Top seed and 2023 Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette was bundled out of the ATX Open in the first round on Tuesday after a three-set loss to Varvara Gracheva.
Gracheva, ranked 88th in the world, needed two hours and 31 minutes to get past Linette 6-3 4-6 6-4 in Austin.
The Pole had led 2-0 in the third set before Gracheva hit back with three breaks in the final frame to run away with a shock victory.
Linette's early exit followed that of second seed Zhang Shuai who withdrew from the tournament on Tuesday due to illness.
Fifth seed Sloane Stephens had no such troubles, progressing into the second round with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend.
Fourth seed Danielle Collins won 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-4 over Magdalena Frech in two hours and 32 minutes, while third seed Anastasia Potapova eased past Elizabeth Mandlik 6-2 6-0.
Top seed Caroline Garcia cruised into the second round at the Monterrey Open in Mexico on Tuesday, winning 6-3 6-4 over Slovenia's Kaja Juvan.
Third seed Donna Vekic survived an early scare to win by virtue of a walkover at 2-6 5-0 against Lesia Tsurenko who retired for the second straight tournament.
Fourth seed Elise Mertens was too strong for Diana Shnaider 6-0 6-4, while seeds Mayar Sherif and Elisabetta Cocciaretto also progressed.
Sixth seed Katerina Siniakova, who made last week's Mexican Open semi-finals, was eliminated after a controversial call on match point in a third-set tie-break, losing to Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6 (8-6) 2-6 7-6 (7-5).
Last week's Mexican Open champion Camila Giorgi was knocked out 6-4 7-5 by Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
New Orleans Pelicans franchise player Zion Williamson will have further imaging on his injured hamstring next week as he "continues to make progress".
Williamson, 22, was named an All-Star starter for averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists in his 29 games this season, before tearing his hamstring against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 2.
Five weeks after suffering the injury, the Pelicans announced he had aggravated the same hamstring, essentially restarting the recovery process.
The latest update from the team on Tuesday stated he is making progress, but that further updates would be provided after a check-up MRI next week.
New Orleans have been flailing in Williamson's absence, falling from near the top of the Western Conference down to 10th after going 7-18 in the 25 games since January 2.
Also included in the Pelicans' injury update was Jose Alvarado being set for an extended stint on the sidelines due to a stress reaction in his tibia, while Larry Nance Jr will have his ankle sprain re-evaluated in two weeks.
The Toronto Raptors addressed a gaping hole in their rotation on Tuesday by securing former Washington Wizards guard Will Barton in the buyout market.
Barton, 32, spent eight seasons with the Denver Nuggets – starting 181 of his 185 appearances in his three most recent campaigns – prior to being traded to the Wizards this past offseason for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
During his time in Denver, Barton averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while playing 30.4 minutes, and in the process he became the franchise's all-time leader in made three-pointers with 804 at a 36.2 per cent clip.
He struggled to find a role on a Washington roster loaded with depth guards, and after agreeing to a buyout in the second year of his two-year, $30million contract, he will now join a Raptors side desperate for their own backcourt depth.
This season, only two Raptors players officially classified as guards – Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr – are averaging more than 15 minutes per game.
Behind them, 23-year-old point guard Malachi Flynn and 24-year-old point forward Dalano Banton have been given chances, but are not yet trusted by head coach Nick Nurse to be key rotation pieces on an aspiring playoff team.
Toronto signalled to the league with their trade deadline acquisition of Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs that they believe they are a live chance to come out of the East again, four years after Kawhi Leonard led them to their sole championship in 2019.
Scooping up Barton is further indication of that belief, as the veteran guard was expected to have his choice among a number of playoff teams, but opted for a Raptors team who have won seven of their past nine to climb up to ninth in the East at 30-32.
To create a roster spot, Toronto waived Juancho Hernangomez, who co-starred alongside Adam Sandler in the 2022 basketball movie Hustle.
The New York Giants held "productive conversations" about the futures of star pair Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley according to general manager Joe Schoen.
Jones and Barkley are both franchise tag eligible and integral members for the Giants, who last season qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Schoen said the Giants intended to tag Jones if they could not secure a deal with him by the March 7 deadline, but was "cautiously optimistic" about completing deals for both players.
