Sports

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

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 29 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Orlando Magic beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-106 on Tuesday night. Damian Lillard had 30 points for the Blazers, who lost their fourth straight. The Magic led 19

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — Matt Bradley scored 17 points and Lamont Butler had 15 for No. 23 San Diego State, which beat Nevada 74-65 to take sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs dominated on both ends of Steve Fisher Court in a showdown

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 33 points, Norman Powell added 27 and the Los Angeles Clippers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 113-101 victory over the Dallas Mavericks despite 43 points from Luka Doncic. It’s the fourth time in the past five games Leonard

The Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Noura’s determination to play sports was so great that she defied her family’s opposition for years. Beatings from her mother and jeers from her neighbors never stopped her from the sports she loved. But the 20-year-old Afghan woman could not defy her country’s Taliban rulers. They have not

By JOHN COON Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 46 points in his return to Utah, but the Jazz rallied late behind Jordan Clarkson to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114. Clarkson scored 32 points, including five 3-pointers, and poured in nine straight down the stretch to fuel a decisive 13-0 run.