North Korea's figure skaters Ryom Tai-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik are "friendly and kind and a little bit shy", South Korea's Kim Kyueun said Tuesday ahead of their hugely anticipated Olympic appearance.

The skater is competing with her partner Alex Kam in the pairs competition against the North Koreans at the Four Continents championships in Taipei this week, where the North Korean duo have been closely guarded from journalists.

Interest in them has skyrocketed since North Korea made a surprise announcement earlier this month that it was sending a team to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, even though the two sides are still technically at war.

South Korea's Kim told AFP she had spoken to the pair and admired their confident skating style.

"They are very friendly and kind and a little bit shy," she said, adding that she had chatted to the North's Ryom in the locker room at the tournament. The two young women are both 18.

She wished them the best ahead of the Games and said it would be a "very good experience" for them.

"I think usually it's very hard for North Korean people to come to South Korea, so I think it's very special that they are coming. We welcome the athletes," she said.

Ryom and Kim are among North Korea's top athletes and its only competitors to have officially qualified for a place at the February 9-25 Games.

While the majority of their compatriots are cloistered from the outside world, the pair have travelled globally to compete.

The Taipei competition starts Wednesday, but they have already been subject to intense media interest during practice sessions.

Tournament organisers have linked arms around them to protect them from being jostled by the press pack when walking from the arena to the hotel.

The pair have remained tight-lipped so far, with their team translator telling reporters they would not comment as they wanted to focus on the competition.

- Beatles soundtrack -

Currently ranked 36th in the world, Ryom and Kim are medal outsiders in Taipei but could have a chance after two higher-ranked Chinese pairs dropped out.

During practice Monday and Tuesday, they were dressed all in black and danced to songs including "Je suis qu'une chanson" by Canadian artist Ginette Reno.

They will perform to Jeff Beck's rendition of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life" for their short programme on Wednesday.

The pair skated to the same tracks when they secured their Olympic place last September at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany.

Seoul and the Games organisers have sought to promote Pyeongchang as a "Peace Olympics" to open the door for dialogue with the nuclear-armed North, which has traded threats with the US over the past year.

But President Moon Jae-In's peace efforts have met a backlash at home, with many accusing him of using athletes for political purposes and making too many concessions to his hostile neighbour.

Ryom and Kim are among 22 athletes the North will send.

None of the competitors was registered by North Korean authorities before an official deadline but the International Olympic Committee has said it will clear the team to perform in five disciplines: figure skating, short-track speed skating, cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing and ice hockey.

North Korea has taken part in seven of the last 12 Winter Olympics, most recently in Vancouver 2010.

But it boycotted the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, so its presence in Pyeongchang is seen as a significant diplomatic advance.

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was quite pleased with the pink of health European golf is in at the start of the year but did have one eye on the Americans, as they head for a showdown this September.

The 42nd instalment of the prestigious Ryder Cup will be played out at the Le Golf National and while the Dane felt that recent results by European golfers were a good sign, the 46-year-old also added that there is still a long road to Paris. "I thought EurAsia Cup was important in so many ways in getting 12 guys together that all have a great potential of being in Paris in eight, nine months time now," Bjorn said at the Majlis Course, ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, on Tuesday.

"I thought that's something I'll look back at and see as a good sign of where we are with European golf. They could also be there, most likely it won't be those 12 but it will be a couple of others that will have a few words to say about that," he added.

Europe rallied to beat Asia 14-10 to defend the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, earlier this month. Add to that, three other results - Spaniard Sergio Garcia winning the Singapore Open, Tommy Fleetwood defending his Abu Dhabi title and Jon Rahm triumphing at the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour, gave Bjorn enough reasons to be thrilled.

"When you wake up on Monday morning and Sergio has won in Singapore and Tommy has won in Abu Dhabi and Jon has would be on the PGA Tour, you can't help but thinking that European golf is in very good hands right now. There are some great players. But then you look at what 12 you've got to be up against and American golf is also in great hands at the moment. That's what's ahead," he opined.

"But in general, I feel like the last couple weeks have been a really, really good experience from a captain's side but it's also been a great experience to see what the players are. I think there's a lot of happiness around. There tends to be a lot more happiness around in January, but that has to do with scheduling and playing a lot of golf. Now, where that will leave us in eight, nine months' time, you know as well as I do that the golfing world moves and it goes like a yo-yo; people go up-and-down, and where it leaves us at that time, we'll see."

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was quite pleased with the pink of health European golf is in at the start of the year but did have one eye on the Americans, as they head for a showdown this September.

The 42nd instalment of the prestigious Ryder Cup will be played out at the Le Golf National and while the Dane felt that recent results by European golfers were a good sign, the 46-year-old also added that there is still a long road to Paris. "I thought EurAsia Cup was important in so many ways in getting 12 guys together that all have a great potential of being in Paris in eight, nine months time now," Bjorn said at the Majlis Course, ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, on Tuesday.

"I thought that's something I'll look back at and see as a good sign of where we are with European golf. They could also be there, most likely it won't be those 12 but it will be a couple of others that will have a few words to say about that," he added.

Europe rallied to beat Asia 14-10 to defend the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, earlier this month. Add to that, three other results - Spaniard Sergio Garcia winning the Singapore Open, Tommy Fleetwood defending his Abu Dhabi title and Jon Rahm triumphing at the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour, gave Bjorn enough reasons to be thrilled.

"When you wake up on Monday morning and Sergio has won in Singapore and Tommy has won in Abu Dhabi and Jon has would be on the PGA Tour, you can't help but thinking that European golf is in very good hands right now. There are some great players. But then you look at what 12 you've got to be up against and American golf is also in great hands at the moment. That's what's ahead," he opined.

"But in general, I feel like the last couple weeks have been a really, really good experience from a captain's side but it's also been a great experience to see what the players are. I think there's a lot of happiness around. There tends to be a lot more happiness around in January, but that has to do with scheduling and playing a lot of golf. Now, where that will leave us in eight, nine months' time, you know as well as I do that the golfing world moves and it goes like a yo-yo; people go up-and-down, and where it leaves us at that time, we'll see."

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was quite pleased with the pink of health European golf is in at the start of the year but did have one eye on the Americans, as they head for a showdown this September.

The 42nd instalment of the prestigious Ryder Cup will be played out at the Le Golf National and while the Dane felt that recent results by European golfers were a good sign, the 46-year-old also added that there is still a long road to Paris. "I thought EurAsia Cup was important in so many ways in getting 12 guys together that all have a great potential of being in Paris in eight, nine months time now," Bjorn said at the Majlis Course, ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, on Tuesday.

"I thought that's something I'll look back at and see as a good sign of where we are with European golf. They could also be there, most likely it won't be those 12 but it will be a couple of others that will have a few words to say about that," he added.

Europe rallied to beat Asia 14-10 to defend the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, earlier this month. Add to that, three other results - Spaniard Sergio Garcia winning the Singapore Open, Tommy Fleetwood defending his Abu Dhabi title and Jon Rahm triumphing at the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour, gave Bjorn enough reasons to be thrilled.

"When you wake up on Monday morning and Sergio has won in Singapore and Tommy has won in Abu Dhabi and Jon has would be on the PGA Tour, you can't help but thinking that European golf is in very good hands right now. There are some great players. But then you look at what 12 you've got to be up against and American golf is also in great hands at the moment. That's what's ahead," he opined.

"But in general, I feel like the last couple weeks have been a really, really good experience from a captain's side but it's also been a great experience to see what the players are. I think there's a lot of happiness around. There tends to be a lot more happiness around in January, but that has to do with scheduling and playing a lot of golf. Now, where that will leave us in eight, nine months' time, you know as well as I do that the golfing world moves and it goes like a yo-yo; people go up-and-down, and where it leaves us at that time, we'll see."

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was quite pleased with the pink of health European golf is in at the start of the year but did have one eye on the Americans, as they head for a showdown this September.

The 42nd instalment of the prestigious Ryder Cup will be played out at the Le Golf National and while the Dane felt that recent results by European golfers were a good sign, the 46-year-old also added that there is still a long road to Paris. "I thought EurAsia Cup was important in so many ways in getting 12 guys together that all have a great potential of being in Paris in eight, nine months time now," Bjorn said at the Majlis Course, ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, on Tuesday.

"I thought that's something I'll look back at and see as a good sign of where we are with European golf. They could also be there, most likely it won't be those 12 but it will be a couple of others that will have a few words to say about that," he added.

Europe rallied to beat Asia 14-10 to defend the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, earlier this month. Add to that, three other results - Spaniard Sergio Garcia winning the Singapore Open, Tommy Fleetwood defending his Abu Dhabi title and Jon Rahm triumphing at the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour, gave Bjorn enough reasons to be thrilled.

"When you wake up on Monday morning and Sergio has won in Singapore and Tommy has won in Abu Dhabi and Jon has would be on the PGA Tour, you can't help but thinking that European golf is in very good hands right now. There are some great players. But then you look at what 12 you've got to be up against and American golf is also in great hands at the moment. That's what's ahead," he opined.

"But in general, I feel like the last couple weeks have been a really, really good experience from a captain's side but it's also been a great experience to see what the players are. I think there's a lot of happiness around. There tends to be a lot more happiness around in January, but that has to do with scheduling and playing a lot of golf. Now, where that will leave us in eight, nine months' time, you know as well as I do that the golfing world moves and it goes like a yo-yo; people go up-and-down, and where it leaves us at that time, we'll see."

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese forward was lampooned on social media for using a doctor's mobile phone to inspect a cut to his face.

Ronaldo took the blow from opposition defender Fabian Schaer as he stooped to head in Madrid's sixth goal - his second - in the side's 7-1 La Liga victory over strugglers Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend.

The 32-year-old remained down and was immediately attended to by the club's medical staff who escorted him off the pitch. It was as he exited the playing field that he was pictured holding the doctor's mobile to examine the damage the challenge had caused and did not return for the final 10 minutes.

"We can't control what people say. He just took the phone to have a look at what had happened, to see if it was a big or small cut - that's all," Zidane told a news conference.

"He wanted to know whether or not he could continue or not; that's what he told us in the dressing room and for me that's it. They stitched him up and now he's coming back. The fact he's training with his eye as it is shows just how important it is for him to play."

The injury means Ronaldo will miss Real's King's Cup quarterfinal second leg at home to local rivals Leganes on Wednesday. Zidane's side hold a 1-0 advantage from the first match courtesy of a late \arco Asensio goal.

 Manchester United narrowly pipped Real Madrid to remain the top revenue-generating club in the world as Premier League sides underlined their growing financial clout, Deloitte's "Money League" report said Tuesday. 
It is the 10th time United have topped Deloitte's list, with a revenue in 2016/17 of 676 million euros ($828 million, £593 million) - just 1.7 million euros ahead of the Spanish giants.
United on Monday confirmed the signing of Chile striker Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in a deal which is expected to make him the Premier League's highest-paid player. 
Barcelona - one of Sanchez's former clubs - are third in the 21st edition of the list compiled by the British-based business advisory firm, followed by Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Combined revenue for the top 20 Money League clubs in the 2016/17 season grew six percent to 7.9 billion euros, a new record.
United's Europa League victory was crucial to their financial performance, with Real Madrid's figures boosted by winning the Champions League and their Spanish league triumph.
A record 10 English clubs feature in the top 20, generating a total revenue of 3.8 billion euros, helped by income from the first season of the current record Premier League broadcast rights deal.
Broadcast revenue is now the largest individual revenue stream for the Money League clubs, making up 45 percent of total revenue and there is increasing speculation that the likes of Amazon and Facebook could become serious players, potentially giving a fresh cash injection.
"The Deloitte Football Money League has a particularly English feel this year and with the new broadcast deal and UEFA competition performance driving broadcast revenue growth of over half a billion pounds for those in the top 20, it doesn't come as a surprise," said Tim Bridge, senior manager in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.
"As the Premier League is currently in the middle of its rights tender for the next cycle from 2019/20, the results of this will be crucial to determining the long-term composition of the Money League."
A separate study released earlier this month showed Premier League leaders Manchester City have greater financial muscle than any other club in world football, with Arsenal second and United in seventh place.
The Soccerex Football Finance 100 ranked the world's top teams based on both their playing and fixed assets, money in the bank, owner potential investment and debt.

Deloitte Football Money League - 2016-2017 revenue.
1. Man United 676.3 million euros
2. Real Madrid 674.6
3. FC Barcelona 648.3
4. Bayern Munich 587.8
5. Man City 527.7
6. Arsenal 487.6
7. PSG 486.2
8. Chelsea 428
9. Liverpool 424.2
10. Juventus 405.7
11. Hotspur 355.6
12. Dortmund 332.6
13. Atletico 272.5
14. Leicester City 271.1
15. Internazionale 262.1
16. Schalke 04 230.2
17. West Ham 213.3
18. Southampton 212.1
19. Napoli 200.7
20. Everton 199.2

Colin Montgomerie made the long-haul trip from Los Angeles to Dubai but he didn't change the time on his watch. Perhaps, it was a bit of nostalgia for the Scotsman as he returned to the place where he made the most appearances since the inaugural edition when the Omega Dubai Desert Classic was known as the Karl Litten Classic. In a way, it was turning back the clock as Montgomerie, now 54, made his way to the Majlis Course on Tuesday.

The record eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner made 24 appearances and won the tournament in 1996. His other best finishes include second to Fred Couples in 1995 and four top-10 finishes. A lot has changed since then.

"Yeah, people seem to recognise me. I don't know, caddies wearing shorts, can't recognise anybody, even Niall Horan. Terrible, isn't it. Niall Horan, he has more Twitter followers than I have for sure," Montgomerie joked.

"Yeah, it's a nice place to come, Dubai. It's always been a special special place this, for me on a personal front, and back, well, 22 years ago now, when I won here, but the times that I did come here, you know, and contend here, I really enjoyed it. I think the course has stood the test of time terrifically well over the years. Very few courses have had as little change as this one and stood the test of time. Karl Litten did a fantastic job in the design and the vision to make this place what it is. Superb, and it's great this year. Particularly, there's a very strong field, very, very strong field, as strong a field as I haven't witnessed for many, many years here in the Dubai Desert Classic, so everyone's excited about it," he added.

Montgomerie was last here in 2014 when the event celebrated its 25th anniversary. "I played here on the 25th anniversary. They invited the past winners back here. They give me a watch, so it's worth the trip (laughter). Didn't have to change it," said Montgomerie.

Montgomerie, who now plays on the PGA Tour Champions, arrived after competing in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawaii, where he also encountered, of all things a missile threat, which later turned out to be a false alarm.

"Of all places to land, you know, you could pick anywhere, couldn't you, really, and yet we picked the one place that was a missile threat. It was a weird sort of thing, because people were going down manholes and stuff. I mean, what the hell, that's no use. If I was going to sort of know it's going to end, I'd just about order a drink and sit on the beach and watch it happen, really. Because if you're going anyway, so you might as well just go out in style, other than down a bloody manhole. That's not the way to go, is it," he quipped.

Dutch BMX cyclist Jelle van Gorkom has awoken from a coma and his life is no longer in danger, officials said Monday, cautioning however that he faced a long recovery.
The 27-year-old is "making good progress, and is out of acute danger," the Royal Dutch Cycling Union (KNWU) said on its website.
Van Gorkom, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was hurt in an accident on January 9 during training on a BMX track at the national sports centre in eastern Papendal near Arnhem.
He was placed in an induced coma for several days, suffering from broken ribs, a fracture to the face, a fractured skull and damage to his liver, spleen and kidneys.
The KNWU said Van Gorkom was now conscious, reacting to stimuli, making contact and recognising people.
But he remains "fragile" and "it is obvious that he will need a long rehabilitation with no guarantees that he will make a full recovery," the association said.

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Defending champion New England has been made the biggest Super Bowl favorite since 2009 over the Philadelphia Eagles despite injuries to star quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Westgate sports book in Las Vegas opened the Patriots as a 5.5-point favorite while the Wynn Las Vegas had the Eagles a 6.5-point underdog and Caesars Palace gave New England a 6-point edge with William Hill liking the Patriots by 5.

Brady said Monday on his weekly WEEI radio appearance that he will have stitches removed this week from a cut on his right hand suffered last week in practice and be fine for Super Bowl 52 against the Eagles on February 4 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"As the game went on, it got better and better and better," Brady said of the throwing-hand injury in New England's 24-20 playoff win Sunday over Jacksonville. "It won't be a problem in a couple of weeks, which I'm really happy about."

The Patriots were optimistic Gronkowski, who exited after a helmet-to-helmet blow in the second quarter caused a concussion, would be finished with the NFL's concussion protocol and available for the Super Bowl, the Boston Herald reported Monday.

A record $138.5 million was wagered in Nevada sports betting on last year's Super Bowl, when New England overcame a 25-point deficit to win in over-time.

Not since the Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-point favorites over Arizona nine years ago has a club been so lopsided a favorite as the Patriots, who chase their sixth Super Bowl title to match Pittsburgh's record and their third crown in the past four seasons.

"Every year has been different and every team is different and every season is different," Brady said. "This team earned it. If people don't like that, it's their prerogative. They can do whatever they want. But to get this far with this team is incredible."

The Eagles, however, are accustomed to underdog status, to the point of players wearing dog masks to revel in the snubs, defying oddsmakers in playoff wins over Atlanta and Minnesota.

"We haven't been talked about all year," Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. "That's the story of the Eagles. If you go back and look, we're in the top five in a lot of categories. We keep finding ways to win and moving on. It's our motto. All we need is one more."

Brady detailed his injury, which happened when his right thumb was "bent back" after he collided with running back Rex Burkhead on a handoff attempt during a workout last Wednesday.

"It was just a crazy injury in practice," Brady said. "It didn't look good there for a little bit."

Brady said he "definitely wasn't sure" last Wednesday that he could play against Jacksonville, adding, "It turned out to be a lot of good luck that it wasn't more serious than it was. I think we're very lucky."

Pro14 club Ospreys on Monday announced they had sacked head coach Steve Tandy after six years in charge of the Welsh region.

Ospreys are second bottom of Pro14 Conference A with just four wins from 13 outings and were knocked out of the Champions Cup following a 24-7 defeat at Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

Tandy led the club to the then Pro12 title in his first season in charge but following the loss to Clermont, Ospreys have now failed to reach a Champions Cup quarter-final in eight years.

"Steve has been an outstanding servant to Ospreys Rugby -- often in challenging circumstances," said managing director Andrew Millward.

"His dedication to the region and his hard work has been absolute. However, we're aware that results have not been good enough this season and that, regrettably, a change is necessary to keep the organisation moving forward."

Gianluigi Buffon will be among the Juventus players to star in a fly-on-the-wall documentary series on Netflix from February 16, the reigning Serie A champions confirmed on Monday.

'First team: Juventus FC', the original docu-series about the Italian giants, with the first three episodes following the club's key players on and off the pitch, is to be aired from mid-February with the second part available in the summer.

"You'll go on the road, deep inside Allianz Stadium and around Turin to capture the players' lives in depth while following the twists and turns of another enthralling season," the team said in a statement.

"Through over four months of shooting you'll get up close and personal with Bianconeri like Gianluigi Buffon, Federico Bernardeschi, Giorgio Chiellini, Douglas Costa, Gonzalo Higuain, Claudio Marchisio, Miralem Pjanic, Daniele Rugani, and coach Massimiliano Allegri as well as Bianconeri legends like Alessandro Del Piero."

The American online entertainment service was handed access to Juventus players for the current season, with the documentary set to show Serie A matches, action from the training pitch and a behind-the-scenes look inside Allegri's dressing room.

Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with over 109 million members in 190 countries.

Having earned a recall to the France squad for the first time in two years, Morgan Parra is now out of the Six Nations opener against Ireland with a knee injury.

Parra's selection last week raised a few eyebrows as he hadn't played for France since the 2015 World Cup but the 29-year-old was injured playing for Clermont against Ospreys in the European Champions Cup over the weekend and has been replaced in Jacques Brunel's France squad by Baptiste Serin.

Toulon's Hugo Bonneval has also been drafted into the squad to replace Racing 92 full-back Brice Dulin, who suffered a calf injury against Leicester on Sunday.

Serin was first choice scrum-half for much of Brunel's predecessor Guy Noves' two-year France reign while Parra was out in the cold.

The 23-year-old Bordeaux-Begles player lost his spot under Noves to Antoine Dupont during the November internationals before being dropped entirely by Brunel.

Parra, who has 68 French caps, had been in fine form this season.

France open their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on February 3.

Meanwhile, Brunel confirmed on Monday that Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado would remain as France captain.

The 31-year-old was named captain by Noves following the international retirement of Thierry Dusautoir after the World Cup.

Guirado began his career at Perpignan and was part of the 2009 team Brunel coached to the Top 14 title.

Squad

Forwards (18): Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92), Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92), Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), Dany Priso (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Clermont), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon, capt), Christopher Tolofua (Saracens/ENG), Arthur Iturria (Clermont), Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français), Felix Lambey (Lyon), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont), Yacouba Camara (Montpellier), Kevin Gourdon (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Castres), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Sekou Macalou (Stade Francais), Marco Tauleigne (Bordeaux-Begles)

Backs (14): Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux-Begles), Anthony Belleau (Toulon), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Henry Chavancy (Racing 92), Geoffrey Doumayrou (La Rochelle), Remi Lamerat (Clermont), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier), Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92), Hugo Bonneval (Toulon), Geoffrey Palis (Castres)

Yu Darvish, the Japanese pitcher who endured a nightmare World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, has received a contract offer from Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers, according to multiple reports Monday.

The 31-year-old right-hander tweeted a Japanese report of the deal with a thinking-face emoji while MLB's website also reported the Brewers had submitted a contract to consider.The club has not commented but the Brewers could use pitching help with ace Jimmy Nelson working his way back after right shoulder surgery last September.

Darvish has a 3.42 earned-run average over 131 starts in five North American campaigns. He went 10-12 with a 3.86 ERA in 31 combined starts last year for the Dodgers and Texas Rangers, striking out 209 batters over 186 2/3 innings.

The Houston Astros pounded Darvish in the World Series, however, taking him for nine runs on nine hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings in two starts for the Dodgers that each ended abruptly in the second inning, including the decisive game seven.

Russian short track speed skater Viktor Ahn, biathlete Anton Shipulin and cross-country skier Sergei Ustyugov are not on the list of athletes eligible for next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Games, a Russian Olympic Committee official said on Tuesday.The committee’s vice president, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, told RIA Novosti news agency the three had not been included in the pool from which Russian competitors will be invited to compete in Pyeongchang by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC last month banned Russia from Pyeongchang over “systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but left the door open to athletes with no history of doping to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia”.

“Athletes like Viktor Ahn, Anton Shipulin and Sergei Ustyugov were not involved in the Oswald commission proceedings,” RIA quoted Pozdnyakov as saying, referring to an IOC commission probing alleged doping violations by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Games.

“They were never involved in doping stories and the many tests they passed over their careers have showed that they are clean athletes. Nevertheless their names are absent from the list of potential Olympic participants.”

Ahn, who was born in South Korea, won three gold medals and a bronze at the 2006 Turin Games for his native country but was passed over for Vancouver four years later due to a knee injury and after falling out with his country’s skating union.

The 32-year-old switched allegiance to Russia in 2011 and went on to win three gold medals and a bronze at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Shipulin, 30, won bronze in the biathlon relay at Vancouver in 2014 and gold in the relay at Sochi in 2014.

He could not immediately be reached for comment.

Ustyugov, 25, won gold in the 30 km skiathlon and the team sprint at the 2017 world championships.

The IOC last week reduced the pool of Russian athletes eligible to compete at Pyeongchang to 389 from 500.

Alexis Sanchez said he was "thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world" as he completed his move to Manchester United from Arsenal on Monday.
The 29-year-old Chile international will reportedly become the highest-paid player in Premier League history following the deal which sees Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading in the opposite direction.
"I have spent three-and-a-half wonderful years at Arsenal and I bring with me very positive memories of that great club and its fans," said Sanchez, who joined the Gunners for £31.7 million in 2014 after three years at Barcelona.
"The chance to play in this historic stadium and to work with Jose Mourinho was something I could not turn down.
"I am very proud to be the first Chilean player ever to play for United's first team and I hope I can show our fans all around the world why the club wanted to bring me here."
British media have claimed Sanchez will earn a pre-tax weekly salary of around £500,000 ($695,000, 567,000 euros).
The swap deal that brings an end to Armenia international Mkhitaryan's mixed 18 months at Old Trafford had been expected for several days.
"Alexis is one of the best attacking players in the world and he will complete our very young and talented group of attacking players," said United manager Jose Mourinho.
"He will bring his ambition, drive and personality, qualities that make a Manchester United player and a player that makes the team stronger and the supporters proud of their club dimension and prestige."
Sanchez spent three years at Barcelona, winning La Liga in 2013 before twice lifting the FA Cup with Arsenal but his relationship with the club soured after he tried to orchestrate a move to United's rivals Manchester City in the summer.
He has played 119 times for Chile, whom he helped to win back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, although they failed to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.
His move to United was celebrated back in his homeland, where fans on social media lauded the Red Devils' "winning" mentality, in contrast to the paucity of recent success at Arsenal.
"The golden destiny of Alexis," said daily newspaper La Tercera, which claimed the news would warm the hearts of Chilean fans still upset over the country's failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Coach Jose Sulantay told El Mercurio that Sanchez had done well to pick United over Manchester City, rumoured to be his preferred destination until they were outbid by Mourinho's team.
"City never stop passing the ball and that has an impact on the players by masking their individual talent," said Sulantay, the former coach of the Chilean youth teams.
"United are very direct and that's why Alexis's power, technique and speed will be a huge boost for Mourinho's team."
The highlight of Mkhitaryan's brief stay in Manchester was scoring in the Europa League final victory over Ajax last season.
He also helped the club win the League Cup, having previously won three Ukrainian titles with Shakhtar Donetsk and four Armenian crowns with Pyunik.
Mkhitaryan joined United for around £30 million in 2016 after three years at Borussia Dortmund.
"I would like to wish Henrikh all the success and happiness that I am sure he is going to get. He is a player that we will not forget, especially for his contribution to our Europa League victory," added Mourinho.
Arsenal also published the news of the swap deal on their website.
"It's a dream come true because I've always dreamed of playing for Arsenal. Now that I'm here, I'll do my best for this club to create history," said Mkhitaryan.

The executive leadership of USA Gymnastics' board of directors has resigned in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving former US team doctor Larry Nassar, the governing body announced Monday.

Chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley stepped down following stinging criticism of the organization's handling of the Nassar case by victims who include Olympic superstar Simone Biles and other gold medalists.

"We support their decisions to resign at this time," said Kerry Perry, who was named president of USA Gymnastics in November.

"We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization."

USA Gymnastics has come under fire during the ongoing sentencing hearing for Nassar in Michigan, in which more than 100 gymnasts have given statements against the disgraced former doctor, who faces life in prison.

The board of directors will name interim chairpersons until permanent selections are made as the beleaguered body tries to advance beyond the scandal.

It's a step the US Olympic Committee (USOC) has been seeking for months, USOC president Scott Blackmun said in a statement stressing the need to focus on the victimized women.

"New board leadership is necessary because the current leaders have been focused on establishing that they did nothing wrong," Blackmun said.

"USA Gymnastics needs to focus on supporting the brave survivors. The Olympic family failed these athletes and we must continue to take every step necessary to ensure this never happens again."

- Victims fury in testimony -

USA Gymnastics president Perry replaced Steve Penny, who resigned last March after 12 years in the post following criticism of how USA Gymnastics handled the abuse claims.

"Several people did speak up. Why didn't anyone listen or care enough to do anything?" asked Paula Daniels, whose daughter Samantha was identified as a victim of Nassar's abuse.

Nassar, 54, has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct and faces life in prison. He has already been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

At day five of his sentencing hearing Monday in Michigan, more victims spoke, including Taylor Livingston, who called life a "chore" and "constant fight" due to the guilt she felt concealing the abuse from her father, who died last year.

"When you die, you're going to hell," she told Nassar. "But there will be a pit stop on the way where you'll have to face my dad, who now knows what you've done... and when you do, you will suffer."

Lead prosecutor Angela Povilaitis said the last of 144 people were set to give victim impact statements before sentencing Tuesday or Wednesday, most testifying to the profound toll the abuse took on their lives and families.

- 'The last child...' -

Emma Ann Miller, the youngest to speak at 15, described Nassar's actions in a supply closet during a 2016 medical appointment at a clinic she said is still trying to bill her family for the appointment.

"I'm possibly the last child you will ever assault," Miller told Nassar, saying she plans to keep going while Nassar "fades into a federal prison cell."

Nassar's victims, according to prosecutors and civil attorneys, include his former family babysitter and athletes in several women's sports programs at Michigan State University, where he worked.

The Karolyi Ranch, a suburban Houston layout once famed as a breeding ground of champions, will no longer serve as a training site for top gymnasts, USA Gymnastics announced last week, the facility holding too many horrific memories for too many US athletes.

Biles, who dazzled in winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said in her Twitter post last week revealing abuse by Nassar at the ranch that it "breaks my heart" to think of training there for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

USA Gymnastics also came under attack after it emerged that Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney had been required to sign a gag order preventing her from talking about the abuse under the terms of a $1.25 million settlement agreed in 2016.

USA Gymnastics later waived the order last week following criticism, saying Maroney would be free to discuss the abuse without fear of financial penalty.

The Orlando Magic parlayed a big third quarter into a 103-95 upset of the Boston Celtics on Sunday, their third win in 20 games coming against the NBA's Eastern Conference leaders.

Elfrid Payton scored 22 points for the Magic, who had lost their last 14 games in Boston in a skid stretching back to February 2010.

"It feels good to get a win, especially after playing well," Payton said. "We felt we played well against the Cavaliers and didn't come out with the victory. So to get the win today feels good."

Orlando spoiled the return from injury of Boston point guard Kyrie Irving, whose 40 points couldn't prevent the Celtics from dropping a third straight game for the first time this season.

Irving had missed Thursday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with a nagging shoulder injury.

Jaylen Brown scored 17 points and Marcus Morris finished with 12 to score in double figures for the fourth consecutive game for the Celtics.

"We haven't played consistently on both ends for a while now," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "I felt like they were shooting layups for the most part tonight."

Evan Fournier scored 19 points and Aaron Gordon produced a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, who started the day in a three-way tie for the worst record in the league.

Orlando trailed 59-58 at halftime, but out-scored the Celtics 32-12 in the third quarter to take a 90-71 lead into the final frame.

The Magic's upset bid appeared to be coming unstuck as they made just one of their first 16 shot attempts of the fourth quarter.

The Celtics trimmed the deficit to seven points on Al Horford's hook shot with 1:13 remaining.

A free-throw from Payton and Fournier's floater in the final minute stretched Orlando's lead back to 10.

