Pedri marked his 100th Barcelona appearance by scoring to squeeze past Girona 1-0 and increase their lead of the Spanish league on Saturday. The 20-year-old Pedri started on the bench as Xavi rotated his lineup ahead of a busy week, but the playmaker replaced the injured Ousmane Dembélé in the 25th minute.Girona stymied the league front-runner until Pedri's fellow substitute, Jordi Alba, found him with a low cross at close range in the 61st. Pedri, who won the 2021 Golden Boy for the continent’s most promising under-21 player, is considered one of the pillars of Barcelona’s post-Messi rebuild. The Spain midfielder has scored six times this season.Xavi’s team moved six points clear of Real Madrid before the titleholder hosts third-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday at the Liga's midway point.Dembélé asked to be substituted after he was apparently bothered by his left thigh following a sprint. Barcelona has yet to give any information on his status. He walked off the field and watched the rest of the game from the dugout.The France forward, who suffered a series of injuries in his first seasons with Barcelona, has avoided serious injury since returning from a knee issue in November 2021.Xavi said was Dembélé injured but the nature of it won't be known until an exam on Sunday.“It is too bad because he is one of our most decisive players,” Xavi said about his speedy winger. Dembélé has eight goals in this campaign and is Barcelona's best one-on-one attacker in open space.That left Barcelona without its top two scorers. Robert Lewandowski, who leads the league with 13 goals, completed a three-game league suspension. Forward Ferran Torres was also suspended.With Ansu Fati and Raphinha unable to generate much in attack, Xavi sent on Jordi Alba at halftime at left back for Marcos Alonso to help find a breakthrough.A series of one-touch passes freed Alba down the left flank to square the ball across the goalmouth, where goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga let it slip through his hands and Pedri ensured Barcelona extended its winning streak to eight games across all competitions.Girona, in 12th place, did nothing in attack until a late push. Ivan Martín was left wide open in front of the goal in the 86th, only to volley a cross high and wide.Girona coach Michel was sent off in stoppage time with a direct red card for vehemently protesting what he thought was a foul on one of his players.“We made a huge effort and played a good game,” Michel said. “We only threatened them two or three times, but they only had that one chance that they converted. With what we saw on the field the defeat is not fair.”

The 20-year-old Pedri started on the bench as Xavi rotated his lineup ahead of a busy week

Barcelona's Pedri celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Girona and FC Barcelona at the Montilivi stadium in Girona

Pedri leads win at Girona in 100th game for Barcelona

United States midfielder Weston McKennie was left out of the Juventus squad for this weekend’s match amid a potential move to the English Premier League. McKennie has been strongly linked with a move to Leeds, which is coached by American Jesse Marsch.And Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Saturday that he did not call up McKennie for Sunday’s match against Monza.“He absolutely won’t be involved, he’s at the center of transfer rumors,” Allegri said. “I think the club has already reached an agreement with the club he’ll be joining.”The 24-year-old McKennie joined Juventus from Schalke in 2020, becoming the Bianconeri’s first American player. He has made nearly 100 appearances for Juventus, scoring 13 goals.McKennie was a key member of the U.S. squad at the World Cup and has scored nine goals in 41 appearances for his country.Leeds already has U.S. midfielders Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson and this week hired former U.S. international Chris Armas as assistant coach.

He absolutely won’t be involved, he’s at the center of transfer rumors, Allegri said

“He absolutely won’t be involved, he’s at the center of transfer rumors,” Allegri said

McKennie left out of Juventus squad amid possible Leeds move

Union Berlin fans brought fire to the city derby as their team consolidated second place in the Bundesliga by beating Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Saturday. Goals either side of halftime from Danilho Doekhi and Paul Seguin earned Union its fourth consecutive league win over its old rival and left Hertha mired at second-from-last at the season's midpoint.The second half commenced with a spectacular pyrotechnics display from Union fans, who ignored the stadium announcer’s pleas for them to stop. Many of the supporters seemed to be delayed getting to the game – particularly those carrying flags – but they made up for their lateness after the break.After losing both of its opening games in 2023, Hertha pushed forward more and was initially met only by stiff resistance as the game settled into a tough-tackling midfield battle.Union started to threaten only toward the end of the first half. It was enough to seize the lead in the 44th minute when Doekhi headed in a free kick from captain Christopher Trimmel. It was the Dutch defender’s third goal in three games for Union, all set up in similar fashion by Trimmel.Seguin scored in the 67th after the smoke cleared from the fans’ fireworks show, tapping into an empty net after Sheraldo Becker crossed to finish off a counterattack.Union keeper Frederik Rönnow produced an outstanding save to deny Lucas Tousart a response.Freiburg moved to fourth with a 3-1 win at home over Augsburg, Werder Bremen defeated Wolfsburg 2-1 to bounce back from two demoralizing defeats, and American defender John Brooks made his Hoffenheim debut but couldn’t prevent his new team losing at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1.Also, Mainz enjoyed a 5-2 win at home over Bochum.League leader Bayern Munich hosted Eintracht Frankfurt in the late game.

The second half commenced with a spectacular pyrotechnics display from Union fans, who ignored the stadium announcer’s pleas for them to stop

Richter let's fly from range but it's turned behind for a corner

Union Berlin beats Hertha in derby, stays 2nd in Bundesliga

FIFA banned Uruguay players Fernando Muslera and José María Giménez for four games each on Friday for aggressively confronting match officials when the team was eliminated from the World Cup last month. Veterans Edinson Cavani and Diego Godín must also serve one-game bans when Uruguay next plays, FIFA said in disciplinary verdicts.The players must all carry out community service on a soccer project and pay fines of up to 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,600), FIFA said.<h2>Uruguay players confronted German referee</h2>Disorder flared when Uruguay failed to advance to the round of 16 in Qatar despite beating Ghana 2-0 in its final group-stage game on Dec. 2.The Uruguayan soccer federation was also fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000) and must close some of its stadium for one home game.FIFA disciplinary judges ruled the federation “was responsible for the discriminatory behavior of its supporters as well as for the misconduct, offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play” by players.Uruguay players confronted German referee Daniel Siebert after the final whistle at Al Janoub Stadium.They believed Uruguay should been awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time. One more goal scored would have sent Uruguay to the round of 16 instead of South Korea.South Korea advanced instead and created one of the most memorable images of the World Cup.<h2>Fourth World Cup and Giménez</h2>As Uruguay and Ghana played out stoppage time across the city in Doha, South Korean players and staff gathered in the center circle after their 2-1 win over Portugal to watch on cellphones as their rivals played and waited to discover who would advance as runner-up in Group H.Cavani, Godín and goalkeeper Muslera were each playing at their fourth World Cup and Giménez was at his third.Uruguay has not yet announced its opponents for games in the late March international break.

The players must all carry out community service on a soccer project and pay fines of up to 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,600), FIFA said

Uruguay's Edinson Cavani, right, argues with referee Daniel Siebert of Germany, at the end of a World Cup group H soccer match against Ghana at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah

FIFA bans 4 Uruguay players for disorder at World Cup

Barcelona and defender Marcos Alonso have reached an agreement to extend his contract until the end of the 2023-24 season, the Spanish club said Friday. Alonso joined Barcelona as a free agent in September after terminating his contract with Chelsea. His initial contract only tied him to Barcelona until the end of this season.The 32-year-old Alonso has scored two goals in 19 appearances since arriving to Camp Nou. He has played both as a left back and as a central defender for coach Xavi.He was part of a major overhaul of Barcelona's squad last summer made possible by the club selling some of its future television rights and other assets.Barcelona said that his buyout clause remained at 50 million euros ($54 million).

Alonso joined Barcelona as a free agent in September after terminating his contract with Chelsea

Barcelona's Marcos Alonso, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League group C soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and FC Barcelona at the Doosan Arena in Plzen,

Marcos Alonso agrees to contract extension with Barcelona

Novak Djokovic's father stayed away from the 21-time Grand Slam champion's semifinal victory on Friday after getting embroiled in a flap involving spectators who brought banned Russian flags to Melbourne Park. Srdjan Djokovic released a statement saying he would not be at Rod Laver Arena, “so there is no disruption.”Novak Djokovic wound up beating unseeded American Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to earn a berth in the men's singles final.Afterward, the younger Djokovic defended his father, saying there was “absolutely no intention whatsoever to support any kind of war initiatives or anything like that” and adding that he was sorry the whole episode “escalated so much.”He also said he wasn't sure yet whether his father would attend Sunday's final against Stefanos Tsitsipas.“Throughout the event, we’ve spoken with players and their teams about the importance of not engaging in any activity that causes distress or disruption,” Tennis Australia said.“We will continue to strive for the safety of fans at the event and reiterate our position banning flags from Belarus and Russia," the group added. "Tennis Australia stands with the call for peace and an end to war and violent conflict in Ukraine.”After Novak Djokovic's quarterfinal victory over Russian player Andrey Rublev on Wednesday, Srdjan Djokovic was filmed standing with a group of people waving Russian flags — at least one showing an image of Vladimir Putin — outside the main stadium.Four people were kicked out of the tournament because of the flags and for threatening security guards that night, police and Tennis Australia said.On Jan. 17, the second day of the Australian Open, flags from Russia and Belarus were banned from Melbourne Park after more than one was brought into the stands by spectators the day before.Normally, flags can be displayed during matches at Melbourne Park. But Tennis Australia reversed that policy for the two countries involved in the invasion of Ukraine that began nearly a year ago, saying the flags were causing disruption.Athletes from Russia and Belarus were barred last year from competing in various sports events, including men’s World Cup qualifying in soccer and Wimbledon, the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup in tennis, because of the war in Ukraine. Russia invaded, with help from Belarus, in February.Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to play at the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open, but as “neutral” athletes, so their nationalities are not acknowledged on any official schedules or results for the event and their countries’ flags are not displayed on TV graphics.

Novak Djokovic wound up beating unseeded American Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to earn a berth in the men's singles final

The parents of Novak Djokovic of Serbia, father Srdjan and mother Dijana react during his post match speech following his win over Andrey Rublev of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne

Djokovic's dad stays away from Australian Open semifinal

Tommy Paul went into his first career Grand Slam semifinal with a specific game plan to confront Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Makes sense, right? Have to approach that sort of match with a way you think will help you win. And then, Paul explained, it all fell apart rather quickly in what became a 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 loss to Djokovic, who has won nine of his 21 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park.“I mean, he didn’t let me do all those things,” said the 25-year-old American, who was born in New Jersey, grew up in North Carolina and is now based in Florida, “because of things that he did so well.”They played under the lights in front of a packed house at Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic knows these settings and circumstances so well, especially at a tournament where he's won 27 matches in a row and is 19-0 in semifinals and finals for his career. He will face Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday for the title.“I mean, walking on the court was cool,” said Paul, the first U.S. man in the semifinals at Melbourne Park since Andy Roddick in 2009. “Playing the match and getting beaten like that kind of sucked. But, I mean, it’s great I got to see the level of where I want to be and know how good I have to play if I want to beat people like that. It was I think a good experience."Let's let the unseeded Paul explain what his strategy was and what happened:— “I wanted to serve and volley some. I didn’t serve and volley once. ... When I did make my first serve, I felt like he was returning it to the baseline. I was automatically on defense. Like, you get down love-30 in your service games, it’s hard to be like, ‘All right, I’m going to serve and volley now.’"— “Wanted to throw in drop shots. Didn’t get an opportunity to do any of that because he was hitting so deep.”— “Wanted to change up pace with my slice. Missed my first three slices of the match. I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to start hitting my backhand; I’m not slicing well today.'”— “Attack on the second serve. He definitely surprised me. On big points, he was going big seconds. Pretty much every point, the average second-serve speed was a little higher than I thought it was going to be.”All of that said, Paul did make some inroads against Djokovic.He did, after all, win more of the 23 points that lasted at least nine strokes, 14-9.There were the two break points in the match's opening game — although Djokovic ended up holding there.“It felt like things were getting away from me really fast,” Paul said. “Felt like points were moving really fast. In-between-points time was going really quick.”There was the four-game run that turned Paul's 5-1 deficit into 5-all in the opening set — although Djokovic then proceeded to collect seven games in a row and 14 of the remaining 17.“I was really fortunate to kind of hold my nerves toward the end of the first set. That was a key,” Djokovic said. “After that, I started swinging through the ball more.”The 35th-ranked Paul had never been past the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament before.His first trip to the semifinals of a major will lift his ranking into the top 20 for the first time.“I want to keep moving up the rankings, you know? It would be nice to end the year top-10. I feel like the way I started the year is the right path to do it,” he said. “Obviously I have a lot of matches to win this year. Hopefully get some titles, too. I don’t want to just lose in semifinals. I want to have my name on some trophies.”

The 35th-ranked Paul had never been past the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament before

Novak Djokovic, left, of Serbia is congratulated by Tommy Paul of the U.S. after their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia

Paul says Djokovic thwarted his Australian Open gameplan

It took four days for the No. 2 Ohio State women to go from unbeaten to second place in the Big Ten. If the Buckeyes don't find a fix quickly, coach Kevin McGuff knows the slide could accelerate.Here, in perhaps the top women's basketball conference as February looms, nothing is a given. With four teams ranked in the top 11, six in The Associated Press Top 25 and all six within three games of the league lead, every night seems like musical chairs. And every night, it seems someone else is being left out.On Thursday, it was McGuff's team again.“I think there are several teams in the league, that if they play their best basketball down the stretch, can make a deep run in the (NCAA) Tournament and maybe to Dallas," McGuff said after a 78-65 loss at No. 6 Indiana. “There are a lot of teams that have upperclassmen with great experience. Indiana is one of them, but that's really across the Big Ten and, obviously, that makes it difficult.”This week's first two games gave McGuff a glimpse of how tough the final month of the regular season might be. After starting 19-0 and climbing as high as a school-record tying No. 2, Ohio State's quest for a perfect season came crashing down Monday night on its home court with an 83-72 loss to No. 10 Iowa. Then came the trip to Indiana where they were greeted by a mariachi band and another regular-season record-breaking crowd of 10,455. The previous mark stood 11 days.Meanwhile, the Hoosiers' win, coupled with their 10-point victory Monday at No. 13 Michigan, suddenly has Indiana's swelling fan base dreaming about adding a third line to the conference championship banner. The Hoosiers won the 2002 Big Ten Tournament title but their only previous regular-season crown came in 1983.Still, record-setting coach Teri Moren and her players recognize the next month will be as difficult or more difficult than the first three months, which included a nine-game stint witout all-conference guard Grace Berger.“They're all big if you ’re chasing something the way we’re chasing something,” Moren said. “You can’t overlook anything and make the moment bigger than it is.”So far, Indiana's only stumble came at Michigan State on Dec. 29.But anything can happen with 10 of 14 teams entering Friday with winning records and some outside the leading pack building momentum.Yes, Indiana (19-1, 9-1) seems well-positioned with a 6-0 mark against ranked teams including its only scheduled meeting against perennial power No. 10 Maryland. They even own road wins at Michigan and No. 22 Illinois.What's left? Two matchups against the Hawkeyes (16-4, 8-1) and potential national player of the year Caitlin Clark, two more against resurgent rival Purdue (14-6, 5-5) and rematches with the Buckeyes (19-2, 8-2) and Michigan (16-5, 6-4).Iowa’s three losses all came to ranked teams — UConn, North Carolina State and at Illinois — and now it must navigate a final month that includes two dates against Maryland and trips to Nebraska and Penn State in addition to the Hooisers.Ohio State still plays Maryland twice, travels to Michigan and Penn State and hosts the Hoosiers. And, of course, nobody will forget about the Terrapins, winners of 10 their last 11, or even Illinois, which has only won two of its last five but also has only two games left against ranked foes.In fact, everyone is expecting February to be as wild and wacky as any championship chase in the country.“The potential’s there, we’ve seen it,” Moren said of her team making a third straight deep postseason run. “But I also know this can be a funny game, right? If you’re not ready night in and night out, you’re always in jeopardy of coming up short.”Especially in the Big Ten.

