Build-up hit by a perfect storm

AUSTRALIAN tennis officials are preparing for a whirlwind of catch-up matches on Friday, with the added complication of a potential Melbourne thunderstorm.

Thursday’s schedule was turfed out after a security guard tested positive for COVID-19, days after working at the Grand Hyatt, where Australian Open players and support staff were in quarantine.

Instead, it became a tennisfree day, with more than 500 Open participants undergoing coronavirus tests at a specially organised testing centre.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley confirmed on Thursday afternoon they intended to push on with completing the six events being run at Melbourne Park this week.

They must be finished by Sunday at the latest, given the Australian Open starts on Monday.

The Open’s draw was also pushed back from Thursday night to Friday afternoon.

At least 100 matches could be scheduled on Friday, including some players having to back up for two singles appearances. Australians Ash Barty,

Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson, Alex Bolt, James Duckworth and Alexei Popyrin are among the players facing that scenario if they win their first match on Friday.

Making matters more difficult is there’s a 95 per cent chance of rain, so Tiley is anticipating closing the roof on certain stadiums and using Melbourne Park’s indoor courts.

“This does give us three days for the lead-in events to complete. Obviously, tomorrow we have some challenging weather, so we have to work around that as well,” Tiley said.

“We do have the luxury of having three stadium courts and eight indoor courts, so 11 courts we can continue matches on … and that will enable us, not to get ahead, but at least be able to finish by Sunday.”

Another twist in that is the Hawk-Eye Live technology, or electronic line-calling, being used in place of linespeople won’t be available on the indoor courts. They will use several tournament officials on each court to judge the lines for indoor matches.

Fans are being asked to bring a mask with them and may need to wear them for matches with a closed roof.