Elsewhere, Victor Oladipo delivered 19 points as the Indiana Pacers ended the San Antonio Spurs 14-game winning streak at home with a 94-86 victory.

Darren Collison tallied 15 points for the Pacers, who halted a three-game losing streak in San Antonio.

The Spurs lost at home for the third time this season and the first since November 10 against Milwaukee.

The Pacers became the first Eastern Conference team in three years to sweep a season series from the Spurs.

- 'Build on it' -

"We did a great job just getting stops and moving the ball," Oladipo said. "They're a tough team to play against. Well-coached team, great players over there, it was a tough-fought team win. We've just got to build on it."

Pau Gasol had 14 points to lead the Spurs who were minus Manu Ginobili, Rudy Gay and Kawhi Leonard because of injuries.

Tony Parker came off the bench to record 12 points and five assists. It marked just the 14th time in 1,165 games that Parker has come into the game off the bench.

In Los Angeles, Jordan Clarkson had 29 points and 10 assists, Julius Randle added 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 127-107.

Kyle Kuzma added 15 points for the Lakers, who have won their six of their last eight games and the last two without injured rookie Lonzo Ball.

Tomas Berdych will face a familiar tricky problem after powering past Fabio Fognini into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday for a seventh time.

The Czech, seeded 19 and a two-time semi-finalist in Melbourne, put away the 25th seeded Italian 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 2hr 8min on Margaret Court Arena.

His reward will be yet another match against the great Roger Federer, his fifth in Melbourne and his 26th overall.

The Swiss 19-time Grand Slam champion holds all the aces with a one-sided 19-6 record and Berdych knows he faces another tough challenge if he is to progress in the year's opening Grand Slam. 

"If there is any plan or any key to success then I would like to know that," he told reporters to the oft-asked question about his chances against Federer.

"I'm definitely going to go out there, try my best, try to play good tennis, and believe myself that I can do it.

"I did it in the past, and also, I did it in the slams, so I know how it is to beat him for the best-of-five sets.

"But obviously he's an extremely tough opponent. I will just to go out there and swing at some balls."

Berdych was in little trouble against the maverick Fognini, breaking the Italian's serve six times, hitting 37 winners and offset with 20 unforced errors.

"I won in three sets, and that's it. So if we're going to go play tomorrow again, it would be probably a different match," Berdych said.

"You just have to take it as it is. I was expecting a tough one and I was ready for it. I had a good game plan, and I was able to execute it all the way through the three sets, so I did it way better today."

Berdych went into Monday's match holding the record for the most number of Australian Open round of 16 appearances by a Czech man with 10 ahead of Ivan Lendl's eight.

He said he was feeling much better after back issues flared late last year.

"I'm enjoying it a lot. I'm glad to be back in the shape that I am right now, which is finally healthy and that makes the difference," he said.

"I can play freely and I can have joy from the tennis. I can enjoy the time being on court. Yeah, the results are coming with that."

He improved his record to 44-14 at the Australian Open, representing his most successful major tournament in terms of matches won and quarter-finals reached.

Berdych has reached the semi-finals twice in Melbourne, losing to Stan Wawrinka in 2014 and against Andy Murray the following year.

Some of the girls wear hijabs, others are barefoot and the sandy pitch is marked out in charcoal. But the 14 players could be Ghana's rugby stars of the future.

One of them, Maimuna Dawda, used to watch matches on television before she got the chance to hold the oval ball for herself in 2016.

Now, the 14-year-old plays three games of short-format seven-a-side every week at the Kanda Cluster of Schools that she attends in the capital, Accra.

In places like Ghana, where society is still overwhelmingly male-dominated and gender roles remain traditionally assigned, rugby -- where it's played -- is seen as a man's game.

But Dawda wants to prove otherwise and represent her country at the highest level.

"I want to play in a national team and be the best rugby player for Ghana," she told AFP on the sidelines of a schools sevens tournament.

- Increasing participation -

Watching the students from the touchline is Rafatu Inusah, who has been playing rugby since 2009 and was one of the first women in Ghana to do so.

She now works for the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) as a development officer, helping to implement global governing body World Rugby's "Get Into Rugby" programme.The scheme is designed to increase the number of players, coaches and referees across the world and is helping the sport to reach more countries than ever before.

Like some of the girls she trains, Inusah, 28, also wears a hijab when she plays and laughs at the idea that Muslim women can't play the sport.

In fact, she said she specifically targets Muslim girls.

"I decided to go into the Islamic school in order to change that perception they have when you are playing rugby (that) 'rugby is not for ladies or girls to play'," she said.

"It's for everybody."

- Gutter to gutter -

Ghana is a member of Rugby Africa, one of the six regional associations of World Rugby, which organises games the length and breadth of the continent.

In 2016, nearly 400,000 African boys and girls took part in development programmes while just over 770,000 men, women and children played the sport.

At the last Olympics in 2016, established rugby giants South Africa and relative newcomers Kenya represented the continent at sevens, which was included at the Games for the first time.

The Springboks won bronze behind Great Britain who were beaten in the final by Fiji. Kenya -- Africa Cup Sevens champions in 2013 and 2015 -- placed 11th out of 12.

The president of the GRFU, Herbert Mensah, believes Ghana -- a country better known for the exploits of its international footballers, the Black Stars -- could become a new challenger.

He said his job often seemed to be "trying to do the impossible" but he wants the sport to be as inclusive and as accessible as possible.One idea to increase participation is touch rugby on the streets, using the open drains on either side as natural touchlines.

"Gutter to gutter allows them to throw the ball and run in a straight line," explained Mensah.

"If you don't run in a straight line you end up in a gutter. Try to get fancy and you lacerate your face," he says with a laugh.

- Climbing the rankings -

According to World Rugby, there were some 8.5 million registered and non-registered players in 121 countries across the world in 2016.

But over half of them were in just nine countries -- the Six Nations of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy; South Africa; Australia; and New Zealand.

Ghana, which currently has only 13 clubs registered with the GRFU, wants 1,500 players and the game to be taught in 120 schools by 2020.

Yet, the country already has a national team -- and even its own version of the haka, the traditional Maori war cry performed by New Zealand's All Blacks before internationals.

The Ghana Eagles in October last year played in the Africa Cup Sevens Tournament held in Uganda's capital, Kampala, and placed a creditable ninth out of 10.

Just months after becoming a full member of World Rugby, it also won its group in the Rugby Africa regional challenge event -- the lowest tier of the sport on the continent.

That has taken the country into the third tier Bronze Cup for the men's 15s in May this year, while they will try to improve on last year's Africa Cup performance in October.

Longer term, the plan is to target the Olympics and World Cup.

"In five or seven years, I think we will be one of the best sevens sides in the world," Mensah predicted.

"Now we have got to get the new group of younger players coming through who are 10, 11, 12 now, who will have learnt how to play the game from a very young age."

When Feng Shanshan was confirmed as the women's number one golfer she marked the historic achievement by ordering steak at Dallas airport and sending a photo of it to her parents.

The 28-year-old had every reason to celebrate even while swapping planes: she was the first Chinese -- male or female -- to top the golf world rankings.Feng was already the first Chinese on the women's US-based LPGA Tour; the first Chinese of either gender to triumph at a major championship, in 2012; and in 2016 she won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics.

Her latest feat, in November, underlined the growing heft of China in a sport that was banned under Mao Zedong because he considered it too bourgeois.

But Feng is not your typical Chinese -- hence the steak celebration and cow-print trousers she wears on the golf course -- and the image of her spending hours repetitively hitting golf balls would not quite be correct either.

"She is more into quality versus quantity, but also she is a person who has a high golfing IQ," said Feng's long-time swing coach Gary Gilchrist.

"What I mean by that, she understands that the key to this game is more about preparation and mental toughness than anything else," he told LPGA.com, calling Feng "a golfing mother to the Chinese" because of her trailblazing success.

Feng's ascension to the top came a decade after she turned professional and was sealed with back-to-back LPGA victories late last year, first in Japan and then on home soil on Hainan island.

- 'At least I'm alive' -

She may be tough but Feng also knows how to have fun -- those cow-print trousers and other colourful clothing -- and typically celebrates victory with a hearty meal, a spot of karaoke or a splurge at the shops, preferably on handbags.

She is frequently described as having the best sense of humour in women's golf, but she is less comfortable with one other tag often attached to her.

"I always tell the media that I don’t think I’m a pioneer, I think I’m a guinea pig," she said after climbing to the top ranking.

"Before me there was nobody (from China) on the LPGA and actually experiencing tour life.

"So I do think that I'm a guinea pig, but I'm kind of a successful guinea pig. At least I'm still alive!"

In her rookie year Feng thought that she would play 10 LPGA seasons and then retire, but 2018 will be her 11th and she says -- in fluent English -- that "I'll be here for a few more years".

Feng hails from the southern city of Guangzhou and names Gilchrist and her father Feng Xiong as major influences since taking up the game aged 10, when golf was still a mystery to most Chinese.

After bronze in 2016 she wants to win gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to add to her nearly $10 million in LPGA career earnings and nine tour titles.

- Hunger to win -

Feng was the fifth women's number one of last year but veteran sports writer Spencer Robinson, who has closely followed her career, says that she has the self-belief to stay at the top in 2018.

"Shanshan just loves playing golf -- and winning," Robinson, also chief communications officer at the Asian Golf Industry Federation, said ahead of the first LPGA event of the year, in the Bahamas from January 25.

"Given the natural talent she possesses, as long as she maintains that attitude and desire, she’ll remain at the top of the game," said Robinson, who believes that Feng will add to her tally of major wins in the coming years.

Another major is Feng's stated goal for 2018.

"Nothing fazes her," added Robinson.

"Any time she has a bad break, Shanshan has this admirable ability to block it out -- and bounce back immediately."

England coach Trevor Bayliss slammed the accusations after former Australian Test players Shane Warne and Michael Slater suggested it was not allowed.

“It’s a beat-up. As soon as I saw the headlines I raced into the umpires and that was their words: ‘Nothing to worry about, it was a beat-up, absolutely fine’,” Bayliss said at the time.

England sealed the five-match ODI series in Sydney on Sunday when a stunning century from Jos Buttler helped the visitors to a unbeatable 3-0 lead — a remarkable turnaround after Australia had trounced them 4-0 in the Ashes Tests.

Meanwhile, Australia’s world champion one-day team could face a major overhaul after they slumped to a 10th loss in 11 games, according to chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.

Smith’s side were beaten by 16 runs by England on Sunday to give the tourists an unassailable lead in the five-match series.

It is the first home series loss for Australia since 2010 and they have won just 26 of their 50 completed matches since they beat New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by seven wickets in 2015 to clinch their fifth global title.

“With what’s happened recently we are reviewing how we’re actually playing the game and type of player that’s required in the one-day format,” Hohns said on Monday.

“We haven’t played well in this series, we don’t seem to have been able to put it all together on the one day, there has been something lacking.”

Australia’s struggles in the 50-over format has not gone un-noticed in the cricketing world, with the New Zealand Herald newspaper asking if the side were “the worst world champions?”.

A statistical breakdown of previous world champions’ winning percentages, showed that only the 1983 Indian team had a worse success rate between tournaments.

India won 44 per cent of their games between 1983 and 1987.

Smith’s side have also been far from settled.

Four of the 2015 World Cup winners — captain Michael Clarke, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, pace bowler Mitchell Johnson and all-rounder Shane Watson — have retired from international cricket. Since that victory, selectors have also given 18 players debuts in One Day International.

In an era when run rates are pushed consistently past six an over, Australia have also only scored more than 300 on 13 occasions in 50 completed matches since the World Cup. They lost three of those games.

Hohns said the selectors may need to look at a different type of player for their side, with a focus on hard-hitting middle order players and specialist limited-overs bowlers as they look ahead to the 2019 World Cup in England.

“With the World Cup in 2019 there is a lot of one-day cricket to be played between now and then,” he said. “We will be trying very soon to get together the main nucleus of our squad so they can play together for some time.”

Wallabies star David Pocock's long-awaited return to Australia from a Rugby sabbatical has been pushed back after he went under the knife on Saturday to repair a damaged knee.

The 29-year-old will be on the sidelines for up to 12 weeks after having the surgery to fix damage to his meniscus, missing the start of the Super Rugby season with the ACT Brumbies.

"There is always frustration and disappointment, but all you can do is control your reaction to it. Having a bit of time off [last year], I realise how fortunate I am," Pocock told the Canberra Times Sunday.

"I was looking forward to arriving back in Canberra with some match fitness and ready to go, but this is probably the better approach. I've managed it for ages, this is the smart decision."

Pocock took a 12-month sabbatical last year from international duties, which included a stint with Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights.

The injury had been niggling the Wallabies star who could return for the Brumbies in mid-March, pending consultation with his surgeon.

"It's the kind of thing that if you keep managing, at some point if it tears it will be a lot worse. You wouldn't want that to be halfway through the season."

One of the world's leading back-rows, Pocock stepped away from the game to freshen up for the upcoming two seasons with the Brumbies and the Wallabies, including 2019's World Cup.

Wounded 12-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic was sent tumbling out of the Australian Open by Korean giant-killer Chung Hyeon Monday, but ice-cool Roger Federer roared into the quarter-finals.

The Serb, who was returning from six months out with a right elbow injury, was clearly in pain as his hopes of a seventh Melbourne Park title were extinguished on Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).

He was keen not to take away from the glasses-wearing Chung's huge achievement after the 21-year-old followed up his win over fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the last round.

"Congratulations. Amazing," said Djokovic, who also had an apparent hip or groin problem, screeching at times when stretching for the ball.

"He was the better player on court today and he deserved to win."

Djokovic said the injuries started troubling him at the end of the first set and a decision on where he goes from here would be made after talking with his medical team.

Chung's reward is a last-eight clash with unheralded American Tennys Sandgren, who upset Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (7/9).

The Korean, ranked 58, described Djokovic as "my idol".

"I can't believe this, dream's come true tonight."

Sandgren was also in a daze, becoming just the second man in the last 20 years since Frenchman Nicolas Escude to make the quarter-finals on his Australian Open debut.

"I don't know if this is a dream or not," he said. "I knew I had to come out and play aggressive and take my chances and serve well and thankfully it worked out in the end."

For a composed Federer, it was business as normal.

The Swiss defending champion swatted aside one-time training partner Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to make the last eight for an incredible 14th time.

He will now play fellow veteran Tomas Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2014 and 2015, who demolished Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

"We have had some good ones over the years going back all the way to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004," the 19-time Grand Slam champion said of the Czech.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to play against him. He seems in good shape."

Berdych, who is on his way back from back problems, lost to the five-time Australian Open champion in the third round last year and the odds are heavily stacked again him.

Of the 13 quarter-finals Federer has contested in Melbourne, he has won the lot.

- Running everywhere -

World number one Simona Halep eased into the last eight 6-3, 6-2 over unseeded Naomi Osaka of Japan, delighted to be off court early after an epic and gruelling three-setter in the previous round.

While the win was easy, she continues to nurse a troublesome ankle that she rolled early in the tournament.

"I feel it but I'm trying not to think about it and give it everything," said Halep, who has never gone beyond the quarters before.

She will play sixth seed Karolina Pliskova, who beat fellow Czech Barbora Strycova in three tough sets.

Germany's Angelique Kerber is the only Grand Slam champion left among the women, and she was given a big fright as she chases her second Melbourne Park crown after beating Serena Williams in 2016.

After crushing Maria Sharapova in the last round, she came up against gritty Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei.

At one point Kerber was serving to stay in the match, but she bounced back to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"Credit to her, she played unbelievable. I was running everywhere," said Kerber, who had a poor 2017 after starting the year as world number one.

The win set Kerber up with a clash against American Madison Keys, a semi-finalist in 2015 who has found a new lease of life under the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.

Seeded 17, she flattened French eighth seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 in just 68 impressive minutes.

South Korea's efforts to bring the North to its Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month are provoking a backlash among its own people, with accusations that Seoul risks turning the Games into a "Pyongyang Olympics".

Many are fuming over what they see as exploitation of the South's own athletes for political purposes, and accusing President Moon Jae-In's government of making too many concessions to please its hostile, unpredictable neighbour.

Protesters burned an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in Seoul on Monday, along with the North's flag, even as a Pyongyang pop singer concluded a trip to the South to prepare for concerts at the time of the Games.

Seoul has long sought to promote the Games as a "Peace Olympics" that would ease tension on the flashpoint peninsula, where the North has carried out multiple missile launches in recent months, along with its most powerful nuclear test to date.

Now it is scrambling to quell public anger.

In a flurry of sporting diplomacy, the two Koreas agreed this month that the North would attend the Games, the two would march together under a unification flag at the opening ceremony, and they would form a joint female ice hockey team -- a deal approved by the IOC on Saturday.

Under the terms, 12 North Koreans will be added to the 23-strong South Korean squad, with 22 of them -- the same size as other countries' teams -- chosen to take part in each game, including at least three North Koreans.

But the deal is being widely criticised for "robbing" Southern athletes of opportunities to compete at the Olympics in a bid to stage what many describe as a hurriedly-coordinated political show.

A survey earlier this month found 73 percent of South Koreans saw no need for a joint team.

Sports should be free from politics, Seoul's conservative Dong-A daily said in an editorial on Monday, and the team coach's ability to select the team had been compromised.

"The South Korean government is focused on hosting peaceful Olympics, and says 'yes' to everything North Korea wants," it added.

- 'Free ride' -

Joint marches at past sporting events in the 2000s were widely hailed in the South, where civilian contact with the North is prohibited.

But sentiment has since hardened among many in the South in the face of Pyongyang's ever-accelerating weapons drive under Kim, which has seen it subjected to multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions.

Seoul media live-streamed every move of the visit on Sunday and Monday of the North Korean cultural delegation led by Hyon Song-Wol, the leader of Pyongyang's Moranbong girlband.

But the trip was met with largely frosty response on the Internet, where many asked: "Is this Pyeongchang Olympics or Pyongyang Olympics?"

"The North is not only getting a free ride to the event we worked so hard to prepare but also parading this woman like a visiting queen doing us a favour," said one online user.

Many now accuse the dovish president -- who has long backed engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table -- of pandering to Pyongyang.

"We don't find fault with President Moon Jae-In's effort to link the Olympics to his peace initiative for the Korean Peninsula, but the government must think about why its move faces increasing public disgruntlement," Seoul's major JoongAng daily said.

The editorial, published on Monday, added: "No South Korean would believe that the nuclear conundrum will be solved if the government stages a 'joint hosting' of the Games."

Moon's office on Sunday defended its peace gestures, describing them as "necessary" to forge peace and create a much-needed buzz over a Games that have failed to stir much excitement.

"We understand that many citizens, who were worried about the North's missile threats only a month ago, feel puzzled and baffled at the sudden change of mood," Moon's office said in a statement.

"But the Pyeongchang Olympics would not only achieve inter-Korea reconciliation but also offer a lead towards easing tension on the peninsula and forging peace," it said.

Kim and US President Donald Trump last year traded colourful personal insults and threats of war that heightened global fear of a conflict on the peninsula.

Some countries questioned whether it was safe to send their athletes but such concerns have largely died down following the North's announcement it would take part, Moon's office said.

"Having the North participate in the Olympics is an investment for the future," it said.

Dozens of Russian athletes banned by the International Olympic Committee for life over doping began an appeal against their suspension on Monday at the world's top sports court.

The week-long hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) includes appeals from 39 Russians who competed at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi that were tarnished by a vast, Moscow-backed doping scheme, according to multiple independent investigations.

The mass hearing, less than three weeks before the start of 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, is an extraordinary session for CAS and forced the court to temporarily move from its small headquarters in Lausanne to a large conference centre in Geneva.

The first athletes to appear at the court were speed skaters Alexander Rumyantsev, Artem Kuznetzov and Olga Fatkulina, who arrived smiling with a Russian team hoody protecting her head from the rain.

"Now, I think everything will be fine," Fatkulina, a silver medallist in Sochi, told reporters.

CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb told reporters outside the ad hoc court that any athlete who travels to Geneva will be heard "one-by-one during the week".

"We don't yet know exactly if they will all show up," he said.

Another three Russian biathletes who have also appealed against their IOC ban will be heard at a later hearing.

Among the witnesses scheduled to testify is Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia's anti-doping lab (RUSADA).

He was the key whistleblower who exposed the cheating programme that IOC president Thomas Bach has described as an "unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympics".

But Rodchenkov will not testify in person. Instead, he will appear via video-link from the United States, where he fled after the sudden deaths of two senior ex-RUSADA executives.

Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren has also been announced as a witness.

McLaren authored the report on Russian cheating for the World Anti-Doping Agency that read in part like a Cold War spy novel, and laid out the workings of the programme -- from the use of secret state agents to pass urine samples out of testing labs through mouseholes.

But none of the testimony will be open to the public.

- 'Lack of proof'? -

The Russians are being represented by Swiss law firm Schellenberg Wittmer, which accused the IOC of punishing their clients "despite a lack of evidence and in violation of their fundamental rights".

In a statement, the firm noted that two winter sport federations -- bobsleigh/skeleton and luge -- had separately raised concerns about the credibility of the IOC bans and urged CAS judges to follow suit.

The IOC took its action after its own inquiry confirmed evidence revealed in two separate WADA investigations.

Many of the details about Russia's state-supported doping programme were first uncovered by a groundbreaking German investigation.

- Road to Pyeongchang -

The Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea start on February 9. Twenty-one of the 42 banned Russians say they want to compete.

CAS has said it will deliver a decision between January 29 and February 2.

But even if any of the Russians secure what would be a surprise victory on appeal, the road to Pyeongchang would still remain complicated.

The IOC has banned Russia from the 2018 Games.

Russians who want to compete are being forced to pass a unique set of anti-doping tests.

Those deemed clean will be allowed to appear in Pyeongchang under a neutral flag as an "Olympic Athlete from Russia".

On Friday, the IOC said the pool of Russians who could potentially be eligible for the 2018 Games had been reduced from 500 to 389.

None of the 42 banned Russians were on the list, making it nearly impossible for any of them to clear their names by the end of the month and then manoeuver their way towards Pyeongchang eligibility by February 9.

Russia's deputy prime minister responsible for sport Vitaly Mutko -- also suspended for life by the IOC over his role in the doping scandal -- said last week that he believed around 200 Russians would ultimately be cleared for Pyeongchang.

Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a nasty cut to the head as Real Madrid moved back into the top four of La Liga after thumping lowly Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Ronaldo ended a miserable run of league form with a late double but in the process of heading in his side’s sixth goal, he suffered a kick to the head. Blood was streaming from the side of his head and he borrowed the phone of the club doctor to check the damage. He was substituted straight away and received stitches at the side of the pitch.Ronaldo had only scored four league goals before Sunday’s clash with third-from-bottom Deportivo, but the Portuguese added Real’s fifth and sixth with a smart volley and a diving header as they moved back above Villarreal and into the Champions League places.
Villarreal had temporarily taken fourth place with a 2-1 win over Levante on Saturday after beating Real at the Bernabeu for the first time ever last week.
Gareth Bale and Nacho also bagged braces each side of half-time and Luka Modric curled home a 68th-minute beauty as Real came back from a shock early deficit, a 23rd-minute tap-in from Adrian, to romp home to an emphatic victory and ease the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane.
"What changed today is the result, that we scored the chances we made, nothing else," said Zidane. “We all needed a game like this. To score seven goals is not done every day. In the end I am happy for that. We know we can play in many different shapes. Today was 4-3-3 with Gareth and Cristiano wide, and Borja. And it worked for us. We can change shape, but the most important was the attitude we showed."

Holders Saracens are through to the European Champions Cup quarter-finals after Wasps thrashed Ulster 26-7 on Sunday.

Munster and French pair La Rochelle and Racing 92 also progressed with wins against Castres, Harlequins and Leicester respectively.

Ulster came into the weekend as one of three Irish sides topping their groups but their crushing defeat at free-scoring Wasps meant they dropped to third in pool 1 and out of contention.

La Rochelle beat Harlequins 16-7 to top that stanza and despite moving up to second, Wasps missed out on the quarters.

Saracens had been in desperate waters following back-to-back pool 2 defeats to Clermont and a draw at Ospreys but they hammered Northampton 62-14 on Saturday and that was enough to see them squeak into the knock-out stages, where they will face a trip to dominant Leinster.

The Irish outfit completed a perfect pool stage campaign with a 23-14 victory at Montpellier on Saturday, but despite finishing with the best record they won't be relishing the prospect of a last-eight clash with the champions.

"See you in Dublin," said Saracens captain Brad Barritt on Twitter.

"Come on Wasps you good thing," added South African flanker Schalk Brits.

Ulster looked set to make it a perfect pool stage for the Irish but ran into an inspired Wasps, who claimed a bonus point thanks to tries from Guy Thompson, Tom Cruise, South African full-back Willie Le Roux and Jake Cooper-Woolley, Danny Cipriani going three from four with the conversions.

Ulster's reply from Sean Reidy was scant consolation.

Had Ulster won, no English side would have made it into the quarter-finals -- and that just two years after five Premiership sides made it into the last eight.

- Munster romp -

Twice winners Munster needed to beat Castres to ensure they would top pool 4 and they never looked in any danger, racking up six tries in a 48-3 thumping to qualify as third seeds, meaning they will face three-time winners Toulon in the last eight.

Keith Earls, Rhys Marshall, Simon Zebo, Alex Wootton and James Cronin crossed the whitewash while Munster also scored a penalty try as they recorded a 60th win in 64 European games at Thomond Park and a record 17th qualification for the quarter-finals.

La Rochelle scored tries through Pierre Aguillon and Kini Murimurivalu in the first half to take control against Quins, who ruined Wasps' hopes with a last-gasp winning try last week.

"For the first (participation) it's pretty exceptional," said La Rochelle fly-half Jeremy Sinzelle.

Playing in the Champions Cup for the first time, La Rochelle now face a trip to pool 5 winners Scarlets -- the first Welsh side in six years to reach the knock-out stage.

Finalists two years ago, Racing earned their berth by hanging on to beat Leicester 23-20 in the snowy English midlands.

The Parisians scored two tries in the first 12 minutes against a team who were already eliminated.

Yet Leicester responded to the early scores by Henry Chavancy and Maxime Machenaud with a display of pride. George Ford kicked three penalties before Brendon O'Connor scored a try early in the second half.

Twice in the last 15 minutes, Ford converted penalties to level the scores, but Machenaud restored the French lead both times.

In the dying seconds, Leicester won a penalty five metres from the line. The Tigers decided they would rather gamble on scoring a try to win rather than kicking a penalty for a draw, but Racing's defence held firm.

"We knew it was on the line," Racing's Irish lock forward Donnacha Ryan said. "We showed great determination in the end."

Racing will play away to French champions and last season's finalists Clermont in the quarters.

Around 800 Emiratis of various ages are expected to compete in the second edition of the Rashid Bin Humaid Falconry Championship, a heritage sport that reflects the culture of the UAE, on January 27, in Ajman's Al Helio area.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, and in cooperation with Dubai's Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC), the annual event "reflects the vision of reinforcing the national identity with something very Emirati which is falconry," the organisers said at a Press conference in Ajman on Monday.

Falconry - the ancient art of taking wild quarry with a trained bird of prey - is a traditional and highly valued custom in the UAE. During races, the falcons are lured using bait of pigeon wings and timed over a distance of 400 metres, with the best clocking around 20 seconds.

"This (falconry) tournament is a significant social and cultural event that is closely related to the intangible heritage of the UAE and the region," said Ahmed Rashid Al Shamsi, chairman of the organising committee.

"We invite the falconers to participate in the tournament. We also invite the fans to attend and follow the competitions. Last year's inaugural tournament was hugely popular among both the residents and tourists who wanted to know about this sport," he added.

"We doubled our efforts to upgrade this tournament to underline the importance of falconry to the youth sector by harnessing their energies to learn the skills and be proud of this heritage sport," Al Shamsi underlined.

For her part, Suad Ibrahim Darwish, director of championships at HHC, said: "We want to ensure a successful championship at all levels in order to revive and preserve the intangible cultural heritage of the UAE." 

Last year, around 400 falconers participated in the first edition of the Rashid Bin Humaid Falconry Championship. Organisers said they are expecting the number to double this year, especially after they introduced a new catergory - Wahish Rabi - dedicated for young falconers 13 years and below.

Big prizes are at stake in the five categories: Pure Jeer, Jeer Tabaa, Jeer Shaheen and Qarmoosha Jeer (Adults) and Wahish Rabi (Juniors). First placers in each of the five categories will get Dh50,000; second placers, Dh40,000 and third placers, Dh30,000. Those who will land in the fifth to 10th places will receive Dh5,000 each. 

The organising committee said registration is open from January 23 to 26 through the RBHFC website (www.rrr.ae) or by calling 056-5028333. The competition can also be followed on social media.

As the Australian Open enters its second week, Arab News look back at the memories from week one in Melbourne:
Day 1
Monday, Jan. 15
Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and CoCo. Vandeweghe — all semifinalists at least at the 2017 US Open — led a string of seeds sent tumbling out. Men’s eighth seed Jack Sock soon joined them in a calamitous day for American players with only three of the 15 in action progressing. With Venus departing, it became the first time since 1997 that no Williams sister made the second round, with Serena not playing after giving birth to her first child.
Day 2
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Consummate media performer Roger Federer urges his fellow professionals to act themselves and not like “robots” with the press to keep tennis interesting for the sporting public. With some of the greats of the modern game in their twilight years, he understands the need for more players to step up, and open up. “I would like to see more players just being really themselves in front of the press, being more relaxed about it, not worrying so much about making mistakes. You’d rather see that than robots left, right and center,” he said. The Swiss great said he always tried to “give it a little bit something extra” during his interviews to keep everyone happy.
Day 3
Wednesday, Jan. 17
The ear-busting grunting and screeching of rising Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka grates on the center court crowd in her match against Aussie favorite Ashleigh Barty, with fans mocking the 19-year-old, earning a rebuke from the umpire. Long a divisive issue in tennis, Twitter lit up the following day with many calling for more to be done stamp out the racket. The women’s governing body, the WTA, said grunting “is a natural part of the game,” although it did acknowledge fan concerns. “Excessive grunting is being addressed through a commitment to an ongoing educational outreach,” it added, whatever that means.
Day 4
Thursday, Jan. 18
Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather dished up a day of 40 degrees Celsius and it played havoc. Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils copped some of the worst of the scorching conditions in an afternoon match. The Serb called it “brutal” on court while Monfils complained he was suffering heatstroke. Caroline Garcia said her feet were on fire, but ice queen Maria Sharapova said she “loved summertime.” No matches were called off with the weather not considered severe enough to enforce the tournament heat policy.
Day 5
Friday, Jan. 19
Fifteen-year-old sensation Marta Kostyuk was the youngest woman into the Australian Open third round since “Swiss Miss” Martina Hingis in 1996, but her fairytale unraveled against fourth seed Elina Svitolina. She lost 6-2, 6-2 and was seen sobbing on her mum’s shoulder. Despite the loss, she relished the “free” tennis lesson from her fellow Ukrainian. “I had the chances, but because I thought, like, she is incredible, she’s a god, I cannot do anything against her, that’s the problem.” Kindly Svitolina predicted Kostyuk had a big future ahead.
Day 6
Saturday, Jan. 20
World No. 1 Simona Halep said she was “almost dead” after one of the longest Australian Open women’s matches ever. “I never played a third set so long. I’m almost dead,” said the Romanian after finally edging across the finish line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 against Lauren Davis in 3hr 44min. “My muscles are gone. I don’t feel my ankle any more.” The longest match at Melbourne Park was in 2011 when Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in 4 hours 44 minutes.

