Tennis fans will be allowed back into Melbourne Park for the remainder of the Australian Open after the Victorian government announced the state’s lockdown will be lifted by Thursday.
With the five-day snap restrictions to end at midnight on Wednesday, crowds will be back in the stands for the men’s and women’s singles semi-finals, starting on Thursday, and the finals over the weekend.
Tournament officials confirmed the attendance for each session will be capped at 7,477 – which is approximately 50% capacity.
“We look forward to welcoming fans back to the Australian Open for the next four days and to finishing the event safely and on a high,” tournament boss Craig Tiley said.
“The Covid safe measures we had in place will continue, and we’ve opened up the zones so everyone can access the full site and enjoy both Grand Slam Oval and Garden Square.”
Several players indicated their delight at being able to play in front of crowds before the short, sharp lockdown was implemented last week in response to the detection of the highly contagious UK variant in Victoria.
Naomi Osaka, the 2019 Open champion, said on Tuesday she would welcome crowds back after the five-day absence. The Japanese is scheduled to play Serena Williams in one of three semi-finals slated for Thursday.
Karolína Muchová, who stunned Ash Barty in an empty Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, will play American Jennifer Brady in the other women’s match.
In the men’s draw, world No 1 Novak Djokovic meets the Russian qualifier, Aslan Karatsev, with the second men’s semi to be played on Friday.
