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Novak Djokovic stops Jannik Sinner, to play for 25th slam

Tennis: Australian OpenJan 28, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the quarterfinals of the menís singles at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic capped a thrilling night — and early morning — of marathon men’s semifinals in Melbourne with a five-set victory against two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.

In an epic semifinal that ended after 1:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, Djokovic outlasted the second-seeded Italian 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in four hours and nine minutes.

The fourth-seeded Serbian — a 10-time Australian Open champion — will fight for his record-extending 25th Grand Slam title on Sunday against No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard, looking to complete a career Grand Slam at the age of 22, earlier survived a grueling 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 7-5 win against No. 3 Alexander Zverev of Germany in a five-hour, 27-minute classic.

“I think you guys got the value for the ticket,” Djokovic told the crowd after a long day of action-packed tennis.

The 38-year-old Djokovic became the oldest man in the Open Era to reach the final at the Australian Open, and handed the 24-year-old Sinner his first loss in Melbourne since 2023. Djokovic also ended his own streak of four consecutive semifinal exits at majors.

Djokovic saved 16 of 18 break points against Sinner, who hammered 26 aces and 72 winners. Djokovic finished with a dozen aces and 46 winners and they both made 42 unforced errors.

“I am lost for words right now, to be honest. It feels surreal,” Djokovic said after making his first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2024. His last major trophy came at the U.S. Open in 2023.

During the decisive fifth set, Djokovic moved ahead with a service break in the seventh game and ultimately put Sinner away on his third match point.

“The level of intensity and the quality of tennis was extremely high and I knew that was the only way for me to win tonight against him,” Djokovic said. “He won the past five matches against me. He had my mobile number, so I had to change my number for tonight.

“Jokes aside, I told him at the net, thanks for letting me have at least one (win). I have tremendous respect for him, an incredible player. He pushes you to the very limit, which is what he did tonight to me, so he deserves a great round of applause. … Tonight has been one of the best nights, if not the best night, atmosphere and support-wise, I have had in Australia.”

Djokovic holds a 5-4 lead in his head-to-head series with Alcaraz, including a quarterfinal win in Melbourne last year.

“It already feels like winning tonight, but I know I will have to come back in a couple of days and fight the number 1 in the world,” Djokovic said when asked about the final. “I hope I have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him, that is my desire.”

–Field Level Media

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David Kelly named executive director of NBPA

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Boston CelticsJan 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A basketball goes through the hoop before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

David Kelly was elected the next executive director of the National Basketball Players Association.

Kelly, who has been the NBPA’s managing director and general counsel since February 2025, will succeed Andre Iguodala, who will step down from the position at the end of his term in July, the union announced Friday.

“David Kelly is a transformational leader and one of the most respected legal minds in the game,” Iguodala said. “I am pleased the players recognize he is the right person to unapologetically fight for them.”

Kelly, who came to the NBPA after working on the business and legal side for the Golden State Warriors, served as a close adviser to Iguodala and NBPA president Fred VanVleet while overseeing all legal matters and the strategic direction of the organization

“I am honored that the players have trusted me to lead this next chapter alongside our dedicated executive committee,” Kelly said. “The energy and momentum Andre has built has created an incredible opportunity for our players.”

Kelly’s tenure as executive director could include overseeing the addition of expansion franchises and leading the union through the collective bargaining agreement with team owners, which is set to expire in 2030 but could come up earlier as either side can opt out in 2029. During part of his time with the Warriors, Kelly managed the team’s salary cap and oversaw all matters related to the CBA.

–Field Level Media

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Cal's sweet shooting earns ACC win at Boston College

NCAA Basketball: California at Florida StateJan 28, 2026; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; California Golden Bears forward Chris Bell (22) during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Chris Bell scored a game-high 22 points to help visiting Cal end a two-game losing streak by beating Boston College 86-75 Saturday.

Bell made 6 of 10 3-point attempts. Cal (18-8, 6-7 ACC) shot 30 of 54 from the field in the win, which included 14 of 29 (48.3%) from 3-point range.

Dai Dai Ames and John Camden each finished with 15 points for the Bears, who never trailed in the game. Camden also had a game-high nine rebounds.

Fred Payne led Boston College (9-16, 2-10 ACC) with 16 points and five rebounds, but the Eagles’ losing streak reached six games. Boston College hasn’t won since it beat Pittsburgh 65-62 on Jan. 21.

Chase Forte scored 14 points while Jayden Hastings added 12 points and eight rebounds and Luka Toews notched 12 points and five assists for Boston College.

The Eagles played without No. 2 scorer Donald Hand Jr., who sustained a knee injury during the first half of Wednesday night’s 70-64 loss to Stanford. Hand, in his fourth season with Boston College, started each of his team’s first 24 games and averaged 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Cal used a 9-0 run to take a 15-4 lead 6:11 into the contest. Boston College has trailed by double digits during the first half in 12 of its 25 games.

Cal had a 43-23 advantage with 1:49 left in the first half, but Boston College scored the final five points in the half to trail 43-28 at the break. Cal made 7 of its 16 3-point attempts in the first 20 minutes while turning eight Boston College turnovers into 10 points.

The Eagles trimmed their deficit to 11 points when a Forte free throw made it 66-55 with 8:09 to play, but they failed to get closer than nine the rest of the way. After a Toews jumper cut Cal’s lead to 80-71, Camden answered with a 3-pointer that put the Bears up 83-71 with 1:55 left.

–Field Level Media

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Karolina Muchova collects first WTA title since 2019 in Doha

Syndication: Desert SunKarolina Muchova serves to Iga Swiatek on Stadium 1 during their round of 16 match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

For the first time since 2019, Karolina Muchova is a champion on the WTA Tour.

The 29-year-old Czech Republic native earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Canada’s Victoria Mboko in the Qatar Open final on Saturday in Doha.

Muchova, the tournament’s No. 14 seed, converted three of eight break points to claim her first win in a WTA 1000 event and her second overall — joining the 2019 Korea Open title on her resume.

“It’s been a while since I won a tournament,” Muchova said while receiving her trophy after the match. “So it’s nice to get that feeling again, to be reminded of that victory feeling again.”

Muchova needed 94 minutes to complete the victory as she won 79% of her first serves compared to Mboko’s 57%. Muchova was particularly on point in the first set, when she earned points on 18 of her 21 first serves while allowing Mboko no chances to break her.

Muchova improved her WTA ranking from 19th to 11th with the win.

The 19-year-old Mboko entered the tournament as the No. 10 seed and 13th in the world rankings. She was playing in her first tourney since reaching the Australian Open’s round of 16, where she lost to top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.

Mboko secured enough points to climb to 10th in the WTA rankings. She knocked off No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia on her way to the finals.

“It’s not the outcome I wanted,” said Mboko, who was competing in her fourth WTA final and second at the 1000 level. “But I think there’s many positives to take away.”

Muchova, who has battled through injuries in recent years, including a February 2024 wrist surgery that caused her to miss ten months, praised her opponent.

“I’d like to congratulate Victoria,” Muchova said on the court after the match. “You’re still a teenager but you play with so much maturity. I’m sure you have many titles ahead of you.”

Mboko was the only seeded player Muchova faced during the tournament as top-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland fell in Thursday’s quarterfinals to Greece’s unseeded Maria Sakkari. No. 3 seed Amanda Anisimova retired in the third set of Round 2 on Monday while No. 4 seed Coco Gauff lost in straight sets to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Round 2 on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media

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