"We had productive conversations yesterday. We have some more scheduled today, so we'll just continue to communicate with them," Schoen told reporters on Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine.
"We'll continue to hammer out and try to get closer to getting something done hopefully."
He added: "I would love to have them both back. They work well with each other. Their entire careers in the NFL, they've been together. I do think they complement each other well.
"We've had productive conversations with both their representatives – Saquon going all the back to November – and we'll continue to do so. There's not priority on one or the other."
Schoen acknowledged tagging Jones would not be ideal for the Giants given it would cost $32.4million and potentially impact Barkley, who is a pending free agent.
"If you have to franchise tag Daniel, I don't think that's best for the organisation and I don’t believe it's best for Daniel," Schoen said.
"Especially as we try to build the team around him and questions about receivers and other positions on the other side of the ball where we may need depth.
"It does hurt you a little bit in terms of team building process, but we're prepared if that's the scenario that we’re faced with. We have a plan-B and we'll try to execute that the best we can."
Schoen insisted that there was "no doubt" that Jones would be the Giants quarterback next season.
Jones threw 15 touchdown passes from 16 starts in the 2022 season with a career-best 67.2 per cent completion rate and career-best 3,205 passing yards, with only five interceptions.
Pro Bowl running back Barkley scored 10 rushing touchdowns in a bounce-back 2022 season, returning a career-best 1,312 rushing yards in 16 starts.
The Miami Dolphins are yet to decide on whether to pick up Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option after the quarterback's career-best, but concussion-plagued 2022 season.
Tagovailoa, who was selected with pick five in the 2020 NFL Draft, is entering the last guaranteed season of his rookie deal and has an option for $23.2million in 2024.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday that no decision had been made on the 24-year-old QB's fifth-year option.
"Like any other player, you factor in every variable," McDaniel said. "I think it's important to recognize we have a congruence of interests by the Dolphins and the player, Tua, that we both want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins.
"We're probably best served to utilize the time [until the deadline]. That's kind of the way we're approaching it, but that doesn't mean that we're spending any long period of time not discussing it.
"This is something that [general manager] Chris [Grier] and I have been working through."
Tagovailoa set career highs in passing yards (3,548), passing touchdowns (25) and touchdown percentage (6.3 per cent) in the 2022 season.
He led the league for passer rating with a career-best 105.5 too, but missed several games due to two confirmed concussions.
The Dolphins have until the May 2 deadline to pick up Tagovailoa's option.
The Cincinnati Bengals have shut down any speculation about Tee Higgins being on the trading block.
Third-year wide receiver Higgins, 24, is about to enter the final year of his rookie contract, sparking rumours of a switch due to the fact that 23-year-old Ja'Marr Chase will be due one of the biggest receiver contracts in NFL history when his time to extend arrives next offseason.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin, however, refuted those claims emphatically during the NFL scouting combine.
"I'm in the business of making the Cincinnati Bengals better, so trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind," Tobin told reporters.
"That's their problem. If [other teams] want a receiver, go find your own.
"In my opinion, Tee Higgins is a good piece for the Cincinnati Bengals, so the trade stuff is a little ridiculous right now."
Higgins is one of several players who are due for contract extension this or next year alongside Chase and quarterback Joe Burrow.
Tobin's comments indicate that the Bengals are willing to offer him a lucrative extension to remain with the 2021 AFC Champions.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor also scoffed at the Higgins speculation.
"That's why whenever you see the rumours floating around there, it's nonsense," Taylor said. "At the end of the day, I do get to call the plays and it's fun having [playmakers] out there. You don't really want to give that up."
Higgins scored a career-best seven touchdowns from 74 receptions for 1,029 yards in the 2022 regular season.
Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his withdrawal from this week's Mexican Open due to a hamstring strain.
The reigning US Open champion, who missed the Australian Open with hamstring issues, was set to face Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round of the ATP 500 event in Acapulco.
Besides his injury frustrations, the teenager has enjoyed an impressive start to 2023, going 8-1 after triumphing in Buenos Aires and being runner-up to Cameron Norrie in Rio.