LeBron James couldn’t get to 30,000 career points and he and his Cleveland teammates couldn’t stop Paul George, Russell Westbrook or Carmelo Anthony as the Oklahoma City Thunder thumped the Cavaliers 148-124 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.
Oklahoma City tied the record for the most points scored against Cleveland in a regulation game. Philadelphia scored 148 back in 1972.
George scored 36, Westbrook had 23 and 20 assists and Anthony scored a season-high 29 as the Thunder embarrassed the Eastern Conference champions, whose defensive issues aren’t improving. Cleveland has lost 10 of 14.
James finished with 18 points and is seven shy of becoming the seventh player in NBA history to reach the 30,000-point plateau. His next chance is Tuesday when the Cavs visit San Antonio.

Novak Djokovic says meditating has helped him overcome fear and stress that comes with playing elite tennis.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion, 30, says he often turned to the practice during his long spell out of the game last year with elbow trouble.
The Serb former world No.1 is playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon in July and he has a brand new support team, headed by eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi as coach.
Djokovic said after reaching the fourth round of the year’s opening Grand Slam on Saturday that he now meditates on a daily basis.
“Yes, I do. I’ll tell you what. I don’t want to tell you what I gain with it, but I’ll tell what I lose with it,” he said.
“I lose fear. I lose anxiety. I lose stress. I guess, in the end of the day, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Djokovic has become involved in meticulous off-the-court preparation in recent years. He has a strict, gluten-free diet and is an advocate for well-being.
The new year has given him the opportunity to analyze aspects of his game and preparation.
“When it comes to tennis, I obviously was excited to analyze my game,” he said.
“First of all, I wanted to get the right team of people around me, experts in their field, so they can contribute to the process and the journey of working on my body and my game.
“Improving different aspects that are there to be worked on. Thankfully there is always something to work on.”
Djokovic said apart from tennis he has always looked at ways to improve himself, which he terms his “philosophy of life.”
“It has always been, not just for tennis, but in general there’s always something that you can improve and get better at as a person and as a player,” he said.
“That’s probably the most exciting thing about life, is that every day is a new opportunity for you to get better.”
Djokovic faces South Korea’s “NextGen” star Chung Hyeon in Monday’s round of 16.

Rafael Nadal battled through a huge test to make his 10th Australian Open quarter-final Sunday as a ruthless Caroline Wozniacki kicked into full gear to book a date with Carla Suarez Navarro.
On an overcast and muggy day at Melbourne Park, the Spanish world number one was up against his most dangerous opponent yet in pocket-rocket Diego Schwartzman, one of the smallest men on tour.
The Argentine 24th seed endeared with his astonishingly powerful groundstrokes before Nadal prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3 in almost four hours on Rod Laver Arena.
It kept alive his push for a 17th Grand Slam title and also ensured he will remain number one will the new rankings come out after the tournament ends.
“It was a great battle,” said Nadal, who is chasing his second Melbourne title after beating Roger Federer in the 2009 final.
“Of course, I feel little bit tired, but I was able to keep fighting until the end.”
He will play sixth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the semifinals after the Croat beat Spanish 10th seed Pablo Correna Busta 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (7/3).
The win was Cilic’s 100th at a Grand Slam.
“I have played great tennis from the first round against tough opponents and now I am really looking to the next match, it will be definitely be a big challenge,” he said of the Nadal clash.
Ordinarily Nadal, as the top seed, would have top billing on Rod Laver in the evening, but not with local star Nick Kyrgios in action.
The maturing Australian 22-year-old dispatched French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last round and faces third seed Grigor Dimitrov later.
The winner will play Briton Kyle Edmund, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi.
World number two Wozniacki turned on the style in her match to take another step toward a maiden Grand Slam title.
The assured Wozniacki, a semifinalist in 2011 who has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors, annihilated 19th-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0 in her most impressive performance to date.
“She really mixes up the pace, I just tried to calm down, get my returns in and wait for the opportunities to attack,” she said after crushing the Slovak, who made the semifinals at Wimbledon last year.
“I think you can tell my confidence is pretty good at the moment.”
Her easy passage sets up a last-eight clash with gritty Spaniard Suarez Navarro, who battled back from a set and 4-1 down to shatter the hopes of 32nd seed Anett Kontaviet.
The Estonian had been bubbling with confidence after despatching French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, but nerves got the better of her.
The Spaniard, who has made the quarter-finals in Melbourne twice before, most recently in 2016, credited her fightback with a conscious decision to be more aggressive.
“My team all the time they say (to) me, play aggressive, play aggressive. That’s I think what I did,” said Suarez Navarro, one of the few who still uses a one-handed backhand.
Looking ahead to Wozniacki, she added: “I know how she plays. I know how tough she is. It will be a really interesting match.”
The 37th-ranked Elize Mertens also made the last eight, becoming the first Belgian since Kim Clijsters in 2012 to get so far in Australia.
She posted a straight-sets win over Croat Petra Martic and will now play either fourth seed Elina Svitolina or Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova.
Mertens is a form player after winning the lead-up Hobart International, while Svitolina was the champion in Brisbane.

Tommy Fleetwood successfully defended his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title on Sunday after a sensational back nine to clinch the win.
The 27-year-old Englishman, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, started the final round two shots behind overnight leaders Ross Fisher and Thomas Pieters, and an indifferent front nine saw him make the turn five shots behind Fisher as gusty winds hit the National course of Abu Dhabi Golf Club
But Fleetwood birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes for a seven-under par 65 round to finish on 22-under 267.
Fisher, 37, got off to a fast start when he made an eagle from 45 feet on the par-5 second hole and added two more birdies in his front nine. A bogey on the par-5 10th, which could have easily turned into a double if not for a 25-feet bogey putt, stalled his progress.
Playing two groups ahead of him, Fleetwood had birdied the 10th and 12th holes, but he saved his best golf for the next four holes. On the 13th, he was stymied behind a tree but hit his second shot from the desert to six feet.
The top-ranked European then rolled in a 25-feet putt on the par-3 15th to join Fisher at 20-under, before moving ahead with a 50-feet birdie putt on the 16th hole. He then picked up another shot on the 18th, which proved to be a luxury cushion when Fisher failed to make birdies on the 17th and 18th.
"I feel a lot more emotional, actually, than last year. I don't know why. I just really wanted to win this one," said Fleetwood, who is expected to advance from 18th to 11th in the rankings on Monday.
"I had the year of my life last year. I know everybody has been talking about it, and just backing it up is the next big thing, really. It's a weird feeling coming to defend a trophy because it's yours and you don't want to give it away."
Fleetwood added that the tough conditions made it easier for him to focus.
"I wouldn't have known I shot 30 on the back nine when I came in. I was playing really well. I was hitting really good shots in. It was just a case of scoring being tough, and we had to keep going. It was sort of shot after shot.
"When the conditions are that tough and that windy, it actually helps you focus on each shot because there's never any easy shots. Two days before, with flat calm conditions, it was way easier to look ahead."
A disappointed Fisher, who was runner-up twice late in 2017 and is winless since the Tshwane Open in March 2014, praised Fleetwood's perfomance.
"Hats off to Tommy. I don't feel like I've lost a tournament. He's gone out there and shot 65 and he's won it, so all credit to him," said Fisher.
McIlroy finished inside the top-five once again — his eighth top-five in nine Abu Dhabi starts — but he was happy with the result this time.
"It just felt great to get another tournament under my belt. It's a great start to the year. I have no complaints. My body held up really well. My game was probably better than I expected it to be. So I'm really happy with the week," said McIlroy who started well with two birdies in his first four holes, but could not get going on the back nine.
LEADERBOARD
266 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 66-68-67-65
268 - Ross Fisher (ENG) 67-67-65-69
270 - Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 68-70-63-69, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 69-66-65-70
271 - Chris Paisley (ENG) 69-67-66-69, Thomas Pieters (BEL) 67-65-67-72
272 - Alexander Levy (FRA) 69-65-70-68
273 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) 70-68-70-65
274 - Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 67-69-68-70, Dustin Johnson (USA) 72-64-68-70, Paul Casey (ENG) 70-65-69-70, Andrew Johnston (ENG) 68-68-66-72, Thomas Detry (BEL) 70-68-64-72
275 - Jorge Campillo (ESP) 69-64-72-70
276 - Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 69-70-69-68, Jeughun Wang (KOR) 71-67-67-71, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 67-68-69-72, Branden Grace (RSA) 72-64-67-73
277 - Richard Sterne (RSA) 68-72-67-70, Paul Dunne (IRE) 68-70-65-74, Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 69-67-67-74
278 - Wu Ashun (PRC) 71-67-72-68, Scott Hend (AUS) 71-69-69-69, Justin Rose (ENG) 71-71-67-69, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 73-68-68-69, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 70-70-68-70
279 - Lasse Jensen (DEN) 70-71-70-69, Sengsu Han (USA) 73-67-69-70, Martin Kaymer (GER) 69-68-71-71
280 - Matteo Manassero (ITA) 70-71-70-69, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 73-69-69-69
281 - Matt Wallace (ENG) 71-68-72-70, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 71-70-70-70, Matt Kuchar (USA) 72-70-69-70, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 69-70-71-71, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 72-68-69-72, Ryan Fox (NZL) 70-66-72-73, Kristofer Broberg (SWE) 69-69-70-73, Sam Brazel (AUS) 67-68-70-76
282 - Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 72-70-73-67, Adrian Otaegui (ESP) 70-69-73-70, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 73-67-71-71, Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 71-71-69-71, Byeong-hun An (KOR) 71-70-70-71, Richie Ramsay (SCO) 68-70-72-72, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 68-74-67-73, Dean Burmester (RSA) 69-72-67-74
283 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 72-70-72-69, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 71-71-71-70, Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 71-70-70-72, Joost Luiten (NED) 69-68-72-74, Jason Scrivener (AUS) 69-68-71-75
284 - Gary Stal (FRA) 72-69-74-69, Haydn Porteus (RSA) 72-70-71-71, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 69-73-71-71, Carlos Pigem (ESP) 68-71-72-73, Joakim Lagergren (SWE) 69-73-69-73, Ricardo Gouveia (POR) 72-70-69-73, Nino Bertasio (ITA) 70-71-69-74, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 70-65-73-76
285 - Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 71-70-72-72, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 70-72-71-72, Jordan Smith (ENG) 72-70-69-74, Lee Slattery (ENG) 69-72-69-75, Brandon Stone (RSA) 69-70-70-76, Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 68-72-69-76,
286 - Gregory Havret (FRA) 70-71-70-75,
288 _ Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 66-72-74-76,
289 - Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN) 72-69-73-75, Jacques Kruyswijk (RSA) 75-67-71-76
292 - Scott Vincent (ZIM) 69-70-73-80,

The explosive Jos Buttler was hailed as “the difference between the sides” as England defeated Australia by 16 runs in the third one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground Sunday to clinch their five-game series with two games to spare and hand the world champions their first ODI series defeat at home since 2010.
The tourists had looked to be in trouble after slumping to 189-6 in the 39th over but rebounded in spectacular fashion with Buttler belting six boundaries and four sixes to finish 100 not out from just 83 balls, while Chris Woakes chipped in with five fours and cleared the rope twice to remain unbeaten on 53 off only 36 deliveries.
The Australians did not help themselves in the field, bowling 13 wides and dropping three catches, including one off Buttler when he was on 70.
The Englishman had another scare on 97 when he was given out leg before wicket on the first ball of the last over but the decision was correctly overturned on review after replays showed the ball hit the edge of his bat.
Buttler took a single off the next ball and did not get back on strike until the final delivery, but managed to squeeze Starc’s attempted yorker into the legside field and scramble through to reach his hundred, leaping into the air with excitement. England made 302-6 and Australia fell short on 28
“Jos was probably the difference between the sides,” said England captain Eoin Morgan. “On a two-paced wicket, he paced it to perfection, played the anchor until about five or six overs out.
“This is one of the best wins from this group. With our bowling efforts, everybody was required to give a bit extra and everyone did. With the ball we were outstanding.”
The century was his first against Australia but the slowest of his five ODIs, clocking in at 83 balls.
“Great win, probably the best we’ve had,” said Buttler. “We’ve championed this way of playing, even if you lose wickets. Chris and I tried to push on, we were looking at 270 but we had a couple of good overs. Against Cummins, Starc, etc it was very special.”
After being thumped 4-0 in the Ashes Test series, England’s limited-overs players have now produced a stunning turnaround to beat the Australians three times in a week, outplaying the home team both when chasing and defending big totals.
Needing to win Sunday’s match to keep the series alive, Australia brought their best fast bowlers together for the first time since the Ashes but it was to no avail as England’s middle-order pounded Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins at the death to post an imposing total of 302 for six.
Australia’s reply began poorly when Dave Warner and Cameron White both went cheaply but Steve Smith’s men were thrown an unexpected lifeline when England paceman Liam Plunkett pulled a hamstring in his second over and was forced off the field, leaving the tourists a bowler short.
Most of the Australians made starts but none was able to go on and post a big number to match Buttler’s electrifying rate and they finished on 286-6.
Aaron Finch, who made centuries in each of the first two matches, top scored with 62, while Marcus Stoinis (56) and Mitchell Marsh (55) also made half-centuries after Smith was controversially given out for 45 when caught behind by Buttler although replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball had carried through.
“Disappointing tonight,” a rueful Smith said. “I thought the way we bowled in the first 45 overs was good, but Jos played exceptionally well, Woakesy too, but we bowled poorly at the end, can’t do that to a guy like Jos.
“We were chasing probably 30 too many, batted well but not enough to get over the line. Our one-day cricket hasn’t been up to scratch, we’ve got to find ways to win against quality opposition.”

Alexis Sanchez arrived at Manchester United’s training ground ahead of his expected move from Arsenal on Sunday, reports said, as his swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan edged closer.
Earlier, the Chile international posted a video on Instagram, apparently showing him walking across an airstrip toward a private jet following reports that he was due in northwest England for a medical.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said Sanchez had been pictured arriving at United’s Carrington training complex to complete his move from the London club, widely expected to be finalized on Monday.
Sky reported that Mkhitaryan would have a medical in London on Sunday.
Chile’s Sanchez, 29, is set to become United’s best-paid player, with some reports putting his salary at £400,000 ($554,000) per week, prompting a warning from former England boss Steve McClaren that his high wages could create dressing-room disharmony.
“Wage parity is very important to players. Yes, they find out — at all levels — and if someone is paid a lot higher than others that can cause a problem,” he said.
Sky Sports News showed Armenian international Mkhitaryan, also 29, at a central London hotel on Saturday evening alongside agent Mino Raiola.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and United manager Jose Mourinho both said they expected the two-way deal between the Premier League rivals to go through.
Wenger said Sanchez was absent from the Arsenal squad on Saturday because he was close to completing a deal that has been in the making since United out-bid Manchester City for the former Barcelona star.
“I expect soon or never,” Mourinho said after his side’s 1-0 win against Burnley. “I think it is so close, so close, so close that if it doesn’t happen it’s not going to happen.”
Sky said it understood it could be a straight swap deal but details were yet to be finalized.
McClaren, who was Alex Ferguson’s assistant when Manchester United won the treble in 1999, said the Sanchez signing would be a major coup for the club but warned his earnings could unsettle other players.
“If he (Sanchez) is on the wages that is being bandied about then other players will know that when their contracts come up or they are in demand from other clubs,” he said.
But McClaren believes United have struck a major blow by landing Sanchez, who has scored 80 goals in 166 appearances at Arsenal.
“Any manager worth his salt would love to have Sanchez in their team,” McClaren told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Sanchez coming in for the second half of the season at Manchester United is a huge boost to them.
“He has got that experience and toughness, he wins games and he is a leader. It will lift the level of the whole club.”

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl against Pakistan in the first of three matches between the world’s top two ranked Twenty20 sides in Wellington on Monday.
The hosts are on a high having just swept the one-day series against Pakistan and are backing themselves to continue that form as they switch to the shortest form of the game.
However, they suffered a setback hours before the match when captain Kane Williamson was withdrawn as a precautionary measure after complaining of a tight thigh.
Stand-in skipper Tim Southee said it was “not a typical” wicket at Westpac Stadium but he opted to bowl “as hopefully we will get something out of it early on.”
New Zealand are resting fast bowlers Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson for the match.
Pakistan will be without Shoaib Malik who is out of the series after a delayed concussion suffered during the fourth ODI.
However, Hasan Ali who missed the final ODI with a groin strain has been declared fit and named in the starting line up.

Tomas Berdych is back in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the seventh time after a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabio Fognini.
Berdych has been this far at Melbourne Park for seven of the last eight years. The only time he’s failed to reach at least the quarters was last year when he lost in the third round to Roger Federer.
The 19-seeded Czech veteran could play Federer again in the next round if Federer wins his fourth-round match against Marton Fucsovics later Monday.
Berdych is 6-19 against Federer and hasn’t beaten the Swiss star since 2013.

Angelique Kerber remains the only Grand Slam singles winner in the Australian Open women’s draw after surviving a frustrating fourth-round match.
For a while, though, it appeared Kerber’s progression may have unraveled against No. 88 Hsieh Su-wei, a former top-ranked doubles player with a double-handed grip on both sides.
With a mix of slice and chips, lobs and bunts, whippy half-volleys and wristy crosscourt ground strokes off both wings, Hsieh pushed Kerber to the extremes and unsettled her rhythm.
Former No. 1-ranked Kerber finally got a succession of breaks to take the second set and dominate the third in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory on Monday afternoon.
“Credit to her. She played an unbelievable match,” said Kerber, who won the Australian and US Open titles and reached No. 1 in 2016. “I was feeling I was running everywhere. She was playing a lot of corners and drop shots. I was bringing a lot of balls back.”
After holding it together to improve her 2018 winning streak to 13, Kerber faces US Open quarterfinalist Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
Keys returned to the quarterfinals here for the first time in three years with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 8-seeded Caroline Garcia. She has yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park and is averaging a brisk 62.5 minutes on court through her first four rounds.
Going into the fourth round, Keys had only dropped 14 games — the second fewest among the women through three rounds, just behind Kerber’s 13 games.
Keys, the only American woman to reach the fourth round, said she feels like she’s playing without pressure since returning from her wrist injury that forced her out of last year’s Australian Open.
“I definitely realize how much l love it and how much pressure I put on myself,” in the past, she said. “Just being really happy to be back out here and not at home in a cast.”
Hsieh certainly made the most of her time back in the spotlight, returning to the fourth round at a major for the first round in a decade.
She took out one major winner — Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza — in the second round, and took a set off an almost dumbfounded Kerber to open the fourth.
Kerber, returning from a form slump that saw her ranking drop into the 20s in 2017, had to produce some of her best tennis.
She finished a 14-shot rally early in the second set by racing to the net and reaching at full stretch to track down a drop shot and send a forehand winner over the net post.
The 30-year-old German player had to serve to stay in the match in the ninth game of the second set. Then, after winning four straight points and converting a break-point chance with a sliding forehand winner down the line, Kerber crouched and screamed to celebrate the point.
She served out the set at love and then got critical service breaks in the first and fifth games of the final set as Hseih began to tire and started to miss the lines.
Hsieh has won two Grand Slam doubles titles, and was ranked No. 1 in doubles in 2014 but had a career-high singles ranking of 23. At age 32, she was oldest woman still in the singles draw. Recent work with former doubles champion — and Australian Open tournament director — Paul McNamee paid off with her singles ranking expected to rise again. She’ll likely also attract more attention from sponsors after going through the singles in an unadorned white tank top and black skirt.
On the men’s side, Tomas Berdych returned to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the seventh time after a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Fabio Fognini.
Berdych has been this far at Melbourne Park for seven of the last eight years. The only time he’s failed to reach at least the quarters was last year when he lost in the third round to Roger Federer.
He could meet Federer again in the next round, if second-ranked Federer wins his fourth-round match against Marton Fucsovics later Monday.

Harry Kane struck his 99th Premier League goal to earn Tottenham a 1-1 draw at St Mary's on Sunday after Davinson Sanchez's own goal had given Southampton an early lead.

The result moves Spurs closer to Liverpool in fourth place but it was not enough to lift Southampton out of the relegation zone.

Kane's goal was his ninth in his past five Premier League starts and he is now just a goal away from becoming the 27th member of the '100 Club'.

But with Mauricio Pochettino's side piling on the pressure in the closing stages against his former club, the Argentine will consider this a missed opportunity in Spurs' hunt for a Champions League place.

The form guide appeared to give Southampton little chance of victory but this was a spirited performance from the home side. Mauricio Pellegrino's team had not won since November and dropped into the relegation zone this weekend.

Fans are growing impatient that none of the £75 million (85 million euros, $104 million) Liverpool paid for Virgil Van Dijk has yet been invested, with just 10 days left of the transfer window.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's controversial last-minute equaliser for Watford denied Saints two precious points last weekend and pressure is growing on the Southampton manager, who has been the target of fans' frustrations in recent weeks.

Fortunes could hardly be more different for Spurs, managed by former Saints boss Pochettino.

He has never lost a game at St Mary's since leaving the south coast and his team came into this fixture unbeaten in their past five Premier League matches.

Flu struck both teams in the build-up, with Southampton missing Shane Long and Tottenham without Hugo Lloris and Christian Eriksen.

- Southampton pressing -

Southampton started brightly, pressing Tottenham in a style they themselves have become known for.

Manolo Gabbiadini, making only his second start in 14 games, almost connected with Dusan Tadic's low cross after James Ward-Prowse had found him with an excellent long-range pass.

Tadic again showed his threat down the left when another sweeping move saw Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg almost apply the finishing touch to the Serbian's excellent cross.

Southampton took a deserved lead in the 15th minute when Sanchez deflected past his goalkeeper Michel Vorm after being tempted by Ryan Bertrand's low cross from the left.

Spurs almost levelled two minutes later when Ben Davies's corner eventually dropped to Eric Dier and he shot low against the right post.

But Kane moved onto 99 in the Premier League as he headed in Davies's next corner, beating two Southampton defenders to the ball to score from close range just 197 seconds after Sanchez's own goal.

Both teams continued to press, making for an attractive game in appalling conditions.

Spurs were close to taking the lead with Davies again the provider, this time for Moussa Sissoko, who volleyed his cross just wide.

Jack Stephens should perhaps have put Southampton back in front but he headed over the bar after finding himself unmarked from Ward-Prowse's excellent free-kick.

The rain relented but the intensity of the game did not in the second half. Pochettino's side did not have things all their own way, with Southampton maintaining their high-pressure approach.

But Dele Alli saw more of the ball as the game wore on and shot low just beyond the left post after good work from Mousa Dembele.

Alli then went agonisingly close six minutes from time as Sissoko found him five yards out but Stephens managed to execute a last-ditch block.

Kane was then a whisker away from reaching the century milestone as he shot inches wide of the far post in the closing stages.

A scintillating century from Jos Buttler brought England a 16-run win and a one-day international series victory against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

The hosts, set 303 to win by England after winning the toss and choosing to bowl, were always struggling in their chase and eventually managed only 286 for six.

The result gave England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series, a remarkable turnaround after Australia had trounced them 4-0 in the Ashes Tests.

England ODI captain Eoin Morgan said Buttler had engineered of the best wins he'd been part of.

"Jos was probably the difference between the sides," he said. "On a two-paced wicket he paced it to perfection, played the anchor until about five or six overs out.

"This is one of the best wins from this group."

Australia's hopes largely rested with Steve Smith (45) and Mitchell Marsh (55), but both were dismissed at a crucial stage of the chase, with Smith falling to a contentious low-down catch by Buttler off the bowling of Mark Wood (2-46).

Marcus Stoinis made a late attempt to lift Australia with a punishing 56, but England managed to hold on despite losing pacemen Liam Plunkett to a leg injury early in the Australian innings.

Australian captain Smith said the game was lost in the last few overs of the England innings.

"I thought the way we bowled in the first 45 overs was good, but Jos played exceptionally well, Woakesy too, but we bowled poorly at the end, can't do that to a guy like Jos," he said.

"We were chasing probably 30 too many... batted well but not enough to get over the line."

Buttler, 27, was the only batsman from either team really to get to grips with a slightly slow pitch. His late surge enabled England to reach a total which had seemed out of their reach until the final few overs.

Several English batsmen failed to capitalise on promising starts, but Buttler notched his fifth one-day international century from the last ball of the innings as England helped themselves to 38 off the final two overs.

Buttler himself took 28 runs from the last 11 balls he faced. He faced 83 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes, in a dashing innings that gathered momentum in the last 10 overs.

Just as England appeared to be struggling against a full-strength Australian attack, Buttler found a willing ally in Chris Woakes late in the innings, the seamer making 53 from 36 balls in a match-winning partnership of 113 in 11.5 overs.

Australia recalled pacemen Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the match, the first time in the one-day series that the trio of Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who spearheaded the Ashes win, had been reunited.

The tactic appeared to be working until Buttler and Woakes came together and turned the match on its head. The English were aided by sloppy Australian fielding, with four missed catches and two botched run-out attempts.

The easiest of the catches to go to grass was a howler by Cameron White, who failed to get a hand to a skied chance from Moeen Ali when he was on one.

Marsh was the unlucky bowler, but had his revenge a few minutes later when he bowled Ali for six, continuing the all-rounder´s wretched tour.

Smith dropped Morgan (41) on 18 off spinner Adam Zampa, while Starc got his fingers to a tough caught-and-bowled chance.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia sealed an emphatic victory at the Singapore Open on Sunday (Jan 21) and said he was "extremely happy" with a rousing start to his 2018 campaign.

The Spaniard carded a three-under-par 68 for a commanding five-shot win as the weather cleared after two days of rain-disrupted play in his first tournament of the year.

Garcia, 38, began the day with a birdie on the first hole and added two more in quick succession before the turn on holes seven and eight.

It was cruise control for the rest of the round as he carded nine straight pars to seal his win with a total 14-under-par 270 at the Singapore Golf Club's Serapong course.

The world number 10 and 2017 European Golfer of the Year had struggled with his putts on Saturday but was on fire as soon as play resumed early Sunday under a hot sun and clear blue skies.

"It's always great to start with a win, to do it here at this golf course against a good field in Asia on conditions that weren't easy," he said.

"Hopefully I can ride on this momentum. I'm extremely happy with how the week went. It was a tough day and a tough week, with the stopping and going," he added.

Garcia will defend his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title from Thursday.

Japan's Satoshi Kodaira, the six-time Japan Golf Tour winner, shared second place with Shaun Norris of South Africa with a total nine-under-par 275.

The Thai duo of Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma were tied in fourth spot after carding eight-under-par 276 overall.

Sean Crocker of the United States and Cameron Davis of Australia carded 69 and 70 respectively for a seven-under-par 277.

Leading scores after the final round of the SMBC Singapore Golf Open (par 71):

270 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-70-66-68

275 - Satoshi Kodaira (JPN) 66-72-66-71, Shaun Norris (RSA) 69-67-69-70

276 - Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 71-68-66-71, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 70-68-65-73

277 - Sean Crocker (USA) 71-70-67-69, Cameron Davis (AUS) 68-70-69-70

278 - Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 71-69-68-70, Gavin Green (MAS) 71-67-69-71, Berry Henson (USA) 70-72-71-65, Lucas Herbert (AUS) 68-70-69-71

279 - Poom Saksansin (THA) 70-69-69-71, Yuki Inamori (JPN) 70-70-67-72, Andy Zhang (CHN) 72-66-71-70, Danny Masrin (INA) 71-66-67-75

Rafael Nadal battled through a huge test to make his 10th Australian Open quarter-final Sunday as Grigor Dimitrov ousted Nick Kyrgios to join him and Caroline Wozniacki kicked into full gear.

On an overcast and muggy day at Melbourne Park, the Spanish world number one was up against his most dangerous opponent yet in pocket-rocket Diego Schwartzman, one of the smallest men on tour.

The Argentine 24th seed endeared with his astonishingly powerful groundstrokes before Nadal prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3 in almost four hours on Rod Laver Arena.

It kept alive his push for a 17th Grand Slam title and also ensured he will remain number one when the new rankings come out after the tournament.

"It was a great battle," said Nadal, who is chasing his second Melbourne title after beating Roger Federer in the 2009 final.

"Of course, I feel little bit tired, but I was able to keep fighting until the end."

He will play sixth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the semi-finals after the Croat beat Spanish 10th seed Pablo Correna Busta 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 7-6 (7/3).

The win was Cilic's 100th at a Grand Slam.

"I have played great tennis from the first round against tough opponents and now I am really looking to the next match, it will be definitely be a big challenge," he said of the Nadal clash.

Ordinarily Nadal, as the top seed, would have top billing on Rod Laver in the evening, but not with local star Kyrgios in action.

The maturing Australian 22-year-old pushed world number three Dimitrov close in a hugely entertaining four setter before succumbing 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4).

Playing Nick is always tricky," said the Bulgarian, as he targets bettering the semi-finals he made last year.

"It was one of those matches you had to take any opportunity that you got."

His reward is a showdown with Briton Kyle Edmund, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy's Andreas Seppi.

- Play aggressive -

World number two Wozniacki turned on the style in her match to take another step towards a maiden Grand Slam title.

The assured Wozniacki, a semi-finalist in 2011 who has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors, annihilated 19th-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0 in her most impressive performance to date.

"She really mixes up the pace, I just tried to calm down, get my returns in and wait for the opportunities to attack," she said after crushing the Slovak, who made the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year.

"I think you can tell my confidence is pretty good at the moment."

Her easy passage sets up a last-eight clash with gritty Spaniard Suarez Navarro, who battled back from a set and 4-1 down to shatter the hopes of 32nd seed Anett Kontaviet.

The Estonian had been bubbling with confidence after despatching French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, but nerves got the better of her.

The Spaniard, who has made the quarter-finals in Melbourne twice before, most recently in 2016, credited her fightback with a conscious decision to be more aggressive.

"My team all the time they say (to) me, play aggressive, play aggressive. That's I think what I did," said Suarez Navarro, one of the few who still uses a one-handed backhand.

Looking ahead to Wozniacki, she added: "I know how she plays. I know how tough she is. It will be a really interesting match."

