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TENNIS

Rafael Nadal set to play in Qatar Open after hip injury

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Rafael Nadal has entered the Qatar Open in February after missing the Australian Open with a hip injury.

Nadal, 37, returned from a year-long absence at the Brisbane International but then opted to return to his native Spain rather than compete in Melbourne.

Rafa Nadal: the new ambassador for tennis in Saudi Arabia

The Qatar Open is due to take place between 19 and 24 February.

Also set to play in the ATP 250 event are Andy Murray, reigning champion Daniil Medvedev and world number five Andrey Rublev.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, won his first two matches in Brisbane in straight sets but then suffered the injury in his quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson.

Rafael Nadal: 22-time Grand Slam champion set to make tennis return at Qatar Open in February | Tennis News | Sky Sports

He said a scan had shown a micro tear on a muscle but not in the same area as his previous long-term hip injury.

He said in May, after being forced to miss the French Open for the first time in 19 years, that 2024 would “probably” be the final year of his career, meaning he may have already played his last Australian Open, a tournament he has won twice.

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BOXING

UFC champion offers to help Anthony Joshua prepare for Francis Ngannou fight

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Joshua is training for his crossover fight with former UFC champion Ngannou in March and Tom Aspinall would be willing to help the Brit in his preparations

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has offered Anthony Joshua a helping hand for his Francis Ngannou training camp.

My class permanent, I'll always be among elite heavyweights, says Joshua | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Joshua is currently preparing to fight Ngannou on March 8 in Saudi Arabia and the winner of their fight has been promised an undisputed heavyweight world title shot. Aspinall helped Tyson Fury prepare for his crossover fight against Ngannou last year which he narrowly won in a controversial decision.

“If [Joshua] needs help, give me a call and I’ll be there,” Aspinall told Matchroom Boxing. “Boxers are used to fighting boxers, so they know the patterns of a boxer. The patterns, movement and thought process of a boxer. In MMA we’re doing different stuff than a standard boxer would. We’re throwing different shots from different angles and that’s something an MMA fighter, I’m not saying just me, could definitely help out AJ with.”

Big, Scary Monster' Francis Ngannou Earns UFC Title Shot With KO Of Alistair Overeem At UFC 218

‘If you get standard boxers in that have been boxing since they’re 10 years old, they’re going to move and have the same thought process as every other boxer. As MMA fighters our patterns are different, movements are jerkier and the way we defend is different to a boxer. I’m not going to tell AJ what to do, but it would be definitely recommended to get a decent level MMA fighter in as a sparring partner.”

Ngannou wants another shot at Fury if he beats Joshua and isn’t interested in fighting for a world title after contractual issues with the UFC delayed his exit from the promotion. Aspinall, who currently holds the interim UFC belt, admitted he didn’t give Ngannou a chance against Fury but thinks his fight with Joshua could go either way.

Anthony Joshua wins in five | SuperSport

“I think it’s great what Ngannou has done, I didn’t give him a chance against Fury and I think the fight could have gone either way. I think it’s great he’s got this other massive fight coming up against Anthony Joshua and he’s getting paid loads of money. He’s obviously an absolute specimen and is a much better boxer than everyone thought,” Aspinall told OLBG.

“I think his chances are quite high, beating Joshua. If you have asked me that question one year ago I would have said Joshua would have smoked Ngannou easily – in Joshua’s last fight he looked really really good, he was really letting his hands go which we haven’t seen in a while – but it’s a 50/50 fight who, knows what happens.”

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FORMULA 1

F1 legend Hamilton shares evening with Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex-girlfriend

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Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been spotted with Irina Shayk, the former partner of footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hamilton has been enjoying his winter break in style, taking trips to Paris and Brazil, taking part in some high-octane activities such as skydiving, and partying with some high-profile figures throughout the fashion world.

