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PARIS — Slow play dogged the PGA Tour for a second consecutive weekend, as the last group again took five and a half hours to complete their final rounds during the Farmers Insurance Open won by Harris English.

The leaders were on the course for almost three hours on Saturday before even completing the front nine at Torrey Pines, prompting two-time women's major champion Dottie Pepper to express her frustrations.

"We're starting to need a new word to talk about this pace of play issue and its respect for your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasting," said Pepper in her role as a US television reporter.

"It's just got to get better."

Various rule changes were introduced in 2019 to try and speed up the pace of play in golf, including being allowed to leave the flagstick in the hole while putting.

They had more of an effect in amateur golf, though, with fans and pundits continuing to complain about slow play in the professional game.

The new indoor TGL golf circuit, founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has included a shot clock in its format, as was introduced to professional tennis to speed up the time taken between points.

The PGA Tour has said it expects slow play to improve from next year due to smaller fields being introduced for many events.

Last November, English LPGA Tour star Charley Hull called for strong punishments for slow play, pointing out a round with friends can be more than two hours quicker than a round on tour.

"I'm quite ruthless but (my idea would be) if you get three bad timings, every time it's a two-shot penalty," Hull said.

"If you have three of them you lose your Tour card instantly. I'm sure that would hurry a lot of people up and they won't want to lose their Tour card.

"That would kill the slow play, but they would never do that."

Tough courses, slow play? 

Rounds tend to take longer in tournaments played on notoriously tough courses, such as the US Open.

American English closed out his first PGA Tour win in three years with 12 consecutive pars on Saturday in difficult conditions at Torrey Pines.

Two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas said at a recent TGL event that it would be tough to speed up play when golfers are taking on tricky courses.

"They [fans] like harder golf courses, they like watching us play difficult places, but they want us to play faster, so those two don't go together," he said.

"You've kind of got to pick and choose your battles."

However, two weeks ago, winner Sepp Straka took five hours and 39 minutes to finish his final round at the American Express -- a tournament played in excellent scoring conditions and which he ended on 25-under-par overall.

PARIS — Johan Eliasch says he was as surprised as anyone that he threw his hat into the ring to succeed Thomas Bach as the International Olympic Commettee (IOC) president but he told AFP he is the right person to meet the disparate challenges that lie ahead, especially the pivotal issue of the environment.

Eliasch is a highly successful businessman and renowned environmentalist -- making him a pertinent candidate in light of the recent wildfires in 2028 Games host city Los Angeles -- and has been president of the International Ski Federation since 2021.

He hopes such a CV will dazzle his electorate, the International Olympic Committee members, when they choose one of the seven candidates to be Bach's successor in March this year, even if he has only been a member since July.

Eliasch may lack the profile of athletics icon Sebastian Coe and the inside knowledge of the IOC that Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior possesses after two decades as a member, but he believes he has the skillset required to run the most powerful body in sport.

"I have been an adviser to governments on protecting the environment and taking action on climate change," he told AFP in an interview this month.

"I have been very involved in technology, I have run a major company. I run the biggest winter sports federation, which provides 55 percent of all events in the Winter Games.

"The bottom line is if they are looking for somebody with a lot of experience and expertise I am your man."

Eliasch, who refers to himself as Anglo-Swedish as he has spent more time in Britain than his country of birth, said the new president arrives at a crucial moment.

"We are at a crossroads where expectations are very high and if you get things wrong it will not be a soft landing, it will be a crash landing," he said.

"So it is important to have the right person steering us into the future and there are going to be some very big decisions coming up in sport."

Eliasch, who says as he will be 63 come the election, it will be "his last hurrah".

'Slippery slope'

On key issues such as the environment and sustainability he has a proven track record -- for example, he founded Cool Earth, a charity dedicated to rainforest conservation in 2006.

"I was always passionate about nature," he said.

"There is an existential threat, though, centring round food, water and climate security.

"If you cut down rainforests in one part of the world rain falls in different places, then agricultural land becomes non-productive and people start moving round, which provokes conflicts."

