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Today's sports news: What you need to know

07:21 am on 28 August 2020

Latest - A hamstring injury that could sideline Latrell Mitchell for up to six weeks took some of the gloss of another impressive South Sydney display, this time a 38-0 win over the Eels.

Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2020 www.photosport.nz

Mitchell's injury was the talking point to come out of a night in which South Sydney stamped their NRL premiership credentials - and cast huge doubt on those of their opponents.

Mitchell copped some friendly fire with teammate Jaxson Paulo landing on him in a tackle and forcing his left leg back, straining the hamstring.

Early reports indicated a grade three strain, one that could keep him out until the finals.

Prior to the injury, the former Rooster was absolutely immense with a try assist and some powerful runs.

Souths are up to fifth on the table while Parramatta stay third.

-NRL

Hamilton will race this weekend

Lewis Hamilton says he won't boycott this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix after a wave of player protests in the United States against the police shooting of a Black Man forced the postponement of sporting events.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The NBA's Wisconsin-based Milwaukee Bucks started the boycotts when they refused to take the court for their play-off game yesterday while other teams followed suit in an unprecedented show of athlete solidarity.

The protests spilled over into Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the Women's NBA and tennis as Japan's twice Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of a tournament after reaching the semi-finals.

Hamilton, who is on course to equal German great Michael Schumacher's record haul of seven Formula One titles this season, has been a vocal supporter of the campaign to end racism that has swept global sport since George Floyd died on May 25 after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck.

-Reuters

Pogba tests positive

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has tested positive for coronavirus, says France manager Didier Deschamps.

The 27-year-old will have to self-isolate for 14 days.

He will miss France's Nations League game in Sweden on Saturday, 5 September and the home game against Croatia three days later.

However, Pogba could be eligible for selection for United's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 19 September.

-BBC

Bryans quit tennis

Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful men's doubles team in the history of tennis, are bringing the curtain down on their 22-year professional careers days before the US Open.

American tennis doubles combination Bob and Mike Bryan 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Bryan twins, 42, captured a professional era record 119 titles together, including 16 grand slams, 39 ATP Masters 1000s and the ATP Finals title four times.

"We feel it's the right time to walk away," Mike said.

The Californian pair were the top-ranked doubles team in the world for 438 weeks and became the first team to clinch a career Golden Masters in 2014 with their Shanghai triumph which meant they had won all nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments.

They also won Olympic gold at London 2012 and were part of the US Davis Cup- winning team in 2007.

-Reuters

This year's US Open still valuable

Martina Navratilova does not believe this year's U.S. Open titles will be of any less significance despite several top players withdrawing from the tournament due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 18-time Grand Slam champion has said.

The women's draw has seen six of the top 10 players, including holder Bianca Andreescu and world number one Ash Barty, drop out of next week's tournament.

Men's world number two Rafa Nadal will also not defend his title while former winner Stan Wawrinka has not travelled to New York for the hardcourt Grand Slam.

"I won't view the winners differently, there won't be an asterisk," Navratilova told the BBC.

"We know in the long term that 2020 is different but everybody is in the same situation and we will see who makes the most of it."

American Serena Williams has also said that the dropouts will not take the shine off a potential record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title for her.

Barry retires

English Premier League record appearance holder Gareth Barry has ended his playing career aged 39.

Midfielder Barry made 653 appearances in lengthy spells with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton, scoring 53 goals.

He also made 53 appearances for England.

After almost a decade at Villa he joined City in 2009 and was part of the side that won the Premier League title in 2012.

Barry played a handful of games for West Bromwich Albion in last season's Championship promotion-winning campaign.

-Reuters