Djokovic a doubt for Melbourne

TENNIS

NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S Australian Open participation is in doubt after he was forced to withdraw from an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi with an elbow injury.

The Serbian has been out for almost six months and had been due to make his return to action at the World Tennis Championship.

However, he pulled out of a scheduled match against Roberto Bautista Agut and admits the injury “might affect the start of the season”, with the Australian Open starting in Melbourne on January 15.

“Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and after several tests, my medical team has advised me not to risk anything,” he stated.

Andy Murray, who has been nursing a hip injury, stepped in for Djokovic but was beaten 6-2 by Bautista Agut in the one-set exhibition.

RUGBY

PAUL O’CONNELL experienced countless triumphant days in Thomond Park but yesterday he helped inflict a defeat upon his former province when the assistant coach of the Ireland U-20s helped oversee a 26-10 win against a Munster Development side.

In their second festive warmup fixture ahead of the 2018 Six Nations championship, Noel McNamara’s side followed their four-point defeat to a Leinster Development side last week with the four-try win.

A converted try from James McCarthy edged the Irish side ahead 7-5 at the break with Liam Coombes scoring for the home side, who included four players amongst the Irish contingent.

Sean Duffy struck first in the second half for Munster but it would be their final score as three tries from Max Kearney and a brace for Lansdowne wing Peter Sullivan secured the win.

Ireland open their Six Nations campaign against France in Brive on February 2.

DARTS

PHIL TAYLOR is still on course to bow out of the sport as a 17-time world champion after securing his semi-final spot at London’s Alexandra Palace with a 5-3 victory against Gary Anderson.

‘The Power’ will take on Jamie Lewis for a spot in the decider after the 26-year-old provisional round qualifier stormed into the semi-finals with a 5-0 whitewash of Darren Webster.

Defending champion Michael van Gerwen will face Rob Cross after surviving a scare against compatriot Raymond van Barneveld.

The Dutch pair were meeting on the ‘Ally Pally’ oche for the third straight year and world No 1 Van Gerwen extinguished the 50-yearold’s hopes in a 5-4 thriller.

In the second quarter-final yesterday, Cross held off a spirited fightback from Dimitri van den Bergh to win a cracking match 5-4.

CRICKET

ED JOYCE has recovered from a knee injury and is included in Ireland’s 15-strong squad for a tri-series against Scotland and the United Arab Emirates in Dubai next month as the Boys in Green begin their preparations for the World Cup qualifiers in March. Spinner Andy McBrine also returns but veteran seamer Tim Murtagh is rested and misses the trip.