The art-loving Eliasch, a keen sportsman himself who has tried his hand at skiing, curling, tennis, golf and motor sports, said the LA fires were a taste of what is to come.

"We can't afford to take our eye off the ball for even just a second, as far as climate change is concerned," he said.

"The LA fires -- the destruction and heartbreak they've caused, and how close they've come to LA28 venues -- it shows us the urgency, and how vigilant and prepared and well-resourced we must be to avoid, manage and contain these extreme weather events.

"Because the sad fact is we're going to see more of them in the future, not less."

On the thorny issue of Russia and the Olympics, he admires the work done by Bach.

Russia as a nation state has been out in the sporting cold since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Eliasch, though, believes it was right to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Olympics last year.

"This goes to the very core of the Olympic movement, our ability to unite," he said.

"Here we can be part of the solution to facilitate a faster peace.

Yes we have to be sensitive to countries who have very strong opinions, but we must never compromise our neutrality.

"We must not tread in political waters as that is a slippery slope."

LONDON — Ange Postecoglou admitted he does not know if he will avoid the sack after Tottenham hit a new "low" with a dismal 2-1 defeat against struggling Leicester on Sunday.

Postecoglou's side crashed to a sixth defeat from their last seven Premier League matches to increase the pressure on the under-fire Australian.

Richarlison's 33rd-minute header gave Tottenham hope of a first top-flight win since December 15.

But Jamie Vardy levelled for Leicester less than 60 seconds after half-time before Bilal El Khannouss fired the winner four minutes later.

Furious Tottenham fans called for chairman Daniel Levy to quit throughout the match, while boos greeted full-time whistle after Postecoglou was jeered for substituting Richarlison.

Tottenham are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the relegation zone.

Postecoglou claimed his injury-hit squad -- deprived of 10 players at present -- are still behind him, but the former Celtic boss conceded he could not guarantee he would still be around when the walking wounded eventually return.

"Who knows. I reckon there is probably a fair chunk that will say 'no'," he said.

"When you are the manager of a football club, you can be very vulnerable and isolated. I don't feel that.

"I feel like this group of players, not for me, are giving everything for the club. I have a group of staff that is really committed. I focus on that."

A 3-2 win at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday lept Tottenham on track for the last 16, while they hold a 1-0 lead in the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool ahead of the second leg at Anfield in February.

'Very committed'

Postecoglou's hopes of fulfilling his boast that he always wins a trophy in his second season lie with those competitions and the FA Cup.

But, after a run of one win in 11 league games, climbing away from the relegation zone is essential if Postecoglou is to survive the storm raging around his club.

"I really believe in this group of players. Even today, what I asked of them, some of the performances were outstanding considering what they've been through," he said.

"To me that's all positive, but ultimately, the fact that we've lost another game of football, the focus is on that.

"I have felt all along that the players are still very committed to what we're doing. That's important to me because I firmly believe in it.

"This is probably as low as we've been so far this year but I still think that in these last three months we can do something really special and I think these players believe that.

"Right now it's very hard to visualise that when you think of the current circumstances we're in."

First-choice defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven returned to training this week, while Tottenham continue to chase additions in the transfer window.

"You just have to look at our absences today and they'll all be back," Postecoglou added.

"Even missing Madders [James Maddison] today, he was so good the other night.

"All these little things that are not allowing us to get any momentum, I'm sure will change and when they change, I'm really confident we can make an impact."

MELBOURNE — A clinical Jannik Sinner "emptied the tank" to sweep past Alexander Zverev and retain his Australian Open title on Sunday, cementing his status as the world's dominant player in men's tennis.

The 23-year-old Italian came through a tense final between the two highest-ranked players 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, raising his arms in the air and looking to the sky in celebration.

In doing so he became the first Italian, man or woman, to win three Grand Slams, surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli.

The emphatic victory also thrust him alongside Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to successfully defend their Melbourne Park titles this century.

Sinner, who has a doping case hanging over his head, said he was fired up coming into the match despite his calm exterior.