The latter event saw Alcaraz aggravate a hamstring problem, which has subsequently prevented him from building on that momentum this week.
"Unfortunately I won't be able to play in Acapulco," the Spaniard posted on his social media channels. "I have a grade 1 strain in my right hamstring that will keep me out for several days, according to the tests we did this morning.
"I'm really sad I can't compete here, but now it's time to think about recovering and being ready as soon as possible. I hope to see you all soon!"
Norrie also confirmed he will not compete in Acapulco, the British number one citing fatigue as the reason for his absence.
"Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from Acapulco," he said in an Instagram story. "It's one of my favourite tournaments, so it's really tough for me to withdraw."
Leonard Fournette wanted to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once Tom Brady retired, and the team are set to grant his wish.
Not long after Jason Licht described Fournette as someone who "still has several years left in him as a three-down back" on Tuesday, reports emerged of his imminent release.
But the development was of no surprise to Fournette, who had asked to be let go, he revealed.
"I asked after the season to be [released], and they respected my wishes," Fournette told the Tampa Bay Times. "So, no bad blood.
"Winning is everything. That's all. And in my last three years here, that's all we've done. But since my guy [Brady] left... that's why I came, so my time here was up."
Brady has retired again in Tampa, and the Buccaneers do not expect him to reverse his decision this time.
With him then goes a key member of the successful Super Bowl LV team, with Fournette having joined the Bucs alongside Brady.
Between three rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD, Fournette had a score in every round of that postseason after the 2020 season.
It is the end of an era in Chicago with the Blackhawks sending superstar Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers.
The trade, which had been expected for days, was reported by several media outlets on Tuesday.
In return for the three-time Stanley Cup winner, the Rangers are sending the Blackhawks a 2023 second-round draft pick and a fourth-round pick. The second-round selection will become a first-rounder in either 2024 or 2025 if the Rangers reach this year's Eastern Conference Finals.
Kane leaves the Blackhawks as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
He was instrumental to their dynasty in the 2010s, helping the club to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He scored the championship-clinching goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime of Game 6 of the 2010 Finals, while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs in 2013.
The 34-year-old Kane had spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Blackhawks after being selected first overall in the 2007 draft.
The nine-time All-Star ranks second all-time in franchise history with 1,225 points, while his 446 goals are third-most by a Blackhawk. He also ranks third in franchise history in games played (1,161) and fourth in power-play goals (122).
As a 19-year-old rookie in 2007-08, Kane made an immediate impact in the NHL, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top first-year player.
Eight years later in 2015-16, Kane won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP as well as the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion.
He is still performing at a high level, ranking second on Chicago this season in goals (16) and points (45), but the Blackhawks have the second-fewest points in the Western Conference and are in full rebuild mode.
Kane is in the final year of an eight-year, $84million contract he signed in 2014 and had a no-trade clause, so he had a choice in where he could be traded.
With the Rangers, who are in third place in the Metropolitan Division, he will be reunited with Artemi Panarin, who leads New York with 67 points.
Kane and Panarin were team-mates in Chicago for two seasons – including Kane's MVP and scoring champion season of 2015-16.
The Los Angeles Lakers do not know how long they will be without LeBron James but expect it to be more than two weeks, according to reports.
James' right foot soreness appeared on the Lakers' injury report on Monday as he was ruled out of Tuesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
That will not be the extent of the 38-year-old's absence, however, having appeared to sustain the injury in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Replays showed there was no contact made with James before he went down.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported James would miss "an extended period of time", and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added he would be reassessed in a fortnight with the expectation he would not be fit to return.
There are just shy of six weeks remaining of the regular season, of which James is likely to be absent for a significant chunk.
The Lakers are running out of time to rescue their season, improving following the trade deadline but still half a game outside the play-in places.
Sean Payton is the right man to get Russell Wilson's career back on track, according to the quarterback's former coach Pete Carroll.
Carroll and Wilson reached two Super Bowls together with the Seattle Seahawks after the latter was drafted in the third round of the 2012 draft.
