Celebration Fireworks Get In The Way Of The Australian Open –Its Australia Day

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 24th January 2014

Celebration Fireworks Get In The Way Of The Australian Open --Its Australia Day

epa03079404 Fireworks explode over the Rod Laver arena during the men's singles semi final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 26 January 2012. Nadal won in four sets. EPA/MAST IRHAM |

Australia Day, the nation’s annual celebration of the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships, coincides with the Australian Open men’s final this year.

But the distraction of a ten minutes long cacophony of fireworks that effected last year’s women’s final will hopefully not be repeated.

Protracted negotiations between Tennis Australia’s operations team and the Victoria State government have finally come up with a compromise. The fireworks display will still take place, but the site has been moved 3.5 kilometers from the banks of the River Yarra, immediately adjacent to Melbourne Park, to the Docklands development on the other side of the city center.

Last year contestants Victoria Azarenka and Li Na were far from amused at having to sit in the courtside chairs while the pyrotechnics crashed, flashed and illuminated the night sky with concentration on the tennis impossible.

The display started at the designated time of 9:40pm, just after the third game of the third set between the Belorussian and the Chinese. Li Na then fell immediately after the resumption, twisting the ankle she had hurt earlier in the match and being assessed for possible concussion after banging her head on the court.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley immediately opened talks with local government officials, saying the delay was not only disrupting to the nation’s foremost annual sporting and unfair to the players but also had an impact on highly lucrative television deals. Rights holders stressed their displeasure about the interruption, which had an impact on viewing figures.

At the time Tiley said: “We are working with the state government to see what possibilities exist. We’ve been talking about what’s best, because we do want continuous play, but at the same time we want to recognize and celebrate Australia Day, so it’s a bit caught between a rock and a hard place.

“If we can make both things work, and have a win-win for both, it would be great. Our preference would be that the fireworks don’t disrupt the match.

“We want Victorians and Australians to have the fireworks, and we want play to be continuous.”

Topics: 10sballs, Australia Day, Australian Open, Li Na, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka