Bubble plan for Auckland Classic

A trans-Tasman bubble is the latest idea from Tennis Australia to enable players to play in the Auckland Classic before the Australian Open in January.

TA is also considering another ‘bridge’ for players using the Qatar Open as a warm-up for Melbourne.

“We’re already talking to them, we want to support Auckland in whatever way we possibly can and we are talking about what those possibilities are,” TA boss Craig Tiley said.

“It’s going to be really difficult if a player went to Auckland, and then had to quarantine there, and then fly from Auckland to Australia and quarantine here. It’s hard. We want to protect Doha … we want Auckland to have a successful event.

“But I do think it’s going to be difficult to be in many different global cities just before the Grand Slam.”