In fact, everyone is expecting February to be as wild and wacky as any championship chase in the country

Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes reacts after making a basket and getting fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State

Big Ten's depth poses strong challenge for women's title run

Luka Doncic left the Dallas Mavericks' game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night with a sprained left ankle. The Mavericks said he would not return to the game.Doncic played just three minutes before limping to the locker room during a timeout. The 23-year-old, who was voted an All-Star for the fourth straight season earlier Thursday, came into the game averaging 33.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists.Doncic was trying to make a move close to the basket against Phoenix's Cam Johnson, but stepped on Mikal Bridges' foot before passing the ball and limping away. He grabbed at his lower left leg before Dallas coach Jason Kidd called for a timeout.The Suns and Mavericks both had a 25-24 record coming into the game.

The Mavericks said he would not return to the game

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and teammate Josh Green (8) celebrate during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Dallas

Mavericks All-Star Doncic leaves game with ankle injury

The Knicks are a young team that's still learning how to string together victories. They're hoping to bottle several lessons from their latest outing.Julius Randle had 37 points and nine rebounds, and hit the free throws that gave New York the lead for good in a 120-117 overtime win over the East-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday night.Jalen Brunson added 29 points, seven assists and a game-ending blocked shot for the Knicks, who have won two straight. RJ Barrett had 19 points and Immanuel Quickley finished with 17 points and five rebounds."We held our own," Barrett said. “We played together and we played hard. We got the good result.”Boston’s Jaylen Brown had a chance to put the Celtics ahead with 7.6 seconds remaining, but misfired on two free throws, forcing the Celtics to foul.“Just got to be better,” Brown said. “Tonight was just a rough game and I’m a better basketball player than I played today. Those two free throws embodied the whole game for me.”Jayson Tatum, who was voted an All-Star game starter for the third consecutive season prior to tip-off, finished with 35 points and 14 rebounds. Brown added 22 points and nine rebounds for Boston, which has lost three straight for just the second time this season.New York led by 13 in the fourth quarter but scored just four points in the final 5:26 of regulation to help the Celtics send the game to OT.Randle said he never saw panic in his teammates' eyes during the Celtics' comeback.“Just poise,” he said. “We've been in those type of situations all year. So I feel like we're getting more and more comfortable in those situations.”Boston scored the first five points of the extra frame. New York responded by scoring the next six, taking a 116-115 lead on Barrett’s 3-pointer from the wing.“I didn't have a good shooting night, but I was ready to take that shot,” Barrett said. “I feel like we're getting more comfortable in those situations.”Brown nudged the Celtics back in front with a driving layup out of a timeout with 24 seconds remaining. Randle’s two free throws then put New York back in front for good at 118-117.Boston had a final chance to tie but Brunson blocked Malcolm Brogdon's 3-point try.Tatum hit his first five shots of the night. He struggled in the second and third quarters but had 11 in the fourth quarter to lead Boston’s rally.The Celtics struggled to find an offensive flow throughout, shooting 41% with 13 turnovers.<h2>Frantic finish</h2>The Knicks outscored the Celtics 33-25 in the third quarter and took a six-point edge into the fourth.The lead grew to 102-89 on a pair of free throws by Miles McBride with just over seven minutes to play. The Celtics charged back and had a chance to win it regulation, but Tatum missed a 19-footer and Robert Williams had his follow shot blocked as time expired.<h2>Tip-ins</h2>Knicks: Randle had a driving, one-handed dunk over Tatum late in the third that was part of a 14-5 run to put New York in front 87-78. . … Outscored the Celtics 48-42 in the paint. … Evan Fournier missed his second straight game (personal reasons).Celtics: Dropped to 18-6 at home, with three of those defeats coming in overtime. ... Marcus Smart sat for the third straight game with a sprained right ankle. Interim coach Joe Mazzulla said he is wearing a special sock to help reduce swelling. He remains day-to-day. … Boston hit 7 of their first 9 attempts from the field and led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter. They finished the period by hitting 5 of their final 18 shots and held a 60-58 halftime lead. … Tuesday marked the Celtics’ 6,000th regular-season game.

"We held our own," Barrett said. “We played together and we played hard. We got the good result”

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket to score as Boston Celtics center Al Horford, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Boston

Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

Novak Djokovic put aside some shaky play in the early going and took over his Australian Open semifinal against unseeded American Tommy Paul on Friday, winning 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to close in on a 10th championship at Melbourne Park and 22nd Grand Slam title overall. Djokovic’s parents and brother are in town for the tournament for the first time since he claimed major trophy No. 1 there back in 2008, but his father stayed away from this match after getting caught up in a flap connected to spectators who brought banned Russian flags on site earlier in the week.<h2>"I like that number"</h2>Forget about that potential distraction. Forget about the heavily taped left hamstring that was an issue last week. Forget about how Djokovic produced twice as many unforced errors, 24, as winners, 12, in the opening set. Forget that he dropped four games in a row in one stretch. As usual, Djokovic summoned what it took to extend his Australian Open winning streak to 27 matches, the longest in the Open era, which dates to 1968.There was a pause in that string of victories a year ago, of course, when Djokovic was deported from Australia before competition began because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. He still has not gotten the shots, but the strict border controls established by the country during the pandemic have been eased.On Sunday, No. 4 seed Djokovic will take on No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who eliminated Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to reach his first final at Melbourne Park and second at a Slam.Whoever wins the final will rise to No. 1 in the ATP rankings. For Djokovic, that would mark a return to a spot he has occupied for more weeks than anyone; for Tsitsipas, if would mark a debut there.“I like that number. It’s all about you. It’s singular. It’s ‘1,‘” said Tsitsipas, who was 0-3 in Australian Open semifinals before Friday. “These are the moments that I’ve been working hard for.”Djokovic has never lost a semifinal or final in Melbourne, going a perfect 19-0, and his nine triumphs there already are a men’s record. If he can add one more to go alongside his seven titles at Wimbledon, three at the U.S. Open and two at the French Open, the 35-year-old from Serbia would equal Nadal for the most Grand Slam trophies earned by a man.Djokovic is 10-2 against Tsitsipas, taking the last nine encounters in a row.Tsitsipas’ other major final came at the 2021 French Open, when he grabbed the first two sets before blowing that big lead and losing to Djokovic in five.Which was all related to an amusing moment this week, when Djokovic said about Tsitsipas: “He has never played a final, am I wrong?” Reminded by reporters about what happened at Roland Garros, Djokovic replied: “That’s right. Sorry, my bad.”Asked about that exchange Friday, Tsitsipas responded with a deadpan expression and the words: “I don’t remember, either.”Until this week, the 35th-ranked Paul never had been past the fourth round in 13 previous appearances at majors.The 25-year-old was born in New Jersey and grew up in North Carolina, playing tennis at a club where the walls were festooned with posters of Andy Roddick — the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, way back at the 2003 U.S. Open. That drought will continue for now, because even though Djokovic was not at his best in the opening set, he was good enough at the end of it, breaking in the last game, and never relented.The blips for Djokovic arrived right at the outset.The footwork was not up to his usual reach-every-ball standard. The shotmaking was subpar. The serving was so-so.He got into a bit of a discussion with the chair umpire. He started gesturing and shouting in the direction of coach Goran Ivanisevic and the rest of this entourage.In the first game, Djokovic flubbed an overhead, a weakness he’s never solved. He dumped a backhand into the net. He double-faulted. And just like that, three minutes in, he offered up a break point to Paul. Djokovic saved that, but then another missed backhand provided another break chance to someone playing the biggest match of his life.Djokovic saved that, too, collected that game and would race to a 5-1 lead. Then came the lull. He got broken when serving for the set there. And again at 5-3, when Paul walloped a down-the-line forehand and Djokovic’s backhand on a 29-stroke point landed out.<h2>"Couldn’t be more ready for this moment"</h2>Paul held for 5-all. Might he be making a match of it?Not for much longer. Djokovic, the greatest returner or his, or maybe any, generation, broke to close that set, when Paul sent a forehand wide. Serbian flags were displayed throughout the stands and Rod Laver Arena was filled with chants of Djokovic’s two-syllable nickname, “No-le! No-le!”The contest was never much of a contest from there on out.Tsitsipas had a harder time strictly following the rules governing the 25-second serve clock and foot-faults than he did outplaying Khachanov for nearly three full sets, then recovered after blowing two match points late in the third.Tsitsipas regained his footing quickly, grabbing a 3-0 lead in the fourth and closing out the win about 40 minutes after his initial opportunity.Looking ahead to Sunday, he declared: “Couldn’t be more ready for this moment.”

Djokovic summoned what it took to extend his Australian Open winning streak to 27 matches, the longest in the Open era

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Tommy Paul of the U.S. in their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Djokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Russia's path to sending a team to the Paris Olympics next year became clearer on Thursday amid fierce objections from Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee indicated on Wednesday it favors officially neutral teams from Russia and its ally Belarus at the 2024 Olympics despite a plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to exclude them entirely.<h2>“No place” there</h2>A day later, Russia and Belarus were invited to compete at the Asian Games, a key Olympic qualifier.Russia normally competes as part of Europe but has a tense relationship with many of the countries set to host qualifying events there. Russia and Belarus have been barred from almost all international competitions in Olympic sports following the invasion of Ukraine.Zelenskyy has said he told French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is hosting the Olympics, that Russia should have “no place” there. Ukraine is seeking to rally support against the IOC-brokered plan.“IOC has been disregarding Russian war crimes, claiming that ‘No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport', while Ukrainian athletes continue to be killed by Russia because of their passports. I urge all sports figures to make their stance known,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Thursday.Ukraine boycotted an Olympic qualifier in judo last year when Russians were allowed to compete as neutrals.In Russia, there was praise for the IOC's approach from Igor Levitin, an aide to President Vladimir Putin who holds influential government and sports posts.“I think it is already a success. Olympic society understands that the Olympic Games cannot be staged without Russia," said Levitin, who is the senior vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee, in comments reported by state news agency Tass.Some Russian officials expressed unhappiness at the IOC declaring it would not allow athletes found to be “actively supporting the war in Ukraine.” ROC president Stanislav Pozdnyakov said on Wednesday he opposed “any restrictions, extra requirements or sanctions.”Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she backs Russians competing as neutral athletes when her city hosts the Games, without the Russian flag.“I think it’s a time for athletes and that you shouldn’t deprive athletes of their competition. But I think and I plead, like a large part of the sporting movement, that there isn’t a delegation behind the Russian banner," she told France 2 television.“Of course the Games are taking place in a geopolitical time. I hope the war in Ukraine will be behind us when we welcome the Paris Games.”There was no immediate response from the French government, even as other European countries criticized the IOC. British Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the IOC's stance was “a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people." In Germany, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called it “the wrong path.”The IOC statement on Wednesday referenced the civil war in the former Yugoslavia around the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The country was under United Nations sanctions so Yugoslav athletes were allowed to compete individually only as “Independent Olympic Participants." They didn't take part in team sports such as soccer and basketball.That would be stricter than previous IOC measures against Russia in the years-long fallout from one of the largest doping cases in sports history. Russians competed under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia” at the 2018 Winter Olympics and as ROC in 2021 and 2022, without their country's anthem or flag but with national colors on uniforms.The Asian Games will be in Hangzhou, China, in September and October, and function as Olympic qualifiers in several sports including archery and boxing. Some other sports host their own Asia-specific qualifying competitions.<h2>“Remains on standby”</h2>“The OCA believes in the unifying power of sport and that all athletes, regardless of their nationality or the passport they hold, should be able to compete in sports competitions,” the OCA said in a statement.The long-time director general of Kuwait-based OCA, Husain al-Musallam, is also the president of World Aquatics, which is overseeing the core Olympic sport of swimming in the IOC home city Lausanne.“The OCA has offered to give eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes the opportunity to take part in competitions in Asia, including the Asian Games,” the organization said.The OCA added it “remains on standby” until the IOC and the individual sports' governing bodies finalize the conditions for Russia and Belarus to compete.

