New mother Naomi Osaka makes winning return in Brisbane

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka looked solid on her return to elite tennis after 15 months out as she beat Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday.

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Pistons edge Raptors to end record-tying 28-game skid

Cade Cunningham scored 30 points and dished out 12 assists as the host Detroit Pistons snapped their record-tying 28-game losing streak by defeating the Toronto Raptors 129-127 on Saturday.

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Naomi Osaka's love for tennis rekindled as she makes comeback

Naomi Osaka admitted Saturday she almost retired from tennis, but said her love for the sport is back after becoming a mother earlier this year.

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Yamamoto ready for fresh start with Dodgers

Former Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Saturday declared his massive 12-year contract with MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers represented a new start after seven seasons in Japan.

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Chess federation fines player over her ‘sports shoes’

The International Chess Federation fined a 23-year-old chess player from the Netherlands at its World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for wearing "sports shoes.”

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Son leads South Korea squad 'ready' to win Asian Cup

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min was named to South Korea's Asian Cup squad on Thursday and coach Jurgen Klinsmann said it was "about time" the country ended its 64-year continental title drought.

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Who will grab the spotlight at sumo's first tourney of 2024?

Grand Sumo Tournaments in recent years have come to resemble Marvel movies.

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Japan to host soccer matches against North Korea at National Stadium

Japan will host respective women's Olympic and men's World Cup qualifying matches against North Korea in February and March at National Stadium in Tokyo, the Japan Football Association announced Wednesday.

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Boxing fans await two-division king Inoue's next move

In the wake of Naoya Inoue's second world title unification, boxing fans are waiting to see the Japanese star's next move.

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Top Japanese pitcher Yamamoto 'beyond estatic' to join Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced prized Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Wednesday hours after confirming they had inked him to a 12-year deal worth a reported $325 million.

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Nadal and Osaka set for comebacks in Australia

Rafael Nadal returns from a "winding, tortuous" injury journey in Brisbane this week, while fellow superstar Novak Djokovic kickstarts his bid for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title at Perth. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka is set to play her first competitive match since September 2022.

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Jackson leaps to top of the MVP race with win over Purdy's 49ers

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has overtaken San Francisco's Brock Purdy in the MVP race after leading the Ravens to a dominant 33-19 road win against the 49ers on Christmas Day.

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Pele 'would have been sad' at state of Brazil team, says son

Pele "would have been sad" at the state of the current Brazilian national team, his son Edinho has said in an interview, days before the first anniversary of the former player's death on Friday.

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Kirishima ready for first yokozuna promotion bid

Ozeki Kirishima said Monday that he wants to seize his first chance for promotion to yokozuna as he prepares for the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament beginning Jan. 14.

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Naoya Inoue, Marlon Tapales weigh in for 4-belt super bantam showdown

Japan's Naoya Inoue and the Philippines' Marlon Tapales both weighed in successfully Monday on the eve of their four-belt world super bantamweight title unification bout at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.

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Billionaire Ratcliffe agrees deal to buy 25% of Manchester United

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has agreed a deal to buy a 25% stake in Manchester United for about $1.3 billion, vowing to return the Premier League club to the "top of world football."

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Reliever Yuki Matsui signs 5-year deal with Padres

Japanese left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui has signed a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres, the major league club said Saturday.

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Urawa finishes fourth at Club World Cup after defeat to Al Ahly

The Asian champions Urawa Reds finished the Club World Cup fourth on Friday after losing 4-2 to African winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the third-place match.

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Kaoru Mitoma's ankle injury raises Asian Cup concerns

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma suffered a left ankle injury during his team's 1-1 draw away to Crystal Palace in the English Premier League on Thursday, raising concerns about his availability for Japan's Asian Cup campaign.

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Teams shun European Super League despite shock court victory

Plans for a European Super League bringing together elite soccer clubs such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona won a surprise boost at the European Union’s top court after judges ruled the sport’s main governing bodies violated antitrust law by thwarting the project.

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Africa Cup of Nations organizers confident no repeat of Cameroon tragedy

All is on track for African soccer's biennial showpiece, the Africa Cup of Nations, according to organizers in Cote d'Ivoire who are confident their security measures will prevent a repeat of the tragedy that overshadowed the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

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Driverless race cars on track for April debut in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit, the scene of last month's Formula One season-ender, will be a testing ground over the coming weeks for a race car driven by software algorithms rather than any human hand.

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Reliever Matsui close to agreement with Padres, report says

Japanese left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui is nearing a multiyear agreement with the San Diego Padres, MLB.com reported Tuesday, citing a source.

