Category: Top News

Record-shattering Novak Djokovic said he was “hanging in there” after becoming the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.

The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in front of a boisterous crowd on centre court to extend his own all-time record of match wins at the majors.

Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are the next best.

Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, tying Federer for the most Australian Open singles wins.

Djokovic’s reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn, whose match was delayed due to extreme heat.

The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money,” said Djokovic. “I’m still around. I’m hanging in there.

“Obviously, Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing on a different level from all of us right now.

“But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance, particularly here, on the court that has given me the most in my career.”

But after making the semi-finals at all four majors last year and not going further, he stressed that he was “not getting ahead of myself”.

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“Last year I got too excited, too early in some of the Grand Slams,” he said. “I was playing really well and getting to the quarters and semis and then getting injured in pretty much three out of four.”

The 75th-ranked Van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic in three sets at Indian Wells last year, but never looked like pulling off another shock.

The fourth seed wound back the clock with some phenomenal tennis in set one, securing the critical break in the fourth game after a mammoth 26-point rally.

He broke the Dutchman again on his opening serve in the second set and moved to 4-2, but it was a struggle, and he became noticeably more irritable.

At one point, he smacked a ball towards an advertising hoarding out of frustration and nearly hit a ball kid, quickly apologising.

Novak Djokovic had work on his foot during a medical timeout in set three after a tumble.

They exchanged breaks, and the set went to a tiebreak, where he proved the most resilient.

“A few points before, I almost saw the physio, I was planning to see him for my blisters,” he said of the fall where he appeared to turn his ankle.

“Thankfully, I managed a good fall, if you can say that. Things could’ve been really ugly in that moment.”

Djokovic has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023.

READ: Bangladesh replaced by Scotland at T20 World Cup 2026: report

Amanda Anisimova ramped up her Australian Open title charge with a 6-1, 6-4 beating of fellow American Peyton Stearns on Saturday to reach the last 16 in imperious fashion.

The fourth seed defied a Melbourne Park heatwave to run out a comfortable winner in 71 minutes in roasting sunshine.

The impressive 24-year-old will play either 13th-seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic or China’s Wang Xinyu for a place in the quarter-finals.

Anisimova enjoyed a breakout year in 2025, reaching finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, and is aiming to go one better in 2026

“Super-hot today,” Anisimova said in her on-court interview, which she conducted wrapped in an ice towel.

“I had a lot of fun today playing in front of you guys, especially a lot of American supporters.”

Anisimova steamrollered the 68th-ranked Stearns in the first set at Margaret Court Arena.

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The 24-year-old Stearns held up the victory charge in the second set as Anisimova wobbled on her serve.

The world number four looked briefly rattled as Stearns won three games in a row after trailing 5-1.

It only delayed the inevitable, but not before Anisimova racked up a seventh double fault.

“We were just battling it out there at the end,” said Anisimova, who is yet to drop a set in three matches at the first major of the season.

She defeated Switzerland’s Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2 in her opener and dismissed Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-4 in round two.

READ: Teenage giantkiller Jovic gets help from ‘kind’ Djokovic in Melbourne

Giantkiller Iva Jovic has credited “kind and attentive” Novak Djokovic for helping her make a splash at the Australian Open, with the 18-year-old taking tips from the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

Jovic, the youngest player in the women’s top 100, stunned seventh seed and two-time Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini on Friday to make the last 16.

It was the biggest scalp of her burgeoning career, and Serbian great Djokovic, who is 20 years her senior, had a hand in it.

“Actually, I spoke to Novak a little bit. So it was pretty incredible,” said Jovic.

“He gave me some very attentive tips for my game and something I can try to incorporate into this match that I just played.

“So that was one of the things at the forefront of my mind because I think when Novak gives you some advice, you follow it.”

Asked what advice he gave her, Jovic replied: “It was just to open up the court a little bit better, to not rush into the shots all the time, find some more width.

“So I tried to do that, and it ended well. So I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak.”

While Jovic is American, her father is from Serbia and her mother from Croatia.

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She is still closely connected to her roots, visiting Serbia annually, both the capital of Belgrade and the southern town of Leskovac, where she has extended family.

It makes the link to Novak Djokovic a natural one, but also one Jovic finds “pretty insane”.

“You always think about those moments where you’re going to meet your idols a little bit, and I think sometimes for certain people it can be a little bit deflating if they are maybe not as nice or as open as you anticipated,” she said.

“But he’s almost even kinder and even more attentive outside the cameras than what he’s portrayed. It was amazing.

