Melbourne start date to be confirmed

Tennis Australia is set to confirm the February 8 start date of the Australian Open, according to reports in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers.

Chief executive Craig Tiley has been in intense negations with the Victorian State government for weeks to ensure the event happens, with sticking points surrounding the costs of charter flights to Australia for players and support staff, and then all quarantine, meals and accommodation charges.

It is believed Tennis Australia is to receive a multi-million dollar bail out for covering the costs from the State government in return for an extension to the hosting agreement that keeps the Open at Melbourne Park for an additional three years beyond its current deal.

The announcement will also cover crowd sizes and ticket sales to the event.

Tiley has previously confirmed that the tournament will pay the full $71 million prizemoney.

Players are due to arrive via chartered flights from January 15 and quarantine in a tournament bubble that will allow them to keep training.