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Stablemaster Shikoroyama's lasting sumo legacy

The sumo world lost one of its most recognizable characters on Sunday with the passing of the stablemaster Shikoroyama.

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Urawa beaten 3-0 by Manchester City in Club World Cup semis

Manchester City outclassed Urawa Red Diamonds in a 3-0 victory in the King Abdullah Sports City stadium on Tuesday to set up a Club World Cup final showdown against Brazilian side Fluminense.

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Fukuoka and Shakhtar draw 2-2 in charity match in Tokyo

Avispa Fukuoka and Shakhtar Donetsk played out a 2-2 draw in a charity match at Tokyo's National Stadium on Monday in front of over 600 war-hit Ukrainian evacuees, with the proceeds directed to the country's reconstruction.

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Ichiro goes back to school again as a special instructor

Ichiro Suzuki has continued his offseason ritual of coaching high school students, wrapping up a two-day session with Okinawa Prefecture's Miyako High School baseball club on Sunday.

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Japan's Oda wins women's street skateboarding world title

Japan's Yumeka Oda won her maiden street skateboarding world championship Sunday in a hotly contested women's final in Tokyo.

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Rugby in denial over concussion problem, author Sam Peters says

Sam Peters had his dream job as a rugby writer but, as his interest in the game's concussion problem came up against a wall of denial and obfuscation, he morphed into an investigative reporter, often a lone, vilified, voice demanding answers.

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PGA Tour still aims to meet deadline for Saudi alliance, Woods says

Tiger Woods said Saturday that the PGA Tour aims to reach a definitive deal to complete its partnership with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) before their self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline.

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South Korea's Lee promises to impress San Francisco Giants fans

South Korean center fielder Jung Hoo Lee joined the San Francisco Giants on Friday after signing a six-year deal worth $113 million, vowing to impress fans from the start.

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Urawa downs Leon to set up Club World Cup semi with Manchester City

Dutch substitute Alex Schalk scored the winner as the Urawa Reds, the Asian Champions League winners, saw off 10-man CONCACAF winners Club Leon of Mexico 1-0 to reach the last four of the Club World Cup on Friday.

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Inter Miami adds Tokyo stop to Messi tour next February

Lionel Messi's world tour with Inter Miami next year added Tokyo as a stop on Friday, with the Major League Soccer club announcing plans to face Vissel Kobe, the J. League's top-division champion.

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Reigning champions Spears trounce Heat for first League One win of season

Reigning champions Kubota Spears steamrolled past Division 1 newcomers Mie Heat 75-0 on Saturday to secure their first win of the season in Japan Rugby League One.

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For the Dodgers, Ohtani's megadeal could end up being a bargain

Baseball has never seen a player like Shohei Ohtani. The sport has also never seen anything like the record-breaking 10-year, $700 million (¥99.4 billion) contract he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week.

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J. League clubs throw support behind summer start to season

A majority of J. League clubs supported the introduction of an August start to the Japanese soccer season from the 2026-2027 season, with 52 of 60 from the first to third divisions on Thursday approving the move.

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Ohtani introduced as a Dodger after inking record-setting contract

A one-of-a-kind talent who needs no introduction received a Hollywood intro anyway as Shohei Ohtani began his new chapter with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

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NFL expands overseas games and books Brazil contest in 2024

NFL team owners voted Wednesday to stage a 2024 regular-season game in Brazil and approved an increase in the number of international contests from four to eight starting in 2025.

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Wounded Eddie Jones has plenty to prove on Japan return

Eddie Jones has deep ties to Japan and led the country to its greatest rugby triumph, but the pugnacious Australian has plenty to prove as he returns as Brave Blossoms head coach.

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WTA boss Steve Simon to leave role as CEO but stay on as exec

WTA boss Steve Simon will relinquish his position as CEO but remain as executive chairman following the appointment of his replacement, the governing body of women's tennis said Tuesday as it announced an organizational restructure.

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San Francisco signs South Korean Jung Hoo Lee for $113 million

The San Francisco Giants made their offseason splash by signing South Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract, several media reports said Tuesday.

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Dodgers, Red Sox and Jays to meet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Highly coveted Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, and per multiple media reports, he's slated to talk with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and a few other teams soon.

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Lyles and Kipyegon named track athletes of the year

American sprinter Noah Lyles and Kenya's Faith Kipyegon were named the men's and women's track athletes of the year by World Athletics on Monday.

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Ohtani mentor Kuriyama sees more landmarks for new Dodger

New Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani still has plenty more to achieve in his already unparalleled career, his first professional manager and former national team skipper Hideki Kuriyama said Monday.

