Summer is here. Tennis is back for 2020.

ATP 2020 revised calendar


8/14 Update:
Rome is shifted earlier one week. European season starts immediately after US Open. Asian tour events have been canceled. French Open for allowing fans will be pending.

7/21 Update:
Citi Open in DC has announced it has to cancel. Just one week after the WTA decided it had to split from the main event location. All eyes are now on NYC and the US Open. Will new global travel restrictions and recent spikes of COVID-19 cases hamper efforts with 1 month to go?

 --

Welcome back. It's now officially the Summer of 2020. What a strange time these last 3 months!

The (Tennis) World has been in a cryogenic state of suspended animation. It has been a very tough time and I am sure we're all excited to know when we can thaw out (safely and fully, of course)!

Our last grand slam of the year, the US Open, is now going to be the second calendar grand slam with the French Open happening afterward in the Autumn. Each day/week, the Tournament Plans and Procedures are still in flux as we count down towards 2 months before our beloved US Open.

Breaking News about US Open
We are receiving news every week about how the US Open will be special this year for both the players and the event.

Please subscribe for 2020 US Open news about the latest news, unique VIP fan experience offers and discounts for fans spectating this year's US Open! 

The new, abbreviated US Open Series calendar is now:
  • 3 Weeks of tennis on hard courts with both Men and Women completing:
    • Citi Open at Washington DC on Aug 13-21
    • Cincy Open relocated to NYC on Aug 22-29
    • US Open happening Aug 31-Sept 13.
For now, there will be a "no fans" plan in place for these tournaments.
The Citi Open in DC has said that as conditions evolve in Washington, they may allow for "limited fans" to attend. The events in Europe are also in a wait-and-see mode to follow their local safety guidelines.

Citi Open - 1st Pro Tennis Officially Restarts in 2020
Since many ATP/WTA players have not played a single professional match in over 3-4 months, there is a higher chance that some higher ranked players who are serious about winning a US Open title will be in attendance at this warmup event. This would be just 2 weeks before the US Open grand slam starts and it is more likely this year that we will see a first-time grand slam champion crowned.

Please subscribe to our DC Citi Open email newsletter if you want inside info about our US Open 2020 preview and on how to get VIP tickets (if and when they become first available).

The Top 3 - missing or postponing?
Roger Federer had another knee surgery and will be out for the rest of 2020. Rafael Nadal might be hesitant to play on the hard courts if the clay-court season is starting immediately after the US Open in Europe. Novak Djokovic has expressed his reluctance to attend. He recently had to end the Adria Tour (the event's Final was canceled and the last 2 stops were canceled). Several players, including Novak were diagnosed with Covid-19. A lack of social distancing and safety protocols during the event were blamed for the spread.

Safety questions on how to create a "Tier 1 inner bubble" at the "US Open World"
In order to make up for over 50% of the annual budget income missing for having live fans at the US Open with tickets, the USTA will need to be very creative about how it generates revenue. New US Open changes have been explained in last week's video but updates will be in flux. It sounds like mandatory testing will be conducted for anyone prior to entering the US Open grounds.

Updates will be posted here as more tennis news comes in over the next couple of months. Please subscribe for 2020 US Open news updates here.
Labels: , ,

Coronavirus Tennis News - should fans skip Indian Wells or Miami to be safe?

Coronavirus Tennis Updates:

March 11 - Miami Open is canceled.

 March 6 - BNP Open is canceled.
Patrons can request a refund until March 31: https://bnpparibasopen.com/coronavirus-refund/

BNP Open Coronavirus Statement.
First and foremost, any patron that has purchased tickets directly from the tournament may request a refund for the 2020 tournament, or a credit for the 2021 tournament. Patrons can visit www.bnpparibasopen.com/coronavirus to request a refund or credit.

 On March 5, California declared a state of emergency after a coronavirus-related death in the state. There are at least 53 confirmed cases to date, more than any other state. (CNBC)

LA Times: Los Angeles County officials have discussed the possibility of banning spectators from attending sporting events in Southern California in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

ATP Tour and WTA cancels or reschedules many events (March 3)
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/updated-2020-atp-challenger-tour-calendar

Kei Nishikori (from Japan) pulls out of Indian Wells amidst possible travel restrictions for travelers (and fans) from Japan and Korea (March 2):
https://www.essentiallysports.com/kei-nishikori-and-others-might-miss-the-sunshine-double-heres-why-atp-tennis-news/

Nadal states concerns about the coronavirus fears, impact on the Olympics:
https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/Rafael_Nadal/84621/rafael-nadal-admits-he-is-concerned-over-the-coronavirus-outbreak-/

Newsweek - Coronavirus likely to spread across the US in the next 4 to 6 weeks (March-April):
https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-going-go-every-single-state-very-very-soon-us-doctor-warns-1489949

History: Previous Flu-like Cases affected many players at the 2012 Indian Wells tournament
In 2012, an illness outbreak at Indian Wells affected several players including Roger Federer and his family with "flu-like symptoms" (CNN, 2012):
https://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/12/sport/tennis/tennis-llodra-federer-nadal/index.html

The possibility of an airborne illness spreading quickly at any densely populated event or tournament is clear from history in March of 2012.
Roger Federer at Indian Wells 2012:"We're fighting something of our own in our family," Federer, who has twin girls, told reporters. "We have tons of stuff going on at the moment. 
"I have a bit of a combination. Not terrible temperature, but I have some things going on. But I'm the best off of the family, so thank God I'm the tennis player here. No, the rest of them are struggling much more."
Gael Monfils and Austrian Jurgen Melzer were lost from the men's draw, while ninth-ranked Russian Vera Zvonareva and American Vania King pulled out of the women's tournament. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Andreas Seppi and Magdalena Rybarikova had earlier withdrawn.

