Morning all,

Remember..."Statistics are like bikinis — they show a lot but not everything." 

- MLB legend, Lou Piniella 

In today's edition of Sport Journal;

🎾 Australia into Semi finals, Barty loses

🏏 Crazy run outs & a controversial catch

🏈 NFL Play-off previews

$1 million mark in sight as Warnie’s brilliant baggy green auction reaches climax (fox)

🎾 Tennis

De Minaur & Kyrgios Win Deciding Doubles To Reach Semis Of The ATP Cup

Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios saved four match points to defeat Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury 3-6, 6-3, 18-16, yes, eighteen to sixteen (an epic), giving Australia a 2-1 victory against Great Britain and sending their country to the semi-finals of the inaugural ATP Cup.

"Today was probably one of the best moments in my career, definitely. Just making it through to the semi-final, the first-ever ATP Cup in that type of fashion, was pretty special...we genuinely care for each other, and [our teammates] were genuinely just so ecstatic to get through." - Kyrgios

Australia will face Belgium or Spain on Saturday evening...the latter were seen cheering for Team GB against Australia (spicy)! (foxsports)

WTA Brisbane International - Surprise defeat for World #1

World No. 1 Ash Barty suffered a surprise 6-4, 7-6 (4-7) defeat on Thursday to American qualifier Jennifer Brady, who claimed the first top-10 win of her career to advance to the Brisbane International quarterfinals.

Despite losing her season opener, Barty remains upbeat about her Australian Open preparations and said she does not feel any extra pressure because of her top ranking.

“It doesn’t change the way that I practise. It doesn’t change me as a person,” she told reporters.

“I think that you guys (journalists) enjoy the fact that you get something to write about and you have something to talk about.

“So hopefully I make it interesting for you, but I don’t look at it beyond that.” (japantimes)

🏏 Big Bash

The Heat looked like throwing the game away. Then Cutting blew the Hurricanes away

It was a clash full of crazy run outs, clumsy efforts, big performances and one divisive catch. Matty Wade hit a 50 on his return for the Hurricanes.

A 60-run partnership between Jimmy Peirson and Ben Cutting saw the Brisbane Heat secure an important five-wicket victory, making it 3 in a week. (foxsports)

⚽️ Football

A-League: Previews

Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC: Jets entertain the leaders on Friday requiring a performance to breathe life into their faltering campaign. 

Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers:  Phoenix can match their best-ever undefeated run if they avoid defeat against WSW.

Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City: Brisbane Roar will attempt to string back to back Hyundai A-League victories for the first time under Robbie Fowler.

Perth Glory v Adelaide United: Glory are hunting a fifth consecutive A-League win when they host Adelaide United on Saturday night.

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory: CCM needing a win to get their season back on track. Victory are enjoying a mini resurgence that has seen Marco Kurz's side accumulate seven points from their last three fixtures.

🔁 EPL Transfer Gossip:

• Arsenal and Man Utd chase Edinson Cavani

• Chelsea target West Ham's Issa Diop

• Donny van de Beek (Ajax), interesting Man Utd

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has said he had trials with (bitter rivals) Manchester United as a youngster but always knew he wanted to play at Anfield. (ESPN)

Footballer accidentally leaks January transfer via his Tinder account

One Twitter user with a shot of his profile tweeted: “A new Dundalk signing leaked because a female fan came across him on Tinder before the club announced it.

Jesus ‘Chino’ Perez was named the league’s Player of the Year twice and made the all-star team this season.

League of Ireland champions 5 of the last 6 years, Dundalk - are yet to announce their new signing.

🇦🇺 AFL

Now we know the format, here’s how the two AFL Origin teams could line up

The AFL confirmed on Thursday that Victoria would play an All-Stars team at Marvel Stadium next month in an Origin game to raise funds for the bushfire appeal.

The two teams that’ll participate are set to be filled to the brim with elite talent. Using the known format, Foxsports has picked two sides.(foxsports)

🏈 NFL

Divisional Play-offs

The divisional round is a testament to old-school football, as the four best running teams in the NFL -– Ravens, Titans, Seahawks and 49ers -– are still alive. 

Tennessee Titans (4.5) vs Baltimore Ravens (1.25)

What to watch for: An old-fashioned run fest. The Ravens (3,296) and Titans (2,223) finished the season ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in rushing yards, respectively.

The Ravens want quarterback Lamar Jackson to do his thing with read options and designed runs.

The Titans like to use running back Derrick Henry, the league's leading rusher, to wear down opponents. No secrets there. (cbssports)

NFL.com expert's average final score prediction: RAVENS 31-20 TITANS

ESPN Football Power Index projection: BAL, 81.8% (by an average of 11.9 points)

Minnesota Vikings (3.6) vs San Francisco 49ers (1.33)

San Francisco has one of the top defenses in the NFL. During the regular season, the 49ers led the league in pass defence and ranked second in total defense (281.8 YPG).

Minnesota defensive end Danielle Hunter has had a dominant season. The fifth-year player from LSU managed 14.5 sacks, including six over the final 4 games.

NFL.com expert's average final score prediction: 49ers 23-19 VIKINGS

Seattle Seahawks (2.87) vs Green Bay Packers (1.5)

NFL.com expert's average final score prediction: PACKERS 24-22 SEAHAWKS

Houston Texans (4.6) vs Kansas City Chiefs (1.24)

In game week 6, we saw the Texans go into Arrowhead Stadium and take it to the Chiefs.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was hobbled by an ankle injury then, but the Texans will go to Kansas City knowing that they have done this before. (ESPN)

NFL.com expert's average final score prediction: CHIEFS 33-21 TEXANS

💰We've had a little tickle on an anytime Touchdown 4-fold: ($18.5)

DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)

Lamar Jackson (Ravens)

Raheem Mostert (49ers)

Aaron Jones (Packers)

📺 Today's sport

⚽️ Spanish Supercopa Semi-Final - Barcelona v Atletico (6am)

🎾 WTA Auckland Classic, Quarter-Finals (10am)

🏌🏻‍♂️ PGA Tour, Sony Open in Hawaii, Round 1 (11am)

🎾 WTA Brisbane International, Quarter-Final (12pm)

⚽️ W-League, Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United (5pm)

⚾️ ABL, Regular Season matches (from 7pm)

⚽️ A-League, Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC (7:30pm)

🏆 Greyhounds, Group 1 - Garrard's Gold Bullion, 520m (8:27pm)

🏌🏻‍♂️ European Tour, South African Open, Round 2 (9pm)

We'll be back on Monday!

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