Australian Open set for full program in 2021, including wheelchair events

The Australian Open tennis Grand Slam is on track to proceed early next year and will include a full schedule of events, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said on Friday.

"In terms of our plans for the Australian Open, as we've been saying for the past few weeks, we're optimistic about having an AO in January with all the events and all the players," Tiley said.

Tiley expressed the national body's support for wheelchair tennis men's number one, Dylan Alcott, who this week hit out at the U.S. Open for excluding his category.

While the U.S. Open will go ahead in August despite COVID-19, it will be with the exclusion of the wheelchair event, something 10-time grand slam title winner and Paralympian, Alcott described as "disgusting discrimination."

"Dylan Alcott is a tremendous ambassador for tennis and has done a huge amount for our sport both here and around the world," Tiley said.

"We understand how disappointed he is at not being able to compete at the U.S. Open this year and we look forward to seeing him back on the court soon."

Due to biosecurity restrictions, the U.S. Open also will not include qualifying, junior and mixed doubles events when it takes place in New York.

While backing Alcott, Tiley also empathized with the United States Tennis Association.

"We empathize with our U.S. Open counterparts who have put an enormous amount of work into staging their event during such difficult circumstances and in these unprecedented times," he said.

TV BRICS reports with reference to Xinhua News Agency.



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