F1 legend Hamilton shares evening with Cristiano Ronaldo's ex-girlfriend

The Express are reporting that, while in Paris recently, Hamilton was joined by Russian model Shayk, a woman who spent six years romantically involved with Portuguese football star Ronaldo.

Hamilton’s love life has been a much-talked about feature of his career in F1, with last season seeing all kinds of rumors being thrown about surrounding he and popstar Shakira, after the Columbian was seen at a number of races with the Mercedes team.

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion

Hamilton’s 2024 optimism
Hamilton is currently enjoying his winter break ahead of reconvening with his Mercedes team before the start of the 2024 F1 season, where the seven-time world champion will be hoping to become a race-winner once more.

Rumors swirled about the potential romantic involvement between Lewis Hamilton and Shakira in 2023

The Brit has not managed to claim a victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, an astonishing statistic considering Hamilton leads the way for the number of race wins in F1 history.

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TENNIS

Coco Gauff punishes opponent after husband wears cringe cap taunting American

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Marta Kostyuk’s husband came under fire for wearing a cap that made reference to Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff had the last laugh when her opponent’s husband came to their match wearing a cap that made fun of the American. The world No. 4 survived a marathon match against Marta Kostyuk, coming back from 1-5 down in the opening set to win 7-6(8) 6-7(3) 6-2

Marta Kostyuk's husband wore a cap that said 'shake your cocos' to her match against Coco Gauff

Gauff reached her maiden Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday, needing three hours and eight minutes to see off Kostyuk. The 19-year-old is still yet to lose a match this season, as she started the year by defending her title in Auckland and now finds herself in the last eight in Melbourne.

Kostyuk was competing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final and her husband came prepared for the occasion, making reference to the Ukrainian’s opponent. Watching on from his wife’s box, Heorhii donned a cap that said ‘shake your cocos’.

Fans slammed his cringe attire while Gauff let her tennis do the talking, stealing the first set from Kostyuk. The world No. 37 raced into a 5-1 lead but the teenager stormed back, winning the next five games in a row. The set went to a tiebreak where Gauff took it 10-8.

Coco Gauff stormed back from a 1-5 deficit in the first set and defeated Marta Kostyuk
Coco Gauff stormed back from a 1-5 deficit in the first set and defeated Marta Kostyuk

They traded more breaks in the second set but Kostyuk came out on top, winning the tiebreak 7-3. Gauff went into another gear in the final set, leading 5-0 with the chance to serve for the bagel. But the 21-year-old got one final break of serve before Gauff closed it out at the second opportunity.

Heorhii’s hat still didn’t go down well on social media, as one Reddit user wrote: “I was cringing at this.” Another replied: “And at the fact that it’s her husband. She would have probably known in advance that he was going to wear that, and if she did it’s even more cringe.”

Fans also didn’t find it funny, with a third user writing: “Yikes, this is so… dumb. How stupid do you have to be to think this is funny, or in any way a good idea?” And it appeared that Gauff herself caught wind of the cap, as she posted a video from the match onto her Instagram story and wrote: “shakey shake” with a heart and a laughing emoji.

2024 Australian Open - Day 10
Marta Kostyuk said Coco Gauff was one of the best players in the world after their match

While some thought her husband was disrespectful, Kostyuk herself claimed that Gauff was one of the world’s best players after the close contest. The world No. 37 said she won for herself despite coming out on the losing end of the match and later elaborated. “Yeah, for me, it’s a win because I managed to, you know, I was playing one of the best girls in the world,” she explained.

“Managed to be still very close. You know, it feels far but also very close. This whole tournament I think is a big win for me. Just looking forward.” While Kostyuk will try to carry her Australian Open form into the rest of the season, Gauff will now focus on facing either Aryna Sabalenka or Barbora Krejcikova in the semi-final. If she plays Sabalenka, it will be a rematch of the recent US Open final.

