Australia tennis chief says players stopped practices due to bushfires

Tennis Australia chiefs said on Tuesday they had stopped practices for the benefit of players, after thick smoke was seen over Melbourne.

The announcement came as players prepared for the qualifying matches of the Australia Open on 14 January, the first grand slam event of the decade.

"This is a new experience for all of us in how we manage air quality, so we have to listen to the experts," Australian Open tournament director and CEO of Tennis Australia Craig Tiley said.

Tiley confirmed the organisation had installed air quality monitors around the playing areas, to supplement advice they had received from medical experts.