Crowds to return to Australian Open from Thursday

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 16, 2021 General view of Melbourne outside the Rod Laver Arena REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Australian Open will be able to open its gates to fans for the last four days of the tournament after the state of Victoria announced that a snap coronavirus lockdown would be lifted at midnight on Wednesday.

Victoria State Premier Dan Andrews announced the lifting of the lockdown but said the crowds allowed into Melbourne Park for the semi-finals and finals of the Grand Slam might be reduced from the originally agreed 25,000 a day.