Category Sports News

Stan Wawrinka has been handed an Australian Open wildcard as he begins the final season of his career, with Australian Nick Kyrgios missing out.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka announced in December that 2026 will be the final season of his trophy-laden career.

The 40-year-old former world number three won the first of his three major titles at Melbourne Park.

“Winning the Australian Open in 2014, my first Grand Slam title, is an absolute career highlight for me, so I’m incredibly grateful to receive this wildcard,” said Wawrinka.

“To have the chance to play the Australian Open at the beginning of my final year on tour means the world to me.”

Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios said he had chosen not to contest the men’s singles competition at his home slam because he does not yet feel ready to play five-set matches.

The 30-year-old, who has fallen to 670th in the world after struggling with injuries over recent seasons, will enter the men’s doubles competition, having won that event in 2022 alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“After some good conversations with Tennis Australia I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO,” Kyrgios wrote on social media.

“I’m fit and back on court, but five-setters are a different beast and I’m not quite ready to go the distance yet.

“This tournament means everything to me, but I’d rather give my spot to someone who’s ready to make their moment count.

Liam Rosenior is the fifth full-time head coach to take charge at Chelsea in five years, but what will the new boss bring to Stamford Bridge?

The former Strasbourg manager has said he wants fans “to be off their seat in the first 10 minutes” of every match, but doing so with a Blues side who have gone five games without a win provides a challenge.

From his time in charge of Hull City and Strasbourg, we have a strong idea of how Rosenior likes to set up his teams, with an emphasis on stopping opponents having a numerical advantage on the last line.

When rivals put five players in attack, with two wide players, two attacking midfielders and a striker, Rosenior’s sides adopt a back-five shape while defending near their goal.

This can mean a five made up of three central defenders and two wing-backs, but sometimes Rosenior will create a back five by asking one of his wingers to drop in alongside the back four.

At Chelsea, a winger like Pedro Neto may be asked to do this role given his work-rate.

Higher up the pitch, Rosenior’s Strasbourg tended to maintain this 5-2-3 shape, applying more intense pressure when looking to win back possession.

On occasion, from a higher defensive position, the team may press from a 4-4-2 starting shape. This is usually done if the opposition build with a back four rather than a back three.

Rosenior’s in-possession tactics are perhaps the most interesting part of his strategy. His side move into a 3-2-2-3 shape when they have the ball, irrespective of how many natural defenders they have on the pitch.

A good reference point is the shape that his predecessor, Enzo Maresca, deployed at Chelsea. Maresca also elected for a 3-2-2-3 shape that became a more attacking 3-1-6 at times.

The midfield two in front of the back three is where Rosenior’s version of the 3-2-2-3 differs from Maresca’s.

The former Blues boss often opted to invert a full-back, alongside Moises Caicedo, to form a midfield two.

Rosenior prefers both players here to be starting central midfielders.

By avoiding players having to swap roles, this appears to be a safer approach as it reduces the likelihood that the middle of the pitch may be exposed at any time.

The new head coach will need to consider who best fits the role directly alongside Caicedo.

Chelsea’s right-back and captain Reece James may even be considered for a central midfield role under Rosenior.

Having coached Andrey Santos at Strasbourg last season, Rosenior will also know how to get the best out of the Brazilian in midfield, so he could be a contender.

The two attacking midfield positions and the two wide positions allow Rosenior to experiment.

These four roles are often occupied by any combination of the wingers, full-backs or wing-backs.

If the wide defenders are impressive in the centre of the pitch, Rosenior will give them licence to move into positions behind the striker – like Maresca used Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto at times. This would work if paired with wingers who are strong dribblers and hold the width.

Alternatively, if the forwards selected are better moving inside – such as Cole Palmer or Estevao Willian, then playing with wide defenders suited to hugging the touchline makes sense.

Rosenior has also used one full-back and one attacker in the central attacking positions, with the other full-back and attacker in the wide attacking positions. For Chelsea, this may look like Cucurella and Palmer playing behind the striker with Garnacho and Gusto out wide.

From goal-kicks and in build-up, Rosenior’s Strasbourg keeper Mike Penders was heavily involved in play, something that Robert Sanchez will need to get to grips with.

Strasbourg often set up in a 5-2-4 shape from goal-kicks if you include the goalkeeper as being part of the first line of defence, opting to play risky short passes.

The idea is to entice the opposition to press with many players, which in theory opens space for Rosenior’s sides to attack higher up the pitch.

