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French police turn away, arrest Feyenoord fans ahead of Champions League match against Lille
Read full article: French police turn away, arrest Feyenoord fans ahead of Champions League match against LilleDozens of Feyenoord fans banned from travelling to Lille for the final Champions League group game between the two clubs have been turned away or arrested at the border, according to French authorities.
Lindsey Vonn impresses skiing into 6th place in her first World Cup downhill race since 2019
Read full article: Lindsey Vonn impresses skiing into 6th place in her first World Cup downhill race since 2019Lindsey Vonn has skied into an impressive sixth place in her first World Cup downhill race for six years.
Lake Placid working with Italian officials as a backup sliding site for 2026 Winter Games
Read full article: Lake Placid working with Italian officials as a backup sliding site for 2026 Winter GamesLake Placid would play host to bobsled, luge and skeleton events for the 2026 Olympics if a track currently being rebuilt in Italy isn’t finished in time for the Milan-Cortina Games, officials said Wednesday.
U.S. Nordic combined salvages program with grant from International Ski and Snowboard Federation
Read full article: U.S. Nordic combined salvages program with grant from International Ski and Snowboard FederationThe United States Nordic combined program has been salvaged for the upcoming World Cup season, receiving desperately needed financial help from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.
Austria's Freedom Party secures first far-right national election win since World War II
Read full article: Austria's Freedom Party secures first far-right national election win since World War IIThe Freedom Party has secured the first far-right national parliamentary election victory in post-World War II Austria.
This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it's back, and humans must help it migrate for winter
Read full article: This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it's back, and humans must help it migrate for winterThe northern bald ibis, or the Waldrapp, once soared over North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and much of Europe.
India's Modi discusses the Ukraine war with Austria's leader a day after meeting Putin
Read full article: India's Modi discusses the Ukraine war with Austria's leader a day after meeting PutinIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed the war in Ukraine with the leader of Austria, an ally of Kyiv that has a policy of military neutrality.
Demiral's double helps Turkey beat Austria 2-1, sets up a Euro 2024 quarterfinal against Netherlands
Read full article: Demiral's double helps Turkey beat Austria 2-1, sets up a Euro 2024 quarterfinal against NetherlandsMerih Demiral has scored twice to send Turkey into the European Championship quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Austria.
Dutch beach volleyball player who served time for rape has qualified for Paris Olympics
Read full article: Dutch beach volleyball player who served time for rape has qualified for Paris OlympicsA Dutch beach volleyball player convicted and imprisoned eight years ago for raping an underage girl in Britain has qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Austria beats Netherlands 3-2 to reach knockout stage of Euro 2024 as group winner ahead of France
Read full article: Austria beats Netherlands 3-2 to reach knockout stage of Euro 2024 as group winner ahead of FranceMarcel Sabitzer scored late for Austria to advance to the knockout stage of the European Championship as group winner with a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands.
Energized Austria wins and makes Lewandowski's Poland the first team to go out at Euro 2024
Read full article: Energized Austria wins and makes Lewandowski's Poland the first team to go out at Euro 2024Austria has picked up its first win at Euro 2024 by defeating Poland 3-1 in its second group match in Berlin.
Kylian Mbappé due for tests on his broken nose as France gets 'positive' news on the striker
Read full article: Kylian Mbappé due for tests on his broken nose as France gets 'positive' news on the strikerKylian Mbappé is due to have tests on his broken nose on Wednesday as France tried to assess what part he could play in the European Championship.
7 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returns
Read full article: 7 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returnsThe governments of seven European Union member states say the situation in Syria should be re-evaluated to allow for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees back to their homeland.
Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy's pandemic funds worth $650 million
Read full article: Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy's pandemic funds worth $650 millionPolice in Italy, Austria, Romania and Slovakia have arrested 22 people as part of an investigation into the suspected theft of hundreds millions of euros in post-pandemic relief funds from the European Union.