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People in Japan elated with Ohtani's record deal with Dodgers

People in Shohei Ohtani's home prefecture and cities across Japan were elated on Sunday by news of the two-way star's record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Ozaki hat trick steals show in Cane, Kolbe Sungoliath debut

Seiya Ozaki scored a hat trick of tries Sunday as Tokyo Sungoliath overwhelmed reigning champions Kubota Spears 52-26 in the opening round of the Japan Rugby League One season.

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Philippines, China trade blame for collision in disputed waters

A Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided near a hotly contested reef on Sunday, with both countries trading blame for the latest such confrontation in the disputed South China Sea.

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Kaori Sakamoto wins first Grand Prix Final title

Reigning world figure skating champion Kaori Sakamoto picked up her first Grand Prix Final title Saturday.

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Kawasaki tops Kashiwa in shootout to lift Emperor's Cup

Kawasaki Frontale won their second Emperor's Cup after beating Kashiwa Reysol 8-7 in an epic penalty shootout following a goalless 120 minutes on Saturday.

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All Blacks Retallick and Savea lead Kobe Steelers to big win

All Blacks forwards Brodie Retallick and Ardie Savea each scored a brace of tries to power the Kobe Steelers to an 80-15 thrashing of the newly promoted Mie Heat in the opening game of the Japan Rugby League One season Saturday.

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IOC clears some Russians to compete in Paris as neutrals

Olympic chiefs on Friday gave the green light to the participation of some Russian and Belarusian individual athletes at next year's Paris Games as neutrals, as long as they do not actively support the war against Ukraine.

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Clash of styles between Columbus and LAFC awaits in MLS Cup

The Columbus Crew are seeking their third MLS title and Los Angeles FC are aiming for back-to-back championships in Saturday's MLS Cup final which promises to be a true contrast in styles.

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Jon Rahm joins LIV in deal reportedly worth over $300 million

After weeks of speculation, two-time major champion Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf on Thursday.

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Top MLB free agent Yamamoto to travel to U.S. to meet with Yankees

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to travel to the United States to meet with the New York Yankees on Monday, according to MLB.com.

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Title holders Urawa Reds dumped out of Asian Champions League

The defending champion Urawa Reds crashed out of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday as the Japanese side slipped to a 2-1 loss against hosts Hanoi FC, meaning the three-time winners cannot qualify for the last 16.

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Yankees to acquire slugger Juan Soto in blockbuster trade

Juan Soto will be wearing pinstripes next season.

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Dreadlocked Japanese fan favorite Horie to retire from rugby

Japan rugby international Shota Horie said Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season after playing in four World Cups including a 2019 quarterfinal on home soil.

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Lionel Messi named Time's 'Athlete of the Year'

Lionel Messi has been named Time magazine's "Athlete of the Year" for 2023 after a trailblazing season marked by an eighth Ballon d'Or award and his ground-breaking move to Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.

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Shohei Ohtani decision expected 'within the week,' reports say

Shohei Ohtani plans to decide where to sign "within the week," MLB Network reported on Monday, as the Winter Meetings began in Nashville, Tennessee.

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New in-season tournament delivering early returns for NBA

If you happened to tune into an NBA game in November on a Tuesday or Friday night, you might have noticed that the court looked different — with every inch of hardwood painted, and a broad stripe running through the middle from baseline-to-baseline. The special paint jobs, as you probably figured out soon thereafter, are for the new NBA In-Season Tournament.

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'The Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan becomes oldest UK snooker champion

Ronnie O'Sullivan became the oldest UK snooker champion after securing a 10-7 victory over China's Ding Junhui to claim a record-extending eighth title in York on Sunday.

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City's Pep Guardiola not ready to sound alarm despite lack of wins

Manchester City's longest winless run in the Premier League in six years is no cause for alarm, according to manager Pep Guardiola after his side's thrilling 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

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Germany to take on Scotland in Euro 2024 opener as draw set

Hosts Germany will face Scotland in the opening match of Euro 2024 in Munich following the draw on Saturday, while defending champions Italy will be in the same group as Spain.

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Late draw seals J1 return for Verdy at Shimizu's expense

Itsuki Someno scored a dramatic late penalty Saturday to secure Tokyo Verdy's return to the J. League's top flight for the first time since 2008 with a 1-1 draw against Shimizu S-Pulse in the promotion playoff final.

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Tahiti villagers say barge to build Olympic surf tower damages reef

A barge planned for use building a controversial judging tower for the Paris 2024 Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti snagged on a reef and damaged coral near the contest site, local opponents said.

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Four teams remain in Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, report says

The bidding for coveted free agent Shohei Ohtani is down to four teams, with the winner expected to pay more than $500 million for the services of the two-time American League Most Valuable Player, ESPN reported Friday.

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