Australian Open To Begin Feb. 8 With Intense DHHS Protocol

The Australian Open will "go ahead but has been pushed back, set for a start date of February 8" and with "strict guidelines set out by the DHHS." Players "will be able to train during 14-day quarantine, but only after testing negative to COVID-19 on the second day of isolation." Testing will "take place in each player's hotel room on days one, three, seven, 10 and 14." In what will "come at a huge cost, Tennis Australia says it will pay for charter flights, player and entourage quarantine costs, meals and accommodation."

TA CEO Craig Tiley said the tournament will pay the full $71M (all figures AU) prize money and is "working with the tours on redistribution with large increases to the early rounds and a likely first round purse" of $100,000. All players will be "allowed out of their hotel rooms for a maximum of five hours: two hours on court, two hours in the gym and one hour to eat on site." All movement outside of the hotels will be "limited to Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve Tennis Centre" (Melbourne AGE, 12/2).