Tennis - Meritking News - The Rhythm of World Sport

Fearnley, 23, has qualified for the main draw of a major for the first time after his meteoric rise into the world's top 100. The reward for the British number three is a first-round tie against Kyrgios - presuming the 2022 Wimbledon finalist is fit enough to play. Kyrgios, 29, recently made his comeback in Brisbane after 18 months out and undergoing wrist surgery, which left him fearing for his career. On Wednesday, the former world number 13 - who is unranked - said he is now nursing an abdominal injury. "It's not too serious. I'll just take it day by day and give myself the best chance," Kyrgios said. Who are the other Brits facing? Seven British players have direct entry into the main singles draws, although Harriet Dart and Billy Harris were unable to join them after losing their final qualifying matches on Thursday. Cameron Norrie has been handed a difficult start against Italy's Matteo Berrettini - a 2022 semi-finalist at Melbourne Park and one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the men's draw. Like Fearnley, Sonay Kartal is playing in her first overseas Grand Slam following the best season her career. The 23-year-old faces Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, with Sabalenka potentially waiting in the second round. Jodie Burrage, who has used a protected ranking after missing a large chunk of last season through injury, has been pitted against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean. Burrage, 25, also has the likelihood of facing a superstar in the second round in third seed Coco Gauff. Sinner avoids Djokovic and Alcaraz until final Although the unpredictable nature of a Grand Slam means things do not always pan out as expected, the draw ceremony is always an exciting event that allows fans to plot what may happen. The leading two seeds are split, meaning they cannot play each other until the final - should they get that far. Sinner has been drawn in the same half as American fourth seed Taylor Fritz and Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev. It means Sinner cannot play 10-time champion Djokovic or Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, who is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam aged just 21, until the semi-finals. Despite being at the opposite ends of their careers, Djokovic and Alcaraz have developed an intriguing rivalry which has produced some enthralling encounters. The pair could meet again in the Melbourne quarter-finals. In the women's draw, Sabalenka could face Gauff - who faces 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in a tough all-American first-round opener - in the semi-finals. Neither Sabalenka or Gauff can face second seed Iga Swiatek, who begins against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, until the final.

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LeBron James became the first person in NBA history to play as a teenager and past the age of 40 as the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. James, who made his NBA debut as an 18-year-old in 2003, turned 40 on 30 December. He scored 23 points in the 122-110 defeat at the Crypto.com Arena in LA, but 27 from Jarrett Allen helped Cleveland to an eighth straight win. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, James last year became the NBA's all-time leading points scorer. He has won four NBA Championships, been named Most Valuable Player four times and is in his 22nd season in the NBA, a record he shares with the now retired Vince Carter. The Cavs remain top of the Eastern Conference and the Lakers are seventh in the West. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Milwaukee Bucks' comeback win over the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks were 19 points adrift late in the third quarter but rallied to win 120-112 in Indianapolis. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-105 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 40 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was a 12th straight win for the Thunder, who remain top of the Western Conference. The Toronto Raptors suffered an 11th successive defeat as they were thrashed 125-71 at the Boston Celtics, for whom Jayson Tatum scored 23 points and made eight rebounds. The San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 122-86 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to Victor Wembanyama's 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The Memphis Grizzlies won 117-112 at the Phoenix Suns, who have now lost six of their past seven matches. Jaren Jackson Jr finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for the Grizzlies, while Kevin Durant contributed 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns.

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