sports
SportAustralian Associated PressOsaka faces fresh battles after Open exit
Naomi Osaka says she's proud of herself after her Australian Open dethronement, but tennis luminaries worry over how she'll rebound from her wounding loss at Melbourne Park.After her final set tie-break defeat to Amanda Anisimova, Japan's Osaka seemed much more at peace than the tormented figure who announced tearfully after last year's US Open she was taking a break from the sport.
SportAustralian Associated PressDarling fails to meet AFL vax guidelines
Jack Darling's AFL career is in limbo for now after the West Coast star failed to meet league vaccination guidelines.As the AFL and other sports reel from the WA government's announcement that its hard borders will remain beyond February 5, the Eagles have announced that Darling is training away from the team.
SportAustralian Associated PressNo quick fix to swimming's culture issues
Swimming Australia says there's no quick fix to deep-seated cultural problems exposed by a wide-ranging review into abuse in the sport.But SA president Kieren Perkins is pledging immediate action to rectify cultural issues "from top to bottom" in swimming.
SportAustralian Associated PressMexico's Lopez lead LPGA season opener
Gaby Lopez of Mexico began a new year and her seventh LPGA Tour season with a simple, and potentially prophetic, Instagram post: "Surprise me, 2022," she wrote.On Thursday she jumped out to the lead in the Tournament of Champions, piecing together a five-under 67 opening round at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida.
NewsAustralian Associated PressFrance 'vaccine pass' to come into effect
French Prime Minister Jean Castex says a new COVID-19 pass will come into effect next week, severely restricting the public lives of those who refuse to get inoculated by banning them from domestic flights, restaurants, sports events and other venues. is necessary if we want to preserve and increase our vaccination coverage in the event of new variants," Castex said on Thursday.
NewsAustralian Associated PressFrance, Israel ease as Austria orders jab
Austrian MPs have passed a bill making COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory while authorities in France and Israel have announced an easing of pandemic restrictions.Lawmakers in Austria's lower house of parliament voted 137 to 33 to approve the mandate, which will apply to all residents of Austria aged 18 and over from February 1.
CelebrityAustralian Associated PressPele out of hospital, had cancer treatment
Brazilian soccer great Pele has been discharged from hospital after undergoing two days of treatment for cancer, the Sao Paulo clinic that treated him says.Pele, who had a colon tumor removed last year, has been undergoing chemotherapy in the months since.
SportAustralian Associated PressMedvedev lashes 'low IQ' Open spectators
Daniil Medvedev risks becoming a new pantomime villain for Australian Open crowds after claiming those who booed him during his thrilling victory over home favourite Nick Kyrgios "probably have a low IQ".US Open champion Medvedev made the dig soon after telling the noisy Rod Laver Arena crowd with some irritation during his post-match on-court interview on Thursday that they needed to show some respect for his questioner, Jim Courier.
SportAustralian Associated PressMcGrath anything but average in T20 rise
Tahlia McGrath looms as the new thorn in England's side with the allrounder determined to ram home Australia's advantage in Adelaide.McGrath enjoyed the crowning moment of her dominant summer on Thursday, taking 3-26 and hitting 91no to be named player of the match in the Ashes series opener.
SportAustralian Associated PressBoucher charged with gross misconduct
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has charged senior men's national team coach Mark Boucher with gross misconduct after he was accused of racism by former teammate Paul Adams.The charges stem from the "tentative findings" made last month by the Social Justice and Nation Building Ombudsman, who is looking into alleged discrimination within the sport's national governing organisation in the past.
NewsAustralian Associated PressPakistani woman sentenced to death
A Pakistani court has sentenced a Muslim woman to death after finding her guilty of blasphemy for insulting Islam's Prophet Mohammed in text messages she sent to a friend, an official says.The woman, Aneeqa Atteeq, was arrested in May 2020 after the man alerted police that she sent him caricatures of the Prophet -- considered sacrilegious -- via WhatsApp.
SportAustralian Associated PressNo regrets as the great Stosur bows out
An elusive French Open crown would have been nice but, otherwise, Samantha Stosur says she "couldn't ask for any more".Stosur's decorated singles career came to an end with an emotional second-round Australian Open defeat at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
NewsAustralian Associated PressAvoid visa soap opera over Slater: Andrews
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says it is important to avoid another visa "soap opera" if vaccine-sceptic surfing legend Kelly Slater wishes to compete in Australia.Victoria's Bells Beach and Western Australia's Margaret River will host World Surf League events in April and May as part of a re-jigged calendar that includes four months of tiered competition on Australian shores.