"In your mind there is only one match left. You want to empty your tank a little bit. That was what I was trying to do," he said.

"It is definitely a different feeling for sure," he added of winning a second Melbourne crown.

"I know how much work I put into this one and having this one twice it's amazing."

The win proved more misery for Germany's Zverev, who remains one of the world's best players never to taste Grand Slam glory, falling short once again in his third big final.

"It sucks standing here next to this thing [trophy] and not being able to touch it, I'll be honest," said the 27-year-old.

"But congratulations to Jannik. You more than deserve it. You're the best player in the world by far. I was hoping that I could be more competitive today, but you're just too good. It's as simple as that."

Ice-cool Sinner proved to be a tower of mental strength again in Australia, with his defence coming against the backdrop of an ongoing doping case after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol last year.

The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed against his exoneration and is seeking a ban of up to two years. He denies knowingly doping.

A hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for April.

He cast all the worries aside to notch a 19th career title and extend his incredible winning streak to 21 matches, sharing words of consolation with Zverev.

"A tough day for you. You're an amazing player. Keep believing in yourself because I think we, all the players and the coaches, whoever is involved in the sport, know how strong you are, not only as a player, but also as a person.

"So keep it up. Keep working hard because we all believe that you can lift one of these very, very soon."

Racing clear 

Last year Sinner needed five sets to tame Daniil Medvedev and win his first Grand Slam, but it never looked like going the distance this time.

The US Open champion opened with a statement ace and won his first two service games to love, with Zverev struggling to get himself into the contest.

The German began to find his radar, taking four points off one Sinner serve in a game that went to deuce twice as the rallies built.

But the dam burst in the eighth game.

Zverev saved three break points but had no answer to a fourth when he was beaten by a blazing passing shot to slump 5-3 behind.

Sinner took the set in 46 minutes and kept the pressure on in the second.

The Italian has a phenomenal ability to turn recovery shots into momentum-changing ones and he raced 15-40 clear on the Zverev serve at 1-1.

Once more, the second seed dug deep to cling on.

From then on they couldn't be separated and it went to a tiebreak where Sinner got a lucky net cord that dribbled over to break for 5-4 and he streaked to a two-set lead.

Zverev smashed his racquet in frustration at the changeover and it didn't get any better in the third set, worn down by the relentless Italian.

Sinner broke for 4-2 when Zverev sent a forehand long and there was no way back for the increasingly disillusioned German.

MELBOURNE — Underdog Madison Keys upset Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her first Grand Slam crown at the age of 29.

The American ended world number one Sabalenka's dream of becoming the first woman for 26 years to win a third successive Melbourne Park singles title.

Keys yelled in delight and wiped away tears on securing the title after withstanding a fierce fightback from the Belarusian two-time defending champion.

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 champion, buried her head in a towel after her 20-match win streak at Melbourne Park was ended.

For 19th-seeded Keys it was the culmination of a 15-year journey from teenage prodigy to major winner.

"I have wanted this for so long and I have been in one other Grand Slam final and it did not go my way," said an emotional Keys, whose coach Bjorn Fratangelo is also her husband.

"I didn't know if I was ever going to get back to this position to try to win a trophy again."

The American had been tipped as a future world number one after winning her maiden WTA Tour match at the age of 14.

She made her first major semi-final at Melbourne Park 10 years ago as a 19-year-old, but a decade on she can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.

"I made my very first Grand Slam semi-final here in Melbourne," said Keys, the runner-up at the US Open in in 2017.

"So to now have won my first Grand Slam in the same place means the absolute world to me.

"My team believed in me every step of the way. So thank you so much," added Keys, who will now equal her career-high seventh in the world ranking she attained nine years ago.

"They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself, and helped me every step of the way. Last year was so tough, with some really bad injuries, I didn't know if I was gonna be able to do it again."

'What a tournament' 

Keys becomes the fourth oldest first-time winner of a major since the Open Era began in 1968.

