Australian Open crowds will be cut to 50 per cent as the Omicron COVID-19 wreaks havoc around Melbourne and Victoria.
The limit on fan attendance will be enforced by Victoria's State Government, as the state recorded 37,169 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths on Thursday.
Tennis fans who have already bought Australian Open tickets need not worry, with all tickets already sold to be honoured, regardless of any capacity restrictions.
However, all future sales of tickets for the showpiece event will be limited to keep capacity to a maximum of 50 per cent.
It is highly likely that fans will have to wear masks at all times within the Melbourne Park precinct, except when eating or drinking.
It will be the second successive year that the Australian Open has been marred by COVID restrictions, with the 2021 event moved to February because of the pandemic.
Last year's Australian Open also had five days without fans after a snap lockdown was commissioned by the Victorian State Government.
Once fans were able to attend, the event was restricted to around 30,000 supporters per day.
It was originally planned that the 2022 Australian Open would have full capacity of fans before the Omicron variant emerged.
This year's Australian Open is scheduled to run from January 17-30, with the women's final scheduled for the 29th and men's final on the 30th.