The 37th-ranked Elise Mertens also made the last eight, becoming the first Belgian since Kim Clijsters in 2012 to get so far in Australia.

She posted a straight-sets win over Croat Petra Martic and will now play either fourth seed Elina Svitolina or Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova.

Inter Milan fell further behind in the Serie A title race on Sunday after a scrappy 1-1 home draw with Champions League-chasing Roma left them 11 points behind leaders Napoli.

Matias Vecino equalised with a late header for Inter after Stephan El Shaarawy had capitalised on awful defending to clip home goalkeeper Alisson's huge clearance in the 32nd minute to open the scoring.

Uruguayan Vecino met a whipped Marcelo Brozovic cross to beat an outstanding Alisson, who had made two superb second-half saves from Mauro Icardi, and keep Luciano Spalletti's side in the top four, level on 43 points with third-placed Lazio and three ahead of Roma.

However they are winless in six games in the league and no longer look like title contenders, while Roma, who stay fifth on 40 points, have fallen even further behind after picking up just ten points from a possible 24 since beating Lazio in mid-November.

Eusebio Di Francesco's side are now 12 points behind Napoli, who extended their lead at the top to four points when Dries Mertens ended a long goal drought to give his team a 1-0 victory at Atalanta.

Belgian international Mertens's 65th-minute strike ended a league dry spell that stretched back to October 29, getting behind the defence and flashing his 11th goal of the season past Atalanta goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

"He (Mertens) had shown some signs of improvement even without scoring goals, so the drought was relative. It was obvious he'd get back to scoring goals eventually," said Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri.

Atalanta are down to eighth after the loss and AC Milan's 2-1 win at Cagliari, which came thanks to Franck Kessie scoring twice to drag his team back from a goal down in Sardinia.

Lazio took third thanks to a thumping 5-1 win over Chievo in Rome that saw rising star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic bag a fine brace either side of half-time to put Lazio two up, after Chievo's Manuel Pucciarelli had equalised Luis Alberto's 23rd-minute long-range opener for the hosts.

Substitute Nani laid on Bastos to fire home a deflected fourth with seven minutes left, before the former Manchester United winger added a fifth three minutes later with a fine hit from the edge of the area.

"The boys are enjoying themselves, when we manage to go ahead we often score a lot of goals and that is a great hallmark," said Inzaghi, whose exciting team are now Serie A's top scorers with 53 goals despite having the league's leading scorer Ciro Immobile limp off with a muscle injury after 35 minutes.

- Quagliarella's Indian summer -

Sampdoria are three points ahead of Atalanta in sixth after Fabio Quagliarella fired an excellent hat-trick to down Fiorentina 3-1 in Genoa.

The 34-year-old Italian is enjoying something of an Indian summer and scored in the 30th, 60th and 68th minutes to continue Sampdoria's fine home record that has seen them gather 24 of their 33 points at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

"I am in an environment that I like a lot, a team in which I have a lot of fun and everything else comes from that," said Quagliarella, who has scored 15 times in 20 league appearances.

Bottom club Benevento's mini-revival came to a crashing halt with a 3-0 beating at Bologna, thanks to goals from Mattia Destro, Sebastien De Maio and Blerim Dzemaili.

Benevento had won two games in a row -- there first ever Serie A successes -- going into the winter break but remain on seven points and are now 11 points from safety after Crotone's 3-0 win at second-bottom Verona, which lifted them out of the bottom three.

Elsewhere, Simone Berardi saved a point for Sassuolo with a 1-1 draw at home to Torino after Obi had given the away side a 26th-minute lead, and Udinese played out another 1-1 draw with SPAL, who drop back into the relegation zone despite Sergio Floccari saving a point after Samir's 11th-minute opener.

Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller claimed goal-scoring milestones as Bayern Munich went 16 points clear in the Bundesliga on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Werder Bremen.

Mueller has now scored 100 Bundesliga goals in his career while Lewandowski has hit 94 German top-flight goals, making him the highest scoring foreigner in the club's history, following braces for both in a polished second-half display by Bayern's forward pair.

"Mueller has gotten his goal instincts back and Robert Lewandowski has so much class that he capitalises on those situations," enthused Bayern coach Jupp Heynkes.

Bremen took a shock first-half lead when midfielder Jerome Gondorf scored his first goal for the club.

However, Bayern went into the break level after Mueller equalised, then Lewandowski struck with the first of his two second-half headers.

Bayern defender Niklas Suele turned the ball into his own net to make it 2-2 with 15 minutes left, but Lewandowski restored the lead shortly afterwards.

He scored with a towering header to claim his 17th league goal in 18 games this season.

It leaves him as the league's top-scorer, four clear of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Mueller converted a superb chip over the Bremen defence by James Rodriguez to add gloss to the final scoreline.

Bayern have won 17 from 18 games since Heynckes returned in October for his fourth stint as head coach.

The hosts were troubled when Bremen took a deserved lead on 25 minutes to stun the Munich crowd in freezing temperatures.

Werder's Germany striker Max Kruse slid a pass through the defence and midfielder Gondorf slotted through the legs of Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.

- Schalke held at home -

The ball rolled into the net, despite the efforts of Bayern right-back Joshua Kimmich to clear off the line.

Bremen grew in confidence, but the hosts drew level with a superb equaliser by Mueller just before the break.

Jerome Boateng's pin-point long pass found Mueller's chest and the Germany star slammed the ball home to make it 1-1 four minutes before the break.

Bremen's brave display meant Bayern only took the lead for the first time with an hour gone.

Rodriguez, who has recaptured the form which saw him finish top-scorer at the 2014 World Cup, fired in a cross which Lewandowski headed home.

Suele was left red-faced when the ball clipped his shoulder and rolled past Ulreich on 74 minutes.

However, Lewandowski put Bayern back ahead by leaping to smash home Mueller's cross in the 77th minute.

Lewandowski has now scored 23 goals in 27 games in all competitions this season.

Schalke climbed from sixth to third despite leaking a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to Hanover 96.

Schalke's new signing Marko Pjaca turned his marker in the box and fired home to put Schalke ahead on 16 minutes.

The 22-year-old striker has been loaned to Schalke until the end of the season by Juventus in his bid to win a place for Croatia at June's World Cup.

Leon Goretzka was booed by Schalke fans in Gelsenkirchen, two days after it was announced Friday that the 22-year-old will join Bayern next season.

Hanover equalised four minutes from time when striker Niclas Fuellkrug slipped his marker and fired home his fifth goal in three games and deny Schalke second place.

There is little to separate the chasing pack behind Bayern with just a point between second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt in seventh place.

Real Madrid moved back into the top four of La Liga by thumping lowly Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo ending a miserable run of league form with a late double.

But Barcelona still extended their lead to 11 points -- and 19 ahead of Real -- as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both hit a brace in a 5-0 romp at Real Betis.

Ronaldo had only scored four league goals before Sunday's clash with third-from-bottom Deportivo, but the Portuguese added Real's fifth and sixth with a smart volley and a diving header as they moved back above Villarreal and into the Champions League places.

Villarreal had temporarily taken fourth with a 2-1 win over Levante on Saturday after beating Real at the Bernabeu for the first time ever last week.

Gareth Bale and Nacho also bagged braces each side of half-time and Luka Modric curled home a 68th-minute beauty as Real came back from a shock early deficit, a 23rd-minute tap-in from Adrian, to romp to an emphatic victory and ease the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane.

"We needed that. In any case, it's what we were missing in the sense that scoring seven goals at home this season, it's hugely staisfying, and a relief," said Zidane.

The win leaves Real five points behind Valencia in third, after Marcelino's side had two players sent off in a shock 2-1 loss at lowly Las Palmas on Saturday.

Real had come into Sunday's match in crisis following some dismal performances that culminated in last week's defeat to Villarreal, and the mess seemed to have grown deeper when Adrian tapped home Lucas Perez's low cross.

However, the home side reacted immediately and by half-time were 2-1 up thanks to Nacho's neat first-time strike and a superb curling effort from Bale.

The floodgates opened in the second half, with Bale adding his second from a towering header and Luka Modric expertly whipping home Real's fourth.

- Phone check -

Ronaldo met Casemiro's cross to make it five and then crashed home Lucas Vazquez's cross, taking a boot in the face from Fabian Schar in the process.

As Ronaldo was led off the pitch to have his bleeding head quickly patched up he asked to see the phone of one of Real's medical staff and, pointing the camera at himself, used it to check the damage to his face.

Nacho completed the rout in the dying minutes.

Second-placed Atletico Madrid's 1-1 draw with Girona on Saturday meant Barca extended their lead with victory, leaving coach Ernesto Valverde waxing lyrical about Messi.

"You have to enjoy what Messi does -- I've suffered against him as an opposing player and I know what it is," he said.

"What we saw tonight was spectacular. He's the best player ever."

After a goalless first period, Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring on 59 minutes, converting a sublime pass from Suarez.

Messi thumped home the second from outside the box on 64 minutes before he and Rakitic teamed up to present Suarez with a volley on 69 minutes to effectively seal the three points.

Betis were making mistakes at the back and when Zouhair Feddal clumsily gave the ball away on halfway to Suarez, the Uruguayan sent Messi scampering away.

Faced with two defenders, Messi dummied to shoot, drifted past both and calmly slotted home past goalkeeper Antonio Adan.

There was still time for Suarez to complete his brace with a crisp finish after Messi had driven at the heart of an over-matched defence.

The only downside for the league leaders was a hamstring injury to Thomas Vermaelen in the first half that precipitated French centre-back Samuel Umtiti's own return from a hamstring problem.

Earlier, Joseba Zaldua scored a last-minute equaliser as Leganes came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Alaves.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic kept up their relentless march towards a semi-final meeting at the Australian Open Saturday as Maria Sharapova suffered a crushing defeat by Angelique Kerber.

The two greats of the game -- who have won 11 Australian Opens between them -- could meet in the last four if they maintain their winning ways.

Defending champion Federer was never troubled by France's Richard Gasquet, who has failed to take a set off him since 2011, as he steamed into the last 16 with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win.

"The second set was tight, the match was close and I had to focus to the very end," said the Swiss 19-time Grand Slam winner, who next plays little-known Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the quarter-finals.

He added: "So far, so good."

Djokovic was equally convincing in his 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 rout of Spanish 21st seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas, although there was concern when he sought a medical timeout for treatment to his lower back.

"It was straight sets but I had to earn my points," insisted the Serb, who is on his way back after six months out with right elbow trouble.

"Obviously for me it's taking it one match at a time but I have to be more humble with my expectations as I haven't played in the last six months."

He next plays South Korea's Chung Hyeon, who shocked fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

With the temperatures a manageable 26 Celsius (79 Farenheit) at Melbourne Park after two days of oven-like conditions, Zverev was beaten in five sets.

He has been hailed as the leader of the tennis new guard but has now failed to go beyond the fourth round in 11 Grand Slams, admitting he has "some figuring out to do".

In a glamour evening tie, Sharapova was no match for Kerber, flopping 6-1, 6-3.

They pair are both 30, former world number ones and were the only two Australian Open winners left in the women's draw, but there was only one player in it.

"This court is special for me and I was trying to enjoy every point," Kerber said of Rod Laver Arena, where she beat Serena Williams in the 2016 final.

Kerber is in scintillating form, having won the lead-up Sydney International, and will face Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei for a place in the quarter-finals.

For Sharapova, who is looking to rediscover her best on her way back from a 15-month drugs ban, it is back to the drawing board.

"I think there are a lot of things that I need to get better at and improve on," she admitted.

- Took its toll-

World number one Simona Halep is lucky to be still in contention after surviving three match points in a titanic struggle against 76th-ranked American Lauren Davis.

She looked out for the count at one point but finally got over the line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 in a gruelling 3hr 44min epic that took its toll.

"I'm almost dead," the tenacious Romanian said after the incredible battle, in which Davis lost a toenail and Halep served for the match four times.

The former quarter-finalist will now play Naomi Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australia's Ashleigh Barty.

Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova also had a tough test, beating fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

In contrast, US Open finalist Madison Keys was in fine touch as she benefits from the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.

Flying under the radar, the 17th seed has surrendered just 16 games on her way to the fourth round after beating Romania's Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-4.

She will next face French eighth seed Caroline Garcia, who was too strong for Belarussian Alaksandra Sasnovich.

Among the men through was Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem and veteran Tomas Berdych, along with American Tennys Sandgren, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this year's Australian Open.

Only an hour's drive from the Winter Olympics venues in South Korea, a stained mattress lies in an abandoned ski resort, a possible harbinger of the gleaming new facilities' fate.

The Alps Ski Resort was one of the country's first winter sports destinations, attracting tens of thousands of skiers every year until it abruptly shut its doors in 2006.

Now South Korea has spent $800 million on the sporting facilities for next month's Winter Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the absence of future plans for several of them, saying the Games' legacy should be addressed "as a priority".

The remains of the former holiday destination in Heul-ri -- a tiny settlement of around 250 people in the country's far northeast, close to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula -- are not a good sign.

Aged, fading buildings stand below unweeded slopes, where a few bright red chairlifts dangle lifelessly from the cables.

The villagers are bitter.

"It's completely in ruins," said Oh Geum-Sik, who used to run a ski rental shop next to the resort.

"All the businesses are practically dead."

At an altitude of 1,052 metres (3,451 feet), the resort boasted the heaviest natural snowfall in South Korea, with skiers coming to the village long before the facility opened in the 1980s, laboriously trudging up the slopes to enjoy a brief downhill thrill.

A handful of elite athletes grew up with its abundant snow, among them Jung Dong-Hyun, who will compete for South Korea in alpine skiing at the Winter Games in neighbouring Pyeongchang.

Villagers say that in the resort's heyday, cars lined the streets every weekend as skiers from as far as China and Southeast Asia packed its eight pistes, with around 30 percent of customers foreigners.

But its owner went bankrupt in the face of increased competition from more accessible rivals with newer facilities, according to an official at the Goseong County office.

Heul-ri was left in disarray.

- Bitter cold -

"The closure has cost me probably about 700 million won ($660,000)," said Koo Jae-Kwan, who moved to the village 16 years ago to open an inn and a ski rental shop.

Now a rusty clock tower looms over the disused resort, its hands permanently pointing to 6:50 in the bright midday light, and three guard dogs bark furiously at the sight of a rare visitor.

A grubby mattress greets visitors in the lobby and a faded banner promising that "Customer satisfaction begins now" droops loosely above a dried-up swimming pool.

On the wall of a hollow banquet hall hangs a painting of the bustling resort in its prime, and dead plants lie on the dirty floor, wrapped with holiday decorations from more than 10 Christmases ago.

South Korean winter sports destinations have to contend with short slopes, sometimes brutally cold temperatures, and intense competition from Japan, and an official at the Korea Ski Resort Business Association told AFP that most are struggling.

"There has been a drop in the number of visitors and a number of ski resorts have closed," he said.

Beijing banned group tours to the country last year in a row over the deployment of a US missile defence system, crippling its biggest market.

"What will happen after the Pyeongchang Olympics is worrisome," the official added.

"Right now, there are a lot of government-led efforts to create a ski boom ahead of the Olympics. But even now, that hasn't really helped with reviving the ski industry and that will all come to a stop after the Olympics."

- Bell peppers -

Attempts to reopen the Heul-ri resort with new funding have come to naught.

The latest plan from Korean investor Alps Seven Resort promised 80 billion won ($75 million) to renovate the existing slopes and condos, and build more accommodation plus a theme park, a government document showed.

But it failed to meet the deadline for payments and the scheme was scrapped.

Alps Seven Resort could not be reached for comment.

If it had gone ahead, the renovated facility would have opened for business last month, just in time for the Pyeongchang Games.

"Maybe one of the ski competitions could have taken place here," lamented Heul-ri village chief Shin Dong-Gil, adding the resort's 500 rooms could have been a welcome additional accommodation option for Olympic visitors.

Instead, sacks of concrete are piled in the buildings.

Oh now farms bell peppers for a living but still has his 250 sets of ski equipment, hoping that one day he might be able to rent them out again.

But like springtime snow, the villagers' expectations for the resort are steadily melting away.

"I don't think it will ever reopen," said Koo, who has also mothballed his kit -- and his guesthouse.

"It's that one percent of hope. That's the only thing I'm holding on to."

Abu Dhabi Racing's Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al Qassimi completed the final Cordoba-Cordoba loop in 10th to ultimately classify in 6th overall following a gruelling 14-day campaign of the 2018 edition of the Dakar Rally.

The Cordoba-Cordoba loop ran over a total distance of 286km with 166km comprising of the liaison section and the remainder 120km making up the special stage.
The final day saw the curtains come down on one of the biggest off-road adventures in the world where the best of the best vie for top honours over 14 days of racing in some of the most demanding and often unpredictable conditions.
It was a satisfying and successful end to a campaign that saw fluctuating fortunes for the Abu Dhabi Racing driver, including a broken suspension on the penultimate stage and negotiating through terrain ranging from sand dunes, loose soil and vegetation - not to mention being stranded in swelling river waters following an incessant downpour on Day 7.
When he began his campaign on Jan. 6, Sheikh Khalid's primary goal was to just complete the endurance and gain as much of experience as possible. But finishing inside the top 10 with a sixth overall classification is a huge achievement for the Abu Dhabi Racing driver.
Having achieved such an excellent result in just his second Dakar campaign, after retiring on Stage 13 last year due to technical issues, Sheikh Khalid was understandably elated and said: "I was not pushing on the final stage because we wanted to bring the car home safely.
"I am happy to have finished the Dakar this year. All along I was dreaming of finishing inside the top 15, and here I am in 6th place overall!
"Even though I enjoyed myself a lot, it was not an easy adventure, the route was very challenging. Importantly, our times were in the top five at most of the waypoints on stages.
"Everyone in the team did a great job; I would like to thank each and everyone on the team for the hard work that they have put in which has gone a long way in producing this result.
"I also would like to congratulate Peugeot Sport on winning the Dakar with Carlos Sainz, amazing performance indeed. and now the matador has 2 Dakar titles under his belt (2010 and 2018)."
A competition of extremes and an orienteering race, the Dakar brings together the leading rally raid riders and drivers, as well as amateur competitors who come to fulfil their dream, experience an adventure and meet the biggest challenge of their life on a bike, on a quad, in a car or in a truck. Over the last 40 years, each year 500 participants from more than 60 nationalities have come together for 15 days of a unique competition on which extraordinary feats of human endeavour are played out.

England's Tommy Fleetwood successfully defended his title at the $3 million Abu Dhabi Championship Sunday, shooting a seven-under par 65 round to beat compatriot Ross Fisher by two shots.

The 27-year-old Southport resident made the turn at one-under par, but was on fire on the back nine. He made six birdies, including one on the closing 18th hole, to edge Fisher.The back-nine heroics of Fleetwood, ranked 18th in the world and expected to rise to No10 when the new list is released Monday, included making a 25 feet putt for birdie on the 15th hole to tie for the lead with Fisher, and then a 50-feet birdie putt to take outright lead on the 16th hole.

Fisher (69) started the day in impressive fashion with an eagle on the second hole, courtesy a 45-feet putt, and was four-under at the turn. But on the back nine, he made a bogey on the 10th and a solitary birdie on the 16th hole to finish on 20-under par.

Last year, Fleetwood beat the reigning world No1 Dustin Johnson by one shot, kickstarting a successful season that culminated in him winning the European Tour's Race to Dubai.

Johnson (70) finished on 14-under par this year, while former world No1 Rory McIlroy shot a 70 to tie for third place at 18-under par alongside Matthew Fitzpatrick (69).

Overnight joint leader Thomas Pieters (72) and winner of last week's South African Open, England's Chris Paisley (69) were tied fifth at 17-under 271.

Al Nasr have returned to Ivan Jovanovic after the Dubai club parted ways with Italian Cesare Prandelli.

Serbian manager Jovanovic, who guided The Blues to the GCC Champions League in 2014 as well as the President's Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup in the 2014-15 season, during his three-year spell, takes over as caretaker coach, the club confirmed on the official twitter handle.

"Al Nasr announces that Serbian Ivan Jovanovic has been appointed as the coach of the first football team to succeed Cesare Prandelli," the club said on Friday.

Jovanovic coached Al Nasr from 2013 to 2016 during which he also oversaw their run to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League in 2016.

The 55-year-old has rich experience, having guided Cypriot First Division side APOEL to the group stages of the Uefa Champions League in 2009 and then bettered that by piloting them to the quarterfinals of the European competition, where they lost to Real Madrid in 2011-12.

Meanwhile, former Italy coach Prandelli, who had taken over at the start of the season from Romanian Dan Petrescu, won just five fixtures out of 12 in the Arabian Gulf League. They drew two and lost five.

And although the former Roma, Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Valencia coach helped them qualify for the Arabian Gulf Cup quarterfinals, their 5-3 defeat on penalties to Dibba in the President's Cup on Wednesday night, forced the club to take the decision.

"Al Nasr Football Company has decided to relieve Italian Cesare Prandelli from the post of technical director," the club said on their twitter account.

Al Nasr are currently fourth in the Arabian Gulf League.

Al Nasr have returned to Ivan Jovanovic after the Dubai club parted ways with Italian Cesare Prandelli.

Serbian manager Jovanovic, who guided The Blues to the GCC Champions League in 2014 as well as the President's Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup in the 2014-15 season, during his three-year spell, takes over as caretaker coach, the club confirmed on the official twitter handle.

"Al Nasr announces that Serbian Ivan Jovanovic has been appointed as the coach of the first football team to succeed Cesare Prandelli," the club said on Friday.

Jovanovic coached Al Nasr from 2013 to 2016 during which he also oversaw their run to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League in 2016.

The 55-year-old has rich experience, having guided Cypriot First Division side APOEL to the group stages of the Uefa Champions League in 2009 and then bettered that by piloting them to the quarterfinals of the European competition, where they lost to Real Madrid in 2011-12.

Meanwhile, former Italy coach Prandelli, who had taken over at the start of the season from Romanian Dan Petrescu, won just five fixtures out of 12 in the Arabian Gulf League. They drew two and lost five.

And although the former Roma, Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Valencia coach helped them qualify for the Arabian Gulf Cup quarterfinals, their 5-3 defeat on penalties to Dibba in the President's Cup on Wednesday night, forced the club to take the decision.

"Al Nasr Football Company has decided to relieve Italian Cesare Prandelli from the post of technical director," the club said on their twitter account.

Al Nasr are currently fourth in the Arabian Gulf League.

Al Nasr have returned to Ivan Jovanovic after the Dubai club parted ways with Italian Cesare Prandelli.

Serbian manager Jovanovic, who guided The Blues to the GCC Champions League in 2014 as well as the President's Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup in the 2014-15 season, during his three-year spell, takes over as caretaker coach, the club confirmed on the official twitter handle.

"Al Nasr announces that Serbian Ivan Jovanovic has been appointed as the coach of the first football team to succeed Cesare Prandelli," the club said on Friday.

Jovanovic coached Al Nasr from 2013 to 2016 during which he also oversaw their run to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League in 2016.

The 55-year-old has rich experience, having guided Cypriot First Division side APOEL to the group stages of the Uefa Champions League in 2009 and then bettered that by piloting them to the quarterfinals of the European competition, where they lost to Real Madrid in 2011-12.

Meanwhile, former Italy coach Prandelli, who had taken over at the start of the season from Romanian Dan Petrescu, won just five fixtures out of 12 in the Arabian Gulf League. They drew two and lost five.

And although the former Roma, Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Valencia coach helped them qualify for the Arabian Gulf Cup quarterfinals, their 5-3 defeat on penalties to Dibba in the President's Cup on Wednesday night, forced the club to take the decision.

"Al Nasr Football Company has decided to relieve Italian Cesare Prandelli from the post of technical director," the club said on their twitter account.

Al Nasr are currently fourth in the Arabian Gulf League.

Undefeated Mikey Garcia's bid for a fourth world crown in a super lightweight showdown with International Boxing Federation champion Sergey Lipinets of Russia has been postponed to March 10, promoters announced Friday.

Unbeaten Lipinets suffered a hand injury in training for a fight card that had been scheduled for February 10 in San Antonio, Texas. The bouts will remain in San Antonio, but the venue will be moved from the Alamodome to Freeman Coliseum.

Garcia, 37-0 with 30 knockouts, captured the World Boxing Council lightweight crown a year ago and has owned World Boxing Organization featherweight and super featherweight titles.

Lipinets, 13-0 with 10 knockouts, took a unanimous decision from Japan's Akihiro Kondo in November at New York to capture the vacant IBF crown and will be making his first title defense.

Also moved back a month was the undercard feature, for the vacant WBA super lightweight title and a possible unification bout with the Garcia-Lipinets winner, between Cuban Rances Barthelemy, 26-0 with 13 knockouts, and Belarus' Kiryl Relikh, 21-2 with 19 knockouts, in a rematch of last May's unanimous decision victory by Barthelemy.

Kyle Lowry scored 24 points and DeMar DeRozan had 21 as the Toronto Raptors beat the San Antonio Spurs for the first time in over two years with a 86-83 victory on Friday.

DeRozan also added six assists and seven rebounds for the Raptors who improved to 31-13 on the NBA season and 17-3 at the Air Canada Centre arena.

The Spurs, who own the best home record in the league at 19-2, had won four straight against the Raptors. The last time Toronto beat San Antonio was 97-94 on December 2015.

Centre Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in front of a sold out crowd of 19,800.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs who were missing several key players with injuries, including Manu Ginobili (right thigh contusion) and Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps).

Fred VanVleet, who bruised his knee in Monday's 117-111 loss in Philadelphia, did not play for the second game in a row for Toronto.

DeRozan said San Antonio is a tough team even without their stars.

"They're just a product of the San Antonio Spurs," said DeRozan. "What they're capable of every single night, with their starters or without their starters, they're a well-rounded group. Everybody understands their roles and they play extremely hard."

Elsewhere, Dillon Brooks scored a career-best 22 points, Ben McLemore had a season-high 21 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their third straight with a 106-88 win over the Sacramento Kings.

The game marked Zach Randolph's first game in Memphis since spending eight years as a key player in the franchise.

Randolph was greeted with a standing ovation when he was introduced with the starting lineups and the management showed a tribute video between the first and second quarters.

Randolph finished with four points and six rebounds for the Kings, who have lost seven straight.

De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 16 points and six assists.

Tyreke Evans added 14 points for Memphis.

In Detroit, Bradley Beal and Kelly Oubre had 26 points apiece, and the Washington Wizards scored 45 in the third quarter before holding off the Detroit Pistons 122-112.

Andre Drummond had 14 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists for the Pistons, who have lost four straight.

North Korea will send 22 athletes to next month's Winter Games in the South, the International Olympic Committee said Saturday, approving a landmark deal between two nations still officially at war.

South Korea had hoped that the Games which begin in Pyeongchang on February 9 could help ease the crisis on the peninsula that surged to new heights in recent months over the North's nuclear and missile and programme.

In a surprise New Year's announcement, the leader of Stalinist North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, indicated he was open to sending a delegation to Pyeongchang.

North and South then reached a deal on a set of momentous compromises, including having delegations from both countries march together at the opening ceremony and the formation of a unified women's hockey team.

But Seoul and Pyongyang still needed approval from the IOC, as the pact required the suspension of some basic Olympic rules.

IOC president Thomas Bach gave that approval Saturday, following closed-door talks with the leaders of the Olympic committees from both Koreas, Pyeongchang 2018 organisers, and senior government officials from the two countries.

"Let us not forget that such an agreement would have seemed impossible only a few weeks ago", Bach said, in an apparent reference to the feverish tension triggered last year by the North's repeated missile tests.

The final deal cleared 22 North Korean athletes to compete in three sports and a total of five disciplines.

Those include figure skating, short-track speed skating, cross-country skiing and Alpine skiing, as well as hockey.

In approving the joint hockey team, IOC brass overruled concerns raised by some hockey federations over fairness.

At the opening ceremony, the joint delegation "will be led into the Olympic stadium by the Korean unification flag" carried together by athlete from each country, the IOC said.

A special unity uniform will be created for the event.

As no North Korean athlete had technically qualified for Pyeongchang, Saturday's announcement required extending qualification deadlines in the sports concerned.

Bach acknowledged that "exceptional decisions" were required to get the deal done and thanked the skiing, skating and ice hockey governing bodies for their "enthusiastic participation".

- 'Milestone' -

"Today marks a milestone on a long journey," Bach said.

"The Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula, and inviting the world to join in a celebration of hope," he added.

North Korea has taken part in seven of the last 12 Winter Olympics, most recently in Vancouver 2010.

But the North boycotted the 1988 Games in Seoul, so its presence in Pyeongchang -- just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the demilitarised zone that divides the Koreas -- has been seed as a significant, if not stunning, diplomatic coup.

North and South Korea remain technically at war since the Korean war ended with armistice, not a peace treaty, in 1953.

An IOC spokesperson confirmed that the North Korean athletes will stay in the Olympic village, quashing speculation that they may have chosen to sleep on a boat to avoid residing on Southern soil.

Regardless of where its athletes sleep, the North is unlikely to pose a significant threat in competition, as the country has only won two medals in the history of the Winter Games, in 1964 and 1992, both for speedskating.

- UN sanctions -

North Korea will also send 24 officials and 21 media representatives to Pyeongchang, all whom will receive IOC accreditation, Bach said.

Separately, the North has said it will send 550-member delegation to the Games, including cheerleaders, performers and other cultural envoys.

Seoul and the IOC will have to ensure that while accommodating the North and ensuring that the so-called "peace Olympics" pass off smoothly, they do not violate United Nations sanctions.

Security Council measures currently prohibit cash transfers to the North, while the UN has also drawn up a blacklist of officials tied to the Stalinist Pyongyang regime, individuals whose presence at the Games will create potential stumbling blocks.

A collision between a mainland Chinese fishing boat and the American-Danish team's yacht during the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race left one man dead, police said Saturday, overshadowing a historic victory for the Hong Kong team as the city hosted the race for the first time.

Local group Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag triumphed despite some significant setbacks in the gruelling 5,800 nautical mile stage from Melbourne, Australia, closely followed by China's Dongfeng Race Team in second place.

But the finish was bittersweet for crew members as news rolled in about the accident involving American-Danish team Vestas 11th Hour Racing.

Hong Kong police told AFP that one man from the fishing boat had died after being airlifted to hospital while nine others were rescued from the sea.

In a statement organisers confirmed the death and said the incident happened about 30 miles from the finish, outside of Hong Kong waters at around 1:23 am Saturday.

"The Volvo Ocean Race is deeply saddened to inform that the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing, a team competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, and a fishing vessel has resulted in a fatality of a crew member of the fishing vessel," it said.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.... All involved organisations are co-operating with the authorities and are fully supporting the ongoing investigation."

All Vestas crew members were safe, the statement said, but the boat was damaged in the collision which tore a hole in its side, and the incident forced the team to officially retire from the fourth leg.

The fishing boat sank following the accident.

