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Aryna Sabalenka defeats Elena Rybakina to win thrilling women’s Australian Open final

By Aimee Lewis, CNN Belarusian-born Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets to win a thrilling women’s Australian Open final Saturday, becoming the first player competing under a neutral flag to secure a grand slam. Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tournament organizer Tennis Australia required Russian and Belarusian players to compete as neutrals.

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Novak Djokovic says his father had ‘no intention whatsoever to support any kind of war initiatives’

By Jill Martin and George Ramsay, CNN Novak Djokovic said his father, Srdjan, had “no intention” of supporting any kind of “war initiatives” after being filmed with a group of Russian supporters at the Australian Open. Djokovic reached his 10th Australian Open final on Friday after defeating American Tommy Paul in straight sets. Ahead of

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Decision not to appoint Steve Wilks as Carolina Panthers’ head coach points to a ‘legitimate race problem in the NFL,’ say his attorneys

By Ben Church and Matt Foster, CNN The Carolina Panthers’ decision to overlook Steve Wilks and appoint someone else as their new head coach points to a “legitimate race problem in the NFL,” the former interim coach’s attorneys say. The NFL franchise announced Thursday that Frank Reich will take up the reins as the franchise’s

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Vinícius Jr. scores against Atlético Madrid after effigy of Black soccer star hanged from bridge in Madrid

By Ben Morse and Al Goodman, CNN Vinícius Jr. scored against Atlético Madrid in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Copa del Rey quarterfinal victory on Thursday after an effigy of the star was hanged from a bridge in Madrid prior to the match. Álvaro Morata gave Atlético a first-half lead, but Rodrygo’s stunning equalizer sent the quarterfinal

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Azerbaijan calls for sanctions over tennis player’s pro-Armenia messages at the Australian Open

By George Ramsay, CNN Azerbaijan’s tennis federation has called for Karen Khachanov to be sanctioned after the Russian player expressed support for the Armenian-majority population living in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region at the Australian Open. Khachanov, who has Armenian heritage, has written “Artsakh stay strong” on TV cameras after matches in Melbourne. Artsakh is the

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Novak Djokovic’s father poses with fan wearing pro-Russia ‘Z’ symbol

By Zayn Nabbi and Angus Watson, CNN The Australian Open told CNN it has “briefed and reminded” players and their entourages about the tournament’s “policy regarding flags and symbols” on Thursday after video emerged on Wednesday of Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, pictured at a demonstration with fans holding Russian flags, voicing his support for Russia.

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Cameroon ejected 32 players for failing age tests for a soccer tournament. How Samuel Eto’o is dealing with ‘age cheating’

By Alasdair Howorth, CNN It’s been a problem for the ages but Cameroonian soccer great Samuel Eto’o appears determined to stamp it out. Cameroon sealed its qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ Under-17s tournament with a 2-0 win against the Republic of Congo 2-0 on January 15, but the squad which won that

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Human rights group accuses motorsport’s governing body of ‘suppressing drivers’ freedom of speech’

By Sammy Mngqosini A human rights group has accused motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, of “suppressing drivers’ freedom of speech,” following a ban on political statements ahead of the new Formula One season. On Tuesday, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) questioned the governing body’s commitment to human rights in a letter addressed

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