The Australian Open face a logistical nightmare after confirming all fans attending the Nick Kyrgios match on John Cain Arena must be home by midnight in accordance with Victoria's snap lockdown.
Tournament organisers were thrown into a frenzy on Friday when Victorian premier Daniel Andrew ordered the state into a five-day stage four lockdown after the Holiday Inn outbreak rose to 13 cases.
The lockdown, which commences at 11:59pm (AEST) on Friday, has meant fans will be unable to attend games until at least next Thursday.
Kyrgios' third-round encounter with third seed Dominic Thiem has already drawn a big crowd at Melbourne Park, however should the game wear on late into the night, fans could be ushered from the arena during play.
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“We continue to work closely with the Victorian Government to provide a COVIDSafe environment for all fans, players and staff through physical distancing, advanced hygiene, contact tracing and digital ticketing,” a Tennis Australia statement read.
“The Government have advised that fans can safely enjoy tonight’s match-ups from Melbourne Park however you must ensure you are home before 11.59pm.
“To help facilitate this we will be messaging last call for patrons to exit from 11.30pm.
“We recommend you wear a mask in the arenas.”
Officials will be hoping there will be no repeat of Kyrgios' five-set epic against Ugo Humbert in the second-round, which finished just short of midnight on Wednesday.
Kyrgios and Thiem to engage in a five hour battle tonight in front of a raucous crowd who will then have to go home at 6-6 in the final set.
— Andrew (@andrew_54) February 12, 2021
Andrews left it up to Tennis Australia to devise their own response to the lockdown, but recommended fans consider avoiding going to the Kyrgios-Thiem match tonight.
“I hope people will use common sense and good judgment and perhaps not go out tonight, as they had planned to do,” Andrews said on Friday morning.
“What we are going to do is let the event come back with exactly the operational details of some of that stuff ... in terms of how the tennis is going to comply and the very localised things they are going to do, I will let them speak to that.”