The Dongfeng team's website said the Vestas was in second place and being chased by Dongfeng when the collision occurred.

French skipper Charles Caudrelier had offered help to his Vestas counterpart Mark Towill but was told none was required, it said.

"Our first thought is that this is terrible news. We are of course very sad to hear it and very concerned about the fishing boat and await further news on that," Caudrelier was quoted as saying minutes after finishing.

"It is always very dangerous when sailing in these fishing areas when there are so many boats and some have no lights."

- Tough passage -

The seven boats had embarked on the fourth leg in early January, heading north up the east coast of Australia with the navigational challenge of dodging numerous islands.

Scallywag, skippered by Australian David Witt, led the flotilla into their home port at around 0145 am local time, crossing the line in 17 days, 14 hours, 30 minutes and 42 seconds.

A tough passage and time spent recovering a man overboard had challenged the team but Witt said they stuck to a plan to claw their way into the lead.

"I was really impressed by the way we operated over the past couple of days," he was quoted as saying on the race website.

"We had a pretty big lead and then through no fault of our own, about two-thirds of it got taken away. But we stuck to our guns, did what we thought was right and it’s worked out."

Dongfeng arrived just hours later to clinch the runner-up spot, with Caudrelier noting it was great news for Asian sailing.

Dutch group Team AkzoNobel came in third place while Spain's MAPFRE finished fourth, followed by Team Brunel and Turn The Tide On The Plastic.

The 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race is the longest in the competition's 44-year history, stretching over eight months and 45,000 nautical miles around the globe ending in The Hague in the Netherlands in late June.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic kept up their relentless march towards a semi-final meeting at the Australian Open Saturday as Maria Sharapova suffered a crushing defeat by Angelique Kerber.

The two greats of the game -- who have won 11 Australian Opens between them -- could meet in the last four if they maintain their winning ways.

Defending champion Federer was never troubled by France's Richard Gasquet, who has failed to take a set off him since 2011, as he steamed into the last 16 with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win.

"The second set was tight, the match was close and I had to focus to the very end," said the Swiss 19-time Grand Slam winner, who next plays little-known Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the quarter-finals.

He added: "So far, so good."

Djokovic was equally convincing in his 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 rout of Spanish 21st seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas, although there was concern when he sought a medical timeout for treatment to his lower back.

"It was straight sets but I had to earn my points," insisted the Serb, who is on his way back after six months out with right elbow trouble.

"Obviously for me it's taking it one match at a time but I have to be more humble with my expectations as I haven't played in the last six months."

He next plays South Korea's Chung Hyeon, who shocked fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

With the temperatures a manageable 26 Celsius (79 Farenheit) at Melbourne Park after two days of oven-like conditions, Zverev was beaten in five sets.

He has been hailed as the leader of the tennis new guard but has now failed to go beyond the fourth round in 11 Grand Slams, admitting he has "some figuring out to do".

In a glamour evening tie, Sharapova was no match for Kerber, flopping 6-1, 6-3.

They pair are both 30, former world number ones and were the only two Australian Open winners left in the women's draw, but there was only one player in it.

"This court is special for me and I was trying to enjoy every point," Kerber said of Rod Laver Arena, where she beat Serena Williams in the 2016 final.

Kerber is in scintillating form, having won the lead-up Sydney International, and will face Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei for a place in the quarter-finals.

For Sharapova, who is looking to rediscover her best on her way back from a 15-month drugs ban, it is back to the drawing board.

"I think there are a lot of things that I need to get better at and improve on," she admitted.

- Took its toll-

World number one Simona Halep is lucky to be still in contention after surviving three match points in a titanic struggle against 76th-ranked American Lauren Davis.

She looked out for the count at one point but finally got over the line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 in a gruelling 3hr 44min epic that took its toll.

"I'm almost dead," the tenacious Romanian said after the incredible battle, in which Davis lost a toenail and Halep served for the match four times.

The former quarter-finalist will now play Naomi Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australia's Ashleigh Barty.

Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova also had a tough test, beating fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

In contrast, US Open finalist Madison Keys was in fine touch as she benefits from the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.

Flying under the radar, the 17th seed has surrendered just 16 games on her way to the fourth round after beating Romania's Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-4.

She will next face French eighth seed Caroline Garcia, who was too strong for Belarussian Alaksandra Sasnovich.

Among the men through was Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem and veteran Tomas Berdych, along with American Tennys Sandgren, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this year's Australian Open.

South Africa's Daryl Impey will take a surprise lead into the final stage of the Tour Down Under after finishing second to Richie Porte on Saturday's iconic stage to Willunga Hill.

Porte claimed his fifth successive stage win at Willunga when he unleashed his trademark second kick one kilometre from the finish line at the top of the climb.

But Impey dug deep and finished eight seconds behind Porte to take the ochre leader's jersey on a count back from the Tasmanian, thanks to his three second placings this week.

"I'm stoked and I can't believe it," Impey said, admitting he didn't come to the Tour Down Under with the aim of winning the race.

Impey said once Porte attacked on Willunga Hill, he used the riders in front of him who had been dropped as a motivation to keep going.

"I knew they were all riding for the podium and I just rode my own race to the top," he said.

"It was always in the back of my mind that I had to do a big sprint to the end, and when I saw Jay (McCarthy) just in front of me I thought there goes the podium if I don't catch him.

"I didn't know where Richie was but when I came to the top I saw the time and I thought maybe there's a chance.

"I'm glad I pushed all the way to the line."

The 151.5-kilometre fifth stage from McLaren Vale to the top of Willunga Hill is a constant on the Tour Down Under and often determines the race winner.

The stage takes in three circuits through the McLaren Vale vineyards and along the Aldinga beachfront before two climbs up Willunga Hill.

- Impey the favourite -

A group of seven riders, including King of the Mountains leader Nicholas Dlamini cleared away at the front, at one stage opening a lead of five-and-a-half minutes.

The peloton were content to let them go until they began to reel them in approaching the first climb up Willunga.

Dlamini and Belgian Thomas De Gendt stayed clear until the King of the Mountains points, at which point the young South African sat up and waited for the peloton.

De Gendt tried to go on his own but his attack was always doomed and he too was caught with 10 kilometres to go.

All the leading contenders were in good positions at the bottom of the climb but the pace set by Porte's BMC Racing team soon began to tell.

World champion and race leader Peter Sagan was dropped with two kilometres to go and when Porte kicked 1.5 kilometres out only fellow Australian Jay McCarthy could go with him.

But when Porte kicked again McCarthy couldn't respond and he crossed the line on his own.

Impey, who is used by his Mitchelton-SCOTT team as the final lead-out rider for sprinter Caleb Ewan, should have too much speed for Porte on the Adelaide street circuit on Sunday and will be favourite to become the first international winner of the race since 2013.

US Masters champion Sergio Garcia had his game interrupted for the second day running at the Singapore Open as a lightning storm halted play at the Sentosa Golf Course on Saturday.

The world number 10 had teed off on round three just after 2:30pm but was halted by rain. Play resumed about an hour later but was again called off in the early evening due to the lightning risk.

Sixty two golfers, including Garcia, will resume round three when play restarts on Sunday morning.

The fickle Southeast Asian weather has frequently disrupted play at the Singapore Open in recent years, with organisers looking at a possible Monday finish should the frequent storms continue.

Garcia only managed to complete his second round on Saturday morning but had a frustrating time missing several birdie putts on the back nine.

At seven-under after nine holes in round three, the Spaniard is now in a joint third spot group alongside playing partner Ryo Ishikawa of Japan.

Ishikawa, 26, thrilled with four birdies in 10 holes for a second round 66, briefly joining Thailand's Chapchai Nirat in the lead but fell back after beginning round three.

Chapchai, who lost his Asia Tour card last season and only made it onto this week's field because of his earnings, has appeared to bounce back in spectacular form.

At nine-under after nine holes, he has managed to hold on to the clubhouse lead for the second day running, sharing it with compatriot Danthai Boonma.

"I won't be overthinking about the tournament, just going to enjoy the experience here," Chapchai said.

Top scores after round 3 of the SMBC Singapore Golf Open (par 71) before play was suspended:

211 - Shunya Takeyasu (JPN), Yoshinori Fujimoto (JPN)

213 - Jesse Yap (am, SIN)

214 - Thanyakon Khronhpha (THA), Arjun Atwal (IND)

217 - Lee Seung-Taek (KOR)

Rafael Nadal stormed into the round of 16 at the Australian Open Friday with a vintage performance as Grigor Dimitrov and Caroline Wozniacki kept their Grand Slam hopes alive on a hot draining day.

But French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko's tournament is over, with the Latvian seventh seed crashing out in three sets to Estonian Annet Kontaveit.

Spanish world number one Nadal showed no mercy to 28th seed Damir Dzumhur on Margaret Court Arena, as he rediscovers his best form after ankle trouble.

The top seed raced through the match in just 1hr 50min, wasting as little energy as possible in the 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 rout.

"I was very, very focused," Nadal said. "I'm very happy with everything and to have another chance on Sunday."

That chance will be against 24th seeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals.

Third seed Dimitrov, who could meet Nadal in the semis, had plenty to prove after a huge second-round fright from a qualifier, who pushed him to five sets.

And the Bulgarian delivered in a testing 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian rising star Andrey Rublev as temperatures touched 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

"These are the most important matches for me, when things are not working for me and I find a way," he said. "I'm feeling good physically, the heat didn't scare me at all today, so that's a good sign."

He will next face Australian Nick Kyrgios who beat French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four close and entertaining sets in a prime-time evening match on Rod Laver Arena.

"It was amazing. I've never won a match on this court before but playing Jo I was obviously very nervous," said the 17th seeded local hope.

Second seed Wozniacki has not impressed so far, but she put in a better performance to beat Dutch 30th seed Kiki Bertens 6-4, 6-3, finally getting over the line on her fourth match point.

It sets her up with a clash against 19th-seeded Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova.

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina also kept her title dreams alive by ending the hopes of young teenage pretender Marta Kostyuk.

At just 15, Kostyuk was the youngest Melbourne Park third-round contestant since Martina Hingis in 1996. But she still has a lot to learn with fellow Ukrainian Svitolina handing out a 6-2, 6-2 lesson.

"She's definitely got a bright future," said Svitolina.

She now plays another qualifier -- big-serving Czech Denisa Allertova who romped past Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 -- for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

In a tournament shorn of seeds, 81st-ranked Petra Martic also swept into the round of 16, celebrating her 27th birthday by holding off a gritty three-set challenge from Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.

Her reward is a match against Belgium's Elise Mertens, who beat struggling Alize Cornet of France in two tough sets.

Cornet was among players wilting in the heat, with a doctor taking her blood pressure early in the second set as she succumbed to the baking weather.

- Outdoor event -

No matches have been called off or roofs closed at the opening Grand Slam of the year despite the soaring temperatures, with tournament organiser Craig Tiley defending the decision.

"These are professional athletes," he said.

"We are at the end of the day an outdoor event. We want it to stay an outdoor event as long as possible but at the same time ensuring that the health and wellbeing of players is taken care of."

Organisers only activate the extreme heat policy when the temperature exceeds 40 Celsius and the wet bulb globe temperature index hits 32.5 Celsius.

On Thursday, Novak Djokovic described the conditions as "brutal", complaining it was hard to breathe.

Kyle Edmund joined Nadal in the round of 16, overcoming the elements in a fighting five-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Italian Andreas Seppi, Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta, and Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic also progressed.

England turned in an impressive all-round team performance to beat Australia by four wickets in the second one-day international at the Gabba on Friday.

After restricting Australia to 270 for nine from their 50 overs, the English cruised past the total with 5.4 overs to spare.

"I thought our bowlers were exceptional," England captain Eoin Morgan said.

"On a really hot day they coped very well."

All of England's batsmen contributed to the run chase, which was always in control following a 117-run second wicket partnership between Jonny Bairstow (60) and Alex Hales (57).

Joss Buttler (42), Morgan (21) and Chris Woakes (39 not out) all made handy contributions, while Joe Root held the innings together with a measured 46 not out.

"We did enough to win," Morgan said, adding: "It's far from our best performance with the bat.

"I suppose that's exciting in a way. We're two-nil up in the series and we're still looking for a complete performance as a batting unit.

"Hopefully that comes in Sydney in Sunday."

The Australians went into the match without leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who proved expensive in the opening ODI in Melbourne on Sunday, opting for batsman Cameron White instead.

They also handed debuts to paceman Jhye Richardson and wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

However, the decision to go into the match without a recognised spinner proved costly on a pitch that helped the slow bowlers.

Finch, who blasted his 106 from 114 balls, helped Australia get away to a quick start alongside David Warner.

The burly opener looked like he was leading Australia to a score well past 300 but his dismissal, soon after that of Mitchell Marsh, ensured England were able to keep the Australian scoring under control.

Finch and Warner both dominated the English fast bowlers, who pitched too short on the Gabba wicket.

England captain Morgan turned to his spinners with immediate effect.

Moeen Ali had Warner caught at slip for 35, bringing Steve Smith to the crease.

The Australian captain struggled to 18 from 25 balls before part-time off-spinner Root trapped him lbw.

Root then enticed Travis Head into charging down the wicket, only to chip a return catch to the bowler to leave the Australians on 124 for three.

Marsh and Finch consolidated but the scoring rate slowed as they struggled to get Ali, Root and leg-spinner Adil Rashid away.

The Australians then lost three wickets for nine runs to allow the English to take control.

Debutant Carey made a quickfire 27 before he was brilliantly run out by Woakes, who used his football skills to kick the ball into the stumps as the batsman attempted a quick single.

Woakes then had Mitchell Starc caught in the deep before running out Andrew Tye on the last ball of the innings.

Smith conceded Australia were well beaten.

"We're not playing good enough one day cricket at the moment," he said.

"We were in a good position at 3-209 with 11 overs to go and we only scored 60 with seven wickets in hand," he added.

"That's not enough against a quality English batting line up."

North Korea is preparing a lavish display of its military strength in a parade on the eve of next month’s Winter Olympics in the South, despite a rare sporting detente with Seoul, it was reported Thursday.

Pyongyang, which has rattled the international community with its nuclear and missile tests in recent months, has agreed to send athletes to the Games and march with the South under one flag at the opening ceremony.

But the North has also vowed to press ahead with commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of its military, with the South’s Yonhap news agency reporting that it is planning a major parade on February 8 — a day before the Olympic opening ceremony.

Some 12,000 soldiers, artillery and other weapons will feature at the spectacle in an airfield near Pyongyang, Yonhap said, quoting an unidentified South Korean government source.“We believe the North will hold a military parade on February 8th to mark the anniversary of the birth of its regular forces”, the source was quoted as saying.

A South Korean defence ministry spokesman said the ministry does not comment on “any matters of military intelligence”.

While North Korea often holds military parades to mark a variety of anniversaries, the country varies the dates it marks from year to year.

In 2017, leader Kim Jong-Un staged a giant spectacle showcasing a range of weaponry, including what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in an event on April 15 marking the 105th anniversary of the North’s founder.

Kim, who launched a flurry of missiles and the North’s sixth and largest nuclear test last year, mentioned plans for a large celebration of the army’s 70th anniversary in his 2018 new year address, urging the military to “organise combat drills like real battles”.

He also used the speech to offer to take part in the South’s Pyeongchang Games, billed by Seoul as a “Peace Olympics”, which will be held some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the heavily fortified border.

The outlook for the sporting extravaganza has brightened since North Korea confirmed its participation, easing security concerns over nuclear-armed Pyongyang.

The neighbours, which opened long-dormant communications to organise the North’s participation, have agreed to field a united team in the women’s ice hockey.

Brazilian international Fernandinho, rated by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as one of the three best defensive midfielders in the world, signed a two year extension to his contract on Friday.

The new deal will see the 32-year-old -- who has been at City since joining from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for £34 million ($47 million) in 2013 -- tied to the club until 2020.

Fernandinho, who has won a Premier League title and two League Cups since being at City, has provided the steel in midfield which has had Guardiola purring that if every side had "three Fernandinho's they would be champions."

The Brazilian -- whose time at Shakhtar was a golden one for the club sweeping six league titles and the 2009 UEFA Cup -- said it made him feel special that Guardiola should pay him such compliments.

"I am so glad to hear this kind of comment from him," he told the club's website.

"He has worked with a lot of great players, a lot of quality players, intelligent players.

"So when you hear something like that you know you have to keep going the way you are now because if someone like him says that you know you are doing the right things."

Fernandinho, a member of the Brazil side that suffered a humiliating 7-1 thrashing by eventual champions Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, said his target for the two years ahead was to collect as much silverware as possible.

"Goals! Targets! The main thing for me is going to be to stay here and try to win as many trophies as we can," he said.

"I'm very, very happy to sign a new deal and to stay at this club.

"It's been a long journey since I joined and we're going to continue going forward, trying to win trophies. This is the main target for me and the club."

Borussia Dortmund said Thursday they have had no contact with Arsenal amidst reports their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is chasing a move to the Premier League giants.
Aubameyang’s father and agent Pierre has reportedly been in London this week to negotiate a transfer for the Gabon hot-shot.
According to German magazine Kicker, Dortmund want 70 million euros ($85.6m) for last season’s top-scorer in the German league.
Aubameyang has already scored 21 goals in 23 games this season, but was disciplined by the club last Sunday for the third time in 16 months after failing to attend a team meeting.
On Thursday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Aubameyang’s ‘strong character’, which did not go down well with Dortmund’s sports director Michael Zorc.
“We find it respectless to talk about a player from another club,” said Zorc, who added that Aubameyang has this week ‘trained well and is focused’ on regaining his Dortmund place.
“There has been no contact with Arsenal and we assume Arsene Wenger has enough to do worrying about the performances of his own players.”
Aubameyang had a contract at Dortmund until 2021.
It remains to be seen whether he is named in the starting side for Friday’s Bundesliga clash at Hertha Berlin.
Swedish teenager Alexander Isak, 18, made only his third German league appearance when he took Aubameyang’s place for last Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Wolfsburg, but the team struggled to finish their chances.
“He is definitely an option,” head coach Peter Stoeger said of Aubameyang.
“He could play, but it is obvious that he has to put his foot down in training and show up well.
“He can decide for himself, with his attitude, whether he will be considered and I plan on using him, if he works hard.”

Japan's Olympic chief has slammed a top canoeist for spiking a rival's drink with a banned substance to scuttle his Tokyo 2020 selection hopes, describing his act as "unthinkable".

The Japan Anti-doping Agency last week banned Yasuhiro Suzuki for eight years for putting a prohibited muscle-boosting agent into the drink bottle of fellow sprint canoeist Seiji Komatsu during a domestic competition last September.

Canoe officials branded Suzuki's actions "evil" and Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) president Tsunekazu Takeda also blasted the disgraced athlete Friday, accusing him of bringing shame on Japan before next month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

"For a scandal like this to break as we head to Pyeongchang is extremely sad," Takeda told AFP.

"It was an unthinkable act and totally goes against the spirit of the Olympics. It's a real shame and we cannot afford to let this kind of thing happen ever again."

Suzuki admitted to spiking the drink after receiving an intensive anti-doping lecture during a training camp, according to the federation.

"We meet top athletes regularly to teach them the importance of maintaining their credibility and still this has happened," said Takeda.

"I met with all the Olympic organisations yesterday and called for them to go back to the drawing board and make sure this doesn't happen again."

The Japan Canoe Federation could still impose a life ban on Suzuki, 32, citing a history of sabotaging rivals, sometimes by stealing their equipment.

Komatsu won the race in September but was later provisionally suspended after he tested positive for the drug, which he strenuously denied using. His suspension has now been lifted.

Both Suzuki and Komatsu were among the top candidates to represent Japan at the forthcoming 2020 Olympics.

Rory McIlroy’s patience was tested Thursday on his comeback and he needed three late birdies to register a 3-under 69 that left him three strokes behind first-round leaders Tommy Fleetwood and Hideto Tanihara at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Starting on the 10th hole, McIlroy made 11 straight pars, which included a three-putt par on the par-5 18th.
Fleetwood, the defending Abu Dhabi champion and last year’s European Tour money-list winner, continued his excellent form by hitting all 18 greens in regulation.
There was a five-way tie for third place with Fabrizio Zanotti, Ross Fisher, Thomas Pieters, Bernd Wiesberger and Sam Brazel shooting 67s.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson drove his ball into a lake at the ninth, his closing hole, to finish with a 72. Matt Kuchar was also on level-par while Justin Rose went one better with a 71.
McIlroy, who hit 17 greens in regulation, collected his first birdie of the day by making an uphill 15-foot putt at the third and made further birdies at the seventh and eighth.
“First competitive round in over 100 days so it’s a little bit different,” said McIlroy, who last played at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland on Oct. 8. “But I did well. I stayed patient.
“I gave myself loads of chances. Really pleased. I played very solid. I think I only missed one or two greens, drove the ball well and the iron play was pretty good. So just need to keep doing that over the next three days and I should have a chance.”
Fleetwood said he had control of his ball throughout.
“It was very good . very stress-free,” he said. “Played really well from start to finish.
“Felt like I did what you need to do well around this golf course, which is drive it well, hit your irons, but you can’t really be too greedy all the time. My pace putting was really good. (Hitting) 18 greens doesn’t happen very often so nice to do it around here.”

Australia's Nick Kyrgios won an electric four-setter with his idol Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to advance to the round of 16 at the Australian Open on Friday.

Kyrgios, seeded 17, needed three tiebreakers to win a crunch match with the former finalist 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) in 3hr 17min in a spectacular night match on Rod Laver Arena.

It pitches the mercurial Australian into a round of 16 showdown with Bulgaria's world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday.

Kyrgios, urged on by his home crowd, traded breathtaking shots with Tsonga, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 Australian final when Kyrgios was a doting 12-year-old fan.

"It was amazing. I've never won a match on this court before but playing Jo I was obviously very nervous," Kyrgios said on court.

"He was a guy I looked up to as a kid, still do, he's a great guy. I'm just so happy to get through.

"At 5-2 down in the fourth set breaker, I was getting ready for a fifth set mentally. I somehow just hung in and got a couple looks (at the serve).

"I knew my best chance was probably to get in a couple tiebreakers.

"He served extremely well throughout the whole match. I didn't really get a look at many second serves at all."

Tsonga praised Kyrgios, saying he had the game to do some damage.

"He has got it. Yeah, we will see how it goes for him. But anyway, he's already a good player," Tsonga said.

"I think he still needs time to improve. With his game already, he can do some damage. The most important in tennis I think is to believe in it."

The match had some drama just after the third set when an incensed Tsonga yelled at the chair umpire in French about a vociferous member of the crowd.

Tsonga was heard to say "bring him here, he needs to come down here".

He said it three times before the umpire warned the French star, telling him: "You have to stop, you have to stop. Nothing good can come from it. You have to stop."

Tsonga was then issued with a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Tsonga explained later: "The guy was telling me, 'You are under pressure now, you are under pressure now,' when I was bouncing my ball. That's it. I lost it and I went a little bit crazy."

Kyrgios won his first home ATP Tour title at the lead-up Brisbane International -- beating Dimitrov along the way -- and is looking to go further than a quarter-final appearance in Melbourne three years ago.

Roger Federer says it's time for his fellow professional players to rally and seek greater prize money from the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments.

The 19-time major winner says the current agreement is a good one, but it has run its course and time was right for players to get together and seek pay increases.

Novak Djokovic, as president of the ATP player council, said this week at the Australian Open in Melbourne that "everybody's trying to do their best" when asked about players getting a bigger slice of the Grand Slam cash pool.

Federer, who has amassed almost $112 million in career prizemoney, supported Djokovic's push for a bigger percentage of revenue for players.

"We had a good agreement, in my opinion, that made the Grand Slams happy, the players pretty happy. Seems like that has run its course," he said after his second round match late Thursday.

"The moment that happens, there's not the same increases any more, so players have to rally, get back together again, put in the effort.

"The Grand Slams know that. They will only react when we do so. We're ready to do it."

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has reportedly outlined plans to boost prize money at the opening Grand Slam of the year from $55 million to $100 million over the next five years.

The singles champion this year will get $4.0 million, but first round losers only receive $60,000.

Federer said going over the same process of having to ask for more was realise"a bit boring", but the revenue-sharing model was not quite where it was supposed to be.

"But, look, you can't go from here to right there in a day. We know that," he said.

"We just hope they (Slams organisers) realise and they do appreciate us maybe more all the time and not just in waves, you know what I mean?

"But it's all good. We have good contacts with the Slams. It's all good. But it's going to be a never-ending story."

Federer added that it was good that the players were talking to one another.

"When the players don't talk, nothing gets done. If the players talk to one another, it's interesting," he said.

"It's not something we can do every day. We don't have the players in the same room at all times. We can get together in locker rooms, have a quick huddle-up meeting all together.

"But to get organised all ourselves, it's not always easy because everybody has different schedules.

"We just got to make a conscious effort to get together and talk to one another. I think that's good, I'm all for that."

Only an hour's drive from the Winter Olympics venues in South Korea, a stained mattress lies in an abandoned ski resort, a possible harbinger of the gleaming new facilities' fate.

The Alps Ski Resort was one of the country's first winter sports destinations, attracting tens of thousands of skiers every year until it abruptly shut its doors in 2006.

Now South Korea has spent $800 million on the sporting facilities for next month's Winter Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the absence of future plans for several of them, saying the Games' legacy should be addressed "as a priority".

The remains of the former holiday destination in Heul-ri -- a tiny settlement of around 250 people in the country's far northeast, close to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula -- are not a good sign.

Aged, fading buildings stand below unweeded slopes, where a few bright red chairlifts dangle lifelessly from the cables.

The villagers are bitter.

"It's completely in ruins," said Oh Geum-Sik, who used to run a ski rental shop next to the resort.

"All the businesses are practically dead."

At an altitude of 1,052 metres (3,451 feet), the resort boasted the heaviest natural snowfall in South Korea, with skiers coming to the village long before the facility opened in the 1980s, laboriously trudging up the slopes to enjoy a brief downhill thrill.

A handful of elite athletes grew up with its abundant snow, among them Jung Dong-Hyun, who will compete for South Korea in alpine skiing at the Winter Games in neighbouring Pyeongchang.

Villagers say that in the resort's heyday, cars lined the streets every weekend as skiers from as far as China and Southeast Asia packed its eight pistes, with around 30 percent of customers foreigners.

But its owner went bankrupt in the face of increased competition from more accessible rivals with newer facilities, according to an official at the Goseong County office.

Heul-ri was left in disarray.

- Bitter cold -

"The closure has cost me probably about 700 million won ($660,000)," said Koo Jae-Kwan, who moved to the village 16 years ago to open an inn and a ski rental shop.

Now a rusty clock tower looms over the disused resort, its hands permanently pointing to 6:50 in the bright midday light, and three guard dogs bark furiously at the sight of a rare visitor.

A grubby mattress greets visitors in the lobby and a faded banner promising that "Customer satisfaction begins now" droops loosely above a dried-up swimming pool.

On the wall of a hollow banquet hall hangs a painting of the bustling resort in its prime, and dead plants lie on the dirty floor, wrapped with holiday decorations from more than 10 Christmases ago.

South Korean winter sports destinations have to contend with short slopes, sometimes brutally cold temperatures, and intense competition from Japan, and an official at the Korea Ski Resort Business Association told AFP that most are struggling.

"There has been a drop in the number of visitors and a number of ski resorts have closed," he said.

Beijing banned group tours to the country last year in a row over the deployment of a US missile defence system, crippling its biggest market.

"What will happen after the Pyeongchang Olympics is worrisome," the official added.

"Right now, there are a lot of government-led efforts to create a ski boom ahead of the Olympics. But even now, that hasn't really helped with reviving the ski industry and that will all come to a stop after the Olympics."

- Bell peppers -

Attempts to reopen the Heul-ri resort with new funding have come to naught.

The latest plan from Korean investor Alps Seven Resort promised 80 billion won ($75 million) to renovate the existing slopes and condos, and build more accommodation plus a theme park, a government document showed.

But it failed to meet the deadline for payments and the scheme was scrapped.

Alps Seven Resort could not be reached for comment.

If it had gone ahead, the renovated facility would have opened for business last month, just in time for the Pyeongchang Games.

"Maybe one of the ski competitions could have taken place here," lamented Heul-ri village chief Shin Dong-Gil, adding the resort's 500 rooms could have been a welcome additional accommodation option for Olympic visitors.

Instead, sacks of concrete are piled in the buildings.

Oh now farms bell peppers for a living but still has his 250 sets of ski equipment, hoping that one day he might be able to rent them out again.

But like springtime snow, the villagers' expectations for the resort are steadily melting away.

"I don't think it will ever reopen," said Koo, who has also mothballed his kit -- and his guesthouse.

"It's that one percent of hope. That's the only thing I'm holding on to."

Amanda Staveley hit back on Friday saying her bid to buy Premier League side Newcastle United remained live despite a source close to present owner Mike Ashley saying it was dead in the water.

Staveley, whose company PCP Capital Partners were instrumental in the deal that saw Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour buy Manchester City, told The Times she had been "hurt" by the remarks made by the source.

The source had told Sky Sports on Tuesday that dealing with Staveley had been "exhausting, frustrating and a complete waste of time".

Staveley, who has previously failed with a bid to buy Liverpool, rejected this out of hand.

She says her third offer of £250 million ($348 million) is very much a real bid.

The figure is below Ashley's asking price but the bid would also see her invest an additional £100 million in players over the first two transfer windows.

"I'm very much still interested in buying Newcastle," said the 44-year-old English businesswoman.

"And our bid remains on the table.

"I'm very concerned, I'm very surprised and I'm disappointed about what's been said this week.

"The suggestion that we were either wasting time or not serious is absurd. It's hurtful. Hugely hurtful."

Staveley is adamant manager Rafael Benitez is integral to the future plans should they succeed in wresting the club from Ashley's hands.

"Rafa is doing an incredible job," said Staveley.

"We want Rafa to be part of this project."

Staveley says she has brought together potential investors from around the globe -- believed to be from the Middle East, east Asia and the United States.

"This is something we've been working really hard on," she said.

"It's not something we've just thrown together. I'm putting a lot of my own capital into this and our investors, who come from around the world, include sovereign wealth funds."

Staveley says there is an emotional element to her interest in buying the club as well.

"They're such passionate fans and it's a great club," she said.

"I'm a northerner. My family home is an hour away from St James' Park. I just love football and Newcastle has a proper history and a real magic."

Sportswear magnate Ashley announced he wanted to sell the club last October after 10 years in charge, having paid £134.4 million to buy Newcastle in 2007.

The 53-year-old Londoner has proved a divisive figure during his tenure, which has seen Newcastle twice relegated from the Premier League and then immediately promoted back.

Brazilian international Fernandinho, rated by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as one of the three best defensive midfielders in the world, signed a two year extension to his contract on Friday.