“I mean, he’s so intelligent and smart and really wants to help the younger generation. So I’m really grateful to have that advice.

“Hopefully, I’ll speak with him more and listen to his advice. ”

Iva Jovic claimed her maiden title in 2025 at Guadalajara and started the year in sizzling form, making the semi-finals in Auckland and the final at Hobart.

Seeded 29 in Melbourne, she will play Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

READ: Inter Milan thrash Pisa to extend Serie A lead to six points

Inter Milan roared back from two goals down to hammer promoted Pisa 6-2 on Friday and move six points clear at the top of Serie A.

Fans at a soaking San Siro were left in shock by Stefano Moreo’s early brace, including a brilliant chip over Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer from near the halfway line.

But Piotr Zielinski’s penalty in the 39th minute sparked a comeback at the end of the first half, with strike pairing Lautaro Martinez and Pio Esposito both thumping home powerful headers to put Inter ahead at the break.

Federico Dimarco, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan rounded off the scoring in the final 10 minutes to secure Inter’s ninth win in a 10-match unbeaten run in the league.

“When I came on, the idea was to score one before half-time, and after that it would have been a long second half (for Pisa),” said Dimarco, who was introduced shortly before Zielinski scored.

“But we scored three, we reacted well. Sometimes, when you play a lot of games, you can approach a game the wrong way, but it was important to turn it around.”

Inter’s thumping victory piled pressure on title rivals AC Milan and Napoli, who both have tough away fixtures this weekend.

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Inter’s closest challengers, Milan, travel south on Sunday to take on fourth-placed Roma, who are yet to win a high-profile fixture but continue to improve under Gian Piero Gasperini.

Meanwhile, Napoli are nine points back in third, with the champions in Turin on Sunday after a draw at 10-man FC Copenhagen left them at risk of being eliminated from the Champions League.

Pisa are bottom of the division, having collected just four points from their last 10 matches.

This heavy defeat came after a dream start in the Tuscan side’s first match against Inter at the San Siro since October 1990.

The 5,000 away fans roared their delight when Moreo pounced on a poor Sommer pass to fire back over his head into an empty net in the 11th minute before the Italian forward doubled the away side’s lead with his head midway through the first half.

But Alberto Gilardino’s team crumbled once Zielinski struck, and Pisa ended up conceding the same number of goals to Inter that they did over a quarter of a century ago.

READ: Guardiola confident as Man City chase ‘world’s best’ Arsenal

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are tasked with chasing down the best team in the world in Premier League leaders Arsenal as he launched a defiant defence of his players after a chastening week.

City were well beaten by local rivals Manchester United last weekend before suffering one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history away to Norway’s Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.

Guardiola’s men are yet to win a league game in 2026, allowing Arsenal to open up a seven-point lead in the title race.

But the City boss backed his “extraordinary” group of players to respond as they remain in contention for silverware in four competitions.

“Absolutely, the best team right now in the world,” said Guardiola on the challenge of chasing down Arsenal, who have also won all seven of their Champions League matches.

“So look in the Champions League, in the Premier League, look in (the) FA Cup, in Carabao Cup – it’s the best team right now.

“Hopefully we can be close and getting better, getting better and have the chance to catch them.

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“I have an extraordinary team, an extraordinary group of players. And we are all together. We are a fantastic football team, I don’t have any doubts about that.”

City’s dip in form has coincided with the loss of key defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injury.

The arrival of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace should mitigate their absence with the England international set to make his debut against Wolves on Saturday.

“It’s going to help us because the experience of Mark is exceptional,” added Guardiola.

“Considering the absence of central defenders it’s really good.”

Dias, Gvardiol and Nico Gonzalez remain sidelined for City, but Matheus Nunes could return after missing the last two games with a virus.

READ: Chelsea boss Rosenior breaks silence on Palmer’s homesickness reports

Pacer Nathan Ellis became the latest addition to Australia’s growing injury concerns ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin next month across Sri Lanka and India next month.

Leading the Hobart Hurricanes in BBL 15, the right-arm pacer Ellis was a late withdrawal from the Challenger against Sydey Sixers, raising fears over his availability for the T20 World Cup.

The 31-year-old had also missed the Hurricanes knockout fixture against Melbourne Stars due to injury and was expected to play in Challenger. However, the pacer was unable to recover from the injury.

Ellis, who famously took hat-trick on his T20I debut, is the latest addition to Australia’s injury concerns, as the ace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are recovering from injuries to be fit for the mega event.

