Federer won’t play in Australian Open
Roger Federer is withdrawing from the Australian Open while he continues preparing to return to action after two operations on his right knee and a tour absence that will have lasted longer than a year, his agent told the Associated Press.
Tony Godsick — Federer’s longtime representative — said he is working on putting together a 2021 tennis calendar for the 20- time Grand Slam tournament champion, who plans to get back on tour soon after the year’s first major.
The start of the event’s main draw is scheduled to begin Feb. 8. Also, Tennis Australia announced that Andy Murray was given a wild- card entry. Murray is 122nd in the rankings after going through two hip operations and considering retirement.
Naomi Osaka was selected by the Associated Press as the female athlete of the year. Osaka won the U. S. Open for her third Grand Slam tournament title and stood out for speaking out about racial injustice and police brutality.
Santa Anita had its f irst horse fatality of the new racing season on the second day when Ebeko, a 2year- old colt, suffered a life- ending break of his left front cannon bone during the running of the Eddie Logan Stakes.
— John Cherwa
New York Jets running back Frank Gore became the third player in NFL history to run for 16,000 yards, joining Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. But his four- yard carry to put him at exactly 16,000 was his last of a 23- 16 win over Cleveland because of a chest injury. Jets coach Adam Gase had no immediate update on Gore.
The Washington Football Team’s pursuit of the NFC East title will have to wait until the f inal game of the regular season. The NFL moved Washington’s game at
Philadelphia on Sunday to prime time.
UCLA’s secondary will return one of its top playmakers next season after redshirt junior safety Quentin Lake announced that he will be back in 2021.
— Ben Bolch
The Music City Bowl between Missouri and Iowa was canceled because COVID- 19 issues left the Tigers unable to play. The game was slated for Wednesday in Nashville. It is the second bowl called off since the postseason lineup was set Dec. 20, joining the Gasparilla Bowl. Overall, 18 bowl games scheduled to be played this season have been canceled.
Villanova coach Jay Wright tested positive for COVID- 19, and the No. 5 Wildcats paused basketball activities. ... No. 22 Syracuse paused women’s basketball activities after a positive COVID- 19 test.
Lionel Messi won’t make a decision on his long- term future with Barcelona until the season is over, he said in a TV interview, with the soccer great also raising the possibility of playing in the U. S. one day.
Forward Mike Hoffman signed a professional tryout agreement with St. Louis, a possible precursor to him getting a contract for the NHL season. … Goaltender Craig Anderson signed a PTO with Washington, and defenseman Kevin Connauton did so with Florida. … Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay traded center Cedric Paquette, defenseman Braydon Coburn and a 2022 second- round pick to Ottawa for injured players Anders Nilsson and Marian Gaborik in a salary- cap move.
In Edmonton, Canada, Philip Tomasino had a goal and an assist as Canada beat Slovakia 3- 1 to improve to 2- 0 in group play in the world junior hockey championship. In the day’s f irst Group A game, Finland beat Switzerland 4- 1 to improve to 2- 0. In the late game, Lukas Parik made 30 saves in the Czech Republic’s 2- 0 win over Russia. Both teams are 1- 1 in Group B.
Three- time U. S. champion Johnny Weir was elected to the U. S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame along with Sandy Schwomeyer Lamb and Gale Tanger.