THE Australian Open is likely to be delayed by a week or two as negotiations between organizers, the tennis tours and the Victoria government over health measures continue, the state’s sports minister said yesterday.

Tennis Australia (TA) on Saturday dismissed as “speculation” a report that the Grand Slam would be moved back from its scheduled Jan. 18-31 spot in the calendar.

“There’s a number of potential dates on the table,” Victorian Sports and Tourism Minister Martin Pakula told reporters in Melbourne.

“I’ve seen reports that suggest that it’s likely to be delayed by a week or two. I think that’s still most likely.

“But it’s not the only option. As you know, the French Open was delayed by many months and Wimbledon didn’t occur at all. I still think it’s much more likely that it will be a shorter rather than longer delay.”

Victoria’s Premier Dan Andrews, who celebrated the state’s 25th day without a new COVID-19 case yesterday, said he was confident the tournament would go ahead but that players would have to undergo quarantine.

“We’ll have an Australian Open tennis tournament ... but it’ll have to look different,” Andrews said.

“The rest of the world is on fire so there will be quarantine for anyone coming to our city and state, there’s just no way around it. I think the timing will be close to the normal timing, those details are being finalized.

“As important as a tennis tournament is, we’re not going to jeopardize our coronavirus status by anything other than the highest standards.”

Negotiations with health authorities over the details of that quarantine were close to a conclusion, Pakula said.

“The quarantine requirements will be those that are ultimately agreed with the public health authorities and then it will be a matter for the ATP and the WTA about whether or not they are acceptable,” he added.

(SD-Agencies)