• Loading stock data...
Thursday, May 22, 2025

No Crowds for Australian Open

  • The Australian Open is closing to fans due to the spread of a more contagious variant of COVID-19.
  • The Grand Slam event had previously allowed 30,000 fans to attend per day.
Alex Brooks-Front Office Sports

The Australian Open had been a sign of what life may be like post-COVID, but for now it shows that the pandemic is far from over.

The event was allowing 30,000 fans to attend each day, but will proceed without spectators after 13 positive cases of what is believed to be the more infectious United Kingdom strain of COVID-19 were identified among guests staying at a Holiday Inn in Melbourne.

The Australian state of Victoria will enter a five-day lockdown at midnight on Friday. “The UK strain is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country,” said Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews.

  • Victoria residents may only leave home for essential reasons, such as grocery shopping and family care. Australian Open players are considered “essential athletes,” allowing them to continue competing.
  • Should the lockdown lift as scheduled, fans will be able to attend the women’s and men’s finals matches.

Tennis Australia previously imposed a 14-day quarantine on players who had arrived to Melbourne in January on charter flights with passengers who tested positive for COVID-19.

Every Grand Slam event has been impacted by the pandemic. Wimbledon was canceled, the U.S. Open had no spectators, and the French Open only permitted 1,000 attendees per day.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

French Open Raises Purse to Record  $63.7M, $2.9M First-Place Prize

French Open sets record $63.7M purse as Sinner, Alcaraz headline youth movement.
Tennis

ATP, WTA Ask Judge to Dismiss ‘Tennis Cartel’ Lawsuit 

The motions were filed late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

Judge Bans ATP Tour From Retaliating Against Players in Major Lawsuit

Plaintiffs had sought to ban the ATP from discussing the case with players.
Mar 22, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Joao Fonseca (BRZ) reacts after winning a point against Ugo Humbert (FRA)(not pictured) on day five of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.

João Fonseca Is a Teen Tennis Phenom. His Parents Are Overseeing His..

The Brazilian is forgoing a management team in favor of his parents.

Featured Today

AA Mint Cards

Young Collectors Are on a High-Stakes Chase for Ultra-Rare Trading Cards

“They just want that excitement of the chase,” says a 23-year-old collector.
Donnie Gobourne JDL
May 17, 2025

U.S. Professional Softball Players Are Flocking to Japan to Get Paid

The Diamond League offers paychecks and amenities that the U.S. can’t beat.
Jun 1996; Seattle, WA USA; FILE PHOTO; Seattle Supersonics guard Gary Payton (20) lays the ball up against the Chicago Bulls during the 1996 NBA Finals at Key Arena.
May 15, 2025

5,000 Pieces of Thunder History Are Hidden in Seattle

Sonics championship banners, trophies, and retired jerseys are all in one place.
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) returns an interception during the second half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025. Ohio State won 28-14.
May 15, 2025

House v. NCAA Settlement to Pay College Athletes: All Your Questions Answered

The yearslong lawsuit over player compensation is in the home stretch.
Sponsored

Game the Green: Transforming Fan Experiences at TPC Sawgrass

As fans gather at THE PLAYERS Championship, Comcast Business will be keeping spectators and the PGA TOUR connected like never before.
October 8, 2024

NBA GMs Rank Salary-Cap Apron As Rule That Needs to Change Most

Schedule changes finished second with 17% of the vote.
February 3, 2025

Super Bowl Ticket Prices Crash As Hotel Rooms See Historic Rate Hike

Prices sink by about 30%, due in part to a lodging crunch.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 6 of Portfolio Players, dive into the world of sports investment with George Pyne, founder and CEO of Bruin Capital. Discover why owning a sports team is considered recession-proof, how leagues like MLB and UFC have adapted to the new media landscape, & the complexities of NIL.
September 8, 2024

US Open Breaks Attendance Record

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner beat No. 12 Taylor Fritz in straight sets Sunday.
Sponsored

Mastercard’s Foodies & Fairways: Where Golf Meets Gourmet at the TOUR Championship

This year’s TOUR Championship in Atlanta isn’t just about world-class golf—it’s also a celebration of local flavors.
July 18, 2024

Loyal WNBA Fans Hit With Enormous Season-Ticket Price Hikes

Some season-ticket holders are seeing their prices doubled.
July 16, 2024

CONMEBOL, Hard Rock Stadium Continue Trading Blame Over Copa Disaster

Each blames the other for the security madness at Sunday’s final.