stay home.
“It’s a normalised environment for us and, not dissimilar to the cricket, there will potentially be players that will compete with Covid-19.”
In 2021, the tournament took place in a biosecure bubble without fans due to an outbreak of the virus during the competition.
Additionally, athletes had to be vaccinated and submit to daily tests as well as isolation if they tested positive in order to participate in the event last year.
Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic was deported due to his unvaccinated status after the Australian government cancelled his visa on “health and good order” grounds.
To corroborate the new development, Australian cricketer Matt Renshaw continued to play in a five-day test match against South Africa in Sydney last week after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Australian Open begins on Monday, January 16 and continues until Sunday, January 29.
