Australian Open to start on Feb 08

MELBOURNE, Dec 02 (AFP): The Australian Open tennis Grand Slam will start three weeks late on February 8, reports said on Wednesday, with players cleared to train during quarantine following lengthy negotiations with state authorities.

According to Australian 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 the coronavirus.

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 on 8 February," Tiley was quoted as telling players in a leaked letter.