TENNIS

Sharapova wins Brisbane, Federer nears milestone

Maria Sharapova claimed her 34th career title with a victory at the Brisbane International on Saturday, hours after Roger Federer moved within one win of a triple-zero milestone.

Top-seeded Sharapova had a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 win over Ana Ivanovic in the women’s final. It was an ideal warm-up for the first major of the season, and gave her the chance to overhaul Serena Williams for the top spot in the rankings depending on results at the upcoming Australian Open.

Federer has a chance to go into the Australian Open with 1,000 career match wins after beating fourth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals.

QATAR OPEN: David Ferrer won his 22nd career ATP title when he defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5.

CHENNAI OPEN: Stan Wawrinka will defend his title in the India tournament against Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia.

Wawrinka beat fourth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals, while Bedene overcame third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8).

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: U.S. Open champ Marin Cilic has withdrawn from the year’s first major because of a right shoulder injury.

The ninth-ranked Croat said his shoulder “feels better” after nursing the injury for six months, “but doctors advised me to be careful as much as I can, not to create even a bigger problem.”

HOPMAN CUP: A furious Serena Williams destroyed her racquet in frustration and called the chair umpire a liar during Poland’s historic triumph at Perth, Australia.

Poland went ahead 1-0 after Agnieszka Radwanska shocked 18-time major champion Williams 6-4, 6-7 (7-3), 6-1.

John Isner kept the U.S. alive with a 7-6 (10), 6-4 win over Jerzy Janowicz, but Poland prevailed 7-5, 6-3 in the deciding mixed doubles.

GOLF

PGA: Zach Johnson’s seven birdies put him in a four-way tie with Jimmy Walker, Russell Henley and Bang Sang-Moon for the lead at 11-under 135 after two rounds of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Charl Schwartzel opened with four straight birdies and carded a 6-under 66 to surge five shots clear after the third round of the South African Open.

The 2011 Masters winner moved to 13-under 203 to put himself in position for a first victory at his home open at Glendower Golf Club.

SOCCER

MLS: Frank Lampard has finally signed his contract to play for New York City FC.

NYCFC stated last July that Lampard signed a two-year contract to start in August 2014. Within two weeks, Manchester City said the former Chelsea midfielder was returning to the Premier League on “loan.”

SKIING

WORLD CUP: Bode Miller should return from back surgery to Alpine skiing’s circuit on Tuesday, just three weeks before the world championships.

U.S. Coach Sasha Rearick says Miller is scheduled for an official downhill training run at Wengen, Switzerland.

Miller underwent surgery in November but is targeting the world championships at Beaver Creek, Colorado.

BIATHLON

WORLD CUP: Martin Fourcade of France won a men’s 10K sprint to extend his lead in the standings at Oberhof, Germany.

Fourcade missed just one target and finished in 27 minutes, 2.5 seconds.

– From news service reports

Copy the Story Link