MELBOURNE: The Australian Open tennis Grand Slam will start three weeks late on Feb 8, reports said on Wednesday, with players cleared to train during quarantine following lengthy negotiations with state authorities.

According to media, the start date was announced to players by tournament director Craig Tiley. If confirmed, it will join the three other major tournaments in being disrupted by Covid-19.

Tennis Australia has been in protracted talks with Victoria state authorities in Melbourne, which only emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of cases.

“It’s taken a while, but the great news is it looks like we are going to be able to hold the AO [Australian Open] on 8 February,” Tiley was quoted as telling players in a leaked letter.

“Players will have to quarantine for two weeks from 15 January, but the Victorian government has agreed to special conditions for AO participants — agreeing that they need to be able to prepare for a Grand Slam.” Under the plan, players who test negative for the virus will be able to train while in isolation, Tiley wrote.

Tennis Australia did not confirm the reports on Wed­ne­sday, and said plans were still awaiting approval from the state government.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2020