This approach looks great when it works.

However, errors at the back leading to goals are relatively common. Strasbourg have the joint-most errors leading to goals in Ligue 1 this season.

With better players at Chelsea, the hope is that these errors will be reduced, but pressing in the Premier League is arguably more effective than anything Rosenior will have faced so far.

Some teams have decided against pressing Rosenior’s side intensely. When teams defend in a mid or low block, Strasbourg play many sideways passes between the back line.

Against compact defences, Strasbourg kept the ball well but struggled to break teams down. The 3-2-2-3 shape meant they were well placed to defend if they lost possession by putting five players behind the ball, but this would leave only five players to attack.

It is clear that Rosenior is an impressive young coach with clear principles, but there will naturally be questions around how his system may scale to the Premier League.

Goalkeeper Sanchez’s passing will be tested, and seeing whether the English coach persists with his shape and tactics will be interesting, if errors occur.

The Premier League possesses teams and coaches that are quick to figure out and adapt to opposition plans.

It would not be a surprise to see teams sit off Rosenior’s Chelsea, challenging them to break them down.

With any new manager, time and patience is needed.

The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence in memory of Renee Good – who was shot dead by a US immigration agent – before Friday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Good, 37, was killed less than four miles from the Timberwolves’ Target Center following a confrontation on Wednesday morning.

“As we all know, our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.

“We want to just convey our condolences and heartfelt wishes and prayers and thoughts to the families and loved ones and all of those that are greatly affected by what happened.”

Minnesota earned a fourth successive win – beating Cleveland 131-122 – with Julius Randle scoring 28 points, with 11 rebounds and eight assists.

The Indiana Pacers won 114-112 at the Charlotte Hornets to end a 13-game losing streak and deliver a 1,000th victory for coach Rick Carlisle.

Carlisle has coached the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks and had two spells with the Pacers during his 25-year career.

The 66-year-old is the 11th coach to reach the milestone and the first to join the group since Doc Rivers in 2021.

Indiana remain bottom of the Eastern Conference with the Hornets in 12th.

In Salt Lake City, Utah Jazz halted a five-match losing run with a 116-114 win against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Chicago Bulls’ meeting with the Miami Heat was postponed due to condensation on the court in Chicago.

The United Center hosted an NHL game on Thursday and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the court was not playable 24 hours later.

It is the stuff of dreams for the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup to take on the holders in the third round. When Macclesfield host Crystal Palace on Saturday it will be one of the biggest days in their recent history, but one also tinged with sadness.

On 16 December, Silkmen forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident while travelling back from Macclesfield’s National League North match at Bedford Town.

Rather than travel on the team bus back to Cheshire, McLeod was driving himself back to the Midlands after the 2-1 victory in which he was an unused substitute.

The rest of the squad were held up in gridlocked traffic after the crash on the M1, but it wasn’t until the next day they learned their team-mate was involved.

Macclesfield’s first game after McLeod’s death was postponed, but the club have played three league matches since.

Saturday’s FA Cup tie is a huge occasion for a club that reformed in 2020 after Macclesfield Town were wound up in the high court. But manager John Rooney said recent events have put things into perspective.

Rooney took it upon himself to contact every member of the squad when the news was confirmed.

“Nothing can prepare you for that,” Rooney told BBC Sport. “When you have to ring every player individually and tell them, I can’t explain what it felt like.

“I wanted to take that on. I didn’t want people ringing different players. I wanted to be the one to tell that news. I thought that was the right thing to do at the time.

“I don’t think many managers will ever have to speak to the lads and let them know what happened with their friend. It is the hardest thing I have ever done and will ever have to do.”

Rooney began his playing career with Macclesfield Town as a scholar, making his senior debut in 2008. He rejoined Macclesfield FC in 2023.

This time last year, he was still regularly playing for the Silkmen. Now he is guiding his former team-mates through an intensely difficult period.

When Rooney made the transition from player to manager in July 2025, Wolves academy graduate McLeod was one of his first signings.

“I brought him in and I took a shine to him from day one when he came on trial,” Rooney said. “He was an absolute diamond of a kid – he was the life and soul in the changing room. He always had a smile on his face.

“It puts life into perspective. Seven days before, he scored a goal for us, and seven days later he’s not here any more. It’s the saddest thing I’ve ever been involved in.

McLeod had injury setbacks during his time at Macclesfield, but scored three goals in seven appearances.

