SYDNEY-- Angelique Kerber's build-up for next week's Australian Open suffered a setback when the world number one was beaten 7-6(5) 6-2 by Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the Sydney International on Tuesday.
ZURICH-- Cristiano Ronaldo won FIFA's player of the year award for the fourth time on Monday, beating his old rival Lionel Messi who was pulled out of the ceremony only a few hours earlier by his club Barcelona.
PITTSBURGH- - Le'Veon Bell ran for two touchdowns and a team playoff record 167 yards, Antonio Brown caught two first-quarter touchdown passes of at least 50 yards and the Pittsburgh Steelers' blitzing defense forced three turnovers on a chilly winter day during a 30-12 rout of the Miami Dolphins in an AFC wild card game in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
BOLIVIA-- French driver Stephane Peterhansel won the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally in Bolivia on Monday to pull further ahead of Peugeot team mate and compatriot Sebastien Loeb.
DOHA-- Novak Djokovic made an immense statement in his bid to rule men's tennis again when he defeated Andy Murray, the man who deposed him as world number one, 6-3 5-7 6-4 in an epic Qatar Open final in Doha on Saturday.
