ATP reveals 2021 schedule with Australian Open to start on 8th February

The Australian Open in Melbourne will run from 8th to 21st February next year, three weeks later than usual, with men’s tennis’s governing body the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) today confirming its 2021 tour schedule has confirmed.

While Tennis Australia and the Victorian and Australian Governments are yet to confirm the dates,  the ATP’s release of its revised 2021 calendar shows the Melbourne Park tournament of its post Coronavirus 2021 calendar.

While the ATP is only responsible for men's professional tennis, it is synchronised with the Women's Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation around the four grand slams played every year.

The men's schedule also features three warm-up events in Melbourne, including the relocated Adelaide International and the 12-team ATP Cup, which was played for the first time this year.

However, qualifying for the Australian Open will be held outside the country for the first time, with Doha, Qatar playing host from 10th to 13th January.

That will give qualifiers time to travel to Australia and complete two weeks of quarantine before the warm-up events start on 31st January.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in announcing the first seven weeks of the men's season, “the reconfigured calendar for the start of the 2021 season represents a huge collaborative effort across tennis, under challenging circumstances.

"Together with the support of our tournament and player members, partners, and Tennis Australia, we have been able to adapt and create an exciting start to the season.

"Health and safety will continue to be paramount as we navigate the challenges ahead, and I want to thank everyone involved for their commitment to finding solutions to launch our 2021 season."

With Wimbledon not held this year and both the US and French Open tournaments each featuring a number of high-profile absentees it is not known what the calibre of the entrants to the first grand slam of 2021 will be.

The Australian Open’s later finish will also see it overlap with the AFL pre-season community series.

The pre-season competition will begin when Geelong host Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on 18th February - the same night as the first Australian Open men's semi-final is likely to be played.

All 18 AFL clubs will play two community series matches over a three-week period as part of the pre-season. Five matches will be played in the opening week, including a Collingwood-Hawthorn match in Morwell on Saturday 20th February.