Tennis Australia will reportedly wear a $40 million hit in order to ensure the 2021 Australian Open goes ahead amid the global pandemic, as revealed by leaked emails from CEO Craig Tiley.
Each player who intends to compete in the Australian Open will have to enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.
However, after weeks of negotiations between TA and the Victorian State Government, a set of special concessions have been granted to ensure players are able to maintain their form and fitness leading into the year's first grand slam.
It is looking increasingly likely that players will arrive in Melbourne on chartered flights between January 15 and 17, and will be put directly into quarantine.
Players look set to be allowed to leave their hotel room for five hours a day for training, treatment and the gym. At all other times they will be forced to stay in their rooms.
All competitors will also have to undergo five COVID tests while in quarantine, and will be required to clear the first one before they're allowed out to train. Testing will occur on days one, three, seven, 10 and 14 of the quarantine period.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has assured there will be no special treatment for any player, regardless of their ranking.
It is understood the entire process will be a huge cost blowout for TA, with the overheads expected to cost the organisation a whopping $40 million.
Amazingly, however, TA has ensured it will still hand out the full $71 million worth of prize money.
A start date of February 8 now appears likely after Tiley sent out a note to players outlining the strict biosecurity guidelines, according to The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.
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