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GOLF

Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang to star alongside Rory McIlroy and Max Homa in the first mixed edition of The Match

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Those who have been clamoring for more mixed events in professional golf will get their wish next month when Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson tee it up in the first edition of Capital One’s The Match that includes top women and men competing against each other. The rising LPGA talent and the longtime LPGA star will be joined by a pair of PGA Tour heavyweights in Rory McIlroy and Max Homa

Lexi Thompson: Married Or Single? Golf Star's Love Life Revealed Rallshe

For the second time, this version of The Match will take place under the lights on Monday, Feb. 26 at West Palm Beach’s newly reimagined “The Park” Municipal Golf Course in Florida. Simulcast coverage across TNT, truTV, HLN and Max will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Trevor Immelman, Christina Kim and Kathryn Tappen will be on hand to call the action. The broadcast also will receive contributions from DJ Khaled and NHL on TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette.

The format has historically been match play, pitting two two-player teams against one another. This version of The Match, however, will be a 12-hole skins game between the four competitors, with each hole worth a specified amount for charity. All four golfers will use the same tees for the four par 3s that are a part of the routing, while the remaining eight holes will use varying tee boxes and yardage for the men and women. The golfer who raises the most funds through the skins format after 12 holes will be declared the winner.

Rory McIlroy: Golf ball distance rule change will make no difference to the average golfer | Golf News | Sky Sports

The previous eight iterations of the made-for-TV event have featured only men, some of them not even professional golfers. Current NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, as well as former NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, have each starred in two editions of The Match. The same goes for Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, who teamed up with Manning in one and Warriors teammate Klay Thompson in another. Zhang and Thompson will be the first two women to play in the event.

This marks McIlroy’s second appearance in The Match, his first also coming under the lights at Pelican Golf Club in December 2022. There, he and teammate Tiger Woods lost, 3 and 2, to the duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. Like Thompson and Zhang, this will be Homa’s first time competing in the event.

Stanford star, top-ranked amateur Rose Zhang officially turns pro after back-to-back national titles

The other “star” of this Match will be the golf course. The Park, formerly known as West Palm Beach Country Club, was a PGA Tour venue in the 1950s and 1960s. Renowned architect Gil Hanse designed the new version of the course—whose mission is dedicated to youth programs and community outreach such as affordable golf instruction, classrooms for mentoring and after-school tutoring—along with a two-acre kids-only golf area.

As always, there will be a number of different challenges throughout the event. Those will be revealed at a later date, as will the designated 12 holes they will be using. Only eligible Capital One cardholders will have access to attend the event. Cardholders will be able to purchase or redeem their rewards for tickets exclusively through Capital One Entertainment.

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TENNIS

Ten-times markup on Roger Federer’s On sneakers cause stir in Switzerland

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For the model called ‘The Roger Advantage’, On reportedly pays 17.86 Swiss francs ($20.50) to the manufacturers in Vietnam, and sells them online for 190 francs ($218)

The profit margins of On’s running shoes are causing a stir in their Swiss homeland over the difference between their sales price in Switzerland and the production cost in Vietnam.

Ten-times markup on Roger Federer's On sneakers cause stir in Switzerland

The Swiss consumer magazine K-Tipp published a study last week which looked at customs data for 30 On products, comparing the figures seen there with the price in Switzerland.

For the model called “The Roger Advantage”, co-created with the Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, On pays 17.86 Swiss francs ($20.50) to the manufacturers in Vietnam, and sells them online for 190 francs ($218), the magazine said.

K-Tipp said that while high markups are common for sports shoes, On’s profit margin was much higher than that of rivals like Adidas and Puma.

Popular with athletes, On was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 and counts Federer among shareholders.

The company — which had a turnover of 1.2 billion Swiss francs in 2022 — produces high-performance sports shoes with “run on clouds” soles, according to the brand slogan.

“We do not disclose or comment on commercially sensitive or confidential information,” On told AFP in an email.

“However, we would like to point out that the figures published in the media last week contained inaccurate information.”

K-Tipp’s investigation sparked numerous reactions in Switzerland, where Federer is comfortably the biggest sports star.

