Alcaraz missed last year's tournament with a hamstring injury
Jannik Sinner bounced back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev and win his maiden Grand Slam title.
World champion Max Verstappen got back to winning ways on Sunday with a third straight pole-to-flag victory at the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, leading teammate Sergio Perez across the line for a Red Bull 1-2 at Suzuka.
Wild card Caroline Wozniacki, another former champion and returning mother, will play 20th seed Magda Linette.
'The drive that I have is still there. My body has been serving me well, listening to me well. I have a great team of people around me. The motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in the sport, is still present.'
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test with a heel injury while England paceman Craig Overton will also miss the match in Melbourne with a fractured rib.
Former 100 metres World record holder Asafa Powell has been forced to withdraw from his first meeting since last year's Olympic final because of a hamstring injury, Athletics Australia said on Tuesday.
CA's head of scheduling Peter Roach acknowledged said they are not averse to idea of hosting on tri-series ODI, involving India and Pakistan, like it happened back in 1999-2000 season, though he admitted that it will be difficult to squeeze in a series in an already choc-a-bloc calendar.
The man was shot after confronting police officers on a busy city street, authorities said. He was taken into custody in a critical condition. He succumbed to the gunshot wounds in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Novak Djokovic will prepare for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title by representing Serbia at the United Cup mixed team tournament while old rival Rafael Nadal and former women's world number one Naomi Osaka return at Brisbane after time away.
Former star India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh hailed batting talisman Virat Kohli as the "best batter of this generation" across all formats and outlined what makes the 35-year-old unique.
Reader Ankur Bhatnagar sent us a picture of Sachin and Yuvraj from Melbourne.
Comedian Will Ferrell discussed how he plans to beat the heat.
India's Yuki Bhambri and his Dutch partner Robin Haase squandered three match points in the deciding set to go down against Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia and Rafael Matos of Brazil in the Australian Open men's doubles first round in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Reader Goutam Das sent us a picture of Andrew Symonds and Mitchell Johnson from Melbourne.
Naomi Osaka felt the nerves but looked solid on her return to elite tennis after 15 months out as she got past Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International.
The source added that team officials and selectors had discussed Afridi's case with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf.
The duo lost their second round men's doubles match to Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia at the Australian Open.
The blockbuster five-match Test series between India and Australia will get underway at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 22, the venue replacing Adelaide Oval as the national cricket board's preferred choice for the season opener.
China's Li Na sent a wayward Maria Sharapova crashing out of the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday and says there will be no repeat of her capitulation to Kim Clijsters in the 2011 Melbourne Park final.
Super Serbs Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic locked in their second round Australian Open spots on Monday as Andy Roddick routed a sacrificial Swede on Day One of the year's first grand slam.
No.1 ranking will inspire 'Gen-Next' of Indian tennis, says Rohan Bopanna after achieving the feat
Joining the raging debate around Impact Players in the IPL, Lucknow Super Giants consultant Adam Voges said he prefers something like the 'Power Surge' rule in the Australian Big Bash League where the batting team gets to decide a two-over phase of fielding restrictions.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard slotted a first-half goal and Iago Aspas a second in injury-time to secure a 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory but Luis Suarez hogged the limelight at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The New Year has started, and many film folk have resumed work. But for many others, the holiday isn't over just yet!
Images from Day 1 of the Australian Open.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik will work with England Lions' as batting consultant for a brief period of nine days when the side will tour India.
'Do me a favour': Andy Murray hits back after legacy questioned
Pat Cummins leads Australia fightback after Pakistan take early honours
Former Australian Open runner-up Petra Kvitova said on Monday she is expecting her first child with husband and long-time coach Jiri Vanek and would miss the year's first Grand Slam which begins in two weeks.
'You're rubbing shoulders with AB (de Villiers) and Virat (Kohli) for two months, talking to them while watching other games. It's just the greatest learning experience that any player could ask for.'
Shanaya ticks off her bucket list... Anjali-Nivin take their film to Rotterdam... Shehnaaz asks for some divine intervention...
Therapy and motherhood have, she has said, helped her on her mental health journey and she appeared to be having a lot more fun on court in Brisbane.
Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden barely broke a sweat in a straight-set victory over local hopes John Millman and Edward Winter at the Australian Open.
Tight bowling helped Australia beat Sri Lanka by 24 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system in their rain-hit triangular series one-day international on Friday.
Batting legend Sir Viv Richards of the West Indies has been singed up by the Melbourne Stars as a mentor for the team during the second edition of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni offered no excuses for her meek departure from the Australian Open semi-finals at the hands of Serena Williams on Thursday, keener to discuss the career-high ranking that will follow her stunning run at Melbourne Park.
The women's tournament, made up of 10 teams, will be held from February 21 to March 8 before 16 men's teams play from October 18 to November 15.
Formula One world champion Max Verstappen took pole position for a third straight year at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, with Sergio Perez qualifying a close second to ensure a Red Bull front-row lockout.
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