Russia and Belarus were invited to compete at the Asian Games, a key Olympic qualifier

A Russian flag is held above the Olympic Rings at Adler Arena Skating Center during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

Russia's path to 2024 Olympics takes shape, Ukraine objects

Kylian Mbappé can close in further on Paris Saint-Germain's all-time scoring record when his team hosts Reims on Sunday. Mbappé's tally of 196 goals for PSG means he is only four behind Edinson Cavani's record for the club. Cavani is still idolized by fans, many of whom were angry at the club for letting him leave in 2020.Mbappé has taken longer to win PSG's supporters over, especially when relations became frosty during the on-off transfer saga with Real Madrid.<h2>The World Cup's top scorer</h2>But his exploits for France at the World Cup in Qatar increased his popularity all over the country, and since returning he's been applauded at every away ground — although that might not be the case when PSG visits bitter rival Marseille twice next month.The World Cup's top scorer is in clinical form heading into Saturday's match at Parc des Princes after netting five goals in a French Cup win on Monday, albeit against an amateur side.Mbappé's attitude in that game stood out along with his crisp finishing. He took the match very seriously and spoke of his respect for the non-league teams afterward.“It’s a reminder for us that we all come from amateur football and it’s important to keep this link,” he said. "Even if it’s only for one game.”Neymar has been largely anonymous for PSG since his World Cup heartbreak with Brazil, so PSG coach Christophe Galtier needs Mbappé to maintain his form.“Kylian is among the greatest strikers, the world class strikers. He's one of the best,” Galtier said. “He's conditioned to score. That's Kylian, a man of statistics and numbers. I don't even need to encourage for him to break records.”He is the league's top scorer with 13 goals this season, one more than Lorient's Terem Moffi and Lille's Jonathan David, and it's only a matter of time before Cavani's record tumbles.In far quicker time, too.While Cavani notched his 200 goals in 301 games, Mbappé has taken just 241 matches to reach 196.While his best season's haul of 42 goals overall is less than Cavani's best total of 49, Mbappé is already on 25 goals in 24 games so far in this campaign.With half of the league campaign still to play, he could realistically hit 50 if PSG goes far in the Champions League and the French Cup.That might be tough, however, since PSG faces Bayern Munich in the round of 16 and is away to Marseille in the cup's last 16.<h2>PSG needs a morale-boosting</h2>A hectic schedule sees PSG playing seven games next month, including a league game at third-place Marseille that promises to be intense, and eight if it reaches the cup quarterfinals.Mid-table Reims is a hard team to beat, too, and is on an 11-match unbeaten run which includes holding PSG to a 0-0 draw at home in October.PSG's away form has been a concern recently, with consecutive defeats at Lens and Rennes allowing second-place Lens to close the gap to three points after 19 rounds.So PSG needs a morale-boosting home win to get its confidence back, and help Mbappé close the gap on Cavani.

Mbappé has taken longer to win PSG's supporters over, especially when relations became frosty during the on-off transfer saga with Real Madrid

PSG's Kylian Mbappe races after the ball during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain at the Bollaert stadium in Lens