UN weather agency issues 'red alert' on climate change after record heat, ice-melt increases in 2023
Read full article: UN weather agency issues 'red alert' on climate change after record heat, ice-melt increases in 2023The U.N. weather agency is sounding a “red alert” about global warming, citing record-smashing increases last year in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures and melting of glaciers and sea ice.
Swiss star Gut-Behrami secures overall and GS titles after finishing 10th at World Cup finals
Read full article: Swiss star Gut-Behrami secures overall and GS titles after finishing 10th at World Cup finalsLara Gut-Behrami has secured the women’s World Cup overall and giant slalom titles after finishing 10th in the GS at the World Cup finals.
Shiffrin caps injury-marred ski season with record-extending 60th win in slalom and 97th overall
Read full article: Shiffrin caps injury-marred ski season with record-extending 60th win in slalom and 97th overallMikaela Shiffrin has capped her season that was marred by a six-week injury layoff with her record-extending 60th win in slalom and 97th overall at the World Cup finals.
OPEC+ production cuts deepen with extensions from Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil giants
Read full article: OPEC+ production cuts deepen with extensions from Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil giantsSome members of oil cartel OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and allied producers like Russia are again deepening their voluntary crude supply cuts.
Arnold Schwarzenegger stopped by customs over a luxury watch after arriving in Germany
Read full article: Arnold Schwarzenegger stopped by customs over a luxury watch after arriving in GermanyArnold Schwarzenegger was stopped for hours by customs at Munich Airport after entering Germany with a luxury watch that was potentially to be auctioned at a charity event.
North Korea's new reactor at nuclear site likely to be formally operational next summer, Seoul says
Read full article: North Korea's new reactor at nuclear site likely to be formally operational next summer, Seoul saysSouth Korea's Defense Minister Shin Wonsik has said that a light-water reactor at North Korea’s main nuclear complex will likely be formally operational by next summer.
Sinner withdraws from Paris Masters and slams organizers for lack of rest after early-morning finish
Read full article: Sinner withdraws from Paris Masters and slams organizers for lack of rest after early-morning finishJannik Sinner has pulled out of the Paris Masters in a rare scheduling protest with the fatigued Italian criticizing organizers for failing to give him enough time to rest following an early-morning finish in his previous game.
Norway's Mowinckel becomes first skier to be disqualified under new rule banning fluorinated wax
Read full article: Norway's Mowinckel becomes first skier to be disqualified under new rule banning fluorinated waxRagnhild Mowinckel of Norway has become the first skier to be disqualified for a forbidden type of wax on her skis.
Sabitzer scores from the spot in Baku to send Austria to European Championship
Read full article: Sabitzer scores from the spot in Baku to send Austria to European ChampionshipSubstitute Marcel Sabitzer has scored from the penalty spot shortly after entering the game to secure a 1-0 win for Austria at Azerbaijan and send his country to next year’s European Championship.
Romania hosts summit to boost connectivity between 12 EU countries and partners
Read full article: Romania hosts summit to boost connectivity between 12 EU countries and partnersA two-day summit in Romania has started in the country's capital bringing together 12 European Union member states situated between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas.
Germany will classify Georgia, Moldova as 'safe countries,' making rejecting asylum-seekers easier
Read full article: Germany will classify Georgia, Moldova as 'safe countries,' making rejecting asylum-seekers easierChancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet has classified Moldova and Georgia as so-called “safe countries of origin,” meaning asylum-seekers from there can be rejected and deported faster than in the past.
George Soros' Open Society Foundations plan to limit their grantmaking until February
Read full article: George Soros' Open Society Foundations plan to limit their grantmaking until FebruaryOpen Society Foundations said Wednesday that they plan to limit new grantmaking until February, as the nonprofits transition to a new operating model.
Report: Billionaire investor, philanthropist George Soros cedes control of empire to a younger son
Read full article: Report: Billionaire investor, philanthropist George Soros cedes control of empire to a younger sonBillionaire investor turned philanthropist George Soros is ceding control of his $25 billion empire to a younger son, Alexander Soros, according to an exclusive interview with the Wall Street Journal published online Sunday.
