The Australian Open will start on Feb. 8, three weeks later than scheduled, organizers confirmed on Saturday after months of speculation over the first Grand Slam of 2021.
The start date of the main draw of the tournament was originally slated for Jan. 18 and organizers have been locked in drawn-out negotiations with local government over COVID-19 health security measures.
"This will be an historic Australian Open on so many levels," tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement.
"For the first time in more than 100 years the Australian Open will start in February and we look forward to offering the players what we believe will be one of their best playing experiences in 2021."
The state of Victoria on Saturday recorded a 50th straight day without a case of community transmitted COVID-19 but many health restrictions remain in place in Melbourne and international travel into Australia is still strictly limited.
Victoria's state government said that players would be tested for COVID-19 prior to departure for Australia and a minimum of five times during quarantine, during which they would be able to train for five hours a day.
"From the outset, ensuring players have the best possible preparation for the Australian Open, while at all times protecting the precious COVID-free environment that the Victorian community has built ... over the past six months, has been paramount," Tiley added.
This year's Wimbledon tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the US and French Opens went ahead with the players confined to bio-secure 'bubbles', unable to leave their hotel rooms except to train and play.
