Tennis: Australian Open 2020

[Tuggy]

A little early for the thread (qualifying isn't scheduled to start until next week), but with the terrible fires that are going on in Australia at the moment, there is some discussion going on...

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[MsMeow]

I almost feel like they should cancel it this year out of respect for what's happening there. I know it won't happen.

 

[tony d]

Yeah, the wildfires happening there should definitely mean it gets postponed this year. Maybe until March. Some things are more important than sports.

 

[discostu]

Yeah, the wildfires happening there should definitely mean it gets postponed this year. Maybe until March. Some things are more important than sports.

The tennis calendar seems to have little capacity for schedule adjustments like that, but Aussie Open is maybe the one that could pull it off. Just from the perspective of reallocating emergency services personnel to support the tournament should be a reason to consider it.

 

[Tuggy]

Qualifying set to begin this week. Schnur is very close to direct entry but needs 3 more people to drop out before qualifying starts. Seems unlikely.

Him, Polansky and Diez are in qualifying on the Men's side.

Fernandez and Bouchard on the Women's side.

Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov, Raonic and Pospisil are in the main draw.

 

[MsMeow]

So far Bianca, DelPo and Gasquet have withdrawn. I guess we'll find out if others pull out as we get closer.

 

[kihei]

After his relatively straightforward win against Nadal, Nole has to be the strong favourite to win this title. And Serena looks in good early season form, too, with her championship win yesterday in New Zealand. Still, I'm going with Osaka to defend her title.

 

[tony d]

Bouchard made it to the quarters in a recent tournament. Be interesting to see if that success can follow her to this tournament.

 

[Tuggy]

Qualifying draws

2020 Australian Open – Men's Singles Qualifying - Wikipedia
2020 Australian Open – Women's Singles Qualifying - Wikipedia

All the Canadians avoided each other's sections.

 

[MXD]

Interesting (but far from surprising) that Bernard Tomic has (read : wasn't given a Wild Card) to qualify. Even more interesting is that he's actually bothering with qualifying in the first.

Sharapova getting a WC is a disgrace.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

I'm surprised they haven't moved this to February or March. I guess scheduling makes it difficult, but with the fires and the heat, it seems like playing in this tournament would not be very good, for the players or fans.

 

[MsMeow]

Bouchard is having issues with the smoke. I think the players need to band together and say they won't play.

Genie got through in the third, 6-1. Both she and her opponent called doctors and trainers quite a bit.

Tomic lost in straights.

 

[MXD]

A Slovene player (W) also abandonned after having won the first set.

Meanwhile, the Australian Open director is basically :

 

[Tuggy]

A Slovene player (W) also abandonned after having won the first set.

Meanwhile, the Australian Open director is basically :

 

[tony d]

Yeah, this tournament should be postponed this year. Players and fan's health should be of greater importance than this tournament.

 

[discostu]

Yeah, this tournament should be postponed this year. Players and fan's health should be of greater importance than this tournament.

It'll be interesting to see what type of withdrawals we may see.

I'd argue that there's a tougher decision on the qualifying this week. The majors are highly lucrative, even in qualifying, and the players at that level can least afford to withdraw from a tournament they've already flown out to.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Yeah, this tournament should be postponed this year. Players and fan's health should be of greater importance than this tournament.

Agreed, it's wrong. Business wise it's a bad decision and look also. Sending a message that the players' health doesn't matter is not the way to keep and bring the fans back.

 

[Tuggy]

Play is delayed.

 

[Tuggy]

Schnur and Diez advance to round 2 of qualifying.

 

[MsMeow]

Fernandez is up a set, 4-1 and her ad but play has been suspended for hours and is done for the day.

Denis beat Vasek 6-4, 7-6. Felix won 6-3, 7-6 with a bagel in the breaker.

 

[MsMeow]

Roger and Rafa donated $250,000 together to help the victims of the fires.

 

[tony d]

I saw a pic, apparently a lot of money was donated for the fire relief. That's good to see. Bouchard plays her next qualifier tonight at 10:40 PM EST.

 

[MXD]

Fernandez is up a set, 4-1 and her ad but play has been suspended for hours and is done for the day.

(...)

And not against a bad player either. 7th Q seed, 4 former presences at Gran Slams (altough no wins), a few WTA finals, once ranked in the Top-100...

 

[Tuggy]

Polansky got beatdown in his first round qualifying match.

Fernandez should be resuming her match soon.

 

[Tuggy]

Fernandez finishes it off. Nice win for the 17 year old.