Sabalenka was gracious after a first Melbourne defeat since 2022.

"First of all, Madison, what a tournament. You have been fighting really hard to get this trophy," Sabalenka said.

"I really feel like it's home when I'm here and I'll come back stronger and do my best next year."

It was Keys who came out of the blocks playing exemplary tennis to put Sabalenka under pressure and race to the first set in 35 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The Belarusian began to flip the script in the second set, breaking in the third game and moving ominously ahead 3-1.

Another break followed on a brilliant Sabalenka cross-court pass and she levelled the match after an hour and 20 minutes on court.

The 26-year-old Sabalenka by now was timing the ball much better and a younger Keys might have buckled.

But this mature version of Keys, who battled all the way to beat Iga Swiatek in a 10-point final-set tiebreak in the semi-finals, is made of sterner stuff.

At 5-6 when Sabalenka served to take it to another final-set tiebreak, Keys brought up two match points.

She held her nerve to secure the long-awaited title on the second with her 29th winner after 2hr 2min.

LOS ANGELES, United States — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for a career-high 54 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder overpowered the Utah Jazz 123-114 on Wednesday.

Gilgeous-Alexander bagged the first 50-point game of his career with a dazzling all-round performance that included eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

The virtuoso display from a player that many consider as the front-runner for this season's Most Valuable Player award proved decisive in a contest that saw 16 lead changes.

The win leaves Oklahoma City on top of the Western Conference with a 36-7 record.

Gilgeous-Alexander sought to play down his strong night following the win.

"I just tried to be aggressive, tried to make the right basketball play and then from there just trust the work -- it was no different from any other night," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"I had a few more points tonight, but it was nothing special."

Gilgeous-Alexander received offensive support from Jalen Williams, who chipped in with 25 points, while Cason Wallace added 13 off the bench.

John Collins led the Utah scoring with 22 points. Utah slipped to 10-32 with the loss and remain rooted to the foot of the Western Conference standings.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, a thrilling finish in Houston saw Eastern Conference pace-setters Cleveland stumble to a 108-109 defeat to the Rockets.

The Cavaliers looked to have taken a grip on the game in the fourth quarter, rattling off 19 unanswered points before taking a six-point lead with less than four minutes remaining.

Houston fought back, however, and knotted the score at 107-107 with five seconds remaining. Two free throws from Turkish international Alperen Sengun then put Houston ahead.

'A sloppy game' 

But there was still time for one final twist after Tari Eason lunged in for a rash challenge as Darius Garland attempted a game-winning three-pointer.

That sent Garland to the free throw line with a chance to win the game with only three seconds remaining, but Garland missed his first two free throws and Houston escaped.

The Rockets are now 29-14 and second in the Western Conference standings.

"I don't know what happened -- a sloppy game," said Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, who led his team's scoring with 26 points, including 7-of-12 from three-point range.

"It was how not to close a game out. But I thought we deserved that. We fought hard. Sometimes good things go your way, and sometimes they don't. Tonight they did at the end and we were able to close it out."

But while Houston celebrated, their Texan rivals the Dallas Mavericks were left reflecting on a 115-114 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Luka Doncic still out injured, the Mavs relied on 36 points from Kyrie Irving and 30 points from P.J. Washington to keep them in the hunt. Minnesota's balanced offence however -- with all five starters making double figures -- was enough to get the Wolves over the line.

Jaden McDaniels led the Minnesota scoring with 27 points while Anthony Edwards had 21.

In other games, Desmond Banes's 24 points helped the Memphis Grizzlies roll to a fourth straight win with a 132-120 defeat of the Charlotte Hornets. The Grizzlies sit third in the West on 29-15 behind Oklahoma City and Houston.

In New York, the Brooklyn Nets' miserable recent run of form continued with a fifth straight loss in a 108-84 blowout to the visiting Phoenix Suns.

Devin Booker finished with 32 points while Kevin Durant added 24 against his former club.

MELBOURNE — Defending champion Jannik Sinner raced into the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday in imperious fashion after Iga Swiatek was equally ruthless to close on a first Melbourne crown.

