Australian Open warns of possible cancellation over COVID-19 outbreak
Novak Djokovic makes a forehand return to Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 2, 2020. (AP Photo)


Tennis Australia conceded Thursday that January's Australian Open faces cancellation under a worst-case scenario but said it was looking at a range of options in hope that the COVID-19 crisis eases.

This year's tennis calendar has been suspended until at least July 13, and with global borders closed, there is uncertainty about when the international circuit can resume.

The season-opening Grand Slam is scheduled to take place in Melbourne from Jan. 18-31, more than eight months away, and Tennis Australia said it would abide by whatever restrictions were in place at that time.

"We've certainly made no secret about the number of scenarios that we're looking at," a spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We're hoping for the best but planning for everything."

Possibilities range from cancellation to imposing quarantine on overseas players and allowing only Australian fans into the event.

"We have to look at all the angles because a lot of the decisions will be beyond our control and related to government guidelines and restrictions," she said.

"We do need to have all the protocols in place to ensure everyone's safety."

This year's Wimbledon has been canceled for the first time since World War II and the French Open postponed until the end of September.