🗞️ Working Overtime

🎾 Alex de Minaur was defeated by a rejuvenated Daniil Medvedev 6-2 6-4 in his second match at the ATP Tour Finals.

Medvedev lost only nine points on his serve as he wrapped up the win in an hour and 18 minutes.

The Demon will be knocked out with a match to spare if the other tie in the Ilie Nastase Group between Italian top seed Jannik Sinner and Fritz goes to three sets (06:30 AEDT).

🏏 Alex Carey continued his blistering start to the season with the bat to help South Australia to the top of the One-Day Cup table with a six-wicket win over New South Wales.

The Australian Test keeper overcame a nasty blow to the throat early in his innings to peel off 75 from 63 balls in the Redbacks’ successful chase of 197 at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

📸 Photo of the Week: Kaylea Arnett of the United States dives during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Final held at Mrs Macquarie's Chair on Sydney Harbour.

🏉 While rugby is in the news as the international rugby season is in full flight, those in club land are also working overtime.

Every Super Rugby Pacific club will unveil their full 2025 squads on Tuesday.

• The recruitment of Wallabies squad member David Feliuai headlines the 2025 ACT Brumbies squad.

• The Waratahs were wooden spooners this year but have landed some massive names for 2025 with Wallabies Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway signing on.

• The Reds have recruited heavily from the Rebels with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Filipo Daugunu and Josh Canham big ins.

• The Force have had a strong offseason with Wallabies Dylan Pietsch, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes and Darcy Swain headed west.

🚘 Just two title contenders remain for the Supercars championship at this weekend’s finale at the Adelaide 500 this weekend, momentum heavily favours title leader Will Brown over teammate Broc Feeney.

The margin stands at a comfortable 180 points. It would require a remarkable turnaround just to keep the title alive on Sunday.

NRL NEWS

✍🏼 The Bulldogs have boosted their depth for next season after announcing the signing of versatile outside back Enari Tuala on a two-year-deal.  

🗣️ Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson says veteran playmaker Ben Hunt is among the options he’s looking at to “cover” key positions in season 2025 when they’ll be without spine members Sam Walker and Brandon Smith for a significant period.

AFL NEWS

🗓️ The 2025 AFL season will begin on March 6 with ‘opening round’ is set to make a return, meaning the season will once again begin in northern states, the AFL announced on Tuesday.

Premiers Brisbane will host Geelong in a rematch of 2024's thrilling prelim, with the Lions to unveil their premiership flag in front of a packed Gabba crowd.

The round will continue in Sydney on Friday night, with the Swans to host the exciting Hawks, while on Saturday afternoon, the Suns clash with the Bombers on the Gold Coast. On Sunday, the GWS Giants will host Collingwood.

In a statement released on Tuesday, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the league was keen to build on the success of last year's Opening Round.

"After a successful start to the 2024 season, we look forward to continuing the momentum in 2025 before we head into a blockbuster round of matches in Round 1," he said.

"Footy is growing exponentially in New South Wales and Queensland - all four Clubs saw more than 10% growth in membership this past season and we have seen community participation numbers grow a combined 17% this year."

The announcement comes after the AFL revealed the fixtures for Gather Round, set to be in Round 5 in South Australia once again.

Two matches have been scheduled to be played in the Barossa Valley as part of the 2025 edition of the round.

⚽️ EPL Whispers: Arsenal are ready to spend (100m euros) on West Ham attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus with the 24-year-old Ghana international keen to join the Gunners to play European football.

Tottenham are set to rebuff Real Madrid's renewed interest in 26-year-old Argentina defender Cristian Romero.

⛳️ icymi: Bernhard Langer shot lower than his age to snatch victory at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship and extend his record of winning a title every year on the PGA Tour Champions' circuit to 18 years.

The 67-year-old holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to card a five-under-par 66 and seal a one-stroke victory on 18 under over defending champion Steven Alker and Richard Green.

🏀 The Cavaliers improved to 12-0 with a 119-113 victory over the Bulls, making Cleveland the eighth team in NBA history to begin a season undefeated in its first 12 games.

📸 Photo of the week: Fans sit atop the field goal after the game between the Mississippi Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on 9 November in Oxford, Mississippi. 🕶️ The guy in the sunglasses is having a day out.  

⚽️ The Football Association has launched its own investigation into the video that appears to show Premier League referee David Coote using foul language to describe former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. (YouTube)

Coote has already been suspended by refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) pending a full investigation.

🏎️ The Renault-owned Alpine team will use Mercedes engines in Formula 1 from the 2026 season.

The deal, which follows the decision in September to end Renault’s own engine programme in 2025, runs until at least the end of 2030.

In other F1 news, Niels Wittich has left his role as Formula 1's race director with immediate effect.

The German, a replacement for Michael Masi in 2022, "has stepped down from his position to pursue new opportunities," the FIA said in a statement.

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TODAY

10:05 - AUS One-Day Cup - Victoria Men v Western Australia Men - Fox Cricket

10:30 - Men's NCAA - Michigan State Spartans v Kansas Jayhawks - ESPN 2

11:30 - NBA Cup - Philadelphia 76ers v New York Knicks - ESPN

13:00 - Men's NCAA - Duke Blue Devils v Kentucky Wildcats - ESPN 2

14:00 - NBA Cup - Golden State Warriors v Dallas Mavericks - ESPN

THURSDAY

02:00 - T20 Series - South Africa v India - Fox Cricket

11:00 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Men v NSW Men - Kayo Sports

11:30 - NHL - Pittsburgh Penguins v Detroit Red Wings - ESPN 2

11:30 - NBA - Oklahoma City Thunder v New Orleans Pelicans - ESPN

14:00 - NHL - Colorado Avalanche v Los Angeles Kings - ESPN 2

14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Memphis Grizzlies - ESPN

18:00 - DP World Tour - DP World Tour Championship, Round 1 - Fox Sports

19:00 - T20 Series - Australia v Pakistan - Fox Cricket

20:10 - AFC World Cup Qualifier - Australia v Saudi Arabia - Paramount+