$40m spend on COVID security in Melbourne

Tennis Australia says it expects to use up most of its AU$60 million reserves to maintain funding to the sport as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

TA chief Craig Tiley said the governing body would likely spend more than A$40 million on quarantine and biosecurity operations for the first slam of 2021.

“We also expect that we will use the majority of our reserves in maintaining funding to the sport and playing group,” Tiley said.

“As a result of these costs we are exploring options for a line of credit and/or a loan which will allow us to maintain cash flow at critical times and support us in the recovery from the impacts of the pandemic once access to government subsidies have ended.

“We believe that recovery from the pandemic will take up to five years.”