G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: Agassi vs Roddick

Andre Agassi: "Let’s see what you’ve got, big boy."

Roddick: "Hair."

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🎾 Australian Open Preview

🏈 Super bowl Preview

⚽️ Only in the A-League

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News Round Up

🚴🏼‍♀️ Australian Road Championships: Cameron Meyer defends elite men's road race title. “Every lap I thought I was in trouble, this isn’t going to happen. Somehow the best teammate you can have, Luke Durbridge, popped up there right at the end. (cycling news)

⚽️ Women's Super League leaders Chelsea's 33-game unbeaten run ended as they were shocked by struggling Brighton. Sam Kerr's superb header was in vein. (BBC)

🧤 Matt Ryan made seven saves on debut for his boyhood club - the most of any Arsenal goalkeeper this season!

👯 Parramatta Eels dump cheerleaders on eve of 2021 season (Telegraph)

🏉 Six Nations opening weekend: France pump Italy (50-10), Scotland edge England (11-6) and Wales beat Ireland's 14 men (21-16).

🏀 Steph Curry hits one from the logo on his way to 40pts.

🎾 Australian Open

The tournament has already seen a number of firsts in 2021 – the first February start, the first qualifiers held in another country, and the first Melbourne Summer Series warm-up events – and it hasn’t even started yet.

Men’s singles

When you think of the Australian Open and its iconic Rod Laver Arena, only one man springs to mind – Novak Djokovic. The World No.1 is a record eight-time champion in Melbourne and has shown no sign in slowing down in recent years

World No.3 Thiem is tipped by many as the main man to prevent the Serbian from winning his third title in a row.

Hot on their heels is 20-time Grand Slam champion and number two seed Rafael Nadal. However, a low back injury could put an end to his hopes.

Other contenders are: Nitto ATP Finals champion Daniil Medvedev and Russian counterpart Andrey Rublev.

Ranking the 10 Greatest Australian Open Finals of All Time — bleacherreport.com

We can only hope the men's or women's finals at this year's Australian Open will compare favourably with the men's 2012 finals or the women's 1981 title match.

Women’s singles

Defending champion Sofia Kenin made a name for herself at last year’s event after beating Garbiñe Muguruza in the final. Kenin went on to be named WTA Player of the Year after also reaching the final at Roland Garros, where she lost to Iga Świątek.

The biggest question mark over the women’s draw surrounds the return of home favourite Ashleigh Barty, who will play her first Grand Slam for 11 months.

Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams (potential shoulder issue) are two of the most talked about names in tennis and come into the event in strong veins of form.

Ash Barty has another trophy

This’ll be the most unique of them all.

The world number one signalled her intent ahead of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over in-form Garbine Muguruza to win the final of the Yarra Valley Classic warm-up event on Sunday.

🏏 Cricket

Big Bash Final

Sixers (6-166) bt Scorchers (9-161) - by 27 runs.

Stirring words from the Sixers' prolific T20 journeyman inspired a crushing win in the BBL Final.

Dan Christian, the Benjamin Button of Australian cricket, delivered arguably his finest campaign in his first season with his 17th T20 team; 272 runs at 34 at the eye-popping strike-rate of 183 in addition to 15 wickets at 27.

Moises Henriques, Saturday, 11:30pm: "(Sleeping in my own bed) is the last thing I'm looking forward to! We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Sunday at about 5:00am, Dan Christian's Instagram:

🏅Awards for Smith and Mooney: Steve Smith wins Allan Border Medal for third time, Beth Mooney named as Belinda Clark Award winner. (abc)

✌🏽 Greatest debut ever? Double ton secures historic chase: Debutant Kyle Mayers, with a first-class batting average of just 29, scores an unbeaten double hundred as the West Indies chase down 395 to beat Bangladesh.

💪🏼 Spinner Ashton Agar, Australia's T20 Player of the Year, is hopeful of being fully fit for the start of their five-match T20 series in New Zealand later this month.

🇮🇳 v 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 First Test: England 578: Root 218, Sibley 87, Stokes 82. India 257-6: Pant 91; Bess 4-55, Archer 2-52. India trail by 321 runs. Dom Bess advanced England's chances of victory over India on day three of the first Test in Chennai, despite a sparkling knock from Rishabh Pant.

⚽️ Football

A-League Wrap

Central Coast Mariners 3-2 Western United: Central Coast Mariners sensation Alou Kuol continued his electrifying start to the campaign with a second-half brace . (match report)

Newcastle Jets 1-0 Adelaide United: Newcastle Jets extended their unbeaten streak to three games, thanks to a goal form Yuel. (match report)

Macarthur 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers: Persistent Wanderers come from behind twice in compelling draw with Bulls. (match report) You can see a scorpion kick assist here.

Brisbane Roar 5-2 Melbourne Victory: Scott McDonald and Riku Danzaki scored two apiece to fire red-hot Brisbane Roar as Melbourne Victory self-destructed. (match report)

⚽️ Tonight: Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix: The Sky Blues historically have an edge over the New Zealanders, going unbeaten in their last six and winning 10 of the previous 13 contests between the teams.

EPL Wrap

Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: Grealish's value 🚀 as Arsenal implode.

Burnley 1-1 Brighton: Yep, a dogged draw.

Newcastle 3-2 Southampton: Newcastle held on to beat Southampton despite playing the last 18 minutes with nine men. 

Fulham 0-0 West Ham: 😴

Man United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin secured a dramatic point for Everton in the 95th minute as they twice came from behind in a six-goal thriller.

Tottenham 2-0 West Brom: Kane retuned and opened the scoring against a hapless West Brom.

