Starting Saturday the Australian Open has become spectator-free, as host state Victoria entered the five-day lockdown to curb rising COVID cases in the community.
While matches will continue to be played as scheduled, the groundbreaking decision to allow spectators inside the stadium will be temporarily halted, disappointing thousands of fans, players, and staff here at Melbourne Park.
Five new locally acquired cases on Friday prompted Victorian officials to announce a return to stage-four lockdowns, meaning the public are prohibited from leaving their homes other than for essential reasons.
The new rules take effect from Day 6 of the Australian Open, the first Saturday of the tournament, which is generally one of the busiest. However, on Saturday, the spectator gates were silent, as were the range of food, beverage and merchandise stores within.
Since the Australian Open kicked off on Monday, crowds have been allowed into Melbourne Park at around 50 percent capacity, or roughly 30,000 people per day.
While most Australians have been happy to see the event going ahead, actual attendance numbers have remained even lower than what was allowed, with many in Melbourne still wary of the unpredictability of the virus.
Late last year, the city endured one of the most prolonged lockdowns in the world, lasting several months and successfully containing a second wave of community transmissions.
This time officials are hoping to avoid a third wave by curbing people’s movements before it has time to spread, and anticipate they will be able to lift the new restrictions at the end of the five-day period.
That would allow crowds to return in time for the men and women’s semifinals as well as the all important finals’ weekend.