Austrian party reverses leadership result after spreadsheet hiccup
Read full article: Austrian party reverses leadership result after spreadsheet hiccupAustria’s main center-left opposition party has reversed the result of its weekend leadership election, announcing that a computer error originally led to the wrong candidate being declared the winner.
Grossi set for second term at helm of UN nuclear watchdog
Read full article: Grossi set for second term at helm of UN nuclear watchdogThe head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is set for another four-year term at the helm of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog as it grapples with monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities and tries to shore up the safety of power plants in Ukraine.
Skier Ginnis gets Greece's 1st big winter sport medal
Read full article: Skier Ginnis gets Greece's 1st big winter sport medalGreek racer AJ Ginnis has finished runner-up to gold medalist Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway in the men’s slalom at the Alpine skiing world championships to earn his country its first medal at a worlds in any Olympic sport on snow or ice.
KFC apologizes for app alert urging orders for Kristallnacht
Read full article: KFC apologizes for app alert urging orders for KristallnachtKFC has apologized for accidentally sending an automated push alert to its app users in Germany that appeared to urge people to order food to commemorate the 84th anniversary of Kristallnacht — the “Night of Broken Glass” — when Nazis terrorized Jews throughout Germany and Austria.
Talks to revive Iran nuclear deal end, produce 'final text'
Read full article: Talks to revive Iran nuclear deal end, produce 'final text'Diplomats say talks to revive Tehran’s tattered nuclear accord with world powers in Vienna have ended as the parties closed a final text and key negotiators prepared to consult with their capitals.
OPEC+ oil boost likely not much help to high gasoline prices
Read full article: OPEC+ oil boost likely not much help to high gasoline pricesThe OPEC oil cartel and allied producing nations have decided to boost production of crude by an amount that will likely do little to relieve high gasoline prices at the pump and energy-fueled inflation plaguing the global economy.
Czech president Milos Zeman vows to block same-sex marriages
Read full article: Czech president Milos Zeman vows to block same-sex marriagesCzech President Milos Zeman says he is ready to veto, if it’s approved by parliament, proposed legislation that would give same-sex couples in the country the right to hold civil weddings.
OPEC+ alliance boosts oil production as energy prices soar
Read full article: OPEC+ alliance boosts oil production as energy prices soarThe OPEC oil cartel and allied producing countries including Russia will raise production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, offering modest relief for a global economy suffering from soaring energy prices and the resulting inflation.
UN chief Guterres urges graduates to shun 'climate wreckers'
Read full article: UN chief Guterres urges graduates to shun 'climate wreckers'The head of the United Nations is imploring graduating college students to reject jobs at companies that fund the fossil fuel industry he described as “killing our planet.”.
Unvaccinated Djokovic says he is out of Indian Wells, Miami
Read full article: Unvaccinated Djokovic says he is out of Indian Wells, MiamiNovak Djokovic says he will not be able to compete at the upcoming tennis tournaments in Indian Wells, California, and Miami because he is unvaccinated and can’t travel to the United States.
Iran nuclear talks pause, will reconvene in Vienna next week
Read full article: Iran nuclear talks pause, will reconvene in Vienna next weekOfficials say diplomats negotiating in Vienna to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers have paused after five days of talks to consult with their governments, and will reconvene next week.
Asian stock markets sink as traders watch Europe virus cases
Read full article: Asian stock markets sink as traders watch Europe virus casesAsian stock markets have declined as traders weigh the impact of a surge in coronavirus cases in Europe and anti-disease controls that threaten to disrupt trade and travel.
The Latest: EU nations oppose saying nuclear is climate plus
Read full article: The Latest: EU nations oppose saying nuclear is climate plusAlok Sharma, the British official presiding over this year’s U.N. climate talks, has dismissed suggestions that he is trying to ratchet up pressure on negotiators in an effort to get them to seal a deal at the Glasgow meeting.