“Sustainable management consists of equitably sharing the fruits of value creation,” Oliver Cassen, spokesman for the NGO Public Eye, told AFP.

“If the profit margin of a brand company is so much larger than the margin of shoe factories,” he added, “then the balance is not good”.

Public Eye regularly publishes reports on working conditions in the fashion and clothing industry.

The On brand was created in 2010 by Swiss ironman champion Olivier Bernhard, who developed a shock absorption system with an engineer from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

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GYMNASTICS

Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens share kiss before Packers-49ers game: ‘So proud’

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Olympics gymnastics legend Simone Biles shared heartfelt messages to her “catch” of a husband, Packers safety Jonathan Owens, on Instagram on Saturday ahead of Green Bay’s NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers — before the two shared a tender moment on the field.

Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens (34) and Simone Biles kiss before an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game between the Packers and the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif.

“Good luck today baby,” Biles, 26, captioned a video of the couple kissing before last week’s wild card round win over the Cowboys on her Instagram Story. “Go 34.”

“Let’s do the damn thing! I’m so proud of you,” she also wrote.

Later on Saturday, Biles shared a photo of her divisional gameday look on her Instagram.

Her outfit featured a cutout of Owen’s number, 34, in Packers colors and a necklace with her husband’s first initial, J.

Biles shared her game day outfit on her Instagram story.

Simone Biles shared this photo of the couple on her Instagram story.

Less than an hour before kickoff against the 49ers, Biles was spotted on the Packers’ sideline giving Owens, 28, a good-luck hug and kiss.

Biles continues to support her husband following social media backlash of Owens’ appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, where the Packers safety claimed he was the “catch” of the relationship.

On the podcast, Owens claimed he “didn’t know who” Biles, one of the most accomplished gymnastics in Olympics history, was when they first matched on the exclusive dating app Raya.

Gymnast Simone Biles, center left, is greeted by her husband, Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens, center right, before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis.

Biles clapped back at critics, posting a meme to X with the caption, “Are y’all done yet?”

Biles has expressed intentions of competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she will hope to get to wear some more gold of her own.

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BOXING

Watch: Professional Artist Paints Realistic Drawing of Female World Champion Claressa Shields

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Claressa Shields is the face of female boxing, having built up a cult following in the boxing world. In the same context, a professional artist produced a realistic rendition of the undefeated boxer on X (formerly Twitter). Shields last entered the ring back in June last year against Maricela Cornejo, winning the fight via unanimous decision, and may soon make an appearance against an MMA fighter.

With PFL acquiring Bellator MMA, Shields now shares the same banner as Cris Cyborg, who has expressed willingness to face the undisputed middleweight champion in any setting. However, before Shields could fight again, an X user expressed their admiration for Shields through a realistic painting of her. Here’s what the artist produced!

Fan names Claressa Shields the best female boxer
Earlier today, the artist shared a clip showcasing the digital painting of Shields in a pink dress with large white gloves on either hand, blissfully smiling. Accompanying the clip, the artist’s tweet read, “Having fun drawing the Best women’s boxer in the world.” Shields, the two-division champion, has no shortage of devoted fans online, so posts such as these aren’t uncommon.

Of late, she was in the headlines for her sports documentary, ‘Flint Strong.’ The film is an adaptation of a prior movie based on Shields’ journey to become the first female boxer to win gold. It will feature Ryan Destiny, playing Shields’ character in the movie. While the movie waits for a release date, here’s what Cris Cyborg said about a potential fight against Claressa ‘The Goat’ Shields.

Shields vs. Cyborg: An MMA boxing crossover
While talking to MMA Junkie Radio, the mixed martial artist suggested they can do one fight each on MMA and boxing. “I think it’ll be nice. I think the fans would like it. [With] much respect, Claressa is the GOAT in boxing. She’s the best in boxing, but for me, it’s nice,” Shields added. It’s worth mentioning that in a prior interview with Junkie Radio, Shields also expressed interest in fighting Cyborg.

