Former world tennis number one Maria Sharapova could ask ASB Classic tournament director Karl Budge for a wildcard into January's tournament

The world number 136 hasn't entered any of the three WTA tournaments in the first week of the season, and is unlikely to get entry into the strong Brisbane International.

That leaves Auckland and Shenzhen, but Budge says with the field they have assembled, he's leaning more towards youth.



Olympic silver medallists Alex Maloney and Molly Meech have taken out the 49erFX class at the Oceania sailing championships in Auckland.

Defending Olympic 49er champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have finished third behind Austrian and Spanish crews.



A record-breaking second-wicket partnership has led Auckland to a 97-run victory over Otago in cricket's Ford Trophy.

Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips put on 235 runs as part of their total of 310 for five.

Phillips reached his highest List A score of 156 from 135 balls.

Canterbury beat Northern Districts by 1 run and Central Districts defeated Wellington by 29 runs.



Cricket Australia will steer clear of having a player-selector, with George Bailey to retire from the game in February before officially joining the national panel.

It was initially thought he'd juggle the role with his playing duties for Tasmania.



Banned Big Bash League cricketer Emily Smith will complete a paid internship with Australia's players' association as the organisation considers their next move in her case.

The wicketkeeper's been sidelined for a year, of which nine months is suspended, for posting team information prematurely on social media in what was eventually a washed out match.



Hayden Paddon believes his odds of securing a World Rally Championship drive next year have lengthened.

His future's been in limbo after he was denied an opportunity with the M-Sport Ford team when Rally Australia was cancelled.

Paddon says now with the Citroen team pulling out of the competition, the WRC's in a tricky spot.



Manchester City's wealth has grown further.

The parent company of the Premier League champions has announced US private equity firm Silver Lake have invested 779 million dollars in the club.

City's now worth 7.48 billion dollars.



Fijian wing Semi Radradra has joined the English Premiership's Bristol Bears from next season on a three-year contract.



The Tall Blacks road to the Tokyo Olympics will have to go through Serbia.

New Zealand's qualifying tournament of six has been drawn, with only the winner to make it to Japan.

Sixth-ranked Serbia pose the biggest threat to the Tall Blacks, who will also have to get past Italy, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Senegal.

The tournament will be held at Belgrade in June.



Damaged supermaxi Wild Oats XI is expected to challenge for a 10th Sydney-to-Hobart line honours win, despite being in the midst of a global repair job and still having to qualify for the race.