In today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - New Zealand hockey fans will get to see international teams other than Australia in the next few months.

Since the pandemic hit, the Black Sticks have only managed to play Australia at home.

Hockey New Zealand has confirmed series' for both the Black Sticks women and men.

The women will play China and the USA in Wellington in February and Christchurch will host the New Zealand men in April for games against Australia and Great Britain.

Acting CEO of HNZ, Ken Maplesden, is thrilled to be able to take international hockey back around the country.

"Our fans have been starved of top flight hockey for such a long time so it's brilliant to be able to host 18 international hockey matches early next year - especially being able to showcase women's sport in Wellington and hosting two of our biggest rivals for an exhilarating week of hockey in Christchurch.

Meanwhile the Black Sticks Men will start their Pro League campaign in India in October where they will take on India and Spain.

Fan claims she was defamed by Kyrgios

A tennis fan is taking legal action against Nick Kyrgios after he accused her of being "drunk out of her mind" during his defeat in this year's Wimbledon final.

In a statement released by her solicitors, Anna Palus said the 27-year-old Australian had defamed her by making "a reckless and entirely baseless allegation"

"Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios's false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress," she said.

Kyrgios, well known for his outbursts, complained to the umpire during his match against Novak Djokovic, saying that a fan had been talking to him during points.

Asked by the umpire to identify the fan, Kyrgios then said: "The one with the dress, the one who looks like she's had about 700 drinks, bro!"

Palus, who said she had attended the men's final with her mother, has instructed her solicitors, Brett Wilson LLP, to begin legal proceedings against Kyrgios and says any damages she wins will be donated to charity.

Kyrgios was appearing in his first Grand Slam final and took the first set against Djokovic but lost his cool as he headed to a four-set defeat by the Serb on Centre Court.

-Reuters

Strong Tall Blacks squad named

Tall Blacks coach Pero Cameron has named his 10-player squad for the first game of round two Asian World Cup qualifying with the squad containing plenty of experience.

The New Zealanders play Saudi Arabia in Dammam on Friday morning before returning home to play Jordan Next week.

The squad is: Benjamin Gold, Ethan Rusbatch, Isaac Fotu, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa, Jordan Ngatai, Nikau McCullough, Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Timmins, Shea Ili and Tohi Smith-Milner.

Five players - Rusbatch, Ngatai, Timmins, Ili and Smith-Milner - all return to the Tall Blacks fold after playing key roles in the lastet window of games.

Three veterans - with over 120 caps combined - also return to the Tall Blacks squad; Fotu putting on the singlet for the first time since 2019, while Te Rangi last played in 2020. Recent Breakers signing, Mauriohooho-Le'afa, also played 9 games for the Tall Blacks back in 2013.

New Zealand currently top their group of six with the top three set to qualoifying for next year's World Cup in the Philippines.

KD staying at Nets

All-Star forward Kevin Durant is set to stay with the Brooklyn Nets after a meeting with head coach Steve Nash and the franchise's owners.

Durant, a two-times NBA champion and twice Finals MVP, had requested a trade at the end of June before free agency, with the 12-times All-Star linked to teams such as the Boston Celtics, the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors.

"We have agreed to move forward with our partnership. We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn," said Nets General Manager Sean Marks.

Last year, Durant had signed a four-year, $318 million extension that begins this season. He was sixth on the list of the world's highest-paid athletes over the last year according to Forbes, earning $148 million in total earnings.

He averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 55 games last season.

Durant had joined Brooklyn as a free agent in 2019 alongside Kyrie Irving in a bid to form a championship winning team along with James Harden, who was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that brought Ben Simmons to the Nets.

-Reuters

Roglic grabs red jersey

Defending champion Primoz Roglic has taken the overall leader's red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana after he stormed to victory on stage four, a 152.5km ride from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia, with a stunning late effort.

The Jumbo-Visma rider exploded with around 300m to go on the uphill finish, rolling past Mads Pedersen of Trek-Segafredo to secure the win. Enric Mas claimed third place for Movistar ahead of French duo Quentin Pacher and Pavel Sivakov.

Slovenian Roglic holds a 13-second advantage over Sepp Kuss in the general classification, with the American finishing 12th to stay within touching distance of his team mate.

"I'm super happy but it's really just the beginning of the race," said Roglic, who is chasing his fourth straight Vuelta crown.

The win dispelled any doubts over Roglic's form coming into the race, with the 32-year-old seemingly having overcome the serious injuries that forced him to abandon the Tour de France after stage 14.

Wednesday's stage five is a 187.2km ride from Irun to Bilbao.

-Reuters

England veteran retires

England midfielder Jill Scott announced her retirement from football after helping the Lionesses become European champions last month.

Scott, 35, made a total of 161 appearances and scored 27 goals for England. She left Manchester City at the end of last season after stints on loan at Everton and Aston Villa.

"Today, I may be saying my goodbyes to football, but we're going to make this a celebration. No sad faces!! We've had too much fun for any tears," Scott said in a statement.

Her retirement follows that of England women's all-time top goalscorer Ellen White, who also announced she had retired on Monday.

-Reuters

Zalatoris season over

Will Zalatoris has been forced to withdraw from the Tour Championship due to herniated discs which will prevent him from challenging for the FedEx Cup and also keep him out of next month's Presidents Cup.

Zalatoris won the first leg of the playoffs at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis but withdrew from the BMW Championship midway through the third round after he tweaked his lower back, dropping him to third in the standings.

"After Will's withdrawal from the BMW Championship on Saturday, his medical team determined that the source of his back pain is two herniated discs," his manager Allen Hobbs said.

The Presidents Cup will be held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Sept. 22-25.

"As a result of his withdrawal, if all 29 players finish 72 holes, Zalatoris will finish 30th in the FedEx Cup, which receives $800,000 in bonus money," the PGA Tour said in a statement.

The Tour Championship, the final leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, will be held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta this week.

-Reuters