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Hazlewood, sidelined since November last year, is expected to be fully fit before the tournament, while Cummins is likely to rejoin the squad in the latter stages of the mega event.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis also faced setback as he suffered a blow to his hand and was forced to retire during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 fixture, subsequently requiring a scan.

Tim David is another player who pulled up his hamstring during the BBL fixture and is currently recovering ahead of the mega event.

It is worth mentioning that ahead of the T20 World Cup, Australia will tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series, slated to commence on 29 January in Lahore.

Provisional Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2026:

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa.

READ: Surya, Kishan help India chase down 209 against New Zealand

Blistering knocks by skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan led India to a crushing seven-wicket win over New Zealand on Friday, giving them a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.

Chasing 209 for victory, India rode on a 122-run third-wicket stand between Kishan (76) and Suryakumar, who made an unbeaten 82, to achieve the target with 28 balls to spare in the second match in Raipur.

India head into the third match on Sunday in Guwahati with an eye on the series, which is a warm-up ahead of the T20 World Cup starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

The left-handed Kishan, who returned to the Indian team in the opener after two years, lifted the hosts from 6-2 with a string of boundaries.

He reached his fifty in 21 balls with a four and kept up the charge until his departure off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. Kishan struck 11 fours and four sixes in his 32-ball knock.

Suryakumar reached his first fifty in the format for 468 days — and 23 innings — after which he raised his bat and looked up to the skies amid the applause.

His previous half-century was against Bangladesh on October 12, 2024.

Suryakumar, who hit nine fours and four sixes in his 37-ball blitz, and the left-handed Shivam Dube, who struck 36, put an unbeaten partnership of 81 to pulverise the opposition.

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Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy took a wicket each in the first two overs before Zak Foulkes conceded 24 runs off the third over, which started with a no ball for four and three wides.

Earlier, New Zealand posted 208-6 with skipper Mitchell Santner hitting an unbeaten 47 off 27 balls in a late blitz by the number seven batter.

New Zealand started strongly with opener Devon Conway and Tim Seifert taking on the opposition attack with a string of boundaries in a quickfire 43-run stand.

Medium-pace bowler Harshit Rana dismissed the left-handed Conway for the fourth time in successive white-ball matches to start with a maiden wicket. Conway made 19 off nine balls.

Wicketkeeper-batter Seifert, who made 24, followed his opening partner back to the pavilion without troubling the score as he fell to Varun Chakravarthy’s spin.

Glenn Phillips kept up the attack in his brief stay of 19 runs and, after his departure, the left-handed Rachin Ravindra took the lead in his 44 off 26 balls.

India struck regular blows including two to left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav but New Zealand batters kept up the pace and Foulkes finished with a six and four, but the effort was not enough to challenge India.

READ: Rajshahi Warriors crush Chattogram Royals to lift BPL trophy

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said Cole Palmer remains “very happy” at the club despite reports the 23-year-old is homesick in London.

Manchester-born Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge in 2023 from Manchester City and quickly developed into the Blues’ star player during his first two seasons in London.

But Palmer has been beset by injury problems this season which have limited his impact.

“I’ve had numerous conversations with Cole and he seems very happy to be here,” said Rosenior on Friday.

“He’s a huge part of our plans in the long term. He’s an outstanding player. Every player goes through difficult moments in their career in terms of injury. It’s not any reflection of his quality.”

Palmer scored from the penalty spot and played the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Brentford last weekend.

But the England international was then left out of Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Pafos due to an ongoing groin injury.

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Palmer has returned to training and is in contention to feature in Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

But Rosenior suggested he will have to continue to restrict Palmer’s minutes until he is back to full fitness.

“My job, the club’s job, is to get him to a place where he can consistently perform at the level he wants to,” added Rosenior.

“There was frustration in the Brentford game, not because he wasn’t happy, but because he was in pain and couldn’t perform to the level he wanted to for the club.

“He’s a great kid but we have to make sure we look after him in the right way. That’s why I haven’t involved him in the last game.”

Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League but just two points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.

READ: Rajshahi Warriors crush Chattogram Royals to lift BPL trophy

MIRPUR: Tanzid Hasan’s sublime century backed by a dominant bowling performance helped Rajshahi Warriors crush Chattogram Royals here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Friday to claim their maiden BPL title.

Set stiff 175, Chattogram Royals were bowled out for 111 in 17.5 overs.

Binura Fernando who starred with the ball, provided Warriors their first breakthrough in the form of Mohammad Naim, who made nine.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy soon followed him after, gone without troubling the scorers to leave Royals in precarious position at 18-2 in 2.5 overs.

