Serena eyes sixth coronation at Melbourne Park
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – If players, pundits and bookmakers are to be believed, Serena Williams has already sewn up her sixth Australian Open title and the other 127 women in the draw may as well pick up their racquets and head home.
Nadal poses biggest threat to Djokovic’s reign
SYDNEY (Reuters) – After staging a remarkable comeback in 2013, Spanish buccaneer Rafa Nadal has his eye on more grand slam silverware this year and is shaping up as the biggest threat to Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open reign.
Surtees anniversary draws hope from loss
BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) – John Surtees has an infectious laugh and the broadest of grins but there is also sadness in his eyes as he prepares for a year of events marking the 50th anniversary of his Formula One championship win.
Del Potro, Tomic to meet in Sydney, Ferrer falls
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro underlined his status as a dark horse for next week’s Australian Open by hammering Dmitry Tursunov to reach the final of the Sydney International on Friday.
Hot putter helps Korean Bae take early Waialae lead
(Reuters) – South Korea’s Bae Sang-moon put on a putting master class as he charged into an early one-shot lead with a flawless seven-under-par 63 in Thursday’s opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Nadal to face local hope Tomic in Australian Open
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one Rafal Nadal will play local hope Bernard Tomic in the first round of the Australian Open as he bids for a 14th grand slam title.
Serena could face Stosur in fourth round at Australian Open
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one Serena Williams will play Australian wildcard Ashleigh Barty in the first round of the Australian Open as she bids for her 18th grand slam title and sixth at Melbourne Park.
Toure wins African Footballer of Year for third time
(Reuters) – Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure landed his third successive African Footballer of the Year award on Thursday to cap a memorable week.
‘Big Hurt’ gets last laugh over drug cheats
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas may have suffered from comparisons to doping cheaters during his major league career but is enjoying the last laugh as a newly elected member of Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Journalist stripped of Hall vote after giving away ballot
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A veteran journalist was stripped of his Baseball Hall of Fame voting privileges after giving his ballot to an offbeat sports website, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America said on Thursday.
