Murray, who has struggled with a persistent hip injury since the Briton's quarter-final exit at Wimbledon in July, pulled out of the US Open and dropped to 16th in the world rankings.
Osaka will bid for her second Grand Slam title in succession against twice Wimbledon champion Kvitova on Saturday, having claimed her maiden major in New York last year by upsetting Serena Williams in the final.
Australia's run-machine Marnus Labuschagne has displaced England captain Joe Root to claim the world's number one Test batter spot following a run of big scores in the ongoing Ashes series.
Mohammed Ghouse, an autorickshaw driver in Hyderabad, had nurtured his younger son's passion for cricket. He passed away on November 20 from a lung ailment, a week after Siraj landed in Australia with the Indian team.
Ending weeks of speculation, Cricket Australia on Thursday confirmed that India will make the trip Down Under starting October this year for an assignment comprising four Tests, along with three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals.
Finally clinching an elusive Australian Open crown is Andy Murray's number one goal for the new year but the Briton concedes that his hopes of success at Melbourne Park may rest on champion Novak Djokovic having an off-day.
Australia have not lost a Test match at the Gabba since 1988.
The Indian team could not have risked playing star pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 World Cup with a dodgy back while his replacement Mohammad Shami is on his way to full recovery from COVID-19, said captain Rohit Sharma.
Smriti Mandhana isn't actually known to be the most prolific T20 player -- her career T20 International average of 27.32 is middling at best. There have been failures too, but her ability to analyse and assess them honestly is a rarity in modern sport.
India's Rishabh Pant and England's Joe Root have found a place in the men's category.
A marauding Rafael Nadal ended Stefanos Tsitsipas's trailblazing run at the Australian Open on Thursday, thrashing the 20-year-old Greek in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 masterclass to reach a fifth final at Melbourne Park.
The problems in the hotel didn't for once affect their focus on the Test match ahead.
India's newest pace sensation Thangarasu Natarajan has been released from the Tamil Nadu squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament as the BCCI wants him to stay fresh for the limited-overs series against England next month.
Serena Williams is chasing Australian Margaret Court's record 24 Grand Slam singles titles
Williams had little trouble against the 31-year-old German although the gusty breezes at Auckland Tennis Centre played havoc with her ball toss, especially when she was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set.
CA bans haircuts of Big Bash players among other new COVID-19 protocols.
The players made the gesture for the first time ahead of the one-day international series-opener against India in Sydney on November 27.
Tomic dropped from Davis Cup after blast at officials.
Pant blazed his way to a breath-taking 91 on the third day of the ongoing first Test between India and England in Chennai.
West Indies captain Jason Holder will miss the third and final Test against England after being banned by the International Cricket Council because of his team's slow over rate during the second match in Antigua.
The veteran coach also said both teams would have to be tactfully aware of playing at the MCG.
World number one Simona Halep swatted aside American Nicole Gibbs while Maria Sharapova was flawless in her straight sets victory over Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu in the opening round of the Shenzhen Open on Monday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
The 21-year-old is looking to become just the 11th woman to claim a third consecutive Grand Slam title.
Tennis great Roger Federer has issued a tacit apology for inadvertently provoking a war of words with temperamental local Bernard Tomic ahead of the Australian Open.
India's new fast bowling find Thangarasu Natarajan on Tuesday said he was "ecstatic and extremely surprised" by the reception he was accorded on his return to his native village after an impressive show in Australia.
The 29-year-old, who impressed during the series in Australia after making his debut across all formats, had a shoulder injury as well as a knee niggle which ruled him out of the first couple of games in the ongoing five-match series against England.
Maria Sharapova declared herself free from the worry of a forearm injury after charging into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday.
Paine admitted that there will be an element of uncertainty associated with the Brisbane Test if India, a powerful cricket board, wants to press the pressure button.
Roger Federer has rejigged his coaching team for next year by parting company with Stefan Edberg and bringing Ivan Ljubicic on board, the 17-time Grand Slam champion said on Wednesday.
Auckland in New Zealand has been named the world's most liveable city.
The second Test between India and Bangladesh at Kolkata's Eden Gardens will be the first day-night Test on Indian soil, making India the seventh country to host a day-night Test.
No tennis for four months, no problem for Rafael Nadal.
Take a look at six of the up-and-comers who could upset the top names at the year's first Grand Slam.
Former champion Rafael Nadal shrugged off concerns about his fitness ahead of the Australian Open and paid tribute to fellow 'Big Four' rival Andy Murray, a day after the emotional Briton revealed plans to retire.
Novak Djokovic's star still burns bright as he returns to Melbourne Park in search of a record seventh Australian Open title.
Even putting on socks and shoes caused him severe pain, the three time Grand Slam winner revealed.
Former champions Stanislas Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal gave Australian Open organisers a massive boost on Tuesday when they both said they were looking forward to next week's season opening Grand Slam after battling long-term injuries.
The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) on Wednesday invited proposals from consultants to conduct a 'gap analysis' to assess the existing infrastructure in the city and to state what more is needed to make it a potential venue for the Olympic Games.
Journalist Peter Greste arrived in Australia and been reunited with his family after 400 days in a Cairo jail.