After early wickets Pakistani pair of Hasan Nawaz and Mirza Baig tried to stablize the innings with a brief 21-run partnership.

However, Hasan Murad picked up the crucial wicket of Nawaz to put his side on top in the BPL final. The right-hander made 11 from seven with the aid of six and a four.

As a result, Chattogram Royals were reduced to 39-3 in 5.4 overs.

Meanwhile, Mirza Baig held firm despite losing partners at the other end. Zahiduzzaman was the next batter to fall.

The wicket-keeper batter could not got going and was caught after sluggish 11 from 13 without hitting a single boundary.

Hasan Murad continued to turn on the screws as he snared skipper Mahedi Hasan for four to dent Royals further in the chase.

Consequently, Chattogram Royals were in dire straits 72-5 11.3 overs.

The arrival of Asif Ali provided his side a glimmer of hope as he tonked Tanzim Hasan Sakib for a huge maximum and four in the 12th over.

But the Royals slide continued as Baig resistance came to end in the 13th over. The right-hander made 39 from 36, striking two boundaries and a six.

After his dismissal, Royals innings quickly unraveled as Binura Fernando cut through the lower order.

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Eventually, the whole team was bunlded out, handing Rajshahi Warriors their maiden BPL trophy.

For Rajshahi Warriors, Binura Fernando was the pick of the bowler as he picked up four wickets for nine runs in three overs. Hasan Murad was the other bowler who scalped three to put his name on the honours board in big final.

Earlier, given the opportunity to bat first in final, Chattogram Royals put on a big total of 174-4 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Tanzid Hasan’s century.

Sahibzada Farhan and Tanzid Hasan laid a solid foundation with an 83 run stand in 10.2 overs. Tanzid remained the core aggressor in the partnership while Farhan played the second fiddle.

Mukidul Islam provided Royals their first breakthrough in the shape of Farhan’s wicket who made 30 off 30 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.

Despite the wicket, Chattogram Royals upped the anti as veteran batter Kane Williamson forged a 47-run partnership.

Williamson departed for well made 24 off 15 as hit two fours and a six.

Chattogram Royals did well at the back of the innings to slow down the scoring, yet Tanzid reached the triple figures in the 18th over.

The left-hander made 100 from 62 deliveries which included seven sixes and six fours.

For Chattogram Royals, Mukidul Islam and Shoriful Islam took two wicket each.

READ: U19 World Cup: Australia top Group C, Bangladesh advance to Super Six

WINDHOEK: Australia romped to a nine wicket win over Sri Lanka to top Group C, while Bangladesh secured a place in the Super Six stage of the ICC U19 World Cup with a seven-wicket win over USA on Friday.

In group A, Australia sealed a commanding win over Sri Lanka after bowling the Islanders for just 58.

The defending champions chased down the partly target in 12 overs, losing only wicket in the process.

Nitesh Samuel scored 19 from 40 and Steven Hogan hit three boundaries for his 28 from 27 deliveries.

For Sri Lanka, Rasith Nimsara was the solitary wicket taker.

With this victory, Australia topped the group with three wins out of three games.

Earlier, put into bat first, Will Byrom’s five wicket haul skittled Sri Lanka for 58 in 18.5 overs.

Australia pacer Charles Lachmund and Will Byrom inflicted a miserable start on Sri Lanka as they were reduced to 3-3 in 3.2 overs.

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The wickets continued to tumble for Sri Lanka as none of their batters could got going. Chamika Heenatigala top-scored for his side with 14 from 21` balls.

In Groub fixture, Bangladesh secured a comprehensive seven wicket win over USA to seal their Super Six spot.

Put into bat first, USA were bowled out for 199 in their 50 overs.

Adnit Jhamb remained the highest scorer for his side, managing 68 off 69 with the help of a six and three fours.

For Bangladesh, Iqbal Hossain Emon remained the standout bowler with three wickets. Al Fahad, Shahriar Ahmed and Rizan Hossan shared six wickets between them.

In reply, Bangladesh chased down the target in 41.3 overs, losing three wickets in the process.

Skipper Azizul Hakim top scored with 64 from 82, hittig two fours and same number of maximums. Zawad Abrar was the other notable contributor, striking three sixes and five fours in his knock of 47 from 42 balls.

For USA, Ritvik Appidi, Utkarsh Srivastava and Sahil Garg picked up one wicket each.

READ: Derbyshire rope in Sufiyan Muqeem for T20 Blast 2026