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[ad_1] CNN  —  Novak Djokovic is the odds on favorite for the men’s title at the Australian Open this year and he will begin the tournament against Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena, seeking a record-equaling 22nd grand slam and 10th Australian title. Meanwhile, women’s world No. 2 Ons Jabeur is in action in the match beforehand, as she aims to better the two grand slam finals she reached last season, while USA’s Sloane Stephens takes on Russia’s Anna Potapova on Court 7. From 7pm ET Aryna Sabalenka (5) vs. Tereza Martincova Katherine Sebov vs. Caroline Garcia (4) Matteo Berrettini (13) vs. Andy Murray From 3am ET Tamara Zidansek vs. Ons Jabeur (2) Roberto Carballés Baena vs. Novak Djokovic (4) From 7pm ET Garbiñe Muguruza vs. Elise Mertens (26) Xiyu Wang vs. Karo

[ad_1] CNN  —  “The Island Green” – three words that have struck fear into the hearts of even the most talented golfers . A short, 125-yard par-three surrounded by water, TPC Sawgrass’ iconic penultimate hole has drowned many a dream at The Players Championship for more than four decades. On Thursday, Hayden Buckley had other ideas. After making a steady start to his first round at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, the American — having started from the 10th hole – teed up at the 17th at one-under par, tied for eighth. One swing later, he was level for the lead. Using a pitching wedge, the 27-year-old had sent his ball sailing over the water and comfortably onto the green; his ball bouncing three times before settling and curling leisurely into the cup. A rapturous crowd roared their del

[ad_1] CNN  —  The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced Tuesday that it will return to hosting tournaments in China in 2023 after previously suspending all events in the country, including Hong Kong, last November due to the uncertainty over tennis player Peng Shuai’s safety . Peng was feared to be held incommunicado by the Chinese government after she accused retired Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into sex during a years-long on-off relationship. The immediate response from Chinese authorities was to censor any mention of the accusation online and block Peng’s Weibo account from search results. Peng disappeared from public view for more than two weeks, prompting the world’s biggest tennis stars and the United Nations to demand answers as to her whereabouts – as well as a full investigation into her allegations against Zhang. Peng, a three-tim

[ad_1] CNN  —  Jessica Pegula , the daughter of the owners of the Buffalo Bills, showed her support for Damar Hamlin during her straight sets win in the second round of the Australian Open . The world No. 3 wore Hamlin’s number three on her shorts during her 6-2 7-6(5) victory over Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich. “I definitely wanted to do something,” Pegula said after her win when asked about paying tribute to Hamlin. “We were kind of figuring out what the Bills and the Sabres were doing, just as far as what was the message. I knew they would probably do something and what message were they trying to send. It ended up being kind of the ‘3’ was the symbol.” Hamlin was hospitalized in Cincinnati when his heart suddenly stopped after a tackle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2. The 24-year-old Bills safety was discharged after more than a week

[ad_1] CNN  —  Matt Fitzpatrick conquered reigning champion Jordan Spieth in a playoff to seal an emotional RBC Heritage victory at Hilton Head on Sunday. With the duo unable to be separated at 17-under par after an enthralling final day battle, the Englishman broke the deadlock in stunning fashion on the third playoff hole, punching his approach shot to within inches of the cup before tapping home for birdie to clinch his second PGA Tour title. His first had come after a similarly close-fought final round at the US Open in Brookline last year. There had been a late scare then when his last tee shot found the bunker, and the 28-year-old’s heart rate will have been just as high when both of Spieth’s putts for birdie across the first two playoff holes looked destined to settle in the cup. Yet once again, Fitzpatrick endured, weathering the storm to become only the second Engli

[ad_1] CNN  —  Victoria Lee, one of the brightest new stars in mixed martial arts ( MMA ), has died at the age of 18, her sister confirmed. “She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then,” her sister Angela said in an Instagram post Saturday. “We miss her. More than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same.” Lee was born and raised in Hawaii and had started rising through the ranks of the sport. She won three fights in her short career, most recently in September 2021 against Victoria Souza. She put fighting on the back burner last year as she focused on graduating from high school. In her Instagram post, Angela said her sister had died on December 26 but did not say how. “We miss you so much sis. More than you could ever realize. We’re all broke

[ad_1] CNN  —  It is one of the most famous Spanish clubs in the world, if not the most famous. But for the first time in its history, according to sports data companies Opta Sports and Gracenote, Real Madrid fielded no Spanish players in its starting line up for a LaLiga match as Carlo Ancelotti opted for a Belgian, two Brazilians, an Austrian, two Germans, three Frenchmen, a Croat and a Uruguayan against Villarreal on Saturday. Despite the international talent on display, however, Los Blancos succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica, and spurned a chance to go top of LaLiga. It is just the second league defeat of the season for Real Madrid and an important win for the Yellow Submarines which draws them level on points with fourth-place Atlético Madrid in the table. The first

[ad_1] CNN  —  American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin has equaled Lindsey Vonn’s record of 82 World Cup wins with victory in the giant slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Sunday. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is now the joint record holder for the most World Cup wins by a female skier, and by an American. After taking a 0.24-second lead in the first run, Shiffrin finished 0.20-second ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, who finished third overall, and Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova in her second run. Italy’s Federica Brignone placed second overall. “I was so nervous this run,” Shiffrin said after the victory. “I don’t know why maybe a little bit was because of 82. I really wanted to ski it well and I did, can’t believe it.” Shiffrin is now four wins away from tying the overall record for World Cup wins, cur

[ad_1] CNN  —  The 2023 FIS Para World Snowboard Championships have been postponed because of a lack of snow. In a statement, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said that the competition, which was due to take place this month in La Molina in the Spanish Pyrenees, will now be held from March 9 to 18 at the same place. “The unseasonable warm temperatures across much of Central Europe over the holidays have created a current critical snow situation in La Molina, forcing the postponement of the competitions,” the statement read. “FIS would like to take the opportunity to thank the Organizing Committee for their flexibility and determination to stage a top World Championship for the Para Snowboard athletes.” The FIS said the Para Nordic and Alpine World Ski Championships are still scheduled to take place later this month in Oestersund, Sweden,