Record-chasing Mbappé has Cavani's PSG mark in his sights

Real Sociedad, a soccer team based near the French border in northern city of San Sebastian, has been one of the revelations of the Spanish league season. A revelation that has been building for some time.During his five-year tenure, Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil has led the club to the Copa del Rey title in 2020 and turned it into a regular Europa League participant. Now, the team is on course for a top-four finish and a Champions League berth — and perhaps even more.<h2>Norway striker Alexander Sorloth has scored 12 goals</h2>Sociedad visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday and can pull even on points with second-place Real Madrid to make the Spanish title race a three-team fight at the season’s midway point.Sociedad, which won the Spanish league in 1981 and 1982 and last reached the Champions League in 2013, trails defending champion Madrid by three points and is six points behind leader Barcelona. Both powerhouses also have one more game to play than third-place Sociedad.The Basque club will play in Spain's capital four days after Barcelona ended its nine-game winning streak in all competitions when it beat Sociedad 1-0 to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. Sociedad played with 10 men from the 40th minute on Wednesday after attacking midfielder Brais Méndez was sent off with a direct red card for a dangerous tackle on Sergio Busquets. Ousmane Dembélé then scored the winner for his eighth goal of the season.“We are hurting, because we wanted to advance, but now there is no other choice than to think about Real Madrid and the Bernabeu,” Alguacil said.Sociedad was without its top playmaking midfielders at Camp Nou after David Silva joined Mikel Merino on the injured list. Silva injured a calf muscle and it is unclear if he will be ready for the match against Madrid. Merino is likely to also miss the game with a muscle injury.But Sociedad’s deep squad will still give it reason to hope it can compete with a Madrid team that completed a Spanish league-Champions League double last season and is led by Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.Norway striker Alexander Sorloth has scored 12 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions this season. Brais, whose will serve his suspension in the Copa del Rey next season, has scored 10 times since joining from Celta Vigo in the offseason. Takefusa Kubo, a former Madrid player, is a threat on the wing, while holding midfielder Martín Zubimendi has reportedly caught the attention of both Barcelona and Premier League leader Arsenal.<h2>Catalan derby</h2>Barcelona heads north to play a Catalan derby at Girona on Saturday in what will be the final of a three-game suspension for striker Robert Lewandowski.The league’s leading scorer with his 13 goals had two more games tacked onto a one-game suspension for his disrespectful display toward a referee in a win at Osasuna in November.Barcelona won the other two games that Lewandowski missed. Dembélé scored in a 1-0 win at Atlético and Pedri scored in a 1-0 win over Getafe.Girona’s 1-0 loss at Villarreal last weekend ended a seven-match unbeaten streak in the league. The team is in 11th place.

Sociedad visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday and can pull even on points with second-place Real Madrid

Real Sociedad's Alexander Sorloth controls he ball during the Spanish Copa del Rey soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium

Sociedad out to catch Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday. Rybakina added to what already was an impressive run through a string of top opponents. Azarenka, the champion at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, joined a list of players eliminated by Rybakina over the past two weeks that includes No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 17 Jelena Ostapenko — both owners of major titles — and 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins.<h2>Rybakina is just 23, 10 years younger than Azarenka</h2>As usual, Rybakina did it with her powerful serve, delivering it at up to 117 mph (189 kph) and accumulating nine aces Thursday to bring her total to a tournament-high 44, and stinging groundstrokes that she used to close points seemingly at will. Her performance in the semifinals was particularly noteworthy against a returner and defender as established on hard courts as Azarenka, a former No. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Open.In Saturday’s final, Rybakina will take on either No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or unseeded Magda Linette of Poland. Sabalenka took a 9-0 mark in 2023 into Thursday’s second semifinal, while Linette made it to that stage of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 30 appearances.“For sure, I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon and, to be honest, I just want to come on court and really enjoy the moment, enjoy the atmosphere,” Rybakina said, looking ahead to Saturday.Rybakina is just 23, 10 years younger than Azarenka, and the future sure looks bright at the moment.Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are quite misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. She did not get the usual bump from her title last July at Wimbledon, where zero rankings points were awarded after the All England Club banned players from Russia and Belarus because of the invasion of Ukraine.Rybakina was born in Moscow, but she has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered to fund her tennis career.It was breezy and chilly at Rod Laver Arena from the start of Rybakina vs. Azarenka, with the temperature dipping below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).That could have played a role in the way the first set was as much of a seesaw as can be, with each player seeming to gain the upper hand — and then ceding it just as quickly.“I couldn’t play really aggressive tennis,” Rybakina said. “The ball wasn't going so much.”Rybakina’s occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. She began, inauspiciously enough, with a double-fault, before holding with the help of three aces.Azarenka nosed ahead by breaking for a 3-2 lead on a leaping, full-extension volley winner with both women at the net. Rybakina, though, broke right back, and then once more to go up 5-3.<h2>Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2</h2>That allowed Rybakina to serve for the set, and she was a point from owning it at 40-30. But Azarenka conjured up a terrific down-the-line forehand passing shot to erase that chance, and wound up taking the game with a big backhand winner she accented with a shout of “Let’s go!”A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set now did belong to Rybakina. She broke at love for a 2-1 lead in the second, and while they would continue to play for another 25 minutes, the outcome was never really much in doubt.Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. No one expected Azarenka to go quietly. But one last break, aided by a double-fault from Azarenka, allowed Rybakina to take another step toward another trophy.Billie Jean King and six other members of the trailblazing “Original 9” group of Hall of Famers whose $1 contracts more than a half-century ago paved the way for the millions now offered in women’s tennis were in the stands for the semifinals.“I want to say a big ‘Thank you’ from the players, because it’s unbelievable what you’ve done for us, for the new generation,” Rybakina said. “It means a lot.”