Wolves 0-0 Leicester: Leicester City's outside hopes of winning the Premier League title suffered a blow.

Liverpool 1-4 Man City: Alisson's stray passes lead to Gundogan & Sterling goals, Salah converts from spot, Foden slams in fourth.

Sheff United v Chelsea: now underway

This is the kind of news you open your Sport Journal email for; A local dog was sent off in a clash between Kolubara and Radnički Kragujevac in Serbia, after invading the pitch 4 times and forcing the game to be abandoned. The dog said he likely to appeal the decision.

🐴 Racing

Inglis Millennium day from Randwick Review — www.racenet.com.au

A race-by-race performance review and breakdown of the thoroughbred races run on Inglis Millennium day at Randwick on Saturday.

🏈 Super Bowl

Kansas City Chiefs (1.65) v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2.40)

It's a fitting finale to the most unique of NFL seasons and the blockbuster game that everyone wanted to see, as the widely-recognised greatest of all time Tom Brady takes on arguably the greatest talent of his generation in Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 55.

There's the largest age gap between quarterbacks (18 years and 45 days) in Super Bowl history and in terms of styles they're polar opposites.

Mahomes is a dazzling mover, a creative passer capable of no-look throws and sidearm strikes, while Brady is the cerebral pocket passer who studies defences at the line and decides where to attack before the ball even gets into his hands.

Previous meeting: The Chiefs won 27-24 during the season.

Chiefs: Most pundits are expecting a thrilling shootout, with Mahomes to shine with his unorthodox throws and off-script running ability.

Around him he has speedy receivers everywhere, and probably the fastest in Tyreek Hill, who scored three touchdowns when the teams met earlier in the season.

Bucs: Brady has probably the best set of attacking options he's had in his entire career, with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Cameron Brate top pass-catchers, and the outstanding tight end Rob Gronkowski.

🎶 Half Time Show: The Weeknd will perform on a stage set up in the stands His act may, however, include a brief interlude on the field, per NYT.

🍗 Americans will go through ~1.4 billion chicken wings

🙋🏼‍♀️ Sarah Thomas will become the first female official to work the Super Bowl on Sunday, while the Bucs' sideline will have two female coaches.

🏟 Fans: There will be more Cardboard cutouts (30,000) than fans (25,000) masks are to be worn throughout the game.

📺 Super Bowl LV will be the most-watched TV broadcast of 2021, in America, bringing roughly 100 million viewers.

Watch: 10:30am - NFL Super Bowl (7, ESPN 1)

⛳️ Golf

Phoenix Waste Management Open

Jordan Spieth rolled back the years to put together a scintillating round of 10 under par in round 3. He shares the lead with Xander Shuafflele at -18 par.

Last time he played in the final group, final round, was the 2018 Open Championship – with Schauffele. A win today would come three years, six months and 15 days since Spieth won the 2017 Open Championship.

Johnson holds on for second Saudi success

Pre-tournament favourite, Dustin Johnson held off the challenge of Tony Finau and Victor Perez.

The World Number One, who won the inaugural event here two years ago before finishing as runner-up to Graeme McDowell 12 months later, carded a closing 68 at Royal Greens Golf and Country club to finish on 15 under par.

🏉 NRL

❤️ Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys AM has paid tribute to Australian Kangaroo Ken McCaffery, who died aged 91.

Mr McCaffery was the oldest living Kangaroo, representing Australia in 8 Test Matches and 16 Tour Matches from 1952-57.

“This is a sad day for rugby league, Ken was our oldest living Kangaroo and leaves a long-lasting footprint on the game as a player, commentator and administrator,” he said.

🔁 The Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers have effectively completed a player swap, with young fullback Daine Laurie moving from Penrith to the Tigers while centre Paul Momirovski moves the other way.

✍🏼 New Zealand rugby union club the Auckland Blues have confirmed the signing of Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, with a two-year deal starting in 2022.

✍🏼 Newcastle junior Brayden Musgrove has been added to the Knights' top 30 squad after signing a two-year deal with the club.

🗞 We'll be back on Wednesday!

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📺 Live sport 👇🏼

TODAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Lazio v Cagliari Calcio (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Olympique de Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Betis v Barcelona (BeIN Sports 2)

🏈 10:30 - NFL Super Bowl - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Kansas City Chiefs (7, ESPN 1)

🎾 11:00 - Australian Open, Round 1, Day 1 (GEM or Nine)

🏏 15:00 - Test Match - India v England (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 16:35 - W-League - Sydney FC Women v Canberra United Women (Fox Sports)

🎾 18:00 - Australian Open, Round 1, Night 1 (GEM or Nine)

⚽️ 19:10 - A-League - Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix (Fox Sports)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v New Zealand Breakers (ESPN 1)

TUESDAY

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Leeds United v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo (BeIN Sports 1)

🎾 11:00 - Australian Open, Round 1, Day 2 (GEM or Nine)

🏀 11:00 - NBA - Charlotte Hornets v Houston Rockets (Sky Sports 2)

11:00 - NHL - Columbus Blue Jackets v Carolina Hurricanes (ESPN 2)

🏀 11:00 - NCAA Men's - North Carolina Tar Heels v Miami Hurricanes (ESPN 1)

🏀 12:30 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors (SBS Viceland)

🏀 13:00 - NCAA Men's - Kansas Jayhawks v Oklahoma State Cowboys (ESPN 1)

🏀 13:30 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Milwaukee Bucks (Sky Sports 2)

🎾 18:00 - Australian Open, Round 1, Night 2 (GEM or Nine)

⚽️ 19:35 - A-League - Brisbane Roar v Macarthur FC Bulls (Fox Sports)