Sport in brief
Tennis
Kristina Mladenovic and Richard Gasquet beat Coco Vandeweghe and Jack Sock of the United States on Saturday to win France’s second Hopman Cup title in Perth. Gasquet, who saved a match point in the third-set tie-break, gave France the early lead by beating Sock 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 in a thrilling singles match lasting two-and-a-half hours. “A lot of great players have won here, so that is why we are happy to have our names on the cup. We are very proud,” Gasquet said.
Cricket
Australia ended Pakistan’s resistance before the scheduled tea break on the final day of the third test to claim an emphatic third Test victory by 220 runs in Sydney and complete a 3-0 series sweep. Two months after being plunged into crisis and overhauling their side in the wake of a series humiliation at the hands of South Africa, Australia reasserted their dominance on their home pitches in some style. “These last three matches, that’s what we’re about, that’s sort of cricket we want to play,” said Australia captain Steve Smith, who was named Player of the Series. “It’s been a great turnaround and I have been very proud of the last few weeks.”
Tennis
Czech Karolina Pliskova crushed Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-0, 6-3 with a barrage of winners to win the Brisbane International title on Saturday and signal her intent for this month’s Australian Open. Pliskova, who will rise to a careerhigh No 5 in the world rankings tomorrow, dropped just one set throughout the week and continued her dominance in the final. “It’s nice to join the other names on this trophy,” Pliskova said after winning the Evonne Goolagong Cawley trophy for her seventh WTA title.
Rugby League
Promising hooker Adam O’Brien will join four of his former Bradford team-mates at Huddersfield as the break-up of the defunct Bulls continues. “I wanted to get back in Super League, I wanted to try with Bradford Bulls but that hasn’t happened and with what’s gone on at the club in the last few months I just felt like I needed a change for me and my career,” said O’Brien.