Latest - The New Zealand challenge is over at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Marcus Daniell and Philipp Oswald. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Marcus Daniell and his Austrian playing partner Philipp Oswald have come up short in their doubles quarterfinal against 5th seeds and defending champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.
After winning a tight first set Ram and Salisbury broke early in the second to complete a 7-6, 6-2 victory in under an hour and a half.
The American-British combination have eliminated all three New Zealanders in the draw on their way to the semifinals.
They beat Artem Sitak and British partner Jonny O'Mara in the first round and Michael Venus and his Aussie partner John Peers in the third round.
By reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne Daniell is projected to rise to 40th in the ATP doubles rankings.
Phoenix sign new striker
The Wellington Phoenix have bolstered their forward stocks after scoring just six goals in their opening six games of the A-League football season.
Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
The Phoenix have signed striker Charles Lokoli-Ngoy from Sydney club Marconi Stallions.
Lokoli-Ngoy, 23, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but moved to Australia when he was 10.
He has previously played in the A-League for Sydney FC and the Brisbane Roar.
"Charles was one of the young players I worked with when I was back at Sydney FC," Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay said.
"He's different, he's big and he's strong - and at the moment I think we're lacking a bit of depth with the injuries that we've had in our front third, so he's an important signing for us to come in at this stage of the season."
Lokoli-Ngoy will start training with the Wellington Phoenix tomorrow (Thursday, February 18) and is expected to be available for the club's match against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
New-look Tall Blacks named
Tall Blacks coach Pero Cameron has been forced to name 10 uncapped players in his team for Saturday's Asia Cup qualifier against Australia in Cairns.
Tall Blacks captain Mika Vukona. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Due to a combination of rearranging the fixture, quarantine restrictions, the lack of MIQ beds for New Zealand based players and the uncertainty around the Australian NBL's ever changing schedule, Cameron had to narrow his selection to eligible players based in Australia.
Long-time captain Mika Vukona and Breakers development player Taine Murray are the only players in the 12-strong squad with past international experience.
"It goes without saying that we're going to need Mika," Cameron said.
"His dedication to the black singlet has been unwavering for 15 years. There isn't a better person for this squad to be around and see what being a Tall Black means."
Before COVID-19, this game was planned to be played at this time in Spark Arena in Auckland. Unusually, although held in Cairns, Saturday's game is officially the Tall Blacks 'home' game for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers.
"This is an extraordinary game in what is an extraordinary time. We might not be playing at home, but we were able to find plenty of home in Australia thanks to these 12 guys."
No captain for Australian Diamonds
The Australian Diamonds will adopt a new squad leadership approach for the upcoming Constellation Cup test series against the Silver Ferns.
Former Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rather than appoint an ongoing captain or leadership group, all athletes within the squad will have the opportunity to lead the Diamonds.
To ensure International Netball Federation rules are met a captain will be appointed by the coaching and selection panels ahead of each of the four Constellation Cup tests.
"This approach isn't about diminishing about what's been done in the past," new Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich said.
"One thing that has become clear within this new squad is that the players and coaching staff don't want to put any limitations on what can be achieved by the group, so this leadership approach for the Constellation Cup series will encourage collective leadership across the squad and provide us with the opportunity to really identify our strengths and areas for development."
The new approach will be reviewed at the end of the series and the Diamonds will aim to put a leadership group in place before their next international outing.
PSG get important win over Barcelona as Champions League returns.
Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-1 at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 stage with star forward Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates a goal. Photo: Photosport
Lionel Messi scored a penalty to notch the first goal of the game before PSG quickly equalized through Mbappe.
The second half saw Barcelona capitulate as their defence conceded three goals in the space of 20 minutes despite PSG missing key players Neymar and Angel Di Maria.
The loss sets up a difficult away-leg tie in Paris in three weeks time where Barca will be hoping for a repeat of their iconic 'La Remontada' comeback against PSG in 2017.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have broken their poor run of form by beating Red Bull Leipzig 2-0 in a game that was forced to be played in Budapest, Hungary due to Germany's COVID-19 restrictions.
Liverpool scored both goals within 5 minutes of each other in the second half with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane getting on the scoresheet.
Leipzig will travel to England for the return leg at Anfield on March 11th.
Setback for Six Nations leaders
France rugby coach Fabien Galthie has tested positive for Covid-19.
Fabian Galthie Photo: © INPHO 2020
The French rugby federation confirmed the news, after the country's Six Nations squad went into isolation following another staff member's positive test.
Galthie had previously returned a negative COVID-19 result but he was re-tested and was found to be positive for the virus.
The federation did not say where the squad is isolating.
It said in a statement that additional tests will be conducted at the National Rugby Centre on Thursday, with more tests to be conducted on Saturday and one more round of testing at the national centre on Monday.
France, who are leading the Six Nations standings with nine points after two wins from two games, are due to face Scotland on Feb. 28.
The 31-member squad for the Scotland game will be announced on Thursday.
- Reuters