Sports

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson will drive the No. 84 — the reverse of his longtime No. 48 — when the seven-time champion returns to NASCAR for next month’s Daytona 500. Johnson will drive for the rebranded race team called Legacy Motor Club. The name replaces Petty

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea manager Graham Potter says Christian Pulisic is facing up to two months out with a knee injury. The United States forward sustained the injury in Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City last week. Potter says “Christian’s going to be out for a couple of months … Hopefully it will be less.”

LONDON (AP) — England back Owen Farrell should be available for the start of the Six Nations despite receiving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle while playing for club team Saracens. The RFU says Farrell’s ban will be reduced to three games if he completes a World Rugby coaching intervention program. That would mean

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer The Associated Press takes a look at some of the men to watch at the 2023 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament. Play begins on the hard courts of Melbourne Park on Monday. The field is led by defending champion Rafael Nadal and nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic.

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer The Associated Press takes a look at some of the women to watch at the 2023 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament. Play begins on the hard courts of Melbourne Park on Monday. The field is led by No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek. She owns three Grand Slam titles and

LONDON (AP) — Portugal forward João Félix has joined Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid in a deal that will keep him at the Premier League club until the end of the season. Felix has also extended his contract with Atletico for one more year until June 2027. Felix says “Chelsea is one of the

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic will be competing at the Australian Open for the first time in two years when the tournament begins next week. Djokovic was deported from the country in 2022 because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 but the rules have been relaxed. Rafael Nadal is the defending men’s champion.

LONDON (AP) — Portugal forward João Félix has joined Chelsea on loan from Atlético Madrid in a deal that will keep him at the Premier League club until the end of the season. Felix has also extended his contract with Atletico for one more year until June 2027. “Chelsea is one of the great teams

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Last year’s Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins needed seven match points but advanced to the Adelaide International quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win over Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann. Collins never lost serve in the first set against Teichmann, although she saved two break points in the eighth game. But she

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer Coaching changes paid off in a big way for several teams this season. From impressive turnarounds for Jacksonville and the New York Giants to big boosts for Minnesota and Miami, a record-setting five of the 10 teams that hired new coaches for the 2022 season made the playoffs.

By ERIC WILLEMSEN Associated Press FLACHAU, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin is set to continue her quest for a record-setting 83rd women’s Alpine skiing World Cup win next week. But her biggest idol sees even larger milestones coming up for the American. Marlies Raich is the Austrian standout who dominated women’s slalom under her maiden

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Cameron Norrie’s local knowledge might have helped him through the ordeal of his second-round match at the ASB Tennis Classic which stretched to almost six hours because of rain. But the British player prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3 over Czech qualifier Jiri Lehecka. Norrie was born in South Africa but

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Rafael Nadal is the top men’s seed in the absence of injured world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, with nine-time winner Novak Djokovic seeded fourth ahead of Thursday’s draw for the  Australian Open. No.1-ranked Iga Swiatek was named the women’s top seed as she looks to add the Australian Open

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mikal Bridges had 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists and the undermanned Suns dominated in Stephen Curry’s return from injury as Phoenix beat the Golden State Warriors for a third time this season, 125-113 on Tuesday night to snap a season-worst six-game skid. Former

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk scored his second goal of the game with 3:30 remaining and the Florida Panthers beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period. Aleksander Barkov, Brandon Montour and Sam Bennett all scored in the first to give the Panthers