Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - An early headed goal by Scott McTominay proved decisive for Manchester United as they held on by the skin of their teeth to beat Aston Villa 1-0 in their FA Cup third round tie at Old Trafford.

While victory was a welcome relief for United manager Ralf Rangnick, it was a performance that showed just how much work he has to do if United are to challenge for silverware.

Villa will wonder how they bowed of the competition after responding to McTominay's eighth minute opener with a dominant display, striking the woodwork twice, forcing David De Gea into several saves and having two goals disallowed.

McTominay glanced in Fred's curling delivery to give the hosts a flying start, but from then on they struggled to contain a lively Villa side who played the better football.

The reward for 12-time FA Cup champions United is a home draw against second-tier Middlesbrough.

ATP backs Djokovic decision

ATP, the governing body of men's tennis, applauded Monday's Australian court ruling that allowed No 1-ranked Novak Djokovic to remain in Melbourne and compete in next week's Australian Open.

In a statement, the organisation said the dispute over Djokovic's Covid-19 vaccine medical exemption and related events were "damaging on all fronts."

The situation highlighted the need for clearer understanding and communication of the rules, ATP said.

Judge Anthony Kelly ruled that Australia's decision to revoke the Serbian tennis star's visa was "unreasonable" and ordered Djokovic released from immigration detention. The government has said it was still considering another way to deport him.

"In traveling to Melbourne, it's clear Novak Djokovic believed he had been granted a necessary medical exemption in order to comply with entry regulations," the ATP said in a statement.

The ATP added that it strongly recommends all players get vaccinated and said 97% of the top 100 players were vaccinated.

-Reuters

Fakahototau won't play for Pulse this year

The Pulse are down a defender for the new ANZ Premiership season after Temalisi Fakahokotau decided to take some time off.

The 26 year old moved from the Magic at the end of last season.

However Fakahokotau has opted to take a break from netball for the 2022 ANZ Premiership season.

The global situation, and having sacrificed time with family for several seasons after playing for franchises outside of Auckland has highlighted to Fakahokotau her priorities, and as such she will step away from netball for the 2022 season, a Pulse statement said.

"I appreciate everything the Pulse have done for me since I've been with them but I have decided to take the upcoming season off,'' Fakahokotau said.

Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie was disappointed to be losing the powerhouse defender but was respectful of Fakahokotau's decision.

"We appreciate Tem's honesty and courage and just want to act in her best interests and do what is right for her at this time,'' the coach said.

Fakahokotau has played 22 times for the Silver Ferns, but is not with the side in Britain for the Quad Series.

A replacement player for the Pulse will be named in due course.

Maserati joins Formula E

Maserati, Formula One winners with Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1950s, will compete in Formula E from 2023 as the first Italian brand to enter the electric world championship.

Chief executive Davide Grasso hailed a "back to the future" first step for a 107-year-old company famed for fast luxury cars and keen to re-establish its sporting credentials.

The Modena-based marque is part of Stellantis, formed last year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA, and has already announced that all its models will have electric versions by 2025.

Grasso told reporters Maserati had been working for a year with Formula E on plans for a return to the racetrack for the first time since 2010 when it competed in the GT1 sportscar championship.

Nissan, Jaguar, Porsche, Mahindra, Stellantis-owned DS and China's Nio are the manufacturers so far signed up for 2023, McLaren also have an option.

-Reuters

Chris Boyd leaving Saints

Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd is set to leave the Premiership club at the end of the season.

Boyd, who took over in 2018, wants to return to his native New Zealand.

He guided Saints to victory in the 2019 Premiership Rugby Cup and they also reached the league play-off semi-finals in the same year.

They are currently fifth in the Premiership, but have lost both games so far in the European Champions Cup.

Boyd joined Northampton from the Hurricanes, who he led to the Super Rugby title in 2016.

He initially signed a three-year contract at Franklin's Gardens, but agreed a new deal in November 2020 to run until the end of the 2021-22 season. It remains a possibility that he could retain links with the club as a consultant.

-BBC

Ajaz Patel honoured

Black Caps spinner Ajaz Patel has been named the ICC's player of the month for December.

