Tennis: Australian Open boss 'confident' event will go ahead despite Covid case | ABS-CBN

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Tennis: Australian Open boss 'confident' event will go ahead despite Covid case

Tennis: Australian Open boss 'confident' event will go ahead despite Covid case

Martin PARRY,

Agence France-Presse

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Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said he was "absolutely confident" the tournament will start next week despite a fresh coronavirus case that halted warm-up tournaments and forced hundreds of players and officials into isolation on Thursday.

The case, a worker at one of the Melbourne tournament's designated quarantine hotels, has caused yet more chaos before the year's first tennis Grand Slam, which has already been delayed three weeks over coronavirus problems.

But Tiley said the Australian Open would start as scheduled on Monday, and that there were no plans to cancel. Play was suspended at six warm-up tournaments in Melbourne on Thursday.

"We're absolutely confident the Australian Open will go ahead," Tiley told reporters. "The plan is to continue to play tomorrow as planned. If we have to go through this again, we'll go through this again.

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"We have three-and-a-half weeks of tennis to play and we'll go in as scheduled."

The incident highlights the difficulty of holding large-scale, international sports events during the pandemic, as officials wrestle over how to safely hold this year's Tokyo Olympics.

Health officials insisted the risk to players and officials, who queued up for coronavirus tests on Thursday, was "low".

Victoria state Health Minister Martin Foley said the 520 people ordered to isolate and get tested were casual contacts, stressing "we are not as concerned about them".

"But out of an abundance of caution we want to ensure we leave no stone unturned in how we follow up and deal with anybody who may have had contact with this individual," he said.

Dedicated facilities were set up to ensure they all get tested quickly, with results often returned within 24 hours.

The Australian Open draw, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday, has been pushed back by a day.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas and Stan Wawrinka were reportedly among those affected by the mini-lockdown although the biggest names of the game, including Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, were not among those isolated as they spent their mandatory 14-day quarantine in Adelaide.

More than 1,000 players, coaches and officials flew into largely virus-free Australia last month, sparking debate over the whether the tournament should be held during a coronavirus pandemic.

Aggressive restrictions on incoming travel have meant Australia has been one of the world's most successful countries in dealing with the pandemic and one of the few still able to have spectators at sports events.

Daily crowds of between 25,000 and 30,000 are expected at the Australian Open.

Earlier, Victoria state opposition leader Michael O'Brien demanded a definitive call on the Australian Open within 48 hours.

"We don't want to see a situation as we did with the Grand Prix, where crowds were literally turning up, only to be turned away," the Melbourne Herald Sun quoted O'Brien as saying.

"I think people are entitled to know what's happening, and the government should be making their minds up in the next 24 to 48 hours."

Last year's Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, the traditional season curtain-raiser, was cancelled just hours before the first practice session after a McLaren team member tested positive.

The late decision left fans fuming as they queued to get in.

While resentment has been bubbling on social media over whether the tournament should go ahead, opinions were mixed on the streets near Melbourne Park, the Australian Open venue.

"I'm just disappointed because the Australian Open seemed from the beginning about profits and not the safety of the public," said John Reilly, echoing some of the online sentiment.

But Melbourne resident Greg Rodgers said the two-week spectacle represented a "return to normalcy".

Victoria had gone 28 days without a locally acquired infection before the latest case, which prompted a tightening of restrictions around wearing masks.

State authorities are extremely wary of coronavirus cases after Melbourne spent four months in lockdown until late October.

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© Agence France-Presse

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Champion mentors Leo Austria, Norman Black highlight Milcu coaching clinic

Champion mentors Leo Austria, Norman Black highlight Milcu coaching clinic

ABS-CBN News

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San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria. Photo from PBA ImagesSan Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria. Photo from PBA ImagesMANILA — Milcu Sports and Got Skills will gather several high-profile stars within the coaching circle, both from the amateur and professional ranks, for a one-day coaching clinic on March 30.

Headlining the speakers at the Greenhills West Clubhouse in San Juan are multi-titled tacticians Leo Austria and Norman Black as they are expected to share their wealthy coaching knowledge and experiences with basketball enthusiasts and aspiring coaches in the event organized by tournament and clinic director Allen Ricardo.

Austria, the architect behind the nine titles of PBA's winningest franchise San Miguel, leads the star-studded cast and will get to talk about "My Secondary Breaks" at 11:00 a.m.

Black, who had plenty of success stories in PBA and UAAP both as a player and as a coach, is set for a 2:00 p.m. talk about "Defensive team concepts to help your team.”

Meralco Bolts deputy Norman Black. Photo from PBA ImagesMeralco Bolts deputy Norman Black. Photo from PBA ImagesThe 67-year-old Black, of course, is regarded as one of the most dominant imports to ever set foot in the PBA before he made a leap into coaching, collecting 11 titles including a rare Grand Slam in 1989 with San Miguel.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran's strength and conditioning coach Bryan Cay will kick off the clinic at 7 a.m. while University of Perpetual Help System DALTA junior basketball coach Joph Cloepas will follow suit at 9:00 a.m.

Cay will speak about useful drills that can help in conditioning the players before, during, and after games while Cleopas, who steered the ALTAs to a historic finals appearance in the NCAA Season 99 juniors tournament last year, is set to discuss half-court executions.

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Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao will also attend the clinic for his 10 a.m. talk amid a busy schedule as his Elasto Painters are currently gearing up for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals against rival TNT.

NLEX head coach Jong Uichico, a holder of nine PBA titles he won with three different teams during an illustrious coaching career, will speak about various ball screen defense and rotation at 1:00 p.m.

Former PBA coach Alex Compton and multi-titled former National University women's basketball team shot caller Patrick Aquino will then wrap up the coaching session as they speak about pressure defense and disruptive zone press, respectively.

The clinic is open to everyone, including those who are just starting in their career or those who are eager to further expand their expertise.

Those who are interested can register at: https://forms.gle/RfVNDpHdt9TVWXeA6

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