Bugaluu :: Sports

Some of the world’s top tennis players including No. 1 Novak Djokovic have questioned Australia’s strict quarantine rules ahead of the Australian Open tournament that kicks off next month. But Australian authorities again echoed their earlier stance, that the rules would not be bent for anyone. More than 70 players and their entourages are confined to their hotel rooms after passengers on three charter flights tested positive for the coronavirus. On the top of the list for requests, players demanded that they should be allowed to train on tennis courts during their mandated 14-day hotel quarantine. On Tuesday, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said the answer was simply “no”. Tournament director Craig Tiley spoke to the players on a call Monday night to smooth over their concerns: “On that call there were about 500 players and the vast majority are happy to be here, pleased to be here and really getting ready in the next two weeks to be able to get out and play the lead-in events and then play the Australian Open.” Meanwhile in neighbouring state, New South Wales, Hollywood actor Matt Damon was granted an exemption from hotel quarantine after arriving in Sydney to film a sequel to the superhero film “Thor”. Damon flew in on a private jet, will stay in a rented house under security and pay for hospital-grade cleaning for his 14-day quarantine, that’s according to a doctor involved with his quarantine who spoke to local media. Australians questioned how the government could make room for 1,200 tennis players and their entourages for next month’s Australian Open, but not its own citizens who are stranded overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic. The country has halved the number of people who can return to the country each week, as positive coronavirus cases in hotel quarantine rise.

No. 10 Wisconsin will look to maintain its home-court success when it opposes Northwestern on Wednesday night in a Big Ten Conference showdown at Madison, Wis. The Badgers (11-3, 5-2 Big Ten) boast a 9-1 record at home, compared with a 2-2 mark on the road. Wisconsin returns to play on campus for the first time since Jan. 7, when it held off Indiana for an 80-73 win in double overtime.

Leicester City host Chelsea in the Premier League on Tuesday 19 January

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has rewritten the postseason record book, and in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game he may reach another couple of impressive and unprecedented milestones. Brady only has to pass for 32 yards on Sunday to reach 12,000 yards in the postseason in his career. That’s easily the best in NFL history; Peyton Manning [more]

5. Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins 1983-1999) Perhaps a controversial pick, given that Dan Marino famously never won a Super Bowl. However, Marino’s output was so impressive he cannot be denied from the list. Marino was the first quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a season, was a Pro Bowler on nine occasions and won the league MVP award in 1984. Marino was ahead of his time in terms of the numbers he delivered and the style with which he played. A true icon. 4. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers 2005-present) Aaron Rodgers is often considered the most talented quarterback of all time. He has the special ability to read the field and produce the perfect pass to match whatever situation is thrown at him. Rodgers is a nine-time Pro Bowler as well as winning the league MVP in 2011 and 2014. He is likely to add a third MVP title following this year’s showing. The fact that Rodgers has once again been the best player in the entire league, at the age of 37, catapults him into the top five of all time. He has one Super Bowl to his name, he could well have a second in just a few weeks time. 3. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts 1998-2011, Denver Broncos 2012-15) The longevity of Peyton Manning was truly remarkable. He was voted into the Pro Bowl on 14 occasions and was recognised as the best player in the league five times. Manning’s intelligence and ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage was truly unique at the time. He won two Super Bowls and arguably should have won more. The fact that Manning managed to claim his second ring with the Denver Broncos right at the end of his career ensures he makes the top three of all time.

NFC Championship game: Green Bay Packers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday (24/01), 8.05pm In week six, the Bucs took apart the Packers, defeating them 38-10 in what was Green Bay’s worst loss of the season. Tampa bullied their opposition, scoring 38 unanswered points after conceding early. The Packers have not been shut down like that since. Aaron Rodgers has been the best player in the NFL bar none, Davante Adams could well be the league’s premier receiver and the running game fuelled by Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon is tough to slow down. Robert Tonyan has emerged as a high-quality tight end while Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have made key plays, albeit among some mistakes. Green Bay comfortably defeated the Rams in the Divisional Round, the league’s premier defense, with both sides of the ball playing well. The Packers are favourites to beat Tampa, but the loss in week six provides nagging doubt. Last season, the Packers were twice routed by the San Francisco 49ers. Once during the regular season and once again in the NFC Championship game. Could the same happen this season? The Packers are a far stronger team this campaign, having grooved into Matt LaFleur’s intelligent offense. But Sunday’s game will be far from straightforward. They face a perennial winner in Tom Brady, who has exerted control and a winning mentality into a talented team. Brady will not be fazed by the prospect of playing at Lambeau Field and has plenty of experience of dealing with cold conditions from his time in New England. Tampa were underdogs against the Saints but delivered a resilient performance to beat their rivals. They were not at their best offensively and were undoubtedly assisted by the mistakes made by Drew Brees. The Bucs defense looked dynamic, however – and it was the defense that caused Green Bay problems last time around. They forced Rodgers into uncharacteristic mistakes, something he is unlikely to repeat given recent form. A close encounter awaits between two of the best quarterbacks of all time. Key match-up: Can the Bucs successfully blitz Rodgers? In week six, Tampa sacked Rodgers five times and were consistently throwing the kitchen sink at Green Bay’s quarterback. The Packers’ offensive line will need to be stronger, which will be a challenge without David Bakhtiari.

Serie A leaders AC Milan announced on Tuesday the arrival of former Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic on a six-month contract.

See who the favorites to win are.