MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – As crowds filtered into Melbourne’s Albert Park on Friday for Formula 1’s first day of practice at its 2026 season opener, there were questions. Plenty of them. The fmost pressing milestone was the potential postponement or cancellation of upcoming F1 races in the Middle East on April 12 and 19 in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) – Venus Williams lost again in her return to the BNP Paribas Open, falling in the first round Thursday, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1 to Diane Parry of France.

VERONA, Italy (AP) – The Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics will officially open later Friday amid the tensions of war in the Middle East and with some countries intending to boycott the opening ceremony because of the return of the Russian flag to the global sports stage.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Manchester United will raise season ticket prices by 5% at Old Trafford for the 2026-27 campaign and relocate several hundred fans to create more hospitality seats.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) – Iran will not participate in the Milan Cortina Paralympics because its only athlete set to compete can’t safely travel to Italy amid the intensifying Middle East conflict, the International Paralympic Committee said Friday.

MILAN (AP) – The Winter Paralympics officially start on Friday, with the opening ceremony in Verona, Italy. With more than 600 Para athletes and 79 sets of medals to be awarded, Milan Cortina will feature a record number of athletes and medals. They will compete across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

Australia defeated the Czech Republic 5-1 on Friday behind a three-run homer from Chicago White Sox infielder Curtis Mead to remain unbeaten in Pool C in the World Baseball Classic.

SAO PAULO (AP) – Brazilian soccer club Corinthians completed the signing of former England and Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard on Friday.