Sports

British boxer Anthony Joshua resumed training on Thursday, weeks after a car crash killed two of his close team members on December 29 on a highway linking Lagos and Ibadan.

The 20-year-old, ranked 49th in the world, faced a brief medical timeout while trailing 2-1 in the second set, but returned to win five consecutive games to close out the match.

Novak Djokovic became the first player to record 400 Grand Slam match wins after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The 38-year-old Serbian advanced to the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory at Rod Laver Arena, extending his all-time record for Grand Slam match wins. Djokovic now stands ahead of Roger Federer’s 369 and Serena Williams’ 365 on the career majors match-win list as he continues his title defense and pushes deeper into the tournament’s second week.

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala begins her first home Women’s Tennis Association campaign at the Philippine Women’s Open on Monday at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila. Eala describes the WTA event as a dream come true and plans to maximize the rare opportunity to compete in front of Filipino fans. She highlights the significance of playing a top-tier women’s professional tournament in her home country and points to growing local sports initiatives that boost her pride as she represents the Philippines on court.

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday due to an abdominal injury, pulling out hours before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis. The two-time champion and 16th seed announced on Instagram that she needed to address a physical issue that emerged after her last match. Tournament organizers confirmed her medical withdrawal, advanced Inglis by walkover, and updated the center court schedule. No detailed medical information or timeline for Osaka’s return was immediately released.

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) on Thursday named Filipino boxer Kenneth “Lover Boy” Llover as its Boxer of the Month for January 2025 after he successfully defended his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight title against Chinese fighter Ayati Sailike in Tokoname, Japan.

Alex Eala appears on a new sports mural at the refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila alongside Manny Pacquiao, Carlos Yulo, Hidilyn Diaz, and other Philippine sports icons ahead of the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA event. The mural, commissioned by organizers as part of venue renovations, aims to honor top Filipino athletes and will remain as a permanent fixture at the complex. Eala, who leads the Philippine Women’s Open field, expressed pride at being featured with the country’s sporting greats as she prepares to begin her campaign against a Russian opponent.

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala received a wild card into the main draw of the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, scheduled from February 1 to 7, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Tournament organizers announced on social media that Eala became the first confirmed wild card, upgrading her status from the qualifying rounds and removing a scheduling conflict with the Philippine Women’s Open. The main draw entry allows the 19-year-old to compete directly in the WTA 500 field as part of the early-season hard-court swing.

Novak Djokovic on Thursday called record-breaking crowds at the 2024 Australian Open “a very good problem” as Melbourne Park recorded more than 100,000 spectators on opening day. Tournament organizers reported heavy daily attendance, long queues, and heat-affected waits, particularly around matches that drew strong interest such as those involving Filipina player Alex Eala.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio says he expects the country’s ties with the Women’s Tennis Association to strengthen after the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, a WTA 125 event at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Gregorio led journalists on a tour of the renovated venue and confirmed Alex Eala’s participation, saying the PSC aims to use the tournament and facility upgrades to support tennis development and attract more international events to the Philippines.