Celtics trio to miss at least four games due to COVID-19
The Boston Celtics were without starting centre Tristan Thompson and backup big men Robert Williams III and Grant Williams for Friday night's game against the Washington Wizards due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
According to a report by The Boston Globe, Robert Williams tested positive for the virus and is asymptomatic, while Thompson and Grant Williams were out as a result of contract tracing. All three face a quarantine of at least seven days, the newspaper said.
Boston has four games scheduled in the next seven days: Friday in Boston against the Wizards, Sunday at home against the Miami Heat, Tuesday at the Chicago Bulls and Wednesday at home against the Orlando Magic.
Thompson, 29, is averaging 8.4 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds in eight starts.
Robert Williams, 23, is averaging 6.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in eight games off the bench.
Grant Williams, 22, is averaging 5.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in eight games off the bench.
All three players participated in the Celtics' 107-105 road victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
COVID crackdown for Premier League
The Premier League on Friday issued clubs new measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, threatening disciplinary action against players who breach training or match-day protocols.
In a letter to all 20 top-flight clubs, the league reiterated that players should not hug each other, and shirt-swapping should stop in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.
The British government has allowed elite sports to continue despite the country being placed into strict lockdown amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
However, a number of players flouted government rules over the Christmas period and the league has told clubs there will be a thorough investigation of those incidents.
“It's vital to ensure public, government and stakeholder confidence in the training and matchday protocols that individual transgressions by relevant persons are appropriately investigated and sanctioned by clubs,” the league said in a letter.
“Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action by the league individually against the relevant person, where appropriate (for example, where his or her conduct brings the league into disrepute) and/or against the club (where the relevant person's conduct constitutes a breach of the training protocol).”
The league said players and staff at training grounds will use clinical passports that can be inspected by the league's compliance officers, who can also make spot-checks.
The new measures come after COVID-19 outbreaks have led to four league matches being postponed and more than 50 games in the lower divisions of the English Football League being called off this season.
Earlier on Friday, Aston Villa reported 10 COVID-19 cases within their first-team squad, leaving their upcoming home league games against Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in doubt.
PGA Tour China shuts down season
The PGA Tour China 2021 season has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The PGA Tour on Friday said other developmental circuits — PGA Tour Canada (Mackenzie Tour) and PGA Tour Latinoamerica — will begin their seasons in the next few months.
“We remain committed to the region and want to do everything we can to give competitive opportunities for players in Asia and from the Pacific Rim,” PGA Tour China executive director Greg Carlson said in a news release.
“We're trying to pursue other opportunities for our players to play in 2021. We'll also take this pause and evaluate what we might be able to do in 2022.”
Specific dates and sites for PGA Tour Canada and the remainder of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica schedule will be released in the next few weeks.
Kenin advances in Abu Dhabi
No. 1 seed Sofia Kenin advanced into the third round of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women's Tennis Open on Friday after her opponent, Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, was forced to retire with an injury.
The unseeded Flipkens had won the first set 7-5 and was trailing in the second 5-4 when she injured her ankle in a collision with an advertising block at the back of the court while returning a shot.
After the match, the American's thoughts were with Flipkens, the world's 86th-ranked player.
“We're good friends and that's not something you like to see,” said Kenin, ranked No. 4 in the world. “I just hope (Flipkens) can have a speedy recovery and get ready for Australia.”
The Australian Open, the season's first major, is set for Feb. 8-21.
All seeded players in action at Abu Dhabi on Friday won to advance to the round of 16.
No. 13 Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan ousted Czech Barbora Krejcikova 6-4, 7-5. Putintseva will face Kenin in the next round on Sunday.
No. 4-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus eliminated Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-4, and on Sunday will face No. 15 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, who topped Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
Other winners on Friday were Spaniards Paula Badosa Gibert and Sara Sorribes Tormo, Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia, and Veronika Kudermetova of Russia.