“He was an incredibly talented footballer,” forward Danny Elliott told BBC Sport. “He was strong, athletic and scored a few really good goals. Everyone was buzzing for him.

“More importantly, as a person he was fantastic. He was gentle, really caring and he took a lot of time for everybody. He was funny. He was quiet at first but he was coming out of his shell. All the boys warmed to him. He was just a special person to have around.”

Elliott is one of several players who hold Bible study sessions and pray together before games. After learning the news about McLeod, the whole squad met at the stadium where Elliott led a group prayer.

“Nothing can help you with that feeling of pain and suffering, but I have tried to do what I can in terms of helping and supporting the other players,” Elliott said.

“I have had a lot of younger players call me in floods of tears. A lot of the players have looked towards me as a source of comfort which is refreshing and feels like an honour and a privilege, but it is difficult for myself and it is an emotional time to support each other.

Saturday’s game comes 25 days after McLeod’s death, and Macclesfield are still in mourning.

“We were with him just hours before,” Elliott said. “It is such a strange situation because you can’t just stop. The beauty but also the sadness of football is you have to keep going, but the passing of Ethan won’t ever be forgotten.

“He was just 21. You would think he had 15 years of FA Cup runs left, but life has strange ways of not being what you think it might be. It’s a reminder to enjoy those moments, and I have no doubt on Saturday we will be enjoying every second of it and just taking it all in.”

Macclesfield have retired the number 20 shirt in McLeod’s memory. A JustGiving page to help support his family has surpassed the £25,000 target.

Elliott said the team will play for McLeod in every game and has made a vow to carry his legacy with him forever.

“The passing of Ethan was so shocking and surprising that it is very difficult to put into words,” Elliott said. “It is something that will continue to affect players for a long time in different ways.

“It has brought the group closer together as people. It reminds you that there are bigger things to life than football.

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia believes Welsh rugby has a “big job” to ensure exit-bound Test stars such as Aaron Wainwright come back home.

The 28-year-old Wales number eight will join Leicester in the summer after nine seasons with the Rodney Parade club.

Talisman Wainwright, who has made 129 appearances for Dragons, has been enticed by a new challenge with Tigers despite a lucrative new contract offer.

He will go up against international team-mates Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake in England after the Ospreys pair opted to join Gloucester due to the uncertainty surrounding the professional game in Wales.

Steve Tandy’s autumn squad featured 13 players based outside Wales and Tiatia, an Ospreys legend as a player, is focused on ensuring that top talent returns.

The former All Blacks forward said: “How do we get our best Welsh players back? How do we bring Waino (Wainwright) back?

“At the Dragons we have a big job along with the Ospreys, Scarlets and Cardiff to keep improving and function as four teams to produce a product that the fans are really proud of, with tribalism and clear identity of the four clubs to entice the players back.

Wainwright has been a leading figure for Dragons since making his debut in 2017, which was followed by a rapid rise to the international stage.

The back-row forward has won 62 caps, featured in all five matches of the 2019 Grand Slam and has played at two World Cups.

“He is going to be a massive loss,” said Tiatia. “I love Waino – he is a unique man and a heck of a player who brings confidence to the group.

“He trains hard, does all of the one per centers really well and is a really good pro; people can influence others and he is definitely a person we will miss.

“We know that he will give his best until the season is finished and that is exciting because there are a lot of things that we can do as a group together and objectives that we want to achieve, with Waino as part of that.”

Tiatia is working with Dragons head of recruitment Jonathan Westwood to fill the void, with Wainwright’s decision leaving plenty of room in the budget.

The Rodney Parade club, who signed a new Professional Rugby Agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union in May, will have an increased playing budget of approximately £6m next season.

“We are looking at the moment at opportunities for someone to come in and complement what we are doing here and really impose themselves,” said Tiatia.

Top talent leaving Wales is nothing new and Dragons have previously seen the likes of Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris and Aled Brew head for the exit.

However, the current state of the game – and wait for news on the WRU’s plans – risks more players following Wainwright, Lake and Morgan.

The Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) warned in September, when the governing body had suggested cutting to two teams, that proposals for the elite game would “drive talent to leave Wales”.

“Regardless of uncertainty in Welsh rugby, these guys (Wainwright, Lake and Morgan) are world-class players so it comes as no surprise that there’s interest from top clubs,” said WRPA chairman and Scarlets and Wales flanker Josh Macleod.