Center for Disease Control (CDC) Travel Advice:
A list of destinations with travel notices is available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

What is 1573 Australian Open?

Fun, Furbies, and Freebies from Friends of 1573

Enjoy 1573 with some free red sunglasses from my Panda friends


Celebrate with 1573 Liquor:
(Chinese Distillery with its name on the new Arena at the Australian Open)

 Why 1573?
It is the year during the Ming Dynasty when they first started making Liquor, one of the oldest in China.

Luzhou Laojiao (official sponsor for 5 years at AO) is the name of the brewery.

Where is it from?
Sichuan, China (a province that is best known for its super spicy cuisine)

Style and Taste
In its pure form - the clear liquor is more than 50% Alcoholic.

It is one of the most premium forms of "baijiu" as it is called in China.

Some say it has the strong scent of fermented peaches.


 Where can I try some at the Australian Open?

The public can try a cocktail with the clear baijiu mix in a tasty glass. Served at "Nobu" and "Rockpool: Bar and Grill" plus a couple of the other fine dining establishments there.

If you have a special invite, there is even a 1573 bar located just behind Rod Laver Stadium.

Aussie Open Ticket Advice


Buy Online the day before a match, not at the box office. They will offer digital tickets on Ticketmaster.

During the 1st week, we recommend ground passes since the stadium seats are all decent.


Labels: , , , , , , ,

Australian Open Tips for Visitors and Fans

Australian Open Layout

Buy Online Tickets with Digital QR Code

Super Saturday tickets are available. Super popular - so get those fast!
Make sure you bring your phone and QR Code. Avoid getting from other ticket sources.

Ground Passes for Week 1

One of the best-hidden secrets for week 1 is a full-day ground pass.

They are much cheaper than reserved seats and have more flexibility to roam multiple locations at a third of the cost. Don't waste your money. Most of their stadium seating is good enough for the vast majority of seats at Laver and Melbourne.

Just don't sit on the East side facing the Sun, or you'll be cooked like Shrimp on a Barbie!

Practice Courts Viewing

Viewing the top players from the decks has always put giant crowds packed together.

This year, a system must be in place to prevent crowding over each other. The orderly Wimbledon moving rope lines will inspire them with ideas. Players have complained that the crowds have not been managed well in 2024.

Clear flow directions for ingress and egress

The arrows in the map above illustrate the paths I found with the fewest bottlenecks to enter and move around the park. It is important to keep fan traffic flowing in a circular direction. Having congested fans in one area (like inside Rod Laver) should be avoided.

The 3 large stadiums definitely need better signs. I see people get lost more often than not with all the name changes.

Better Navigation and Activity Zones

The Aussie Open seems broken into clumps of Rod Laver on one side and Melbourne Arena in the opposite corner. The placement of lots of shops seems randomly scattered in between. I found the food carts, venue signage, and concessions were sprinkled across the giant center oval the same way slot machines are in Las Vegas lobbies.

More Transportation Options Needed

Back in 2019, I remember how super crowded the bus shuttles were to deliver fans to the entrances. We were squished like sardines in the morning or else walked the extra mile in the Melbourne heat. Trams are just overcrowded for the morning rush. Plan ahead to walk if necessary in the summer heat.

International Culture - Wimbledon vs Australian Open?

Wimbledon in 2023 had its own opening day issues. It was their self-inflicting security lockdowns that made for 6+ hour queues which most fans abandoned. Their fear of possible protesters made it impossible for fans to see matches. Hopefully they will use a different company next year.

GPS and Wifi Issues in Melbourne

Traveler's note: GPS signal around Melbourne is known to be pretty bad with their tall buildings.

Tip: save an offline Google Map on your phone before you go!
Conserve battery life and your mobile data. The open wifi there is super spotty and not secured. So I would turn off wi-fi altogether when I'm out so it won't drain your phone.

With digital tickets, it's even more important not to drain your battery during the day.

To arrive at the proper side of the Australian Open or get around the city of Melbourne, rely on your mobile. Try using your Andriod and saying:  "Hey Google".
Examples: 
"Hey Google. Navigate to Rod Laver Arena" OR
"Hey Google. Navigate to Melbourne Arena"
Labels: , , , , , ,

How to see Roger Federer play at the 2019 US Open

Updated Sept 3, 2019:

How to See Roger Rafa play the next round at the US Open
(Men's Quarter-Finals Friday and Final Sunday)
See Roger Federer at the 2019 US Open!

Match History and US Open 2019 Draw Analysis

Our prediction of when Federer and Nadal will play is based on the following info:
  • In Session 2, his opening match is against a qualifier. Opening Night has fireworks on Ashe!
  • The US Open tends to alternative Day / Night / Day / Night for the players (not always).
  • Great performance getting to the Wimbledon Final and he is Very Well Rested.
  • He typically plays well at night in his famous "Darth Federer" all-black UNIQLO outfit
  • Primetime ratings for ESPN when he plays at night are always high
  • Over 10 years of scheduling trends at the US Open
We cannot guarantee that the US Open will not change their minds...but it rarely happens. The best way to know for sure is to check the daily Schedule of Play listing.
Important Facts:
  • Federer will be seeded #3 at the US Open and in the upper half with Djokovic.
  • Nadal #2 will be placed in the bottom half
  • Djokovic may face #5 Medvedev in the QF's who has beaten him twice this year.
  • If Nadal and Federer make it through, they will face each other in the Finals!
Federer likely to face these opponents:
 9/6 SF (Medevev), 9/8 (Nadal)

Full Article >>
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Facebook Updates