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Azarenka Aussie queen, again

Victoria Azarenka retained her Australian Open title on Saturday with a tense 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory over China’s Li Na, who suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time. Li dominated the first set but Azarenka raced out to a 3-1 lead in the second before Li slipped and twisted her left ankle. Full story

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Royals win battle royal

Sylhet Royals prevailed over Dhaka Gladiators by seven wickets in a top-of-the-table clash at the Sheikh Abu Naser stadium in Khulna on Friday to maintain their hundred per cent record in the Bangladesh Premier League. Mushfiqur Rahim made an unbeaten 75 to help Royals knock off a modest target for their fourth successive win, which gave them... Full story

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MSC hit by players’ strike

With less than 48 hours remaining before the second leg of the Bangladesh Premier League football begins, Mohammedan Sporting Club were hit by a blow when their players refrained from training on Saturday, protesting at non-payment of wages. Full story

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Kings go home with high hopes

After ending their losing streak, Chittagong Kings hope to gather momentum when they move to their home city for their next four matches of the Bangladesh Premier League. Kings left Dhaka on Saturday with high morale as... Full story

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KDSA officials resign en masse

Nearly two-thirds of members of the Khulna District Sports Association resigned on Saturday in protest at the alleged corrupt practices and high handedness of incumbent general secretary Kazi Shamim Ahsan. Full story

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Warner knock in vain, SL win T20

David Warner’s unbeaten 90 went in vain as Sri Lanka beat Australia by five wickets in the first Twenty20 International on Saturday to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. Shot-making was not easy on the drop-in pitch... Full story

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Federer insists he’s still on the pace

Roger Federer dismissed suggestions he was slipping off the pace at the top of men’s tennis after his five-set loss to Andy Murray in the Australian Open semi-finals on Friday. Federer, at 31 the senior member of the ‘Big Four’, went down... Full story

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SA win with last-ball six

Former captain Graeme Smith hit a century to set up a consolation one-wicket win for South Africa in the third and final one-day international against New Zealand at Senwes Park on Friday. Smith made 116 -- his 10th one-day... Full story

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Pakistan confirms match officials for T20 league

Former South African all-rounder Mike Proctor, fellow countryman Rudi Koertzen and Zimbabwean Russell Tiffin were Thursday confirmed as match officials for Pakistan’s Twenty20 league. Although all three have retired as top-level ICC (International Cricket... Full story

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Djokovic, Murray renew age-old rivalry in final

Novak Djokovic will chase a hat-trick of Australian Open titles in today’s final against his US Open conqueror Andy Murray, renewing a growing rivalry which dates back to their junior days. World number one Djokovic thrives on the Melbourne hardcourt surface where he has won three of his five Grand Slams, and is the hot favourite after his brutal semi-final demolition of fourth seed David Ferrer. Full story

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Barca set up King’s Cup semi-final with Real

Holders Barcelona set up a King’s Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Real Madrid after battling to a thrilling 4-2 second leg win over a stubborn Malaga at the Rosaleda on Thursday. The La Liga leaders progressed 6-4 on... Full story

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Scolari considering 50 for Brazil World Cup squad

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari revealed on Thursday that he has a longlist of 50 potential candidates in mind for his squad that will go into the 2014 World Cup on home soil. ‘Our staff are keeping an eye on 50 players all over the world... Full story

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Real players deny seeking sack for coach Mourinho

Real Madrid stars Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos denied Thursday reports that they had demanded the club fire coach Jose Mourinho before next season. The league champions have seen their performances... Full story

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SOCCERLINE

Casillas faces 12 weeks out Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas will be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on his fractured left hand in Madrid on Friday. ‘The period of unavailability is between eight and... Full story

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Dortmund up to second after win over Nuremberg

Defending Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund romped to a 3-0 win at home to Nuremberg on Friday to provisionally go second in the German league behind leaders Bayern Munich. Full story

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Hazard affair follows Chelsea to Brentford

Chelsea will attempt to revive their season without Eden Hazard when they make the short journey across west London to third-tier Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup today. Hazard was suspended after being dismissed during the... Full story

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Millwall condemn Villa to more Cup misery

Millwall piled on the misery for beleaguered Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert as John Marquis’ late goal gave the Championship club a 2-1 win in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday. Full story

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United set to sign Zaha

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told supporters not to expect too much too soon from new signing Wilfried Zaha. Young England winger Zaha, 20, was undergoing a medical in Manchester on Friday ahead of a £15m... Full story

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Platini and Wenger want January window axed

The January transfer window should be abolished or at least limited because it is unfair and distorts competitions, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and UEFA president Michel Platini said on Friday. Full story

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Balotelli going nowhere, says Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has once again rejected speculation linking Mario Balotelli with AC Milan and admits he is struggling to add to his squad ahead of next week’s transfer deadline. Full story

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