The new deal will see the 32-year-old -- who has been at City since joining from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for £34 million ($47 million) in 2013 -- tied to the club until 2020.

Fernandinho, who has won a Premier League title and two League Cups since being at City, has provided the steel in midfield which has had Guardiola purring that if every side had "three Fernandinho's they would be champions."

The Brazilian -- whose time at Shakhtar was a golden one for the club sweeping six league titles and the 2009 UEFA Cup -- said it made him feel special that Guardiola should pay him such compliments.

"I am so glad to hear this kind of comment from him," he told the club's website.

"He has worked with a lot of great players, a lot of quality players, intelligent players.

"So when you hear something like that you know you have to keep going the way you are now because if someone like him says that you know you are doing the right things."

Fernandinho, a member of the Brazil side that suffered a humiliating 7-1 thrashing by eventual champions Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, said his target for the two years ahead was to collect as much silverware as possible.

"Goals! Targets! The main thing for me is going to be to stay here and try to win as many trophies as we can," he said.

"I'm very, very happy to sign a new deal and to stay at this club.

"It's been a long journey since I joined and we're going to continue going forward, trying to win trophies. This is the main target for me and the club."

England turned in an impressive all-round team performance to beat Australia by four wickets in the second one-day international at the Gabba on Friday.

After restricting Australia to 270 for nine from their 50 overs, the English cruised past the total with 5.4 overs to spare.

"I thought our bowlers were exceptional," England captain Eoin Morgan said.

"On a really hot day they coped very well."

All of England's batsmen contributed to the run chase, which was always in control following a 117-run second wicket partnership between Jonny Bairstow (60) and Alex Hales (57).

Joss Buttler (42), Morgan (21) and Chris Woakes (39 not out) all made handy contributions, while Joe Root held the innings together with a measured 46 not out.

"We did enough to win," Morgan said, adding: "It's far from our best performance with the bat.

"I suppose that's exciting in a way. We're two-nil up in the series and we're still looking for a complete performance as a batting unit.

"Hopefully that comes in Sydney in Sunday."

The Australians went into the match without leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who proved expensive in the opening ODI in Melbourne on Sunday, opting for batsman Cameron White instead.

They also handed debuts to paceman Jhye Richardson and wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

However, the decision to go into the match without a recognised spinner proved costly on a pitch that helped the slow bowlers.

Finch, who blasted his 106 from 114 balls, helped Australia get away to a quick start alongside David Warner.

The burly opener looked like he was leading Australia to a score well past 300 but his dismissal, soon after that of Mitchell Marsh, ensured England were able to keep the Australian scoring under control.

Finch and Warner both dominated the English fast bowlers, who pitched too short on the Gabba wicket.

England captain Morgan turned to his spinners with immediate effect.

Moeen Ali had Warner caught at slip for 35, bringing Steve Smith to the crease.

The Australian captain struggled to 18 from 25 balls before part-time off-spinner Root trapped him lbw.

Root then enticed Travis Head into charging down the wicket, only to chip a return catch to the bowler to leave the Australians on 124 for three.

Marsh and Finch consolidated but the scoring rate slowed as they struggled to get Ali, Root and leg-spinner Adil Rashid away.

The Australians then lost three wickets for nine runs to allow the English to take control.

Debutant Carey made a quickfire 27 before he was brilliantly run out by Woakes, who used his football skills to kick the ball into the stumps as the batsman attempted a quick single.

Woakes then had Mitchell Starc caught in the deep before running out Andrew Tye on the last ball of the innings.

Smith conceded Australia were well beaten.

"We're not playing good enough one day cricket at the moment," he said.

"We were in a good position at 3-209 with 11 overs to go and we only scored 60 with seven wickets in hand," he added.

"That's not enough against a quality English batting line up."

Rafael Nadal stormed into the round of 16 at the Australian Open Friday with a vintage performance as Grigor Dimitrov and Caroline Wozniacki kept their Grand Slam hopes alive on a hot draining day.

But French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko's tournament is over, with the Latvian seventh seed crashing out in three sets to Estonian Annet Kontaveit.

Spanish world number one Nadal showed no mercy to 28th seed Damir Dzumhur on Margaret Court Arena, as he rediscovers his best form after ankle trouble.

The top seed raced through the match in just 1hr 50min, wasting as little energy as possible in the 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 rout.

"I was very, very focused," Nadal said. "I'm very happy with everything and to have another chance on Sunday."

That chance will be against 24th seeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals.

Third seed Dimitrov, who could meet Nadal in the semis, had plenty to prove after a huge second-round fright from a qualifier, who pushed him to five sets.

And the Bulgarian delivered in a testing 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian rising star Andrey Rublev as temperatures touched 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

"These are the most important matches for me, when things are not working for me and I find a way," he said. "I'm feeling good physically, the heat didn't scare me at all today, so that's a good sign."

He will next face Australian Nick Kyrgios who beat French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four close and entertaining sets in a prime-time evening match on Rod Laver Arena.

"It was amazing. I've never won a match on this court before but playing Jo I was obviously very nervous," said the 17th seeded local hope.

Second seed Wozniacki has not impressed so far, but she put in a better performance to beat Dutch 30th seed Kiki Bertens 6-4, 6-3, finally getting over the line on her fourth match point.

It sets her up with a clash against 19th-seeded Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova.

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina also kept her title dreams alive by ending the hopes of young teenage pretender Marta Kostyuk.

At just 15, Kostyuk was the youngest Melbourne Park third-round contestant since Martina Hingis in 1996. But she still has a lot to learn with fellow Ukrainian Svitolina handing out a 6-2, 6-2 lesson.

"She's definitely got a bright future," said Svitolina.

She now plays another qualifier -- big-serving Czech Denisa Allertova who romped past Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 -- for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

In a tournament shorn of seeds, 81st-ranked Petra Martic also swept into the round of 16, celebrating her 27th birthday by holding off a gritty three-set challenge from Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.

Her reward is a match against Belgium's Elise Mertens, who beat struggling Alize Cornet of France in two tough sets.

Cornet was among players wilting in the heat, with a doctor taking her blood pressure early in the second set as she succumbed to the baking weather.

- Outdoor event -

No matches have been called off or roofs closed at the opening Grand Slam of the year despite the soaring temperatures, with tournament organiser Craig Tiley defending the decision.

"These are professional athletes," he said.

"We are at the end of the day an outdoor event. We want it to stay an outdoor event as long as possible but at the same time ensuring that the health and wellbeing of players is taken care of."

Organisers only activate the extreme heat policy when the temperature exceeds 40 Celsius and the wet bulb globe temperature index hits 32.5 Celsius.

On Thursday, Novak Djokovic described the conditions as "brutal", complaining it was hard to breathe.

Kyle Edmund joined Nadal in the round of 16, overcoming the elements in a fighting five-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Italian Andreas Seppi, Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta, and Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic also progressed.

Rafael Nadal continued his sensational run in the Australian Open, shedding just five games in romping to a straight sets win over Damir Dzumhur on Friday.

The Spanish world No.1 took just 1hr 50min to storm into the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 demolition of the 28th seeded Bosnian on Margaret Court Arena.Nadal, a losing finalist to Roger Federer last year in Melbourne, has lost only 21 games in his three victories to reach the round of 16 after coming into the year's opening Grand Slam with queries over the state of a knee injury.

He will take on Argentina's 24th seed Diego Schwartzman in Sunday's fourth round.

"When you win 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in the third round, is always a great result," Nadal said.

"I needed hours of court, hours of practice, hours of playing sets with different players. That's what I did.

"I think I did a good preparation here. I feel I am playing well. That's all.

"Here I am. I am in the fourth round. That's because I am doing the right things. Let's see how far I can go."

The 16-time Grand Slam champion conceded just 18 unforced errors and only dropped his service once.

The win took the 31-year-old's Australian Open record to 54-11 as he chases his second Melbourne title after beating Federer in the 2009 final.

Nadal was ruthless against the Bosnian, breaking his serve seven times with blistering shot-making.

He breezed through the opening set with two breaks for the loss of just one game in 22 minutes.

He then broke Dzumhur in the opening game of the second and finished off the set with another break for a two sets lead.

Nadal continued to attack Dzumhur and broke him in the second and sixth games to wrap up his night.

Nadal said he would have to be at his best to get past Schwartzman, a quarter-finalist at last year's US Open.

"He's a great player. He had an amazing last year, and he's started again this year playing so well," Nadal said.

"He's won three matches here, playing at very high level. He's a very complete player. He's a player that if I don't play my best, probably I am not going to win. Tough one."

Nadal, who is gunning for a 17th major title, was hampered by a knee injury at the tail-end of the 2017 season.

It forced him to skip the lead-up Brisbane International this month, and he only had a one-match workout at the exhibition Kooyong Classic in Melbourne ahead of the Open.

Nadal needs to reach the quarter-finals to be certain of retaining his world number one ranking after the Australian Open, with Federer breathing down his neck.

Borussia Dortmund said Thursday they have had no contact with Arsenal amidst reports their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is chasing a move to the Premier League giants.
Aubameyang’s father and agent Pierre has reportedly been in London this week to negotiate a transfer for the Gabon hot-shot.
According to German magazine Kicker, Dortmund want 70 million euros ($85.6m) for last season’s top-scorer in the German league.
Aubameyang has already scored 21 goals in 23 games this season, but was disciplined by the club last Sunday for the third time in 16 months after failing to attend a team meeting.
On Thursday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Aubameyang’s ‘strong character’, which did not go down well with Dortmund’s sports director Michael Zorc.
“We find it respectless to talk about a player from another club,” said Zorc, who added that Aubameyang has this week ‘trained well and is focused’ on regaining his Dortmund place.
“There has been no contact with Arsenal and we assume Arsene Wenger has enough to do worrying about the performances of his own players.”
Aubameyang had a contract at Dortmund until 2021.
It remains to be seen whether he is named in the starting side for Friday’s Bundesliga clash at Hertha Berlin.
Swedish teenager Alexander Isak, 18, made only his third German league appearance when he took Aubameyang’s place for last Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Wolfsburg, but the team struggled to finish their chances.
“He is definitely an option,” head coach Peter Stoeger said of Aubameyang.
“He could play, but it is obvious that he has to put his foot down in training and show up well.
“He can decide for himself, with his attitude, whether he will be considered and I plan on using him, if he works hard.”

Maria Sharapova may not be seeded and may have turned up in Melbourne with a cloud hanging over her, but the Russian has showed she is s serious contender for the title.
The 30-year-old swatted aside 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 7-6 in a display which will have had the rest of the locker room sitting up and taking notice.
Sharapova faces Angelique Kerber next in a mouth-watering clash of former Australian Open champions, warned she was still improving less than a year after her comeback from a drugs ban last April.
“She’s had success here,” she said of Kerber, the 2016 title winner. “She’s had success playing out here in these conditions on these courts. I want to see where I am on that level.”
Sevastova had thwarted the Russian’s Grand Slam comeback in the last 16 of the US Open last year.
In their next encounter in Beijing the Latvian was only denied after more than three gruelling hours in a titanic three-setter.
In the Melbourne match it was a different story as Sharapova sped through a sizzling first set in just 23 minutes for the loss of only nine points.
“I played really well at the net, finished the balls off with a swing volley or good volley,” she said.
“Something I’ve been working on, and definitely improved in the match today.”
Sevastova characteristically fought back in the second but the only time the 2008 Australian Open champion and crowd-favorite wobbled was when serving for the match.
“She never really lets up,” Sharapova said.
“But I got through it. I did the job in two, and that’s not something I did, you know, toward the end of last year.
“I think that’s an improvement.”
The Latvian, who reached back-to-back quarter-finals at the US Open in 2016 and 2017, briefly woke up to break the Sharapova serve for the first time early in the second set.
The jolt to the Sharapova juggernaut was evident and she began to make unforced errors as service holds and breaks were exchanged.
At 4-4 a backhand winner got Sharapova to break point and when a second screamer followed it was greeted by a double-fist pump from the Russian.
But still Sevastova was not done and broke back again to force a tiebreak.
Sharapova regathered and was not to be denied as she hit a scarcely believable forehand crosscourt winner on the run to get to 5-2 before closing out the match with a scream of joy, a fist pump and a huge smile.
“I did my job in two sets against someone that’s been troubling in the past for me. I think I deserve to smile out there after that victory,” said Sharapova.

Arab News takes a look at how all the other big names did on day four in Melbourne — who lived to fight another day and who has already been forced to pack their bags?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (12) STAYING: The Argentine booked a third round clash against 19th seed Tomas Berdych thanks to a 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 Karen Khachanov. Made to fight over four sets this match should prove to be good practice for what promises to be an attritional match next up.
MADISON KEYS (17) STAYING: The American ace made light work of her second round encounter against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Last year’s US Open finalist won the first 11 games on her way to an easy 6-0, 6-1 win that took only 41 minutes. She won every point on her serve in the first set, holding at love in three games.
DOMINIC THIEM (5) STAYING: The 24-year-old Austrian recovered from two sets down to beat American Denis Kudla and reach the last 32. Thiem lost a tie-break in the opener but fought back to win 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-2 6-2 6-3.
ANGELIQUE KERBER (21) STAYING: The German celebrated her 30th birthday with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Donna Vekic to advance to the third round clash against Maria Sharapova. On this evidence she will take some beating, it was Kerber’s 11th win in a row to start the season.
STANILAS WAWRINKA (9) PACKING HIS BAGS: The 2014 came into the tournament struggling with a knee injury and it was always going to be a tall order for him to make much of an impression in Melbourne. That proved to be the case as the Swiss struggled during a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 defeat to American Tennys Sandgren. “I really came without thinking I will be able to play the first match. That’s a big step for me,” he said after the match.
DAVID GOFFIN (7) PACKING HIS BAGS: The Belgian was a dark horse to win the title, but his dreams were dashed by a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6 defeat to wild-card entry Julien Benneteau. It was only the second time in the now 59th-ranked Benneteau’s career that he’s managed to beat a player in the top 10 in a Grand Slam singles match.
GARBINE MUGURUZA (3) PACKING HER BAGS: The Wimbledon champion is out after being beaten 7-6, 6-4 by Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan. Muguruza never looked comfortable in the match, double-faulting on break point in the second set and had as many as 43 unforced errors.
JOHANNA KONTA (9) PACKING HER BAGS: The Briton’s Melbourne mission ended in just the second round. The former semifinalist beaten by American lucky loser Bernarda Pera 6-4, 7-5. Konta arrived in Australia suffering from a hip problem.

Team LeBron against Team Stephen is the NBA’s new All-Star matchup.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry will go head-to-head again, this time as captains who pick teams for the revamped NBA All-Star Game.
James and Curry received the most votes from fans in their conferences Thursday night and will draft from a pool of the rest of the NBA’s best for the Feb. 18 game in Los Angeles.
“Captain huh? Really Appreciate all the votes from the fans, media and players!” Curry wrote on Twitter .
James will pick first as the player who received the most fan votes. He will make his 14th All-Star Game start, one behind Kobe Bryant for the most in league history.
He could start his team with Kevin Durant, who teamed with Curry to beat James and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Or maybe he could go with Kyrie Irving, a former All-Star Game MVP who asked to be traded away from Cleveland last summer and has led Boston to the best record in the East.
Perhaps it will be Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom James came from behind to edge with 2.6 million votes. The Greek Freak had a little more than 2.5 million.
For now, James is keeping his choice a secret.
“I’m not telling you,” he said after the Cavs squeaked out a 104-103 win over Orlando.
James also had a quick response when asked if Curry being the opposing captain added a layer to his rivalry with the point guard.
“No,” he said.
The format was changed from the traditional East vs. West matchup for the first time after lackluster games the last two seasons, when players made little attempt to defend and the West nearly scored 200 points in both of its victories.
Both James and Curry will make their first four picks from the pool of starters, but they don’t have to stick to conference affiliation in choosing their rosters.
“I’m going to try to build the best team I can,” James said. “I don’t play fantasy anything. And I don’t trade guys onto teams when I play 2K or play the video games, so this is different for me. But I know watching guys and loving their game and all that, if you had an opportunity to play with that guy, how special that would be.”
The other starters from the Eastern Conference will be Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, the only first-time All-Star among the starters.
New Orleans also has two starters in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Houston guard James Harden, the NBA’s scoring leader, rounds out the starters, who were selected by a combination of fan, media and player voting. Fan balloting accounted for 50 percent of the formula, with the media panel and player vote each making up 25 percent.
The seven reserves in each conference, voted upon by the head coaches in each conference, will be announced Tuesday, and the rosters selected by James and Curry will be unveiled next Thursday.
The league does not plan to televise the draft.

South Korea’s skating authorities have suspended a national team coach for allegedly beating Olympic short track speedskating champion Shim Suk-hee.
The Korea Skating Union on Friday said Shim left a national team training center for two days this week after she was allegedly assaulted by one of her four male coaches. She returned to the center on Thursday.
Skating authorities confirmed an investigation is under way, but did not identify the coach.
Shim won the women’s short track 3,000-meter gold medal during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. She also took silver the 1,500 and bronze in the 1,000.
No details of the incident have been released, and It wasn’t immediately known if the 21-year-old was injured.
Shim is preparing for the Feb. 9-25 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

World number three Grigor Dimitrov got his Australian Open back on track Friday with a gutsy win on another searing day, as organizers defended the tournament heat policy.
The third seed had plenty to prove after a huge second-round fright from a qualifier, who pushed him to five sets.
And the Bulgarian delivered in a testing 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian rising star Andrey Rublev on Rod Laver Arena as temperatures touched 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
“These are the most important matches for me, when things are not working for me and I find a way,” he said. “I’m feeling good physically, the heat didn’t scare me at all today, so that’s a good sign.”
He will next face the winner of an intriguing night match which pits Australian Nick Kyrgios against French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Fourth seeded woman Elina Svitolina also kept her title dreams alive by ending the hopes of young teenage pretender Marta Kostyuk.
At just 15, Kostyuk was the youngest Melbourne Park third-round contestant since Martina Hingis in 1996, and was hailed after her previous win as “the future of tennis.”
But she still has a lot to learn with fellow Ukrainian Svitolina handing out a 6-2, 6-2 lesson.
“She’s definitely got a bright future,” said Svitolina, adding: “It’s very special for me to get past the third round.”
She next plays another qualifier — big-serving Czech Denisa Allertova who romped past Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 — for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
In a tournament shorn of seeds, 81st ranked Petra Martic also swept into the round of 16, celebrating her 27th birthday by holding off a gritty three-set challenge from Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.
Her reward is a match against Belgium’s Elize Mertens, who beat struggling Alize Cornet of France in two tough sets.
Cornet was among players wilting in the heat, with a doctor taking her blood pressure early in the second set as she succumbed to the baking weather.
No matches have been called off at the opening Grand Slam of the year despite the soaring temperatures, with tournament organizer Craig Tiley defending the decision.
“The policy is from consultation with the players,” he said. “These are professional athletes.
“We are at the end of the day an outdoor event. We want it to stay an outdoor event as long as possible but at the same time ensuring that the health and wellbeing of players is taken care of.”
Organizers only active the extreme heat policy and halt play or close roofs when the temperature exceeds 40 Celsius and the wet bulb globe temperature index hits 32.5 Celsius.
On Thursday, Novak Djokovic described the conditions as “brutal,” complaining it was hard to breathe.
Kyle Edmund was the first man to reach the round of 16, overcoming the elements in a fighting five-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvili.
He is the only British man in the main draw after Andy Murray’s injury withdrawal and will play either Croatia’s 38-year-old Ivo Karlovic or Italian Andreas Seppi next.
Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta, a semifinalist at last year’s US Open, also marched on, beating Gilles Muller.
Rafael Nadal faces a stiff challenge later on Margaret Court Arena when he takes on 25th ranked Damir Dzumhur, the first seed he has played in his comeback from a knee problem.
The Spanish world number one has so far been dominant in his search for a 17th Grand Slam title.
Despite being the second seed, Caroline Wozniacki has not impressed so far, needing to save two match points and rally from 5-1 down in an epic third set against little-known Jana Fett in round two.
She is the late match on Rod Laver Arena against Dutch 30th seed Kiki Bertens and will play 19th seeded Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova is she wins.

The heat wasn’t a factor for Rafael Nadal this time against Damir Dzumhur, despite the searing temperature causing trouble for players earlier Friday at the Australian Open.
Nadal reached the fourth round in Australia for the 11th time with the 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 win, and leveled his career head-to-head record with Dzumhur.
The 16-time major winner lost their only previous meeting when he had to retire because of heat-related issues in the third set at Miami in 2016, giving Dzumhur the win that day.
It was also a change of scenery for Nadal, who was playing on Margaret Court Arena — the No. 2 venue at Melbourne Park — while local hope Nick Kyrgios played Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a night match at Rod Laver Arena.
The youngest player in the tournament and the oldest player in the men’s draw went out earlier on Day 5.
Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina ended 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk’s run with a 6-2, 6-2 victory, then met her fellow Ukrainian at the net for a warm embrace and some words of encouragement.
“She’s a great fighter,” Svitolina, one of five women in contention for the No. 1 ranking, said of her fellow Ukrainian. “We’re going to hear a lot more about her.”
Andreas Seppi withstood 52 aces from 38-year-old Ivo Karlovic for a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (5), 9-7 win in 3 hours and 51 minutes in an afternoon match.
Players were bothered and spectators clamored for shade and mist-spraying fans in searing heat earlier Friday, and organizers were on the verge of enforcing the tournament’s extreme heat policy before temperatures dropped significantly after peaking around 2 p.m. local time.
Play can be suspended at the Australian Open if the temperature 40 Celsius (104F) and a combination of factors — including temperature, humidity and breeze — reaches an unbearable limit.
Alize Cornet, who needed a medical timeout and a doctor to take her blood pressure as she struggled with heat stress in her 7-5, 6-4 third-round loss to Elize Mertens, was among those suggesting the extreme heat policy needs reviewing.
“I started to feel dizzy. ... I was feeling super, super hot. I kind of felt that I could faint at any moment,” she said, adding that while precautions were taken by tournament officials, “playing in this condition is of course very dangerous for the health of the player.
“The limit of not playing the match is really high. ... I think this limit should be a little bit lower.”
No. 3-seeded Grigor Dimitrov beat No. 30 Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in just over three hours after the change came through and said “the heat didn’t scare me at all today.”
Kyle Edmund overcame Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (0), 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 in 3 ½ hours on an open court in the peak of the heat, earning a spot in the next round against Seppi. No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta had a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over No. 23 Gilles Muller.
Kostyuk entered the tournament ranked No. 521 — a number that will likely be halved next month — and had wins over 25th-seeded Peng Shuai and Olivia Rogowska to become the youngest player to win main-draw matches at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1996.
The step up to facing a top 10 player was too much.
Svitolina, the only seeded player still in contention in her quarter, had five aces, only 11 unforced errors and didn’t serve a double fault in the 59-minute match.
Kostyuk, who had nine double-faults — including one on match point — sobbed into a towel in the tunnel soon after leaving the court, but could joke about the defeat when asked later what she could take out of the experience.
“Well, a lot,” she said. “How much you have to pay Svitolina to have one-hour lesson? I got it for free.”
Svitolina will next play Denisa Allertova, who beat Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4. No. 19 Magdalena Rybarikova had a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bondarenko.
Petra Martic celebrated her 27th birthday with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 over Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum.
“That was really ugly,” Martic said of the heat. “We were lucky to play on Rod Laver because we had some shade behind so you could hide for a few seconds in between the points.
“Other than that, you need to be mentally tough and ready to just suffer out there.”

New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 15 runs in the fifth one-day international in Wellington on Friday to complete a rare series whitewash over the tourists.
Set a target of 272, Pakistan were all out for 256 with one over remaining.
It is only the third time Pakistan have been on the wrong end of a 5-0 ODI clean sweep after they succumbed by the same margin to Australia in 2010 and the West Indies in 1988.
New Zealand’s innings was bolstered by a fine century from Martin Guptill that preceded a late collapse by the Black Caps.
The target should have been achievable, given the short boundaries at the Basin Reserve, but speedster Matt Henry ensured Pakistan made a disastrous start.
Called up to give Trent Boult a break, Henry made the most of his opportunity to take three wickets in three overs and skittle the tourists’ top order.
Pakistan slumped to 57 for five before Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan combined for a 105-run partnership that steadied the innings.
It ended when Sohail tried to loft the ball over the fence but misread spinner Mitchell Santner’s slower delivery and instead offered Henry a straightforward catch.
His departure on 63, with Shadab following soon after on 54 seemingly ended Pakistan’s faint hopes of victory.
But the tail wagged as Faheem Ashraf (23), Aamer Yamin (32) and Mohammad Nawaz (23) all made late cameos that left the tourists on nine for 249 and needing 23 off the final two overs.
The lack of wickets ultimately proved costly when Rumman Raees was dismissed with six balls remaining.

Gael Monfils said he was "dying" on court, Caroline Garcia's feet were burning up and Dominic Thiem couldn't wait to get in an ice bath as Melbourne's searing summer heat played havoc at the Australian Open on Thursday.

The opening Grand Slam of the year routinely challenges players and fans with its fickle weather - it can be 20 Celsius one day and 40 Celsius the next.

This week the heat has been gradually building and it touched 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with even worse forecast for Friday.

Some players cope better than others in the furnace-like conditions, with third seed Garbine Muguruza one of those who suffered, crashing out in straight sets.

"I think the surface of the court, I don't know how much heat, it's terrible, very, very hot, and it's easy to get blisters and red," she said.

"I had a more tougher match under the heat in previous years at the Australian Open, but today was -- it was hot, but I don't think was the hottest day."

There were concerns for Monfils' health in his mid-afternoon match against Novak Djokovic, with the Frenchman, known as one of the fittest players on tour, looking dazed and confused in the second set.

He eventually got medical assistance and could be heard pleading for more time between points in the stifling heat

"I got super dizzy, I think I had a small heatstroke for 40 minutes," he said after losing in four sets. "I'm telling you, I was dying on the court for 40 minutes."

Djokovic described the conditions as "brutal".

"It was obvious we both suffered on the court today. They were really tough conditions. It was brutal for the first hour and a half,” said the Serb.

French eighth seed Garcia spent three gruelling sets in the sun against Marketa Vondrousova before limping to a 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 8-6 victory.

"It's definitely hot," she said afterwards. "My feet are burning. But we know it's like this in Australia -- the next day it can be freezing."

The conditions present the ultimate test of fitness and stamina, with organisers only activating the extreme heat policy when the temperature exceeds 40 Celsius and the wet bulb globe temperature index hits 32.5 Celsius.

Tournament organisers said they had been "close" to calling a halt to play and shutting the main stadiums roofs.

Maria Sharapova was untroubled by the heat, although she was on court in the morning and avoided the worst of it.

"I love the summertime," she said breezily after dispatching 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets.

Players are urged to keep themselves hydrated and use ice wrapped in towels to cool off at changeovers in the draining weather.

Fifth seed Thiem took the advice to heart as he struggled through a energy-sapping five-setter against Denis Kudla.

"I'm off to have an ice bath," was all he managed to say after the marathon match.

A cooler change is expected to blow through Melbourne from Saturday.

North Korea is preparing a lavish display of its military strength in a parade on the eve of next month’s Winter Olympics in the South, despite a rare sporting detente with Seoul, it was reported Thursday.

Pyongyang, which has rattled the international community with its nuclear and missile tests in recent months, has agreed to send athletes to the Games and march with the South under one flag at the opening ceremony.

But the North has also vowed to press ahead with commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of its military, with the South’s Yonhap news agency reporting that it is planning a major parade on February 8 — a day before the Olympic opening ceremony.

Some 12,000 soldiers, artillery and other weapons will feature at the spectacle in an airfield near Pyongyang, Yonhap said, quoting an unidentified South Korean government source.“We believe the North will hold a military parade on February 8th to mark the anniversary of the birth of its regular forces”, the source was quoted as saying.

A South Korean defence ministry spokesman said the ministry does not comment on “any matters of military intelligence”.

While North Korea often holds military parades to mark a variety of anniversaries, the country varies the dates it marks from year to year.

In 2017, leader Kim Jong-Un staged a giant spectacle showcasing a range of weaponry, including what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in an event on April 15 marking the 105th anniversary of the North’s founder.

Kim, who launched a flurry of missiles and the North’s sixth and largest nuclear test last year, mentioned plans for a large celebration of the army’s 70th anniversary in his 2018 new year address, urging the military to “organise combat drills like real battles”.

He also used the speech to offer to take part in the South’s Pyeongchang Games, billed by Seoul as a “Peace Olympics”, which will be held some 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the heavily fortified border.

The outlook for the sporting extravaganza has brightened since North Korea confirmed its participation, easing security concerns over nuclear-armed Pyongyang.

The neighbours, which opened long-dormant communications to organise the North’s participation, have agreed to field a united team in the women’s ice hockey.

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen will host the WTA Finals from 2019 for a decade with record prize money of $14 million for the season-ending event -- a move welcomed by players.

The elite tournament, which sees the top eight female players battle it out for the Billie Jean King trophy, has previously been held in Singapore."It gives me great pleasure to announce that the dynamic city of Shenzhen has been chosen to host the WTA Finals, the WTA's crown jewel season finale, for the next decade," WTA chief Steve Simon said on the sidelines of the Australian Open.

"This will easily be the largest and most significant WTA Finals deal in the 45 years since the WTA was founded and promises to take the event to a spectacular new level."

Simon said in 2016 that the body was searching for a permanent base for the event, with interest reportedly received from Singapore, Manchester, Prague, St Petersburg and Shenzhen.

The winning bid was submitted by Gemdale Corporation, one of China's largest property developers, and will include building a state-of-the-art venue in the city centre, with seating for 12,000 people.

Prize money will double from the current $7 million.

"Shenzhen is an exciting, fast-evolving metropolis and staging the WTA Finals there will ensure the WTA's global fan base goes from strength to strength," said WTA President Micky Lawler in explaining the choice.

China already hosts a number of top-level tour tournaments and has several purpose-built facilities.

Simon dismissed concerns that too much tennis was now heading to China.

"I don't believe so," he said. "If you look at the WTA, it's a global tour. We need to continue to keep our balance."

- 'Go where growth is' -

The WTA made a decision in 2008 to grow the brand in China and the wider Asia-Pacific, and with the Shenzhen announcement they will now have nine tournaments in the region.

Billie Jean King, founder of the WTA, said it was "absolutely incredible" to witness the growth of the season-ending event.

"Shenzhen will be a fantastic home for the WTA Finals," she added.

"The record setting $14 million purse set for Shenzhen reflects the global strength of our sport and how Shenzhen and China have embraced women's tennis."

Key players welcomed the move, and the big boost in money they will earn.

Maria Sharapova said the championship was heading to a place "that's willing to grow the sport".

"If you look at the numbers ... you want to go to a place that's willing to invest in women's tennis. That's where we're headed to," she said in Melbourne.