Azarenka nosed ahead by breaking for a 3-2 lead on a leaping, full-extension volley winner with both women at the net

Elena Rybakina, left, of Kazakhstan is congratulated by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus following their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne

Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women's final

Stephen Curry threw his mouthpiece into the seats in frustration and got tossed himself for the surprising episode late in the game. And the Golden State Warriors still pulled off a wild one against the nemesis Memphis Grizzlies.Jordan Poole made the winning layup with a second remaining to cap a crazy, back-and-forth final minute, and the Warriors fought back to beat Ja Morant and Memphis 122-120 on Wednesday night.“Incredible, heady play by Jordan,” Klay Thompson said.Curry outdueled Morant and scored 34 points before being ejected with 1:14 remaining in another thrilling game between the rivals who played last year in the Western Conference semifinals won by the Warriors in six games.<h2>"He knows he can’t make that mistake"</h2>Curry hit a tying jumper with 2:18 left and made three free throws at the 1:55 mark. He wasn't around for the finish after firing the mouthpiece into the stands. Crew chief Sean Wright confirmed the reasoning to a pool reporter: “Stephen Curry takes his mouth piece and throws into the stands with force, as per rule, that is an automatic ejection.”“He knows he can’t make that mistake,” coach Steve Kerr said. “To win the game after the Steph ejection was great. I liked the execution down the stretch.”Afterward, Curry was in the hallway eager to greet Poole with a celebratory hug. Poole had launched a 30-footer with nearly a full shot clock and Curry open, and Curry didn't like it.Curry said the way the season has gone there's a “heightened sense of urgency of how every detail matters.”“The way that we responded after that shows just how much it matters to us,” Curry said.Brandon Clarke had a tying dunk with 6.3 seconds left for Memphis on a pass from Morant after Thompson’s 3-pointer with 14.6 remaining put the Warriors ahead. Thompson then missed a rushed baseline jumper with five seconds to play, but Golden State got the ball out of bounds.Morant wound up with 29 points and 12 assists after missing a game with an ankle injury. He converted a pair of free throws with 26.6 seconds left to put Memphis ahead before Thompson's big 3.Desmond Bane added 20 points for the Grizzlies in a balanced effort to help lessen the sting of losing durable big man Steven Adams for the foreseeable future with a knee injury.Morant, who missed a loss Monday night at Sacramento with soreness in his left ankle, found Clarke for an alley-oop layup and three-point play with 4:10 remaining then Curry and Poole scored consecutive layups.Thompson added 24 points and his 3 with 3:38 left in the third pulled the Warriors to 81-79. Then Curry converted a tying four-point play with 2:27 to go in the period after falling into the courtside seats.The Warriors had lost four straight home games after beginning the season 17-2 at Chase Center.Jonathan Kuminga moved into the Golden State starting lineup with Andrew Wiggins ill. Late in the first half, Kuminga drove through the lane for a highlight-reel left-handed slam then knocked down a 3-pointer a few possessions later. He wound up with 13 points.Poole finished with 21 points and seven assists as the Warriors beat the Grizzlies again following a 123-109 win on Christmas Day. The Grizzlies have lost a season-high four straight to begin this season-long five-game West Coast trip.“It’s a long season. I don’t think too many people are too flustered," Bane said.Draymond Green — who called that final out-of-bounds play for Poole's winner — was whistled for his 14th technical foul of the season, moving him within two of an automatic one-game suspension.<h2>Missing Adams</h2>Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins will mix and match lineups and substitution patterns without Adams, who is expected to miss three to five weeks with a sprained ligament in his right knee that he injured Sunday in Phoenix.“We’re definitely going to miss Stevo, he does so much for us, all the little things, to impact winning,” Jenkins said. "We're just going to need other guys to raise their level in those departments. Obviously, we’re struggling right now on both ends of the floor, we just got to find our groove, it’s next-man up mentality.”<h2>Tip-Ins</h2>Grizzlies: F Danny Green is set to make his season debut Feb. 1 at home against Portland as he returns from left knee surgery. “That’s the plan as of now,” Jenkins said. Green will get some scrimmaging and work with the G League Memphis Hustle this week. ... Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out with 2:33 to go. ... Memphis will host the defending champions for the last two meetings: March 9 and 18.

Curry outdueled Morant and scored 34 points before being ejected with 1:14 remaining in another thrilling game between the rivals who played last year

Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole, left, celebrates with Donte DiVincenzo, right, after scoring the game-winning basket against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco

Pedri leads win at Girona in 100th game for Barcelona

McKennie left out of Juventus squad amid possible Leeds move

Union Berlin beats Hertha in derby, stays 2nd in Bundesliga

FIFA bans 4 Uruguay players for disorder at World Cup

Marcos Alonso agrees to contract extension with Barcelona

Djokovic's dad stays away from Australian Open semifinal

Paul says Djokovic thwarted his Australian Open gameplan

Big Ten's depth poses strong challenge for women's title run

Mavericks All-Star Doncic leaves game with ankle injury

Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

Djokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Russia's path to 2024 Olympics takes shape, Ukraine objects

Record-chasing Mbappé has Cavani's PSG mark in his sights

Sociedad out to catch Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women's final

Poole beats buzzer with layup, lifts Warriors past Grizzlies

Sports

Pedri leads win at Girona in 100th game for Barcelona

McKennie left out of Juventus squad amid possible Leeds move

Union Berlin beats Hertha in derby, stays 2nd in Bundesliga

FIFA bans 4 Uruguay players for disorder at World Cup

Marcos Alonso agrees to contract extension with Barcelona

Djokovic's dad stays away from Australian Open semifinal

Paul says Djokovic thwarted his Australian Open gameplan

Big Ten's depth poses strong challenge for women's title run

Mavericks All-Star Doncic leaves game with ankle injury

Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

Djokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Russia's path to 2024 Olympics takes shape, Ukraine objects

Record-chasing Mbappé has Cavani's PSG mark in his sights

Sociedad out to catch Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women's final

Poole beats buzzer with layup, lifts Warriors past Grizzlies