Rafael Nadal in action against Andrey Rublev on day one of the ATP Finals tennis championship at The O2 Arena, London, Nov 15, 2020. (PHOTO / AP)

MELBOURNE - The Australian Open will start on Feb 8, three weeks later than scheduled, the ATP Tour said in releasing an update of its calendar for 2021 revising the first seven weeks of the season.

The start date of the main draw of the year’s first Grand Slam was originally slated for Jan 18 and organisers Tennis Australia have been in drawn-out negotiations with local government over COVID-19 health measures.

The start date of the main draw of the year’s first Grand Slam was originally slated for Jan 18 and organisers Tennis Australia have been in drawn-out negotiations with local government over COVID-19 health measures

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Tennis Australia was not immediately available for comment.

The ATP release said men’s qualifying for the Australian Open would take place in Doha from Jan. 10-13 before players relocated to Melbourne to enter quarantine.

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The ATP tournament scheduled to take place in Adelaide has been moved to Melbourne to be played in the week commencing Jan 31 alongisde another men’s tournament in the city.

A shortened version of the ATP Cup men’s team tournament will take place in Melbourne from Feb. 1-5 before the Grand Slam begins on the following Monday.

The ATP season will open with tournaments in Delray Beach, Florida and Antalya in Turkey before preparations for Melbourne Park begin.