Play halted at Australian Open as fans leave for lockdown
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 12, 2021 Fan in the stands. It was announced the tournament will proceed without crowds over the next five days after the state of Victoria was placed under a snap lockdown from Friday to contain a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Play was suspended temporarily at the Australian Open on Friday as fans were told to leave the Rod Laver Arena to comply with a new five-day lockdown in Melbourne.
Top seed Novak Djokovic was two sets to one ahead, but struggling with an injury, against American Taylor Fritz when play was halted 11.30pm local time and fans were asked to leave.
The five-day lockdown, ordered after a new COVID-19 outbreak at a hotel, was due to start at midnight.
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 12, 2021 A staff member wearing a protective face mask is seen in Melbourne Park. It was announced the tournament will proceed without crowds over the next five days after the state of Victoria was placed under a snap lockdown from Friday to contain a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
After a short delay while fans made their way to the exits, play resumed.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by David Goodman)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 12, 2021 Fan in the stands. It was announced the tournament will proceed without crowds over the next five days after the state of Victoria was placed under a snap lockdown from Friday to contain a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Asanka Brendon RatnayakeTennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 12, 2021 Staff are seen at the entrance to Melbourne Park. It was announced the tournament will proceed without crowds over the next five days after the state of Victoria was placed under a snap lockdown from Friday to contain a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Asanka Brendon RatnayakeFILE PHOTO: A person wearing a protective face mask walks past an Australian Open logo at Melbourne Park in advance of the tennis tournament, which will start later than usual due to a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) postponement, in Melbourne, Australia, January 31, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
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