Claressa Shields: 'I can drive through Flint now and not get flashbacks' | Claressa Shields | The Guardian

So, piggybacking off of that during Cyborg’s appearance, she said, “Like MMA, it’s a different world in boxing. We’re in the same organization. For sure, we can fight MMA one day.” While Cyborg wasn’t sure when the fight may happen, she claimed she is open to making great fights. “She’s young; I’m at the end of the line now, but for sure, I love opportunities. I love to do great fights,” said Cyborg.

With Shields’ popularity growing every day, her fans, like this professional artist, find new ways to express their admiration for the undefeated boxer. What did you think of the artwork?

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BOXING

Mike Tyson sent a terrifying message to trolls abusing him social media

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Mike Tyson once sent a terrifying message to social media trolls on his Facebook page.

‘Iron Mike’ is one of the best boxers of his generation and one of the best to ever live.

He dominated the sport during the 1980s, becoming world champion at the age of 20 after defeating Trevor Berbick.

Tyson never ducked a fight and took on all comers, including Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks.

Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis managed to get the better of Tyson as he aged, but he earned his ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ moniker for a reason.

Anyone who thought they could get away with abusing Tyson on social media were sent a stark warning back in 2020.

Accompanied by a photo, the man himself posted to his 23 million followers: “Social media made y’all way to comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it.”

The 57-year-old knows a thing or two about landing the finishing blow. He retired in 2005 with a 50-6 professional record, with 44 of those wins ending in knockout.

Tyson is one of the best fighters of his generation. (Image Credit: Getty)

Tyson has remained active in the boxing world, even helping train Francis Ngannou for his debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Despite plying his trade in the UFC, Ngannou put in a valiant effort before losing to Fury via split decision.

Ngannou will return to the ring to face Anthony Joshua on March 8 and Tyson’s received an offer to help train ‘The Predator’ again.

“Mike used to come to my fights, so we’ve been friends for a long time,” Dewey Cooper, Ngannou’s striking coach, told talkSPORT.

“Four years ago, Francis went on Mike Tyson’s podcast, and Francis was talking about fighting Tyson Fury and people like that way back then.

Tyson alongside Ngannou last year. (Image Credit: Getty)

“Mike used to come to my fights, so we’ve been friends for a long time,” Dewey Cooper, Ngannou’s striking coach, told talkSPORT.

“Four years ago, Francis went on Mike Tyson’s podcast, and Francis was talking about fighting Tyson Fury and people like that way back then.

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GOLF

Paige Spiranac delighted after golfing with Bryson DeChambeau: are they dating?

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Spiranac took to X (Twitter) to admit that DeChambeau was good times

Golf influencer Paige Spiranac finally met LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau in person after previously trolling him on social media and is now a fan of the professional golfer. Her followers are now wondering if they are dating.

Spiranac, 31, took to X (Twitter) on Friday to admit that DeChambeau was nothing like she had imagined. In fact, he wowed her, specifically due to his humor expressed while they recorded content soon-to-be released.

Video thumbnail

Have to give credit where credit is due to Bryson DeChambeau,” Spiranac tweeted. “I’ve publicly trolled him in the past, but in person he was nothing but kind, funny, and self deprecating. Total opposite from how I perceived him over the years.

“And you would think I should know better because it happens to me everyday. I’m excited for you to see the content we’ve been shooting and an opportunity for you to get to know us both better! Coming soon.”

Both Paige Spiranac and Bryson DeChambeau are single
DeChambeau, 30, was dating college golf star Lilia Schneider for about a year and seemingly broke up with her without making much noise.

Schneider, 20, and DeChambea have both erased all traces of one another from social media. The irony is that she was compared to Spiranac from the start.

Spiranac hasn’t been romantically linked to anybody since her divorce, but something could be brewing with DeChambeau. For now, they are single and already mingling.

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