Sydney ¨C The timing of professional tennis¡¯ return will reveal whether the tours and federations are more interested in making money or looking after the health of players, Australia¡¯s John Millman said.

The professional game has been suspended since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the International Tennis Federation, WTA and ATP have pushed back plans for a resumption of the season until August at the earliest.

Millman, a 16-year veteran of the ATP Tour and ranked 43rd in the world, says even that would probably be premature.

¡°I feel as if it is probably way too early to get back into it or even thinking about returning in August,¡± the 30-year-old told Australian Associated Press.

¡°Indian Wells, the last tournament we were meant to play, was cancelled because there was one case in the region. It is a bit of a contradiction if they say come August ¡¯there are cases around but you guys can travel and play some tennis.¡¯

¡°But money talks at times and our hand could be forced, unfortunately.

¡°What is more important ¡ª money or the health of not just yourself but the community?¡± he added. ¡°We will see what is tennis¡¯ priority.¡±

Given players, many of whom can ill-afford it, have not been earning income during the lockdown, Millman thinks it would be hard for them to resist the call to return whether they felt safe or not.

¡°Unfortunately, when the tour says we are back playing your hand is forced a bit because it is your career at stake,¡± he added.

Millman said he would have to be certain it was safe before returning to tournament play and did not anticipate that happening any time soon.

¡°Players would have to be coming from places where the virus isn¡¯t there any more and going to tournaments where the virus isn¡¯t there any more,¡± he said.

¡°For that to happen on a global stage, I think we are a fair way off that.¡±