Australian Open organisers have been labelled ‘shameful’ over their decision not to commemorate Australia Day at this year’s event. Tennis Australia have moved away from marking the occasion with any on-site celebrations but have set aside dedicated days in recognition of Indigenous Australians, pride, disabilities and major sponsor Peroni.
The decision not to acknowledge Australia Day has sparked a wave of controversy amid growing calls that it should be celebrated at the country’s showpiece tennis event. Sky News Australia host Steve Price dubbed it a ‘disgraceful snubbing’ of the national day, referring to the omission as a ‘shameful silence’ as part of a scathing rant.
“This started last year and ended Australia Day celebrations, they used to feature fireworks, the playing of the national anthem and special musical events to mark the day at the tennis,” he fumed.
“Can anyone at Tennis Australia defend this disgraceful snubbing of our national day by a tournament that carries the name of our nation? It’s a pity the woke directors who run Tennis Australia don’t have the courage to drag the South African bloke running the organisation, Craig Tiley, into line and insist we recognise the great nation that lends its name to his tennis tournament.”
Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt is set to be inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame at this year’s event, with a new player being recognised each year in Melbourne. However, the traditional ceremony has been moved to January 24, two days before Australia Day, with Price branding the decision ‘crazy wokeness gone mad’.
He added: “This year it’s going to be Lleyton Hewitt. You couldn’t get a more Australian Australian than Lleyton Hewitt. They’ve changed the date of that event from Australia Day when it used to be to the 24th, two days earlier. This is just crazy wokeness gone mad.”
Price’s fury was echoed by radio personality Tom Elliott, who urged Australian Open bosses to rethink their stance as the organisers of the country’s biggest annual sporting event.
“If you’re going to call yourself the Australian Open and it happens that our national day takes place during the tournament, you have to acknowledge Australia Day,” said Elliott on 3AW. “Maybe the date will change down the track, but right now it’s January 26.”
However, University of Melbourne professor Dr. Lauren Rosewarne argued that Tennis Australia, like any other business, are entitled to decide for themselves what they want to celebrate, saying: “This is the consequence of open capitalism. Businesses make decisions that they see are in their own best interests.”
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