Djokovic nears 10th aussie title
Fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic closed in on his 10th Australian Open singles championship — and what would be his record-tying 22nd Grand Slam men’s singles title overall — with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 victory against U.S. upstart Tommy Paul in the semifinals Friday in Melbourne.
After Paul leveled the first set at 5-5, Djokovic won seven games in a row and 14 of the last 17 to roll into the final Sunday against third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, who outlasted 18th-seeded Karen Khachanov 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 to reach his first Australian Open final. The winner of that match will rise to No. 1 in the world.
The victory enabled Djokovic to extend his winning streak in the Australian Open to 27 matches, the longest in the Open era, which dates to 1968. He didn’t play in the tournament last year after being deported from Australia because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
Djokovic is 10-2 in his career against Tsitsipas, including a victory in the final of the 2019 French Open in which he rallied from a two-set deficit to win. MLB
mets strike deal with mcneil
ESPN reported reigning National League batting champion Jeff McNeil and the Mets agreed to terms on a four-year, $50 million extension that includes a team option for a fifth year that would boost the value of the contract to $63.5 million.
McNeil, 30, hit .326 with nine home runs, 62 RBI and a .382 on-base percentage last season. He also struck out only 61 times in 589 plate appearances.
◆ The Braves signed manager Brian Snitker to a contract extension that runs through the 2025 season. Snitker has guided the Braves to five consecutive National League East titles and to a World Series championship in 2021, and he has a 542-451 record since becoming their manager in 2016.
◆ The Twins announced former catcher Joe Mauer will be inducted into their Hall of Fame in a ceremony Aug. 5. Mauer was the American League MVP in 2009 and a three-time AL batting champion.
leafs lose matthews to sprained knee
The Maple Leafs said center Auston Matthews, the NHL’s reigning MVP, will miss at least three weeks with a sprained knee suffered Wednesday. The news means Matthews won’t be able to take part in AllStar activities Feb. 3-4 in Sunrise, Florida.
◆ Sam Ryder shot an even-par 72 to take a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm into the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Rahm is looking for his third victory in as many starts in 2023.
◆ Giannis Antetokounmpo led seven players in double figures with 41 points to go with 12 rebounds, and the visiting Bucks topped the Pacers 141-131.
◆ The Wall Street Journal reported the National Women’s Soccer League is in discussions to add franchises in the San Francisco area, Utah and Boston.
◆ Isabeau Levito, 15, won the women’s title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California.