Organisers dismiss Australian Open delay ‘speculation’

“I am very confident we will have an Aussie Open in the early part of next year,” a report quoted Victoria premier Daniel Andrews as saying on Saturday.

Tennis Australia (TA) dismissed on Saturday media reports claiming the start of the Australian Open is set to be pushed back from January to February or March next year due to Covid-19 protocols in the country.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 13: 2016 Australian Open winners Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Angelique Kerber speak on stage under the new Australian Open logo during the 2017 Australian Open official draw at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Getty Images)

The Herald Sun newspaper reported the year’s first Grand Slam risked being deferred even as the organisers discuss quarantine arrangements with the Victoria state government.

“It’s pure speculation,” a TA spokesperson said.

“Earlier in the week we... (said) how we continue to work closely with the Victorian government and we will update with more information as soon as possible, and there’s no update from that at the moment.”

The report quoted Victoria premier Daniel Andrews as saying he was “very confident” of hosting the Grand Slam but the exact timing and arrangements “are not settled yet”.

The TA had planned for players and their entourages to arrive in Victoria in mid-December to have time to undertake a mandatory two-week quarantine period before competing in Melbourne in January.