“There is a level of uncertainty which obviously isn’t nice for players, but the guys down with us have been great.

“We’re doing work behind the scenes to try and get a level of clarity on what’s going on and the best way to move forward. We’ve got a good exec board [at the WRPA] that are very supportive and CEO Gareth Lewis does everything he can.

An imagined moment gave Prince Naseem Hamed the vision of what reality could have been.

The reconciliation with Brendan Ingle which never occurred is a pivotal part of Giant, the biopic about the pair.

A regret the former world champion has learned to live with is that he never got the chance to make peace in person with his trainer and mentor.

“I always wanted that to happen,” Hamed, now 51, told BBC Sport.

“But to see it unfold in front of me like it could have happened… I actually said to the director and the producer: ‘I only wish that that last scene was really true, because I would have wanted that’.

“Because I was with him for like 18 years.”

Giant, the new film starring Pierce Brosnan and Amir El-Masry, retells the coach and fighter’s relationship. The story charts Hamed’s rise from a seven-year-old growing up in Sheffield to a multi-millionaire global superstar under Ingle’s guidance.

The movie, released in UK cinemas on 9 January, delves into how Hamed became a world featherweight champion by 21 and then the fallout with the Ireland-born coach later on.

Their relationship became strained as Hamed and his family grew irritated by the trainer’s agreed 25% cut of his fight purses as they started to become big numbers.

Then a 1998 book, The Paddy and The Prince, written by Nick Pitt, completely soured the relationship. They split not long after Hamed’s win over Wayne McCullough in the same year. It was a bitter parting.

As years passed and Hamed’s career finished, he tried “many times” to reconnect with Ingle but the legendary trainer did not want to meet.

In 2018, Ingle died aged 77 and Hamed never got the chance to make amends. He could only deliver a public tribute to the man who had helped him reach the top of the world.

“He didn’t want to have that final kind of meeting and to have to clear the air with it,” Hamed said.

“If I was to say to you that there’s no regret and I don’t care, I’d be lying. Because I’ve got a heart and I felt like I started at the age of seven with him.

“He laid down the fundamentals and he taught me stuff from a very young age that I can never just not include – I can’t say it was on my own and it was just a God-given talent.

Ireland-born Brosnan stars as Ingle in the film, written and directed by Yorkshireman Rowan Athale. The Hollywood A-lister says that he wished his own meeting with Hamed this week, in the lead-up to the release, could have been a reunion with Ingle instead.

“[The meeting] had an emotional wallow in the sense that it would have been wonderful if it had been Brendan embracing Naz,” said Brosnan, 72.

“The embrace had a heartbeat of deep sincerity and that kind of lament of life.

“Things that should have been and could have been. And that’s the glory of this film. That’s what makes the film so poignant and it’s more than a boxing story.

“It’s a father, son, how to be a man, a love story, promises made, promises broken. And all that’s not given is lost, really.”

Brosnan, born in Drogheda, was raised in the Irish town of Navan before he became a star actor, going on to play James Bond.

He met Ingle once, when he was in the dressing room on the night Hamed beat Kevin Kelley in Madison Square Garden in 1997.

El-Masry, who plays Hamed, lost eight kilos for the role and “religiously” studied the mannerisms of the flamboyant fighter.

Both men used a dialect coach, with Brosnan tasked with mastering Ingle’s Irish accent, mixed in with a Sheffield twang.

El-Masry said the scene when they imagine the pair reconciling was the moment in the script he knew the movie was one for him.

Hamed had no input into the film’s making but is delighted a movie has been made about him. Brendan’s sons, Dominic and John, were involved and are happy with how the film portrays their father.

While telling Hamed’s story, it also documents Ingle’s own journey. Born in Dublin, he moved to Sheffield and opened a boxing gym in an old church hall in the Wincobank area of the city.

There he would coach world champions Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter and Kell Brook but it was a gym open to anyone from any part of society of any level.

And it became famous for Ingle’s unconventional training methods which allowed his boxers to become flamboyant and cocksure with fancy footwork.

Brosnan and El-Masry agreed Ingle provided a “safe space” for his fighters.

“Brendan would say his own words, ‘liquorice allsorts’,” added Hamed, born to Yemeni parents.

“All different backgrounds, all different races, it was just a melting pot.

“He always would say that the barriers are always down, they’re not up.

“We was all one big happy family in that gym and that was because of him. In that gym, I can honestly say to you, there was never ever a sense or a feeling of racism.”