Patel made history in December, when he picked up 10 wickets in an innings against India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

He became only the third player in Tests to achieve that feat after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.

The left-arm spinner played just one Test in the month, where he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 16.07.

Patel picked up all 10 wickets in the first innings against India and in the second innings, he picked up four wickets, including that of openers Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara. Patel finished with figures of 14/225, which are the best bowling figures in a Test match in 2021.

Commenting on Patel's performance, ICC Voting Academy member JP Duminy said: "What a historic achievement! Taking 10 wickets in an innings is a feat which needs to be celebrated. There's no doubt that Ajaz's performance is a milestone that will be remembered for years to come."

Carter and Raval set up ND win

Northern Districts captain Joe Carter continued his good form in all formats this season with a match-winning Ford Trophy and List A one-day career-best hundred.

Carter scored an unbeaten 105 to help his side to an eight wicket win over Auckland at Eden Park.

Auckland was bowled out for 221 in the 50th over with Anurag Verma taking three wickets.

Carter and Jeet Raval then put on a Northern Districts record second wicket partnership against Auckland of 177 as they chased down their target in the 39th over.

Ravel made 97.

Northern are third on the table and Auckland sixth... the two sides meet again tomorrow.

Kyrgios out of Sydney tournament

Nick Kyrgios pulled out of this week's Sydney Tennis Classic after testing positive for COVID-19, but hoped to be at the Australian Open next week "if all goes well".

Australian Kyrgios had withdrawn from the Melbourne Summer Set ATP tournament last week due to asthma, according to the organisers, and pulled out of his clash with Italian seventh seed Fabio Fognini yesterday.

"I just want to be open and transparent with everyone, the reason I have had to pull out of Sydney is because I tested positive for COVID," Kyrgios said on Instagram.

"I am feeling healthy at the moment with no symptoms. I wish everyone all the best and to stay safe where you can. If all goes well I will see you all at the Australian Open."

Kyrgios, a crowd favourite at Melbourne Park, has not played since late September due to knee issues and has slipped to 114th in the rankings.

He was ruled out of contention for the Australian team for the season-opening ATP Cup in Sydney this month.

The 26-year-old has played only 15 matches in 2021, winning seven of them and heads into the year's first Grand Slam with no tune-up matches under his belt.

-Reuters

Al Attiyah's lead cut on Dakar rally

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb cut Nasser Al Attiyah's substantial Dakar Rally lead in an eighth stage in Saudi Arabia won by Audi's Mattias Ekstroem.

Nine times world rally champion Loeb finished third for the Bahrain Raid Xtreme team in the 395km stage from Al Dawadimi to Wadi Ad Dawasir to cut his Toyota rival's lead from 45 minutes to just under 38 with four stages remaining.

Qatari Al Attiyah, chasing his fourth Dakar title, finished 11th.

Last year's winner Stephane Peterhansel, the Frenchman who has a record 14 Dakar victories on two wheels and four but is out of contention this time, was second in the stage in a first one-two for the electric hybrid Audi.

Ekstroem's win was also a first on the Dakar for the 43-year-old Swede, a former world rallycross and twice German Touring Car (DTM) champion, and a second for Audi after Carlos Sainz last week.

In the motorcycle category, Britain's Sam Sunderland won the stage and regained the overall lead he had lost at the weekend.

-Reuters

Chen wins again

Nathan Chen won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships for a sixth consecutive year in dominating fashion to solidify his status as the gold medal favourite for next month's Beijing Olympics.

Chen, whose sole defeat since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games came last October in the first Grand Prix event of the Olympic figure skating season, was far from perfect in his free skate as he fell twice but still did more than enough to separate himself from the pack.

The 22-year-old Chen was in first place after breaking his own national short program record with a 115.39-point performance and returned to score 212.62 points in the free skate.

When it was all done Chen had completed six quadruple jumps between the two programs to extend his reign.

No American man has enjoyed such a dominant run at the national championships since twice Olympic champion Dick Button won seven consecutive titles from 1946 to 1952.

-Reuters