SportAustralian Associated PressUnion Berlin send Hertha out of German Cup
Union Berlin have delivered another demoralising blow to city rivals Hertha Berlin by dumping their neighbors out of the German Cup with a 3-2 away win in the round of 16.Union won their previous meeting 2-0 in the Bundesliga in November and the latest success consolidates the upstart club's status of "Stadtmeister" (city champion) over its long-suffering rival.
SportAustralian Associated PressShowman Kyrgios bows out of Open
Nick Kyrgios is once again at a career crossroad following a gallant second-round Australian Open loss to title favourite Daniil Medvedev.The sport's ultimate showman wowed fans with his incredible array of tricks but was eventually outclassed by the ice-cool Russian, bowing out with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 4-6 6-2 defeat on Thursday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressAIS to help stars with life after sport
Former Australian Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett finds the thought of life after netball "terrifying".But given Bassett has dodgy knees, no Super Netball contract and the Diamonds are currently playing their Quad series in England, she can see the writing on the wall.
SportAustralian Associated PressZverev too strong for John Millman at Open
Local veteran John Millman has been stunned by Alexander Zverev, with the German No.3 seed winning their Australian Open encounter in straight sets.
SportAustralian Associated PressBoyce BBL heroics not enough for Renegades
Not even Cameron Boyce's historic double hat-trick could not prevent the Melbourne Renegades from a third straight BBL wooden spoon after a one-run loss to the Sydney Thunder.Boyce's five-wicket haul capped one of the finest spells in the BBL's 11 seasons, overshadowing Usman Khawaja's 77 on return from the Ashes in the Thunder's 6-170.
SportAustralian Associated PressAustralia-NZ white-ball series postponed
Australia is poised for its first home summer without men's one-day cricket in more 40 years after New Zealand's inability to secure hotel quarantine prompted a series postponement.A week before the Black Caps were due to land in Australia, officials were forced to push back the white-ball series indefinitely with New Zealand unable to travel and return home.
HealthAustralian Associated PressVaccine booster interval shortened in ACT
Canberrans will now be able to receive their COVID-19 booster sooner, after the interval between doses was shortened.From Thursday, people aged 18 and over will only need to wait three months from their second COVID-19 vaccination to get their third.
SportAustralian Associated PressNo surprise if Hamilton quits F1: Brown
Formula One should not assume Lewis Hamilton will stay in the sport after the hurt of missing out on a record-setting eighth world title in controversial circumstances, McLaren boss Zak Brown says.Hamilton, 37, has stayed silent since the 2021 season ended in uproar in Abu Dhabi last month, and his Mercedes team have indicated he is waiting for the governing FIA's response to what went on.
SportAustralian Associated PressBlues title bid fading with Brighton draw
Winning the Premier League title is looking more unlikely for Chelsea each passing week as their winless run stretched to four games with their 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.European champions Chelsea soon might have to start looking over their shoulder in the race for Champions League qualification.
SportAustralian Associated PressKyrgios lights up Open in demolition job
Nick Kyrgios has produced a typically lively display on return from a bout of COVID-19 to set up a blockbuster Australian Open second-round clash with tournament favourite Daniil Medvedev.Less than a fortnight after testing positive to the virus, Kyrgios put some spark into a previously subdued Melbourne Park with a 6-4 6-4 6-3 first-round win over British qualifier Liam Broady on Tuesday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressHobart in tight win, earn BBL finals spot
The Hobart Hurricanes have snatched a six-run win over Melbourne Renegades to secure their place in the BBL finals, derailing a chase that Aaron Finch started in style.Hobart posted a competitive total of 5-182 at Marvel Stadium despite the league's leading run-scorer Ben McDermott failing for three, victim to a sensational catch from Zak Evans.
SportAustralian Associated PressTA breaks silence over Djokovic visa drama
Tennis Australia has finally broken its silence over the Novak Djokovic scandal, pledging to review its handling of the saga - but not until after the Australian Open is won and done.Without once mentioning Djokovic by name, TA on Tuesday night issued a statement offering "deep regret" for how the sorry affair had affected all of the other players at Melbourne Park.