UAE rebuffs plan by OPEC, allies to extend production pact
Read full article: UAE rebuffs plan by OPEC, allies to extend production pactThe United Arab Emirates is pushing back against a plan by the OPEC oil cartel and allied producing countries to extend the global pact to cut oil production beyond April 2022.
IAEA head: Iran hasn't answered questions on uranium find
Read full article: IAEA head: Iran hasn't answered questions on uranium findThe head of the U_N_ nuclear watchdog says Iran has failed to answer questions about the discovery of uranium particles at former undeclared sites in the country He is calling on Tehran to provide information “without further delay.”.
Progress noted at diplomats' talks on Iran nuclear deal
Read full article: Progress noted at diplomats' talks on Iran nuclear dealHigh-ranking diplomats from China, Germany, France, Russia and Britain have made progress at talks focused on bringing the United States back into their landmark nuclear deal with Iran, but need more work and time to bring about a future agreement.
Attack on Iran's Natanz plant muddies US-Iran nuclear talks
Read full article: Attack on Iran's Natanz plant muddies US-Iran nuclear talksIndirect talks between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal have been thrown into uncertainty following an attack on Iran's underground Natanz nuclear facility.
Attack on Iran's Natanz plant muddies US, Iran nuke talks
Read full article: Attack on Iran's Natanz plant muddies US, Iran nuke talksIndirect talks between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal have been thrown into uncertainty following an attack on Iran's underground Natanz nuclear facility.
Germany mulls possible order of Russian COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: Germany mulls possible order of Russian COVID-19 vaccineGermany’s health minister says the European Union doesn’t plan to order Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine but his country will hold talks with Russia on whether an individual order makes sense.
Manuel Feller wins season-ending World Cup slalom race
Read full article: Manuel Feller wins season-ending World Cup slalom raceLENZERHEIDE – Rising from sixth place after the first run in a World Cup slalom, Manuel Feller won the season-ending race on Sunday. First-run leader Marco Schwarz, who already took the season-long slalom title, lost speed in a difficult section of gates and dropped to sixth place. Alexis Pinturault placed third, 0.11 behind Feller, to end his season in style one day after winning a giant slalom to secure his first overall World Cup title. Pinturault was the first Frenchman to win the overall title for 24 years and an emotional weekend for the team saw Jean-Baptiste Grange race for the last time in the World Cup. The 36-year-old Grange retires with slalom gold medals from the 2011 and 2015 world championships.
UN atomic watchdog confirms details of new Iran centrifuges
Read full article: UN atomic watchdog confirms details of new Iran centrifugesAn American return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran remains possible, but both sides need to be prepared to negotiate, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog suggested to European Parliamentarians on Tuesday. Asked about Iran's insistence that the U.S. take the first step, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said in a video appearance before three European Parliament committees that it takes two to tango. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File)BERLIN – The United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Wednesday it has confirmed that Iran has begun operating a cascade of advanced centrifuges at an underground site. The use of the advanced centrifuges in the Natanz facility is another violation of the nuclear deal Iran signed with world powers in 2015, which allows it only to enrich with first-generation IR-1 centrifuges. Grossi confirmed in November that Iran had began enriching with IR-2m type centrifuges at the Natanz site.
The Latest: Ontario seniors won't get AstraZeneca vaccine
Read full article: The Latest: Ontario seniors won't get AstraZeneca vaccineThe administration is invoking the Defense Production Act, a wartime measure that gives the federal government authority to direct private companies to meet the needs of the national defense, to equip two Merck facilities to produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. AdBiden said Johnson & Johnson will operate 24/7 to produce the vaccine. Tom Wolf said Tuesday that teachers will receive doses of the newly approved one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, under a plan his administration will release. AdHe gave few details, but said he and a bipartisan legislative task force agreed that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should be set aside for teachers and then other workers considered to be essential, but who are not included in the first vaccination phase. States are receiving 2.8 million doses of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week.