"They were the ones that put the money on the line. They are willing to grow our sport. They're willing to build a stadium, willing to accept the game and its level and the players.

"We want to go where the growth will be."

World number one Simona Halep said she had chosen to start her season in Shenzhen for several years "and I am thrilled that the city has been selected to stage the WTA Finals".

"It's a fascinating and friendly place, with some of the best tennis fans in the world," she added.

The WTA Finals were first played in 1972 with Shenzhen becoming the 10th different host city.

It has also been held in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, Oakland, New York, Munich, Madrid, Doha, Istanbul, and Singapore.

Novak Djokovic has called for more consideration of players' welfare amid growing demands from extra tournaments yet no sign of shorter seasons to help their recovery.

Djokovic, a 12-time Grand Slam champion who is also president of the ATP players' council, spoke after reaching the third round at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.

"Our sport has become an industry, like most of the other global sports. It's more business than a sport," he said.

"Of course, we're all blessed to have a great financial compensations, great lives. For sure, I'm very grateful for that.

"(But) at the same time what is most important for us is our health and what happens after our career, after you're 30, 35.

"There are many players that are struggling. They can't physically walk, run, jog, whatever. I mean, they're struggling some way or another."

Djokovic said there was little indication that players were going to have any form of discussion with the sport's chiefs for a shorter season.

"We're just adding events, official events, unofficial events. It feels, from a player's perspective, that you're kind of always in a rush," he said.

"You're always obliged to play the mandatory events. You obviously have always a big challenge to defend (rankings) points because it affects everything.

"You're always constantly, week after week, being part of that dynamic of our sport, which at times seems a bit too much."

Djokovic said there should be rational conversations about rules that are imposed and that concern players' well-being.

England are without a number of their frontline players for their Six Nations opener against Italy and Eddie Jones has turned to eight uncapped contenders in his 35-man squad. Here we run the rule over the hopeful debutants who will train with England and look to force their way into Test selection for the championship.The loose-head was picked on their end-of-season tour to Argentina but just missed out on making his debut. He impressed on the Saxons' tour of South Africa in 2016 and with Matt Mullan, Beno Obano and Joe Marler unavailable, Hepburn is in prime position to make his debut against Italy from the bench.Boyce joined Quins from Yorkshire Carnegie ahead of this season and has displaced Mark Lambert as the Aviva Premiership side's second-choice loose-head. He featured in the England Under-20 side that won the 2016 Junior World Championship but has only made one start for Quins in the top tier.Dunn has put in an impressive tackle rate this season for Bath and with Luke Cowan-Dickie absent from the 35-man squad and not included as one of the unavailable players, he seems to have established himself as third-choice hooker behind Dylan Hartley and Jamie George. Eddie Jones told Dunn back at the end of 2017 to get bigger and to work on his set piece.Graham has only made four Aviva Premiership appearances for the Falcons having signed for them at the end of last season from Jersey. He played in the Scotland Under-20s - his father, George, played Test rugby for Scotland -- but has caught Jones' eye and will challenge for a spot at either blindside or openside. "Graham reminds me a bit of Robshaw so he's not an out and out seven but he's a good tough boy," Jones said. "He's got a nice demeanour about him, [and is] hungry, so very impressive."Mercer has featured in the England squad in an 'apprentice' role but has now progressed to being a contender to start against Italy. With Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes both out injured, England are lacking options at No.8 and Mercer has impressed there recently for Bath. "He's now fully available for selection, he's done well for Bath, I've been really impressed by his work-rate off the ball," Jones said. "There's a certain hardness about his game. He's always been one of those gifted boys but now he's doing the tough things."England are not short of options at fly-half, but Smith has come into the consciousness this season having featured prominently for Harlequins. Aged just 18, he only signed his first professional contract last week, but is on England's radar as one for the future. He still retains his status as 'apprentice' with George Ford and Owen Farrell ahead of him. "We would ideally like to get him right for the World Cup because then he fills a fine role as a third stand-off for us," Jones said. "But the only way we are going to develop him is for him to play at Harlequins and bring him into camps and put extra work into him."Mallinder was included in the squad for England's 2017 tour of Argentina, but did not get a chance in the Tests. He has endured a tough season at Northampton, but offers versatility across the backline with an ability to play fly-half, centre, wing and fullback. He has also come through the England age grade and captained them to their 2016 Junior World Championship triumph over Ireland.Earle was also named in England's squad for Argentina but like Mallinder, did not get his chance in the Tests but did play against the Barbarians last May. He is playing more prominently for Saracens this season and is likely to be lining up for Quins next term. He has an eye for the tryline and also has valuable southern hemisphere experience having had time with Canterbury. "He's a big, tall guy who's got pace," Jones said of Earle last year.

Defending champion Roger Federer cooly swept into the Australian Open third round Thursday as Novak Djokovic survived a gruelling fitness test under the brutal Melbourne sun.

But with temperatures touching an energy-sapping 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and ice-towels in use, third seed Garbine Muguruza and 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka both wilted and were knocked out.Maria Sharapova, in contrast, laid down her title credentials with dominant win against 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova.

World number one Simona Halep was also convincing in her straight demolition of Canadian Eugenie Bouchard.

Swiss 19-time Grand Slam champion Federer disposed of Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), avoiding the worse of the furnace-like conditions in his night match.

"I practice with him so I had the information I needed," he said, adding that the heat doesn't bother him.

"If you want to get to the top, you've got to play in all conditions."

It was never going to be easy for the German. While Federer had made at least the third round each year since his Melbourne Park debut in 2000, Struff had failed to go further than the second round at any Grand Slam.

Six-time Melbourne champion Djokovic had a much tougher time, coming through a four-setter against Gael Monfils in a thorough examination after being out for six months with an elbow injury.

He lost the first set before Monfils began struggling in the second and was heard at one point telling the umpire: "I'm tired and dizzy."

The Frenchman remarkably recovered to make a fight of it before a relieved Djokovic, seeded 14, came through 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

"It was tough conditions, brutal, especially the first 90 minutes," he said.

"I'm still not 100 percent, but building. I have a lot of faith and self-belief."

The heat took its toll on a host of players, including Wimbledon champion Muguruza, who suffered with heat-blistered feet.

She was knocked out by 88-ranked Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 but refused to make excuses.

"I maybe could have done things better, but at the end, she deserves to win," she said.

Wawrinka also failed to progress, clearly still struggling from a lengthy knee injury lay-off in his straight sets defeat by American Tennys Sandgren.

- 'Deserve to smile' -

Russian drawcard Sharapova was on Rod Laver Arena early and avoided the brunt of the weather as she showed why she should be again taken seriously in dismantling Sevastova 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).

It was the Latvian who ended her Grand Slam comeback in the last 16 of the US Open in 2017 as she returned from a drug ban. But not this time.

Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner and the 2008 Australian champion, was unstoppable in racing through the first set before a battle in the second.

"You know, it was a warm day. I did my job in two sets against someone that's been troubling in the past for me," she said afterwards.

"I think I deserve to smile out there after that victory."

Being unseeded means she has her work cut out to reach another final.

Next up is in-form 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, who beat Donna Vekic in two easy sets as she starts to rediscover her best again after a miserable last year.

Eighth seed Caroline Garcia also stayed in the title hunt, but she found it hard going against Czech teen Marketa Vondrousova, who pushed her to three gruelling sets.

"My feet are burning," she said. "But we know it's like this in Australia -- the next day it can be freezing."

Dangerous sixth seed Karolina Pliskova also went through, dropping just two games against Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Among men into the third round was fifth seed Dominic Thiem, who came from two sets down to beat American qualifier Denis Kudla, and fourth seed Alexander Zverev.

Manchester United are set to land Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal by making him the Premier League's highest paid player, according to several reports on Thursday.

The Chilean striker would earn between 400,000 and 500,000 pounds ($555,000 and $690,000) a week before tax by moving to Old Trafford, according to The Sun, the Daily Telegraph and other newspapers.

The 29-year-old's wage demands are said to have scared off Manchester City and Chelsea, leaving United as his main suitors.

The Daily Telegraph reported that United have offered Sanchez a four-and-a-half-year contract and he would move for a £30 million transfer fee -- it is relatively low because he could leave for free at the end of the summer.

The deal for the former Barcelona player would also likely involve a £20 million signing-on fee and a £10 million agent's fee.

The Sun reports however that Arsenal could still refuse to allow Sanchez to leave if they do not find a replacement.

However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at his Thursday press conference said the deal was probably going to be done.

"I worked on transfers for 30 years so it is likely to happen but at any moment or minute things can break down," said Wenger.

"As long as it's not over the line you have to accept it may not happen. These kind of things are not guaranteed."

Wenger, whose failure to keep key players and perceived inability to replace them with similarly talented stars has seen support drain away amidst sections of the club's supporters, said he had no problem with the amounts being mentioned in the press of what United were prepared to pay two-time Copa America winner Sanchez.

"I respect United because they generate the money they pay by their own resources," said Wenger, who revealed German star Mesut Ozil would not be joining Sanchez in quitting North London.

"United is a club very well managed financially and of course on the pitch so that's why I don’t have any problem with the money they pay."

United's unsettled Armenian midfielder Henrykh Mkhitaryan -- subject to several public blasts from United manager Jose Mourinho this season -- has been suggested as being part of the deal.

Wenger did nothing to downplay that declaring his respect for the former Borussia Dortmund star.

"It's a possibility it's because I like the player," said the 68-year-old Frenchman.

"We played many times against him when he was at Dortmund. He appreciated the quality of our games. The wages would not be a problem."

United are second in the Premier League, 12 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City, and Sanchez's capture would be seen as a statement of intent from a team already paying huge wages to French international midfielder Paul Pogba and Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku.

Arsenal, struggling to compete for the Champions League places and knocked out of the FA Cup, have been linked with Borussia Dortmund's wantaway forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bordeaux's 20-year-old Brazilian striker Malcom.

Wenger, though, ruled out a move for Malcom but hinted Mkhitaryan's former team-mate Aubameyang could be a valuable addition to a side which has seen their record signing Alexandre Lacazette fail to score the goals he was expressly bought for -- he has just eight all season and hasn't scored in his last nine appearances dating back to December 2.

"This kind of thing is better when it’s secret and when you don't comment before announcing it when it's over the line," said Wenger.

"Would he (Aubameyang) fit in?.

"Yes because character can be a very positive note . Overall you look at the achievement of a player over his career and when it's been positive the character has been used in a positive way."

Chelsea needed a penalty shoot-out before finally killing off Norwich after a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s FA Cup third round replay, while Bournemouth slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Wigan.
Antonio Conte’s side finished extra-time down to nine men after late red cards for Pedro and Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge.
They had been forced into the extra period when Jamal Lewis’s last-gasp equalizer canceled out Michy Batshuayi’s strike.
Chelsea’s reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero made the crucial save from Nelson Oliveira in the 5-3 shoot-out win to send the Blues through to host Newcastle in the fourth round.
It was a first win in 2018 for Chelsea, who had drawn their four previous matches in all competitions this year.
“It is the FA Cup, it is not easy to win the game. We gave everything, at the end of the game we played 9 v 11 so we showed great character,” Chelsea star Eden Hazard said.
“We are happy but also sad that we lost two players. Now we can focus on the league.”
Norwich manager Daniel Farke added: “To be honest it’s a big disappointment, some of the lads are sitting with tears in their eyes in the dressing room.”
Conte had made nine changes from the 0-0 draw with Leicester on Saturday, with Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and N’Golo Kante left out of the starting line-up.
After the kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes due to traffic congestion around the stadium, Chelsea dominated the first half and almost went ahead when Danny Drinkwater’s 25-yard drive hit the crossbar.
But they couldn’t find the breakthrough and Oliveira nearly provided it for Norwich instead when his effort hit the bar.
The Blues finally ended their three-match goal drought in the 55th minute when Belgian striker Batshuayi finished off Kenedy’s cross from close range for his first senior goal since October.
Josh Murphy hit the post as Norwich pushed for an equalizer before the out-of-form Morata came off the bench and missed a chance to wrap up the win.
That blunder from Morata came back to haunt Chelsea in the fourth minute of stoppage-time when Timm Klose whipped in a fine cross and teenage defender Lewis rose to glance his first professional goal in off the far post.
Conte was furious that the video assistant referee didn’t intervene when Willian was denied a penalty and booked for diving after a challenge from Klose caught the Brazilian in extra-time.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Pedro earned a second booking for a foul on Wes Hoolahan.
And there was more controversy in the final seconds when Morata was booked for fall in the area and then protested so vehemently that referee Graham Scott sent off the forward for a second yellow card.
In the shoot-out, Oliveira’s kick was saved by Caballero, while Willian, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kante and substitute Hazard converted for Chelsea.
At the DW Stadium, third-tier Wigan, who won the FA Cup in 2013, brushed aside under-strength Bournemouth in their third round replay.
Eddie Howe made eight changes to the team that beat Arsenal on Sunday and Bournemouth, 13th in the Premier League, looked lost with their understudies in action.
Sam Mursi put Wigan on course for the upset with the ninth-minute opener.
Dan Burn’s shot went in off the crossbar to double Wigan’s lead in the 73rd minute before Callum Elder’s header three minutes later wrapped up the victory.
Wigan next face a fourth round tie at home to West Ham.
Wilfried Bony gave Premier League strugglers Swansea a 2-1 win over Championship leaders Wolves in their third round replay.
Jordan Ayew also scored for Swansea, who travel to fourth-tier Notts County in the next round.

Bordeaux striker Malcom, reportedly a target for Premier League club Arsenal, was Wednesday ordered to appear before a club disciplinary committee over a video showing him joking after a defeat.

The 20-year-old Brazilian made a social media video laughing and exchanging jokes with teammates Jonathan Cafu and Otavio and friends outside Bordeaux's stadium following the club's 2-0 home defeat to Caen on Tuesday.

The loss left Bordeaux hovering just about the relegation zone in Ligue 1 having taken 23 points from 21 games.

The club said Malcom had showed "a lack of maturity, solidarity and respect towards the club and all of its staff".

Cafu, 26, and Otavio, 23, have also been ordered to explain themselves.

Malcom has caught the eye of Arsenal and his agents were reportedly spotted in London to discuss a deal as the Premier League club seek a replacement for wantaway Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez.

The Sao Paulo-born striker started his career at Corinthians and joined Bordeaux in 2016.

He has scored seven goals this season, showing the potential that has attracted the interest of some of Europe's big guns.

Neymar scored four times while Edinson Cavani equalled Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Paris Saint-Germain all-time goalscoring record as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders thrashed Dijon 8-0 on Wednesday.
Angel Di Maria struck twice inside the opening quarter-hour at the Parc des Princes before the Argentine provided the cross for Cavani to net his 156th PSG goal.
Neymar marked his return from a rib injury with the hosts’ fourth just before half-time, and the Brazilian made it a hat-trick with two more second-half strikes as Dijon were mercilessly ripped apart.
Kylian Mbappe piled on further misery for the visitors 13 minutes from time before Neymar notched his fourth of the evening from the penalty spot — denying Cavani the chance to make club history and eliciting whistles from home supporters.
“(Cavani) is our goalscorer and he’s improved a lot here. The team helped him to achieve this individual mark,” said PSG coach Unai Emery, who was quick to defend Neymar’s decision to take the spot-kick.
“I think Neymar took the penalty because it was also a good day for him. We’re happy with it. But there will be lots more chances for Cavani to score more goals.”
Argentine Di Maria, who grabbed the winner in Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Nantes, needed just four minutes in Paris to put the home team ahead with a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger added a second when he applied the final touch after Neymar lifted the ball over Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet following a ball through from Cavani.
The Uruguayan then netted his league-best 20th goal of the season by heading in a right-wing cross from Di Maria, pulling level with the record Ibrahimovic set across four seasons in the French capital.
Neymar made it 4-0 on 42 minutes with a sublime free-kick, with the world’s most expensive player pouncing on a miscued clearance to double his tally just before the hour.
He then struck a sensational third goal of the night with a run that beat several Dijon defenders and culminated in a crisp low drive from the edge of the area.
Neymar released Mbappe as the teenager scored within five minutes of replacing Di Maria, while the Brazilian rounded out a record home win for PSG from the spot after Cavani tumbled to the ground.
“It was a very, very good PSG against a Dijon side that unfortunately didn’t put up much resistance. We were almost perfect today,” PSG defender Thomas Meunier told Canal+.
PSG have yet to drop a point at home this season and lead Lyon by 11 points, with a trip to face Bruno Genesio’s men next up for the league leaders at the weekend.
Nabil Fekir scored his 15th goal of the campaign as Lyon defeated Guingamp 2-0, with 19-year-old midfielder Houssem Aouar also on target at the Stade du Roudourou.
“Nabil’s performance was extraordinary. He’s been on a roll since the start of the season. He’s at an international level and doing it consistently, which is a good sign for us,” Genesio said.
Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes conceded a last-gasp penalty in a 1-1 draw at Toulouse, as Max-Alain Gradel salvaged a point for the hosts by canceling out a first-half header from Slovenia international Rene Krhin.
Yann M’Vila endured a chastening return to French football as his Saint-Etienne debut ended in a 3-0 defeat at bottom side Metz, who won for the third time in four outings.

Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan surged past world champion Peter Sagan to win the second stage of the Tour Down Under and claim the ochre leader's jersey in the Adelaide Hills town of Stirling on Wednesday. 

In a thrilling finish on the uphill climb into Stirling, Ewan clung to Sagan's wheel and pulled out with 100 metres to go, finishing too strongly for the Slovakian, who came in fourth behind Ewan, Daryl Impey and Jay McCarthy at the season-opening event. 

Ewan's BMC Racing team brought a strong squad to the Tour Down Under with the aim of securing overall victory for Ewan's fellow countryman Richie Porte. 

But Ewan's 10-second time bonus puts him into the leader's jersey, replacing German Andre Greipel, who was dropped from the peloton when the climb began, six kilometres from the finish line. 

"It was a super tough finish and it was one that we were all so unsure about whether we'd make it over the top," Ewan said. 

"But the boys put me in a perfect position again and they backed me 100 percent even after some results that we weren't hoping for. 

"So for them to back me on a stage that probably doesn't even suit me, it means a lot." 

Wednesday's race began in sweltering conditions in the inner-city Adelaide suburb of Unley and wound its way through the Adelaide Hills in temperatures reaching as high as 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). 

A group of four riders immediately broke away including the three who led Tuesday's break, Australian pair William Clarke (EF Education First-Drapac) and Scott Bowden (UniSA) and South African Nicholas Dlamini (Team Dimension Data). They were joined by Spaniard Jaime Castrillo (Movistar) and quickly opened a four minute lead over the peloton. 

Dlamini dropped back when he claimed the King of the Mountain points after just 22 kilometres (13.6 miles). 

But the remaining three stayed away until Clarke and Bowden dropped back after Clarke had picked up the bonus seconds for the two intermediate sprints, leaving Castrillo to make a long 70 kilometre run for home. 

The peloton began to make its move with 40 kilometres to go and the Spaniard was eventually caught 13.5 kilometres from the finish. 

The peloton split as the pace increased and Sagan surged clear, but the Slovakian couldn't hold off Ewan, who claimed his seventh Tour Down Under stage win. 

The third stage is a 146.5 kilometre run from the beachside suburb of Glenelg to the town of Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsul

Caroline Wozniacki admitted she was at a loss to explain how she managed to stay in the tournament after a stunning 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Jana Fett. 
The second seed was expected to brush aside the challenge of the world No. 119. But 5-1 down in the third and final set Wozniacki faced two match points. The Dane decided she had to attack, saved the match points and rallied to a memorable victory. 
And afterwards she said she was in total shock. 
“That was crazy, I don’t know how I got back into the match,” a very relieved Wozniacki said.
“I’m very proud of the way I came back. It was definitely very difficult. Definitely wasn’t my best match, especially in the beginning.
“All of a sudden seeing myself down, almost out of the tournament, I started playing better and started really playing the tennis that I wanted to play.”
The Dane is yet to break her Grand Slam duck, having been as high as No. 1 in the rankings. However, last year saw a welcome return to form and with her half of the draw already witnessing some shock early exits, this could be Wozniacki’s year. 
On Monday fifth seed Venus Williams, 10th seed CoCo. Vandeweghe and 13th seed and reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens all made early exits, meaning the bottom half of the draw is now wide open.
“She really took her shots, she had nothing to lose,” said Wozniacki
But when in sight of by far the biggest win of her career, the world 119’s nerves got the better of her as Wozniacki reeled off 10 points in a row to spark a winning run of six unanswered games.
“Experience was crucial,” the 27-year-old said. “I think she suddenly realized at 5-1 what was happening and I just had to attack and take advantage of it.”

The Court of Arbitration of Sport will begin appeals hearings on Monday for 39 Russian athletes disqualified from the 2014 Sochi Winter Games for doping and banned for life from the Olympics.
Two key witnesses, Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov and World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren, will testify by video or telephone link to the closed-door hearings, CAS said in a statement Wednesday.
The court said the combined hearings should last for six days at a conference center in Geneva, near the European headquarters of the United Nations.
One panel of three judges will hear 28 cases and a second trio will judge 11. Two of the judges — Christoph Vedder and Dirk-Reiner Martens, both from Germany — will sit on both three-man panels, CAS said.
Verdicts are expected by Friday, Feb. 2, one week before the Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony in South Korea.
A further three appeal cases in biathlon will not be heard next week, the court said.
All 42 athletes deny being part of a state-backed doping program for the Sochi Olympics.
The first group of athletes whose hearings have been combined are in bobsled, cross-country skiing, skeleton and speed skating. They include athletes who have continued to compete in World Cup races not controlled by the IOC.
The second group of 11 cases is from bobsled, luge and women’s ice hockey.

England allrounder Ben Stokes was cleared on Wednesday to resume his international career while he contests a charge of affray following a violent incident outside a nightclub in September.
Suspended by England while he was under investigation by police, the 26-year-old Stokes is now free to play for his country having been charged by prosecutors with an offense that could lead to a jail term if he is convicted.
“Representing my country is one of the greatest things that I’ve ever been lucky enough to do, walking out on to the field with the England shirt on is a privilege and an honor,” Stokes wrote on Twitter. “I’m extremely delighted to be given this opportunity to do this again.
“I can’t wait to get back out on a pitch with the 3 Lions on my chest and feeling that pride that we all get and giving everything for the team.”
With no date set for his court case, the England and Wales Cricket Board said “it would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period.”
Stokes was expected to join England’s squad for Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in February, the ECB said.
“ECB fully respects the legal process,” the governing body said in a statement, “and the player’s intention to defend himself against the charge.”
Former England captain Michael Atherton said the ECB’s decision “seems illogical” and that “most people would find it hard to square the two positions.”
Stokes, one of the world’s leading cricketers in all formats, missed England’s Ashes series in Australia and the start of the ODI series between the countries because of his provisional suspension by the ECB.
He went to New Zealand for a month to play for Canterbury in domestic limited-overs competitions and was given permission by the England team leadership to enter the draft for the lucrative Indian Premier League at the end of January. He was the costliest player in last year’s IPL — Rising Pune Supergiant paid $2.15 million for the powerful allrounder — and ended the competition as its Most Valuable Player.

Neymar scored four times while Edinson Cavani equalled Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Paris Saint-Germain all-time goalscoring record as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders thrashed Dijon 8-0 on Wednesday.
Angel Di Maria struck twice inside the opening quarter-hour at the Parc des Princes before the Argentine provided the cross for Cavani to net his 156th PSG goal.
Neymar marked his return from a rib injury with the hosts’ fourth just before half-time, and the Brazilian made it a hat-trick with two more second-half strikes as Dijon were mercilessly ripped apart.
Kylian Mbappe piled on further misery for the visitors 13 minutes from time before Neymar notched his fourth of the evening from the penalty spot — denying Cavani the chance to make club history and eliciting whistles from home supporters.
“(Cavani) is our goalscorer and he’s improved a lot here. The team helped him to achieve this individual mark,” said PSG coach Unai Emery, who was quick to defend Neymar’s decision to take the spot-kick.
“I think Neymar took the penalty because it was also a good day for him. We’re happy with it. But there will be lots more chances for Cavani to score more goals.”
Argentine Di Maria, who grabbed the winner in Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Nantes, needed just four minutes in Paris to put the home team ahead with a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger added a second when he applied the final touch after Neymar lifted the ball over Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet following a ball through from Cavani.
The Uruguayan then netted his league-best 20th goal of the season by heading in a right-wing cross from Di Maria, pulling level with the record Ibrahimovic set across four seasons in the French capital.
Neymar made it 4-0 on 42 minutes with a sublime free-kick, with the world’s most expensive player pouncing on a miscued clearance to double his tally just before the hour.
He then struck a sensational third goal of the night with a run that beat several Dijon defenders and culminated in a crisp low drive from the edge of the area.
Neymar released Mbappe as the teenager scored within five minutes of replacing Di Maria, while the Brazilian rounded out a record home win for PSG from the spot after Cavani tumbled to the ground.
“It was a very, very good PSG against a Dijon side that unfortunately didn’t put up much resistance. We were almost perfect today,” PSG defender Thomas Meunier told Canal+.
PSG have yet to drop a point at home this season and lead Lyon by 11 points, with a trip to face Bruno Genesio’s men next up for the league leaders at the weekend.
Nabil Fekir scored his 15th goal of the campaign as Lyon defeated Guingamp 2-0, with 19-year-old midfielder Houssem Aouar also on target at the Stade du Roudourou.
“Nabil’s performance was extraordinary. He’s been on a roll since the start of the season. He’s at an international level and doing it consistently, which is a good sign for us,” Genesio said.
Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes conceded a last-gasp penalty in a 1-1 draw at Toulouse, as Max-Alain Gradel salvaged a point for the hosts by canceling out a first-half header from Slovenia international Rene Krhin.
Yann M’Vila endured a chastening return to French football as his Saint-Etienne debut ended in a 3-0 defeat at bottom side Metz, who won for the third time in four outings.

Chelsea needed a penalty shoot-out before finally killing off Norwich after a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s FA Cup third round replay, while Bournemouth slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Wigan.
Antonio Conte’s side finished extra-time down to nine men after late red cards for Pedro and Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge.
They had been forced into the extra period when Jamal Lewis’s last-gasp equalizer canceled out Michy Batshuayi’s strike.
Chelsea’s reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero made the crucial save from Nelson Oliveira in the 5-3 shoot-out win to send the Blues through to host Newcastle in the fourth round.
It was a first win in 2018 for Chelsea, who had drawn their four previous matches in all competitions this year.
“It is the FA Cup, it is not easy to win the game. We gave everything, at the end of the game we played 9 v 11 so we showed great character,” Chelsea star Eden Hazard said.
“We are happy but also sad that we lost two players. Now we can focus on the league.”
Norwich manager Daniel Farke added: “To be honest it’s a big disappointment, some of the lads are sitting with tears in their eyes in the dressing room.”
Conte had made nine changes from the 0-0 draw with Leicester on Saturday, with Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and N’Golo Kante left out of the starting line-up.
After the kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes due to traffic congestion around the stadium, Chelsea dominated the first half and almost went ahead when Danny Drinkwater’s 25-yard drive hit the crossbar.
But they couldn’t find the breakthrough and Oliveira nearly provided it for Norwich instead when his effort hit the bar.
The Blues finally ended their three-match goal drought in the 55th minute when Belgian striker Batshuayi finished off Kenedy’s cross from close range for his first senior goal since October.
Josh Murphy hit the post as Norwich pushed for an equalizer before the out-of-form Morata came off the bench and missed a chance to wrap up the win.
That blunder from Morata came back to haunt Chelsea in the fourth minute of stoppage-time when Timm Klose whipped in a fine cross and teenage defender Lewis rose to glance his first professional goal in off the far post.
Conte was furious that the video assistant referee didn’t intervene when Willian was denied a penalty and booked for diving after a challenge from Klose caught the Brazilian in extra-time.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Pedro earned a second booking for a foul on Wes Hoolahan.
And there was more controversy in the final seconds when Morata was booked for fall in the area and then protested so vehemently that referee Graham Scott sent off the forward for a second yellow card.
In the shoot-out, Oliveira’s kick was saved by Caballero, while Willian, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kante and substitute Hazard converted for Chelsea.
At the DW Stadium, third-tier Wigan, who won the FA Cup in 2013, brushed aside under-strength Bournemouth in their third round replay.
Eddie Howe made eight changes to the team that beat Arsenal on Sunday and Bournemouth, 13th in the Premier League, looked lost with their understudies in action.
Sam Mursi put Wigan on course for the upset with the ninth-minute opener.
Dan Burn’s shot went in off the crossbar to double Wigan’s lead in the 73rd minute before Callum Elder’s header three minutes later wrapped up the victory.
Wigan next face a fourth round tie at home to West Ham.
Wilfried Bony gave Premier League strugglers Swansea a 2-1 win over Championship leaders Wolves in their third round replay.
Jordan Ayew also scored for Swansea, who travel to fourth-tier Notts County in the next round.

Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza refused to blame her heat-blistered feet as she became the biggest casualty of the Australian Open so far on Thursday
The third seed, whose preparation was hampered by a thigh injury, was always trailing against the 88-ranked Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan before being edged out 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 in one hour and 59 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
“I maybe could have done things better, but at the end, she deserves to win. That’s really it,” Muguruza told reporters.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza struggled from the start to keep pace with the tenacious 32-year-old whose last WTA Tour singles title came at Guangzhou back in 2012.
The tall Spaniard had a medical timeout at 2-5 in the first set and after having a blistered foot re-taped looked briefly regalvanized.
Muguruza said her feet were suffering in the heat as temperatures soared above 39 Celsius (102 Farenheit).
“I think the surface of the court, I don’t know how much heat, it’s terrible, very, very hot, and it’s easy to get blisters and red,” she said.
“I don’t think that was the reason why today it didn’t go my way. It was already wrapped (foot), but very quickly I started to feel a blister was coming, and I’d rather prevent it than having the problem after.”
Muguruza then broke back twice but Hsieh, who works closely with former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee, ran away with the tiebreak 7-1.
“He’s always been around me and supported me and was amazing,” she said of McNamee’s influence.
“My goal to hire him at the beginning was to win a Grand Slam,” she added.
Muguruza saved a first match point in the second set to get back to 5-4 but Hsieh made no mistake in the next game.
“I knew she was going to give me a lot of pressure,” said Hsieh, who was ranked number one in doubles for five weeks in 2014.
“At 5-4 I thought I’d keep hanging there and try and take my spot,” she said.
“It’s never easy to play against top 20 girls. I think mentally for sure they are much better, so when we go on the court we have to forget who we are playing and focus on our game.”
Hsieh, whose previous best at Melbourne Park was a last-16 defeat to Justine Henin 10 years ago, goes on to meet 26th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the third round.