Italian world number one Sinner swept aside an out-classed home hope Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to silence Rod Laver Arena and set up a meeting with 21st seed Ben Shelton.

The other semifinal is between 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and World No.2 Alexander Zverev, with both taking place on Friday.

Sinner had dizzy spells in the scorching heat of the afternoon during his four-set win against Holger Rune on Monday.

But in much cooler evening conditions the 23-year-old was back to his brilliant best against eighth seed De Minaur, who has still never beaten Sinner in 10 matches.

Sinner is bidding to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final last year, and is also seeking to become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam crowns.

He also won the US Open last year.

The 22-year-old American Shelton booked his place in the semi-finals in Melbourne for the first time with a battling 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) win over unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Left-hander Shelton put in an all-action display to match his best performance at a major, having reached the US Open semi-finals in 2023.

"I'm relieved right now," said Shelton, who unleashed the joint-fastest serve of the tournament, an ace clocked at 232kph.

Ominous Swiatek 

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek edged closer to a first Australian Open crown with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over American eighth seed Emma Navarro on a gusty Rod Laver Arena.

The 23-year-old world number two, who is building up a head of steam in her title charge, plays American 19th seed Madison Keys in the women's semi-finals, which both take place on Thursday evening.

Two-time defending champion and top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka plays Spain's 11th seed Paula Badosa for the other final berth.

Swiatek looks ominous. She has yet to lose a set and has dropped only 14 games in her five matches -- seven of those in her first-round clash against Katerina Siniakova.

"Madison is a great player and experienced so you never know," Swiatek said of the American.

"It will be tricky, I will just be focused on myself. She has already played a good tournament here and we are well aware of how she can play."

Swiatek enjoyed a moment of good fortune at 2-2 in the second set against Navarro.

Navarro played a drop shot that forced the Pole into a desperate slide to get the ball, which she thought she did, until replays showed it bounced twice.

The American was left miffed when she requested the chair umpire use video review to check what happened.

But she was denied for waiting until the end of the point, rather than immediately challenging and stopping play.

"It's tough. I think we should be able to see it afterwards and make that call," said Navarro.

Keys stormed back from a set down to beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their quarter-final.

Keys moved into the last four at Melbourne Park for the third time, 10 years after her first.

Keys, who will be 30 next month, is on a 10-match unbeaten streak after lifting the Adelaide title.

"I felt like I kind of just had to start playing a little bit more aggressive and try to get to the net a little bit quicker," said Keys, who battled past former Melbourne finalists Elena Rybakina and Danielle Collins on her way to the last eight.

MELBOURNE — A vintage Novak Djokovic tamed Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night blockbuster to set up an Australian Open semi-final with Alexander Zverev as two-time women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fought on.

The 38-year-old Djokovic rolled back the years at the scene of his greatest achievements on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 triumph sealed close to 1:00 am.

The Serb surged into the semifinals and a date with World No.2 Zverev to edge closer to an 11th Melbourne crown and all-time record 25th Slam title.

"I just wish that this match today was the final," said Djokovic, who had to have his thigh heavily strapped and appeared to be labouring at the end of the first set.

"Just one of the most epic matches I have played on this court, any court really."

With former rival Andy Murray now in his coaching corner, Djokovic was at his imperious and defiant best, cupping his ear to the crowd after winning big points.

Djokovic was at the centre of a row on Monday after he demanded an apology -- and got one -- from a local TV presenter for what he called "insulting and offensive comments".

Spain's World No.3 Alcaraz will have to wait another year to get a kangaroo tattoo. He had vowed to get one if he won the Australian Open for the first time.

The 22-year-old four-time major champion has still never been beyond the Melbourne Park last eight.

He felt he should have rammed home the advantage when Djokovic was struggling with his movement.

"I'm going to say that was the biggest mistake that I made today," he said.

Former number one Djokovic extended his career advantage over Alcaraz to 5-3, having also beaten him in the Paris Olympics final in their last meeting.