No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown
Read full article: No crowds, but Australian Open will continue during lockdown(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE – The Australian Open will be allowed to continue but without crowds after the Victoria state government imposed a snap, five-day lockdown starting Saturday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak at a quarantine hotel. Andrews said the Feb. 8-21 Australian Open could continue “because these people are at their workplace.”“It will be happening, but there’ll be no one there watching it," he said. The seven-time Australian Open winner didn't hear the news until after the match. “It was a good last match before the lockdown, it's really sad to say.”The Australian Open was the first Grand Slam tournament in a year to allow sizeable crowds. Under the initial plan for the Australian Open, the government allowed up to 30,000 people daily the first week at Melbourne Park, or about 50% of capacity.
Germany to reinstate border controls over virus variant
Read full article: Germany to reinstate border controls over virus variant(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)BERLIN – The German government decided Thursday to temporarily reinstate border controls along its southeastern frontier after designating the Czech Republic and parts of Austria as “mutation areas" due to their high number of variant coronavirus cases, German news agency dpa reported. The temporary border controls and certain entry restrictions will start Sunday at midnight, dpa reported. It was not clear for how long the border controls would last. He praised measures taken by the Czech Republic to contain the spread of virus variants and criticized authorities in Tyrol, saying they appeared not to be taking the issue seriously. “The virus doesn’t follow dates, the virus follows infections numbers,” she told lawmakers.
Repilov wins luge title, without Russian flag and anthem
Read full article: Repilov wins luge title, without Russian flag and anthem(AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)KONIGSSEE – Russia’s Roman Repilov won his second consecutive men’s luge world championship Saturday, overtaking World Cup champion Felix Loch in the second heat to successfully defend the title. But after hoisting his gold medal, Repilov removed his hat in preparation for the winner’s flag to be displayed and anthem to blare. Russian athletes can participate in the luge world championships, but only as neutral competitors and not officially representing their country because of the sanctions levied against that nation for a doping scandal. Russian athletes who medal at the Tokyo Olympics this summer or the Beijing Games in February 2022 will experience similar scenes; no Russian flag, no Russian anthem. Margit Schumann of East Germany won four consecutive women’s world luge titles from 1973 through 1977.
Host Germany wins 5 medals on 1st day of luge worlds
Read full article: Host Germany wins 5 medals on 1st day of luge worldsNico Gleirscher of Austria celebrates on the podium after the men's sprint race at the Luge World Championships in Koenigssee,Germany, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)KONIGSSEE – Germany won five of the nine available medals on the first day of luge’s world championships Friday, including a podium sweep in the women’s sprint race. Julia Taubitz was first, Anna Berreiter second and Dajana Eitberger third for the Germans in the women’s sprint. The men’s sprint world title went to Austria’s Nico Gleirscher. AdTucker West was 12th in the men’s sprint for the U.S.
Swiss skier Beat Feuz wins 2nd Kitzbühel downhill in 3 days
Read full article: Swiss skier Beat Feuz wins 2nd Kitzbühel downhill in 3 daysSwitzerland's Beat Feuz gets to the finish area after completing an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. The Swiss skier won this weekend’s second men’s World Cup downhill on the Streif course Sunday, repeating his victory from two days earlier. No Swiss skier had won Austria's signature ski race since Didier Cuche earned the last of his five victories here in 2012. Feuz won the season-long downhill title the past three seasons. There will be one more World Cup downhill, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Feb. 6, before next month's world championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The Latest: Canadian women’s hockey team opens Calgary camp
Read full article: The Latest: Canadian women’s hockey team opens Calgary camp(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Canadian women’s hockey team opened a 35-player camp in a Calgary bubble. The 2020 women’s world hockey championship in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, was postponed to April 7-17, 2021 because of the pandemic. National team players have skated and trained this winter in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary hubs. Last week, three players tested positive and that led to the Spartans postponing games at No. FIS says Waldner tested positive while overseeing slalom races in Flachau, Austria.
