Australian Open player bubble, crowds planned for 2022.

The Australian Open is planning a ‘player bubble’ for 2022 and is liaising with government around crowds in attendance.

Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia said today, “We’re planning on having 2 week bubble where the players will be able to move freely between the hotel and the courts. Previously we had quarantine but now we’re looking at more of a bubble-type scenario.

“They’re protected, they’re kept in safe amongst themselves and safe from the community as well. After those 2 weeks, they’ll come out and be able to compete in the Australian Open in front of crowds.
We are working with the government and the health authorities now on the amount of crowds and what the Australian Open will specifically look like. We’ve got some great plans, and great things to introduce.”

Nine’s Summer of Tennis will begin with the ATP Cup on December 30 and proceed with events in Brisbane, Hobart & Adelaide, capped off with the Australian Open 2022.

“We can’t wait for the Australian Open to kick-start 2022 before continuing the momentum into the other Grand Slams of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, all of which deliver highly engaged audiences for us,” said Brent Williams, Nine’s Director of Sport.

“We saw Wimbledon smash records on Nine this year, with well over two million people tuning in to watch Ash Barty fulfil her childhood dream of winning the Wimbledon title. Those audiences will be tuning in for the Australian Open and Nine’s Summer of Tennis.”

Matt Granger, Nine’s Director of Sales – Sport, said, “After almost two years of living with a pandemic, we believe the summer of 2022 will be a real turning point,” said Granger. “We have seen this year that sport is the one thing which has brought us together as we cheer for and celebrate our heroic athletes. As we look ahead the Australian Open will do just that and help to inspire a nation.

“The Australian Open is on the world stage in terms of timing, reach, impact and effectiveness.”
2022 will be the first year that Nine can offer marketers and brands an integrated solution across television (both metro and also regional for the first time), as well as print, radio and digital.
“Nine has invested heavily to create an unrivalled content and total TV strategy,” said Granger. “The blend of assets at Nine delivers our audiences something unique that no other media company in the world can offer.

“From print, radio, digital and now to TV, on both a metro and regional basis, we really have a powerful combination of touchpoints when it comes to tennis.”