Alcaraz got the better of his rival in the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals.

In hot and windy conditions, Germany's Zverev defeated the American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/0), 2-6, 6-1 to step up his quest to win a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 27-year-old lost his cool at one point -- because of a feather.

The umpire called for a replay when the feather drifted in front of him as he played a shot at a critical juncture.

"C'mon, that is unbelievable on break point," he shouted, before taking out his fury on Paul by breaking to love.

World No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner plays home hope Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, the winner facing American 21st seed Ben Shelton or the unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

As if by magic 

Sabalenka will face Paula Badosa in the last four as the Belarusian bids to win the Australian Open for a third time in a row, something last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis.

The World No.1 kept that dream alive but had to battle for it in beating Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the wind.

"Honestly I was just praying, trying to put the ball back in these tough conditions," said Sabalenka.

"I'm just super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match."

At 33, Pavlyuchenkova had been enjoying a late-career renaissance and was the oldest remaining woman in the draw.

Sabalenka next plays Badosa, the Spanish 11th seed who stunned World No.3 Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4.

Badosa is into her first Slam semi-final at the age of 27.

"I'm a bit emotional," said Badosa. "I'm a very emotional person. I wanted to play my best game. I think I did it."

It capped a remarkable comeback for the Spaniard, who was ranked outside the top 100 a year ago after a stress fracture in her back.

"I mean, a year ago, I was here with my back and I didn't know if I had to retire from this sport, and now I'm here playing against the best in the world," said Badosa.

Third-seeded American Gauff, 20, described herself as "disappointed but not completely crushed" after her first defeat of 2025.

On Wednesday, Iga Swiatek will look to continue her march to a first Australian Open title when she faces Emma Navarro.

The winner plays Madison Keys or Elina Svitolina in the last four.

MELBOURNE — A vintage Novak Djokovic tamed Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night blockbuster to set up an Australian Open semi-final with Alexander Zverev as two-time women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fought on.

The 38-year-old Djokovic rolled back the years at the scene of his greatest achievements on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 triumph sealed close to 1:00 am.

The Serb surged into the semifinals and a date with World No.2 Zverev to edge closer to an 11th Melbourne crown and all-time record 25th Slam title.

"I just wish that this match today was the final," said Djokovic, who had to have his thigh heavily strapped and appeared to be labouring at the end of the first set.

"Just one of the most epic matches I have played on this court, any court really."

With former rival Andy Murray now in his coaching corner, Djokovic was at his imperious and defiant best, cupping his ear to the crowd after winning big points.

Djokovic was at the centre of a row on Monday after he demanded an apology -- and got one -- from a local TV presenter for what he called "insulting and offensive comments".

Spain's World No.3 Alcaraz will have to wait another year to get a kangaroo tattoo. He had vowed to get one if he won the Australian Open for the first time.

The 22-year-old four-time major champion has still never been beyond the Melbourne Park last eight.

He felt he should have rammed home the advantage when Djokovic was struggling with his movement.

"I'm going to say that was the biggest mistake that I made today," he said.

Former number one Djokovic extended his career advantage over Alcaraz to 5-3, having also beaten him in the Paris Olympics final in their last meeting.

Alcaraz got the better of his rival in the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals.

In hot and windy conditions, Germany's Zverev defeated the American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/0), 2-6, 6-1 to step up his quest to win a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 27-year-old lost his cool at one point -- because of a feather.

The umpire called for a replay when the feather drifted in front of him as he played a shot at a critical juncture.

"C'mon, that is unbelievable on break point," he shouted, before taking out his fury on Paul by breaking to love.

World No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner plays home hope Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, the winner facing American 21st seed Ben Shelton or the unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

As if by magic 

Sabalenka will face Paula Badosa in the last four as the Belarusian bids to win the Australian Open for a third time in a row, something last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis.

The World No.1 kept that dream alive but had to battle for it in beating Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the wind.

"Honestly I was just praying, trying to put the ball back in these tough conditions," said Sabalenka.

"I'm just super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match."

