Breathe easier, Victorians.
Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood today distanced himself from reports the Australian Open could be headed to Sydney, predicting a "good news future" for Melbourne.
Residents of the `sporting capital of the world' choked on their cornflakes when they read in weekend papers that Sydney wanted to poach the year's first grand slam.
Doubles legend Todd Woodbridge added to sport-mad Melbourne's anxiety when he weighed in today, saying the Victorian government had to upgrade Melbourne Park or they would lose the event when the contract expired in 2016.
Wood has already acknowledged Tennis Australia had been approached by Events NSW regarding the event's contract.
There were also reports that Shanghai, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were manoeuvring to host it.
Tennis Australia is currently awaiting a $1.5 million consultancy report into a facilities upgrade at Melbourne Park.
But Wood said today he was confident the grand slam would not leave Melbourne.
"We've got a business case study going on right now as to what the future needs to deliver for us - we are very happy with the way in which things are operating there," he said in Brisbane today.
"It's a good news future for us in Melbourne.
"We've grown the Australian Open to massive proportions.
"Any city in the world would love to have a grand slam facility and run the event ... grand slams have that sort of interest.
"We are going to deliver on our contract at Melbourne, we've had a great run, massive growth in Melbourne.
"Australia is really behind the event as a grand slam. It's a good event in Melbourne."
Wood was trying to appease Victorians while attending new ATP-WTA event the Brisbane International's official launch today.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh cheekily interjected at the press conference: "Sydney's got no chance".
Then Woodbridge upped the ante, saying the event had become too big for Melbourne Park.
"Anyone in their right mind who has an opportunity to get in there and have a go at it probably should," he told reporters at the event launch.
"It (Sydney speculation) has got to pressure the Victorian government into realising the facility really needs an upgrade.
"When you look back 21 years ago when it started the facility was taking in 200,000 people for the tournament - last year it topped 600,000.
"It has got to go somewhere that can grow. If they can continue to expand the facility in Melbourne then I doubt it will move.
"If Sydney are prepared to up the ante, then you've got to think about it."
Woodbridge did not have a problem with the event being moved.
"It has a great aura about it (at Melbourne), but history says the Australian Open has been moved around the country for the last 100 years," he said.
"Here at Milton (Brisbane), at Sydney's White City - it won't be a precedent if it is moved."
Melbourne Park has hosted the grand slam since 1988.
