SLAM PLANNING IS UP IN THE AIR

The Australian Open will lay on up to 18 planes to fly players to Melbourne this month — potentially from three locations around the world.

They will be flown at only 20 per cent capacity to keep competitors and accompanying staff as safe as possible on the long journey.

As Sportsmail revealed this week, with 10 days left before the due departure date, players have been left in the dark over exactly how they will be making a trip already fraught with uncertainty. Yesterday Tennis Australia supremo Craig Tiley (below) issued an update on what is a major project to airlift competitors to a city which is set to postpone its March- scheduled Formula One grand prix. Officials remains bullish about the tennis event starting on February 8, but said: ‘There have been some unavoidable delays finalising flight details for players, there are a lot of pieces to this logistical puzzle. We are conscious that timelines are very tight.’

The planes are due to depart from Dubai, Singapore and Los Angeles next week. The tournament has also needed to find a new player hotel in Melbourne, after being threatened with legal action by apartment owners at one of the complexes it hoped to use.

Meanwhile, tennis mourns Australian Bob Brett, one of the sport’s most respected coaches, who has died aged 67.

A protégé of legendary Australian coach harry hopman, Brett spent a brief spell with the Lawn Tennis Association but was best known for his string of successful individual partnerships.

he coached Boris Becker to the world No 1 position in the late 80s, and Croats Goran Ivanisevic and Marin Cilic are among those who also benefitted from his experience.

‘he understood the personality behind the player,’ Becker told Sportsmail. ‘Some coaches have just one way of practising but Bob was great at finding what made you tick and tailoring the way you trained.’