At 33, Pavlyuchenkova had been enjoying a late-career renaissance and was the oldest remaining woman in the draw.

Sabalenka next plays Badosa, the Spanish 11th seed who stunned World No.3 Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4.

Badosa is into her first Slam semi-final at the age of 27.

"I'm a bit emotional," said Badosa. "I'm a very emotional person. I wanted to play my best game. I think I did it."

It capped a remarkable comeback for the Spaniard, who was ranked outside the top 100 a year ago after a stress fracture in her back.

"I mean, a year ago, I was here with my back and I didn't know if I had to retire from this sport, and now I'm here playing against the best in the world," said Badosa.

Third-seeded American Gauff, 20, described herself as "disappointed but not completely crushed" after her first defeat of 2025.

On Wednesday, Iga Swiatek will look to continue her march to a first Australian Open title when she faces Emma Navarro.

The winner plays Madison Keys or Elina Svitolina in the last four.

PARIS — A year of unprecedented pressures on the global football calendar begins with a Champions League first, as two rounds of matches in Europe's elite club competition take place in January and some of the continent's biggest names face a scrap to avoid a humiliating exit.

There is no bigger game this week than Paris Saint-Germain against Manchester City, with two clubs who have transformed the face of football over the last 15 years at risk of early elimination.

Qatar-owned PSG and Abu Dhabi-backed City, the latter winners of the Champions League two years ago, have stumbled their way through this first season since the tournament's expansion.

City have taken just one point from their last three Champions League games and lie 22nd in the 36-team standings.

PSG, semifinalists last season, are a point behind City in 25th place, and therefore in greater danger of going out given that only the top 24 advance to the knockout phase.

That would be deeply embarrassing for them, and particularly humiliating for Nasser Al Khelaifi, PSG's Qatari president.

He was instrumental in driving the changes to the Champions League as chairman of the influential European Club Association and a member of UEFA's Executive Committee.

"It is even stronger and that is what we like about it," Khelaifi said after the draw in August for the expanded competition, which now features 36 teams in one giant league, each playing eight games against different opponents.

The new format initially drew criticism. It was seen as a way of pandering to the demands of clubs like PSG and City to have more games and more revenue, while reducing the prospects of them going out early on.

It has not turned out that way, and PSG have been hampered by a difficult draw -- the hardest of any team according to statisticians Opta -- that has already seen them play Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, and lose to all three.

If PSG lose to City, they will be under severe pressure in their last game against Stuttgart on January 29, when 18 matches take place simultaneously.

City will similarly be in grave danger if they lose in Paris, although one win from their last two matches may suffice to reach the play-off round, with 10 points expected to be enough.

Fixture pile-up 

Reigning champions Real Madrid are also in a slightly uncomfortable position. They lie 20th with nine points having lost half their six games.

Games against Red Bull Salzburg and French upstarts Brest should allow them to advance, but Real will likely also have to prepare for a two-legged play-off in February, as only the top eight progress directly to the last 16 in March.

The fixtures will pile up for these clubs, and the powerful trio mentioned above are among 12 European teams who will go to the first edition of FIFA's expanded Club World Cup in June and July.

Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Atletico, Juventus and Benfica are also challenging for Champions League knockout berths while having the Club World Cup to come.

Contrast that with Liverpool and Barcelona, the only teams that have already guaranteed places in the knockout phase.

They both look set to skip the play-offs in February, and neither will be at the Club World Cup.

The consequences could be significant going into next season, when the clubs who have been able to give their players a full close-season break could have a big advantage.

This Champions League has created space for outsiders to impress, most notably Brest, who are poised to progress.

The top 14 places in the standings are nevertheless occupied by clubs from Europe's "Big Five" leagues in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

But others, such as Club Brugge, Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb, are all in qualifying positions.

Celtic, who last made the knockouts in 2013, could secure progress with a win at home to Swiss side Young Boys, who have lost every game and are bottom of the standings.

"I think we've done really well until this point, but we want to get over the line and into the knockout stages," said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on Saturday.