World number one Simona Halep kept her quest for a maiden Grand Slam title on course by cruising into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
The Romanian top seed needed just an hour and five minutes to sweep to an easy 6-2, 6-2 victory over Eugenie Bouchard on Margaret Court Arena.
“I thought that I played well tonight,” said Halep, who dominated the encounter.
“I hit the ball really well and it is always tough against her as she hits hard from the baseline.”
Four years ago this match-up was the Wimbledon semifinal, which the then up-and-coming teenager Bouchard won 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 after Halep was compromised by an ankle injury.
Halep has since risen to number one while Bouchard, once touted as the game’s new golden girl, has tumbled outside the top 100.
There was no chance of a Wimbledon repeat as the 23-year-old’s form woes were cruelly exposed by Halep who broke the Canadian’s serve at will.
So poor was Bouchard’s delivery that she couldn’t hold on to her serve a single time during a first set which Halep ripped through 6-2 in 33 minutes.
She finally held serve in the third game of the second set to sympathetic cheers from the Margaret Court Arena crowd.
But it was to be the only time in the match as Halep, scampering around the baseline, showed few ill-effects from rolling her ankle worryingly in her first-round win over Destanee Aiava.
“I felt the pain but I didn’t think about it,” said Halep of her fragile ankle, which was heavily taped.
“Even if I’m a little bit injured I still managed to move well. I want to win every time I play.”
The 26-year-old Romanian, who currently has no clothing sponsor, was wearing the same “lucky” red dress that she used while registering a dominant victory at the Shenzhen Open just over a fortnight ago.
She found the outfit on the Internet. “Was a (web)site, in China actually, and one of my managers helped me, and in 24 hours I had the outfit, and it was perfect. I was lucky,” she had said before her first-round match.
It helped her fight back from 5-2 and set point down against Australian teen Aiava.
But Halep needed no extra help Thursday to overcome the sadly out-of-form Bouchard.
She will face unseeded American Lauren Davis on Saturday for a place in the last 16 as the Romanian continues her quest for a first Grand Slam title.

Bordeaux striker Malcom, reportedly a target for Premier League club Arsenal, was Wednesday ordered to appear before a club disciplinary committee over a video showing him joking after a defeat.

The 20-year-old Brazilian made a social media video laughing and exchanging jokes with teammates Jonathan Cafu and Otavio and friends outside Bordeaux's stadium following the club's 2-0 home defeat to Caen on Tuesday.

The loss left Bordeaux hovering just about the relegation zone in Ligue 1 having taken 23 points from 21 games.

The club said Malcom had showed "a lack of maturity, solidarity and respect towards the club and all of its staff".

Cafu, 26, and Otavio, 23, have also been ordered to explain themselves.

Malcom has caught the eye of Arsenal and his agents were reportedly spotted in London to discuss a deal as the Premier League club seek a replacement for wantaway Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez.

The Sao Paulo-born striker started his career at Corinthians and joined Bordeaux in 2016.

He has scored seven goals this season, showing the potential that has attracted the interest of some of Europe's big guns.

North Korea has offered to send more than 200 cheerleaders to the Winter Olympics in the South and attend the Paralympics, Seoul said as the two Koreas met Wednesday to discuss athlete numbers in the latest in a flurry of cross-border talks.

Nuclear-armed Pyongyang agreed last week to send athletes, high-level officials, performers and others to next month's Pyeongchang Games, taking place just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula.

Seoul has long sought to proclaim the event a "peace Olympics" in the face of tensions over the North's weapons programmes -- which have seen it subjected to multiple UN Security Council sanctions -- and the discussions represent a marked improvement.

"Inter-Korean relations have been strained for almost 10 years," the North's chief delegate Jon Jong-Su said as the meeting started on the southern side of the border truce village of Panmunjom. "We hope that ties can open," he added.

Three officials from each side took part and the results will be discussed by both Koreas with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Saturday.

The IOC must approve extra Olympic slots for the North's athletes after they failed to qualify or missed deadlines to register.

An official at Seoul's unification ministry said the North offered to send 230 cheerleaders to the Olympics, and made clear it also intended to take part in the Paralympics in March.

In another meeting on Monday the two reached an agreement over a trip by a 140-member North Korean orchestra to the South to hold concerts in the capital and in Gangneung, one of the Games venues.

- Frosty reception -

The series of talks comes after the North's leader Kim Jong-Un abruptly announced his willingness to take part in Pyeongchang Games, which run from February 9 to 25, in his New Year speech.

The move was seen as a bid to ease searing tensions on the peninsula and was rapidly welcomed by Seoul.

Last year the nuclear-armed North tested missiles capable of reaching its "enemy" the US and Kim traded threats of war with US President Donald Trump.

Following Kim's offer, Seoul last week suggested a unified team in women's ice hockey and a joint appearance at the opening and closing ceremonies.

But the proposal has met a frosty reception in South Korea, where critics accused the government of robbing some of its own ice hockey players of the opportunity to compete at the Olympics for the sake of political purposes.

Tens of thousands have signed dozens of online petitions on the presidency's website urging leader Moon Jae-In to scrap the plan.

"Our players trained so hard for years to compete at the Olympics... and a joint team with the North would render such efforts a waste for many of them," said one of the petitions.

Seoul should not force players to "make a sacrifice for the sake of the country", JoongAng Ilbo, a major Seoul daily, said in an editorial on Wednesday, after the team's coach Sarah Murray said her players would suffer as a result of any such move.

"I am kind of shocked this happened so close to the Olympics," she said, adding team chemistry would suffer.

South Korea only qualified for the ice hockey tournament as hosts, rather than on merit, and are not seen as medal contenders.

Earlier this week the Yonhap news agency quoted an anonymous sports ministry official as saying there were no plans for unified teams in any other disciplines.

Sergio Garcia said Wednesday he hoped for another big year after his Masters win as he prepared to tee off his 2018 campaign, adding the impending arrival of a baby girl will make it even more exciting.

Garcia, who begins his season at the Singapore Open this week, said he looked forward to winning more tournaments as he builds on his first Major championship in Augusta last April and his 2017 European Tour Golfer of the Year award.

But 2018 promises to be as big a year personally as it does professionally for Garcia -- the Spaniard wed his girlfriend, Texan Angela Akins, last July and they announced a few months later they were expecting their first child.

"There's no small years nowadays. You always have four majors every year, they're all special no matter how you would have played," he told reporters on the eve of the SMBC Singapore Open.

"It's a Ryder Cup year and it's always exciting, it's gonna be great. Also, we have a baby girl coming in a couple of months so it just adds up to making it even more exciting so we're looking forward to it."

Garcia, who turned 38 last week, said he would try to win in Singapore to kick off the year with a good start but if not he hopes to use it as a warm up after a two-month break.

"Winning is nice, it doesn't matter which time of the year. Obviously, the earlier you do it the more confidence you get," he said.

"If we can manage to win here it will be amazing, but even if we don't we can still hopefully take a lot of positives out of it.

He was also upbeat about the prospect for Asian golf, saying that the region's players -- traditionally outshone by their European and American counterparts -- were improving.

"I think that Asian golf is getting stronger and stronger every year that goes by, not only with Japanese players but Korean players and Chinese players and Thai players," he said.

"There's Asian players coming out left and right."

The $1.0 million Singapore Open, held from Thursday to Sunday at the Sentosa Golf Club, is the season opener for the Asian Tour this year.

Other players taking part include defending champion Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.

Cricketer Ben Stokes will be considered for England selection immediately, despite being charged with affray earlier this week.

The Durham all-rounder had been named in England's T20 squad for a series against Australia and New Zealand but his participation had been dependent on whether he was charged.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has now said that the 26-year-old is expected to join the team in New Zealand next month.

On Monday, Stokes was charged alongside two other men in relation to an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September.

He was suspended from the England team after his initial arrest and subsequently missed England's Ashes series in Australia.

Stokes will appear with Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26, at Bristol Magistrates' Court on a date to be fixed.

The ECB said that given Stokes' intention to contest the charge and the time it could take for the case to reach trial, it would "not be fair, reasonable or proportionate" for him "to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period".They added: "To date, Stokes has been unavailable for selection throughout the police and CPS process around the incident in Bristol in September, a period which has included One-Day Internationals against West Indies, the Ashes tour and the start of the ODI series against Australia.

"ECB fully respects the legal process and the player's intention to defend himself against the charge."

Test debutant Lungi Ngidi sensationally bowled South Africa to a series-clinching win on Wednesday, taking six for 39 as India were beaten by 135 runs on the fifth day of the second Test.

Ngidi, 21, did much of the damage as India lost seven wickets in an extended morning’s play at SuperSport Park and were bowled out for 151 after resuming at 35 for three.

Rohit Sharma provided some Indian resistance, scoring 47 before falling to a diving catch at fine leg by AB de Villiers off Kagiso Rabada.

He shared an eighth wicket partnership of 54 with Mohammed Shami (28).

Outstanding South African fielding accounted for India’s first two wickets of the morning.

Cheteshwar Pujara was run out for the second time in the match in the fourth over of the day when De Villiers chased a ball to third man and sent a pinpoint throw to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as Pujara dived after attempting a third run.

Morne Morkel then held a sensational catch, running and diving at long leg after Parthiv Patel hooked a short ball from Kagiso Rabada.

Ngidi, who took the key wickets of Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli on Tuesday, followed up by having Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin caught behind by De Kock.

Sharma’s defiance ended at the scheduled lunch break but play was extended with a result in sight.

Shami fell to a mistimed pull shot against Ngidi, who finished the match by having Jasprit Bumrah caught at mid-off.

South Africa, ranked second in the International Cricket Council Test rankings, won the first Test in Cape Town by 72 runs.

The final Test of the three-match series will be played in Johannesburg from January 24 to 28. – AFP

Rafael Nadal swept into the Australian Open third round to keep his Grand Slam title hunt on track Wednesday, as Caroline Wozniacki and Grigor Dimitrov pulled off great escapes to stay in contention.

The world number one Spaniard's march towards a 17th Grand Slam crown was never threatened by Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, who took him to a third set tiebreak before being swatted aside 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Arena.

"Playing this court is always a big motivation for me," said Nadal, who lost last year's final to Roger Federer.

"He was a dangerous opponent and I'm happy to be in the third round.

"For my team and my family, this is our favourite tournament of the year, so I hope to stay around a bit longer," he added.

Nadal, showing no signs of the troublesome knee that bothered him late last season and interrupted his Melbourne lead-up, next plays Bosnian 28th seed Damir Dzumhur.

Surprisingly, he was not the prime time men's night match on centre court, with that honour going to third seed Dimitrov, who survived a huge scare from unheralded qualifier Mackenzie McDonald.

The Bulgarian needed to call on all his experience to down the 186th-ranked American 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 0-6, 8-6.

"I'm very happy with the win, not because the way I played, but because the way I fought," said Dimitrov. "It all came down to a few points here and there."

In contrast to Nadal's easy progress, world number two Wozniacki also struggled against little-known Croat Jana Fett.

The Dane saved two match points and rallied from 5-1 down in an epic third set to keep her dream of a first Grand Slam title alive.

She looked out for the count, and was struggling afterwards to work out how she survived 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 against a player ranked 119.

"That was crazy, I don't how I got back in the match," said Wozniacki, adding that "experience was crucial".

- 'I'm talented' -

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina also came from a set down to overcome spirited Czech Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The Ukrainian is now on a seven-match win streak and after picking up five WTA Tour titles last year, more than any other woman, is a serious Grand Slam contender.

Her next task is tackling 15-year-old sensation Marta Kostyuk, who became the youngest woman to reach the third round since Martina Hingis got to the quarter-finals in 1996.

Also Ukrainian, she beat local wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5.

Her win streak at Melbourne Park is now 11 straight matches after claiming the Australian Open girls' title in 2017 and coming through qualifying this year.

"I heard a lot of times that I'm talented, and I know that," said the confident teen. "But I know that only talent will not help me to play good. So I'm working pretty hard."

Svitolina said she knew little about the youngster, and was preparing for a no-holds barred fight.

"She has nothing to lose, so that's why I know she goes just for everything. You know, a little bit like a headless chicken," she said.

French Open champion and seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko also progressed, but she too needed three sets to get past China's Duan Yingying.

On a hot Melbourne day, Croatia's sixth seed Marin Cilic advanced, with last year's Wimbledon finalist easily beating Joao Sousa.

US Open semi-finalist and 10th seed Pablo Carreno-Busta also went through after French veteran Gilles Simon retired injured when trailing 6-2, 3-0.

And fighting former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saw off rising Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller.

But Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a quarter-finalist last year, became the latest seed to slump out in the women's draw, which has been shorn of leading names over the first two rounds.

Venus Williams' conqueror Belinda Bencic also ran out of steam, having no answers against Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum, slumping out 6-1, 6-3.

Former winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought to the bitter end to overhaul rising Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The 15th seeded Tsonga looked dead and buried down 2-5 in the final set before 18-year-old Shapovalov faltered in only his second five-setter and the experienced Frenchman seized the initiative.

Tsonga, 32, stormed into the third round after a 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win in 3hr 37min on Margaret Court Arena and will now face either Australian 17th seed Nick Kyrgios or Serbia's Viktor Troicki.

It ended his three-match losing run in five-setters, but lifted his career record to 16-10 and reversed his loss to Shapovalov in straight sets in the second round at last year's US Open.

"Since the start I was behind him. I had to fight a lot and make him finish the match. He never did, so it's good for me," Tsonga said.

"But the most important (thing) for me, it's to fight, give my best on court until the last point. That's what I did today.

"I think he deserved to win also today, but I was also courageous and I did my job at the end. I played well. I think I deserve it, too."

It extended Tsonga's record at his best-performed Australian Open Grand Slam to 36-10 after he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 final.

- Keep going -

Shapovalov said he would learn from the experience of losing after holding a winning position.

"There's always nerves in a tennis match. I wasn't thinking about it much," he said.

"I just didn't play a good game on my serve (for the match). Then he picked up his level.

"This was my longest match in the heat. Physically, I feel good. My body is getting a little bit tight on me now.

"Yeah, nothing too bad there. I mean, I'm just going to learn from it and keep going."

Shapovalov quickly jumped out of the blocks, breaking misfiring Tsonga in the fourth game on the way to taking the opening set in 34 minutes.

Tsonga picked up his game and levelled one-set all with a service break in the sixth game.

But the Canadian left-hander hit back, taking the third set with some sensational shot-making, including a running backhand winner on break point and then breaking again in the sixth game.

Tsonga stayed alive and took the match into a fifth set decider with a resolute tiebreaker.

Shapovalov began the final set strongly, breaking Tsonga in the second game and then holding off break points in the following game to lead 3-0.

But Tsonga would not yield and broke Shapovalov as he attempted to serve out the match with a cross court backhand.

Shapovalov began to falter and made mistakes as Tsonga stepped up the pressure and broke the young Canadian again in the 11th game to hit the front 6-5. He didn't need a second chance as he served out strongly for the match.

Poland's Kamil Stoch on Saturday became just the second man in history to complete a Four Hills clean sweep when he triumphed on the prestigious event's final leg at Bischofshofen in Austria.

Germany's Sven Hannawald, in 2001/2002, was the only ski jumper to have previously achieved the feat.

On Saturday, Stoch won with leaps of 132.5m and 137m ahead of Norway's Anders Fannemel (130m + 139m) and Germany's Andreas Wellinger (129m + 139.5m).

"I was under a lot of pressure, we are not machines, we are humans," said 30-year-old Stoch who also won the Four Hills last year and will be favourite to defend his two titles at the Winter Olympics next month.

"Believe me, I don't concentrate on victory; I just try to do my best," added two-time world champion Stoch.

Hannawald was among the first to congratulate Stoch.

"Welcome to the exclusive club," said the German. "Before I could only to talk to myself but now I can talk to you!"

In the overall Four Hills standings, Wellinger finished in second place while Fannemel was third.

Stoch, who started ski jumping at nine, stunned the sport when he leapt 128 metres at the age of 12.

His progress in the professional ranks stalled for two seasons when he underwent ankle surgery in 2014.

Stoch attributed his rejuvenation this year to the arrival of new Polish national coach Stefan Horngacher, an Austrian.

"We now have an excellent team spirit, each athlete believes in him," said Stoch.

"Stefan has changed some small things in my momentum and training but it is especially the psychological approach that is different with him."

Lansing (United States) (AFP) - Victims of sexual abuse by disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar delivered gut-wrenching emotional testimony at a court hearing on Tuesday which could see him sentenced to prison for life.

The slight, bespectacled Nassar was in court in Lansing, Michigan, dressed in blue prison garb, as his victims took the witness stand.

Nassar, 54, held his head in his hands, looking down, as the young women and girls delivered their victim impact statements.

Some chose to be identified while others testified anonymously.

Former gymnast Jade Capua told the court her abuse by Nassar was a "life-changing experience that stole my innocence far too young."

Nassar, who has been accused of sexually abusing more than 100 young girls, stole her "innocence, privacy, safety and trust," Capua said.

"I'm really proud of you," Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said after she completed her testimony.

"Your scar turned into a powerful voice," Judge Aquilina told Capua. "Thank you for your bravery."

Another former gymnast, Alexis Moore, said Nassar "betrayed my trust, took advantage of my youth and sexually abused me hundreds of times."

"Are you remorseful for your actions and all the lives you have changed forever?" Moore asked, addressing Nassar directly.

According to the Michigan Attorney General's Office, as many as 88 women and girls are expected to deliver victim impact statements.

- Biles reveals abuse -

The sentencing hearing, which could last several days, comes a day after US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles revealed that she was among those sexually abused by Nassar.

"I too am one of the many survivors that was sexually abused by Larry Nassar," the 20-year-old reigning Olympic all-around champion and 10-time World Championship medallist said on Twitter.

Biles's team-mates Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas are also among the members of USA Gymnastics squads who have said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar.

Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December on child pornography charges.

He could be jailed for life following the current sentencing hearing on separate sexual assault charges to which he has already pleaded guilty.

Nassar has been accused of molesting more than 100 female athletes during the three decades he worked with USA Gymnastics and at Michigan State University.

His case was part of a wide-ranging scandal which forced the resignation of USA Gymnastics chief Steve Penny in March last year.

Penny was accused by victims of failing to quickly to notify authorities about abuse allegations.

USA Gymnastics adopted a new "safe sport policy" in response to the Nassar scandal that requires "mandatory reporting" of suspicions of sexual abuse.

A civil lawsuit has been filed on behalf of about 100 of Nassar's victims. Their attorney, John Manly, has said the total number could be as high as 160.

Sergio Aguero fired Manchester City to a 4-1 win over Burnley in the FA Cup, while Mark Hughes is fighting to remain Stoke boss after a 2-1 loss at minnows Coventry on Saturday.

While City strolled into the fourth round, Chelsea face an unwanted replay after being held to a 0-0 draw at Championship side Norwich.

City boss Pep Guardiola named a strong team including Aguero, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling at Eastlands, but the runaway Premier League leaders fell behind in the 25th minute.

Ashley Barnes blasted into the top corner after City defender John Stones sliced his attempted clearance.

However, Burnley hadn't won at City since 1973 and Argentina striker Aguero ensured that run continued.

City, who last tasted defeat in domestic competition in their FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal in April, were level in the 56th minute when Aguero fired home from Ilkay Gundogan's pass.

Aguero then finished off a superb backheeled pass from Gundogan in the 58th minute.

Sane prodded home to put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute and Bernardo Silva made it four in the 82nd minute.

Hughes could face the sack after fourth tier Coventry rolled back the years with a memorable cup result at their Ricoh Arena,.

With Stoke in the relegation zone, it was reported this week that the club's hierarchy had considered dismissing Hughes and whether he can survive any longer must now be in doubt.

Coventry have fallen on hard times since winning the FA Cup in a classic 1987 final against Tottenham and now reside in League Two -- their first time at that level since the 1950s -- after a spell having to play their home matches in Northampton due to a stadium row.

Jordan Willis put the underdogs ahead in the 24th minute with his first goal in a year.

Willis conceded a 52nd minute penalty with a foul on Ramadan Sobhi and Charlie Adam stepped up to equalise.

But Coventry right-back Jack Grimmer weaved his way through Stoke's defence and side-footed past Jack Butland in the 67th minute.

- Bournemouth escape -

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte made nine changes at Carrow Road, with Eden Hazard rested and Alvaro Morata only used as a substitute for last season's FA Cup runners-up.

The result was a disjointed display from the Blues, who now face an extra match that will add to Conte's frustration after his recent complaints about the draining effects of fixture congestion.

The only flash-point in a tame tie saw Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger square up to a fan after the supporter threw away the ball when the defender tried to retrieve it.

At the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made eight changes as he prioritised Premier League survival and it needed a second half revival from his understudies to rescue a 2-2 draw against Wigan.

Northern Ireland forward Will Grigg gave Wigan a fourth minute lead from close-range and there was worse to come for Howe in the 29th minute when Emerson Hyndman's own goal doubled the visitors' lead.

Yet Lys Mousset reduced the deficit for Bournemouth in the 55th minute and League One leaders Wigan, who won the FA Cup in 2013, were denied a surprise win by Steve Cook's goal two minutes into stoppage-time.

Newcastle had been tipped as potential upset victims, but they swept away fourth tier leaders Luton with a 3-1 win at St James' Park.

West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in 21 games in all competitions, 2-0 at fourth tier Exeter giving boss Alan Pardew his first victory since replacing the sacked Tony Pulis.

Salomon Rondon's long-range drive put Albion ahead in the second minute and Jay Rodriguez added the second goal in the 25th minute.

Watford avoided more cup misery against giant-killers Bristol City with a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road.

City had also won at Vicarage Road in the League Cup this season, but Watford avoided another embarrassing loss thanks to goals from Andre Carrillo, Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue.

Southampton won 1-0 at Fulham, Huddersfield beat Bolton 2-1, Swansea drew 0-0 at Wolves and Leicester were held to a 0-0 draw at third tier Fleetwood.

France's Ligue 1 launches into a midweek round of games after a weekend marred by referee Tony Chapron's bizarre kick at a Nantes player and goal-line technology glitches.

Chapron has been suspended by the French Football Federation "until further notice" after kicking the Nantes defender Diego Carlos and then sending him off towards the end of their 1-0 defeat to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

The bizarre incident, footage of which has gone viral, could have serious consequences for 45-year-old official Chapron, who has apologised.

Diego Carlos has since had the second yellow card rescinded after it was shown when he knocked Chapron over in an accidental collision at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

That means he can play for Claudio Ranieri's fifth-placed side at Toulouse on Wednesday, but Chapron -- who recently refereed a game in the Chinese Super League -- will not be the man in the middle for the match between Angers and Troyes.

He will be called to appear before the French league's disciplinary commission at a later date to explain himself.

He may also have to explain why Nantes had an equalising goal disallowed against PSG -- Emiliano Sala, who headed in from a free-kick, was not in an offside position, although two of his team-mates were.

"We tried to equalise, but here there is no VAR (video assistant referees)", bemoaned Ranieri. "Except, for me, Sala was coming from behind and the goal was valid."

VAR is now used in several leagues, including in the German Bundesliga and Italy's Serie A.

However, the French league (LFP) are hoping to introduce it for next season and carried out tests in last week's League Cup quarter-finals.

In the meantime, the LFP have indefinitely suspended their use of goal-line technology because of "serious dysfunctions", including in the League Cup tie between Amiens and PSG.

- Cavani targets goal record -

The capital club moved 11 points clear at the summit after beating Nantes courtesy of an early Angel Di Maria goal for their seventh straight win in all competitions.

PSG coach Unai Emery will hope to have Neymar back against Dijon at the Parc des Princes after the world's most expensive player missed Sunday's game with a rib problem.

Edinson Cavani, who returned against Nantes after being left out of PSG's first two games of 2018 following a late return from a holiday in South America, is still just one goal away from equalling Zlatan Ibrahimovic's club record tally of 156.

Behind the leaders, only one point separates second-placed Monaco, Lyon in third and Marseille in fourth.

Reigning champions Monaco host Cote d'Azur rivals Nice, a week after beating them 2-1 away in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim is hoping Radamel Falcao can feature for the first time in 2018.

"Falcao and (Guido) Carrillo have had problems, but we need a striker to maintain an impact in attack. Both of them can play," Jardim said.

Player to watch: Yann M'Vila

The 27-year-old midfielder will hope to make his first appearance in French football in five years when Saint-Etienne go to Metz.

M'Vila joined struggling Saint-Etienne last week after leaving Russian club Rubin Kazan. Once a great French hope, the midfielder has had spells at Sunderland and Inter Milan since leaving Rennes.

He has won 22 caps for France, although the last of those came at Euro 2012.

Fixtures (1800 GMT unless stated)

Tuesday

Bordeaux v Caen, Marseille v Strasbourg, Monaco v Nice (2000 GMT)

Wednesday

Amiens v Montpellier, Angers v Troyes, Guingamp v Lyon, Lille v Rennes, Metz v Saint-Etienne, Toulouse v Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain v Dijon (2000 GMT)

Afghanistan will play their maiden Test match in the southern Indian city of Bangalore from June 14 to 18, cricket officials announced Tuesday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it welcomed the opportunity to host its "friends" for their first Test since Afghanistan became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year.

The war-torn nation's team has played the majority of its home games in India, which supported its quest for Test status.

"It will be a historic day for Afghanistan and everybody is waiting for it," Atif Mashal, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman, said after meeting his Indian counterparts in New Delhi.

"The support of BCCI to ACB over the last several years has been tremendous," he added.

The one-off Test has been scheduled ahead of India's tour of Ireland and England starting June 27.

ACB chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai said Afghanistan will provide "good preparation" to India for the England series.

India currently top the world Test rankings.

"It will be (a) tough challenge for Afghanistan against a mighty Indian team but a pleasant one and one that we will learn a lot from," Stanikzai said.

"Cricket has a bright future in (Afghanistan). We have raw talent which needs exposure and our target is to be a competitive side in Test cricket in the coming three years."

Afghanistan have emerged as a competitive international team in recent years with strong performances in the limited-overs formats, including two one-day series victories in Zimbabwe.

Last year, spinner Rashid Khan and former captain Mohammad Nabi became the first Afghans to be picked in the lucrative Indian Premier League auction.

Thirteen Afghan players are included in this year's IPL auction on January 27 and 28 in Bangalore.

Afghanistan and Ireland were granted Test status in June last year by the ICC, becoming the 11th and 12th Test-playing nations.

France coach Jacques Brunel on Tuesday defended centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who faces a hearing on Wednesday over homophobic insults and could be suspended for the Six Nations.

"I don't want to punish Mathieu Bastareaud. Now, I do not know what the authorities will do. We will see. I hope for his sake and for ours, that he isn't (banned)," Brunel said at a hotel near Paris where he was attending a meeting of French club rugby officials.

Television footage of Toulon's European Champions Cup victory over Treviso on Sunday appeared to show the France international calling Italian second row Sebastian Negri a "fucking faggot" seemingly in response to a similar insult by the Zimbabwean-born player after an altercation between the pair in the final minute of the match.

"I watched the match. They told me he said things but I did not hear them," said Brunel.

"There are things we can say on the spur of the moment without thinking."

But the veteran coach said that as "he has coloured skin" Bastareaud knows what it feels like to be stigmatised because he is different.

"I don't believe (because of this) that he could have acted in such a way," added Brunel.

Bastareaud, who has played 42 times for France, has a hearing on Wednesday in London with the disciplinary commission of European Professional Club Rugby, the organisers of the Champions Cup.

The 29-year-old quickly said sorry after the match.

"I apologise for my reaction to insults from the Italian player. I reacted badly by responding to his provocation, I'm truly sorry for the people I might have hurt," Bastareaud wrote on his Twitter account.

At the same time, former England back Andy Goode, who was commentating on the match, used Twitter to accuse Bastareaud of homophobia and urge European rugby to "throw the book at him".

If the disciplinary panel follows World Rugby's punishment directives, Bastareaud would face a minimum ban of six and more likely something in the region of 12 weeks.

Brunel plans to announce a squad of 31 players for the Six Nations at 2pm on Wednesday but he will not know the decision of the disciplinary panel, which is expected at about the same time.

"It's a problem because I cannot punish Mathieu Bastareaud" by dropping him just in case he is banned, said Brunel.

Meanwhile, Bastareaud's president at Toulon Mourad Boudjellal is also being investigated by EPCR over comments he made in an interview published on rugbyrama.fr on Sunday.

"What I'm worried about is the mormon side of the EPCR with its Welsh and Irish (administrators)," the outspoken and controversial comic book magnate told the rugby website.

"They're people who sell morality even though they don't possess any.

"The same who have ministers who get whipped in private but portray themselves as 'clean' in publi

France coach Jacques Brunel on Tuesday defended centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who faces a hearing on Wednesday over homophobic insults and could be suspended for the Six Nations.

"I don't want to punish Mathieu Bastareaud. Now, I do not know what the authorities will do. We will see. I hope for his sake and for ours, that he isn't (banned)," Brunel said at a hotel near Paris where he was attending a meeting of French club rugby officials.

Television footage of Toulon's European Champions Cup victory over Treviso on Sunday appeared to show the France international calling Italian second row Sebastian Negri a "fucking faggot" seemingly in response to a similar insult by the Zimbabwean-born player after an altercation between the pair in the final minute of the match.

"I watched the match. They told me he said things but I did not hear them," said Brunel.

"There are things we can say on the spur of the moment without thinking."

But the veteran coach said that as "he has coloured skin" Bastareaud knows what it feels like to be stigmatised because he is different.

"I don't believe (because of this) that he could have acted in such a way," added Brunel.

Bastareaud, who has played 42 times for France, has a hearing on Wednesday in London with the disciplinary commission of European Professional Club Rugby, the organisers of the Champions Cup.

The 29-year-old quickly said sorry after the match.

"I apologise for my reaction to insults from the Italian player. I reacted badly by responding to his provocation, I'm truly sorry for the people I might have hurt," Bastareaud wrote on his Twitter account.

At the same time, former England back Andy Goode, who was commentating on the match, used Twitter to accuse Bastareaud of homophobia and urge European rugby to "throw the book at him".

If the disciplinary panel follows World Rugby's punishment directives, Bastareaud would face a minimum ban of six and more likely something in the region of 12 weeks.

Brunel plans to announce a squad of 31 players for the Six Nations at 2pm on Wednesday but he will not know the decision of the disciplinary panel, which is expected at about the same time.

"It's a problem because I cannot punish Mathieu Bastareaud" by dropping him just in case he is banned, said Brunel.

Meanwhile, Bastareaud's president at Toulon Mourad Boudjellal is also being investigated by EPCR over comments he made in an interview published on rugbyrama.fr on Sunday.

"What I'm worried about is the mormon side of the EPCR with its Welsh and Irish (administrators)," the outspoken and controversial comic book magnate told the rugby website.

"They're people who sell morality even though they don't possess any.

"The same who have ministers who get whipped in private but portray themselves as 'clean' in publi