ATP Cup and several other Australian Open warm-up events set to be moved to Victoria

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Australian Open Melbourne Park Rod Laver Arena

The state of Victoria looks set to play host to the 2021 “Australian summer of tennis” with the ATP Cup and several other tournaments set to move there.

The tournament directors for the Brisbane International, Hobart International and Adelaide International revealed over the weekend that their events are set to be switched to Victoria.

The ATP Cup, which was due to take place in several Australian cities, is also set to be moved to south-eastern Australia as it would ease some of the logical nightmares that have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Players will have to test negative for Covid-19 twice before they will be allowed into the bubble, but it should make their lives a little easier being based in one city.

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley told Melbourne’s Herald Sun that while those events will be switched, “there is now no risk of the Australian Open going ahead without everyone in Victoria and we didn’t have that guarantee previously”.

Brisbane Tennis took to Twitter to confirm the move.

“All lead-in events to the Australian Open will be held in Victoria to ensure all players can safely compete in, and prepare for, the grand slam. See you in 2022!” a statement read.

Meanwhile, Brisbane International tournament director Mark Handley said: “Tennis fans in Queensland will understandably be feeling a little flat with the decision however the current COVID-19 protocols meant a Melbourne-only summer of tennis is the safest and most feasible option for the playing group.”

A statement from the Hobart International said it “been decided that the Australian summer of tennis will be played in Victoria in 2021”.

Should the move be rubber stamped, it will allow more than 500 tennis players from around the globe to be based in Victoria for nearly two months.

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