Latest - Six-times champion Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Australian Open as he continues to work his way back to fitness from two knee operations earlier this year, according to a media report on Monday.
Roger Federer Photo: Photosport
Australian Open officials were not immediately available to confirm the report.
The 39-year-old Swiss last played a competitive match at the season opening grand slam in January before he had to undergo surgery on his knee. He later required a second operation.
The start of the Australian Open has been delayed for three weeks until Feb. 8 due to the country's strict border rules to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Federer, who had been training at his off-season base in Dubai, had told AO organisers that the delayed start to the tournament could benefit him. However, his agent Tony Goldsick told the Associated Press that Federer was not quite ready to return.
"Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open," Godsick was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness.
"However, after consultation with his team, he decided that the best decision for him in the long run is to return to competitive tennis after the Australian Open."
Meanwhile, Britain's former world number one Andy Murray has been awarded a wildcard for the tournament.
The main draw entry for the first Grand Slam of 2021 comes two years after Murray, the five-time runner-up in Melbourne, played what he feared would be his final professional match there, losing in the first round to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray went on to have hip resurfacing surgery in January last year but made his comeback to win the Antwerp title nine months later.
He missed most of the 2020 season due to complications with his hip and struggled for form on his return after the COVID-19 hiatus, suffering a second-round defeat in the U.S. Open before falling in the opening round at Roland Garros.
- Reuters
Mavericks set record in win over Clippers
The Dallas Mavericks set an NBA record for the largest half-time lead in the shot-clock era - a whopping 50 points - in their 124-73 annihilation of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Luka Doncic had 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while Josh Richardson scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half for Dallas, which took a 77-27 lead to the long break.
The Mavericks shot 58 per cent from the floor and held the Clippers to 24.3 per cent, including 1 of 19 from 3-point distance.
The Golden State Warriors owned the previous record for largest half-time lead in the shot-clock era (1954-55), taking a 47-point advantage to the break against the Sacramento Kings on November 2, 1991.
The Clippers played without four-time All Star forward Kawhi Leonard, who sustained a laceration to his mouth late in their win over the Denver Nuggets.
Paul George scored 15 points and Serge Ibaka had 13 points and nine rebounds for the humbled hosts.
- Reuters
Reds held by West Brom
A late header by Semi Ajayi earned struggling West Bromwich Albion a surprise 1-1 English Premier League draw at champions and leaders Liverpool as the defender cancelled out Sadio Mane's early opener for the home side.
Jurgen Klopp Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The result left Liverpool on 32 points from 15 games, three ahead of second-placed Everton. West Bromwich stayed 19th on eight points but their spirited fightback will have given new boss Sam Allardyce plenty to cheer about.
Wolves scored late to grab a 1-1 draw with Tottenham... Spurs are now fifth on the table and Wolves 11th.
West Ham United twice came back from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
West Ham stay 10th on the table, while Brighton are 16th.
A fifth-minute penalty was enough to give Leeds United a 1-0 win over Burnley at Elland Road.
Leeds move up to 11th, while Burnley are 16th.
Another sweep for Wellington
The defending champion Wellington women's and men's cricket teams have beaten their Central Districts counterparts in their SuperSmash T20 double-header in Napier.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Blaze beat the Hinds by nine wickets in the women's game, while the Firebirds beat the Stags by 39-runs.
The Central Hinds were restricted to 88 for nine in their 20 overs, which Wellington reached with almost seven overs to spare.
Former White Fern Thamsyn Newton starred in the field with her athleticism, grabbing two catches and a runout as well as taking 3-23 off her three overs for Wellington.
New Black Cap Devon Conway scored 67 as the Wellington Firebirds reached 175 for seven and they then restricted the Central Stages to 136 for nine in reply.
The two Wellington sides are two from two in the competition.
Today the Otago Volts and Sparks play the Auckland Aces and Hearts at Molyneux Park, Alexandra.
Proteas fight back
Opener Dean Elgar fell five runs short of a century as South Africa climbed to 317 for four at the close of play on day two of the first test against injury-hit Sri Lanka at Centurion Park.
Elgar looked set for his 13th test ton until he offered Sri Lanka seamer Dasun Shanaka a sharp caught-and-bowled chance that was superbly taken.
Faf du Plessis (55 not out) and Temba Bavuma (41 not out) will resume on the third morning after adding 97 runs, hoping to push South Africa past the visitors' first innings score of 396 after two free-scoring days that have produced 713 runs at a rollicking rate of 4.24 runs per over.
That would suggest a batting paradise, but the wicket has given assistance to the bowlers, with both sides perhaps guilty of erring in line and length and not taking advantage of the pace and uneven bounce.
Sri Lanka had earlier resumed their first innings on effectively 340 for seven following De Silva's injury, with Shanaka's superb career-best unbeaten 66 seeing them add 56 runs in 11 overs before he ran out of partners.
Debutant South Africa seamer Lutho Sipamla (4-76) claimed the remaining three wickets.
The second and final test will be played in Johannesburg from Jan. 3.
-Reuters
Messi to miss Barca game
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will miss Wednesday's Spanish La Liga match at home to Eibar due to an ankle injury.
Barca said in a statement that Messi, who is in the last year of his contract and is free to negotiate a move to rival clubs for free in 2021, is undergoing treatment on his right ankle and will return to training before their visit to Huesca on Jan. 3.
The Argentine returned to his home city of Rosario via private jet immediately after scoring in Barca's 3-0 win away to Real Valladolid on Dec. 22.
Messi has started 17 of Barca's 20 games in all competitions this season and although he is their top scorer with 10 goals, it has been his worst start to a campaign in 13 seasons in terms of goals and assists.
Barca's captain said last week he had dragged the ill feeling from his attempt to leave in August into this season but was feeling happier now and was focused on helping the team, fifth in the league, challenge for trophies.
-Reuters