The Latest: Slovakia wants tests for nearly all in nine days
Read full article: The Latest: Slovakia wants tests for nearly all in nine days(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia is launching a project to test almost all citizens for the coronavirus in nine days. Brazil currently has 6 million doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine ready to distribute in the next few days, and is awaiting the arrival of another 2 million doses of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca and partner Oxford University. Friends and family described their deep connection and said they had been planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. That dilemma faces nations in southeastern Europe, where coronavirus vaccination campaigns are off to a slow start — overshadowed by heated political debates and conspiracy theories. ___BEIJING — China on Sunday reported 109 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, two-thirds of them in a northern province that abuts Beijing, and no deaths.
Gut-Behrami's veteran skills win tricky World Cup super-G
Read full article: Gut-Behrami's veteran skills win tricky World Cup super-GSwitzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami smiles at the end of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G in St. Anton, Austria, Sunday, Jan.10, 2021. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)ST. ANTON – It took the veteran skills of Lara Gut-Behrami to win a tricky World Cup super-G on Sunday. World Cup super-G champion Corinne Suter was third, trailing her Switzerland teammate by 0.20. Gut-Behrami’s 13th win in World Cup super-G came more than 12 years after her debut victory in a discipline that demands speed and technical ability to improvise. Now 29, the 2016 World Cup overall champion won both of her career season-long discipline titles in super-G.Gut-Behrami rose to fifth in the overall standings, ahead of three-time champion Mikaela Shiffrin.
The Latest: China makes parts of province high danger zones
Read full article: The Latest: China makes parts of province high danger zones(AP Photo/Andy Wong)BEIJING — China has designated parts of Hebei province near Beijing as a coronavirus high danger zone after 14 new cases of COVID-19 were found. The other three COVID-19 cases were in the city of Yantai. Approximately 174 private clinics have also requested vaccines, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said. County health officials fear the incoming Christmas and New Year’s surge. Superintendent Henderson Lewis said a spike in positive cases in the city prompted the “unfortunate but necessary” decision to go back to distance learning.
Strong winds force cancellation of 2nd run of GS in Austria
Read full article: Strong winds force cancellation of 2nd run of GS in AustriaCable cars are blown by strong winds during a pause of an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Semmering, Austria, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. All rights reservedSEMMERING – A women's World Cup giant slalom was canceled following the opening run Monday after increasingly strong winds destroyed parts the finish area. “It's a really dangerous thing, even just staying in the finish area,” said the International Ski Federation's race director, Peter Gerdol. “We will need the whole morning to reset the finish area,” Gerdol said. Petra Vlhova posted the fastest time, two years after the GS world champion from Slovakia won her first race in the discipline on the same Zauberberg course.
More EU nations ban travel from UK, fearing virus variant
Read full article: More EU nations ban travel from UK, fearing virus variantBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday that holiday gatherings cant go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England. Germany said all flights coming from Britain, except cargo flights, were no longer allowed to land starting midnight Sunday. The Netherlands banned flights from the U.K. for at least the rest of the year. The World Health Organization tweeted late Saturday that it was "in close contact with U.K. officials on the new #COVID19 virus variant" and promised to update governments and the public as more is learned. “The alarms bells have been ringing for weeks, but the prime minister chose to ignore them,” said Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party.
ATP: Start of 2021 calendar includes delayed Australian Open
Read full article: ATP: Start of 2021 calendar includes delayed Australian OpenThe 2021 Australian Open will begin three weeks later than planned. That is part of a pandemic-altered 2021 tennis calendar released by the mens professional tour Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. The ATP Cup, two ATP events and two WTA tournaments will take place in Melbourne the week before the Australian Open. One WTA tournament will happen during the second week of the Australian Open, local media said. The ATP is looking for new dates for the Rio Open, which was supposed to begin Feb. 17 but now conflicts with the two-week Australian Open main draw.