Wilson earned Pro Bowl honours nine times with the Seahawks and threw two touchdowns as the team beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
But the relationship between Carroll and Wilson reportedly soured in the later years of their time in Seattle, and the quarterback was traded to the Broncos prior to the 2022 season for a haul of picks.
After signing a bumper $245million contract following the trade, Wilson's first year in Denver was one of the worst of his career, throwing a career-low 16 touchdowns as the team limped to a 5-12 record and finished bottom of the AFC West.
Nathaniel Hackett did not make it through a full first season as head coach, but the Broncos made a trade with the New Orleans Saints to bring the sought-after Payton in to replace him.
Payton won a Super Bowl during a successful spell with New Orleans before stepping away at the end of the 2021 season, and Carroll feels he could be the correct coach to get Wilson back to his best.
"I don't think you can come up with a guy better at coaching quarterbacks than Sean," Carroll told reporters. "He's proven that.
"He's had such tremendous success. He's got a great playcaller mentality to him. They're very fortunate to have him."
Reports last week stated Wilson asked for Carroll and Seattle general manager John Schneider to be fired towards the end of his time with the Seahawks.
"My response to that is a similar response to what it's always been with guys I've coached,'' Carroll said.
"I'm always going to hang with them, I'm never going to leave them and I'm going to be there at the end. All of the good stuff, all of the bad stuff, I'm still going to be there.
"[It] doesn't matter who the guy is. Regardless of what had happened, what has taken place, things that have been said. [If] you hang with them, it all comes back around. I'd like to demonstrate that faith in the relationship and the depth of what we did together, and the growth challenges it brings to us along the way."
Kevin Durant is expected to make his long-awaited Phoenix Suns debut when they face the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP has not played since suffering a knee injury on January 8, and while he was recovering, he was traded to Phoenix in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four first-round draft picks.
Durant did not feature during Sunday's narrow 104-101 defeat by the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Suns revealed they expect the small forward to debut against the Hornets.
The franchise tweeted: "Kevin Durant is expected to make his Phoenix Suns debut tomorrow in Charlotte."
The Suns sit fourth in the Western Conference with a 33-29 record.
Kenny Golladay is expected to be released by the New York Giants, ending a miserable two years on the team.
Reports on Tuesday said Golladay would be released on the first day of the league year in mid-March, saving the Giants $6.7million against their salary cap.
The one-time Pro Bowl wide receiver was a big free agent signing ahead of the 2021 season but never rediscovered his best form.
After being limited to five games in his final season with the Detroit Lions, injuries have again hampered Golladay in New York.
He played in 14 games in his first season but failed to catch a single touchdown pass.
Golladay did have a sole TD in 2022, yet he finished the year with only six receptions having lost his place in the Giants' rotation.
The 29-year-old will head to free agency with his stock considerably lower than when he was last on the market two years ago.
England coach Steve Borthwick believes Marcus Smith will benefit from playing on his return to Harlequins after the fly-half was left out of his 26-man training squad.
Smith was omitted from Borthwick's selection ahead of England's Six Nations meeting with holders France next week.
While the 24-year-old has not been counted out of contention for that match at Twickenham on March 11, it does cast doubt on his position in the matchday squad.
However, Borthwick – who recalled George Ford – is confident game time with his club will do Smith good.
"The decision was that Marcus would benefit from game time at his club and having that match sharpness," Borthwick said.
"I'm not picking a squad for France. We're not in Test week, we're in a training camp week.
"George played for his club at the weekend, and this is an opportunity for Marcus to go and play.
"Marcus had very limited game time against Wales because of the nature of the game, so I thought this was a step forward for him.
"On a weekly basis, you're making a decision on what is the right thing for the player this week to be then ready to play for England.
"For all our players, I'm making those decisions. For some, it's to go and get game time, for others it's to be in the training camp here."
Ford has only just recovered from injury but Borthwick, who worked alongside him at Leicester Tigers, has not hesitated in getting the Sale Sharks fly-half into the fold.
"We are blessed with some fantastic fly-halves in this country," Borthwick said. "They all have different skillsets and different qualities, so that means it is a great position of strength for England.
"George is looking tremendously sharp and in great condition, and is clearly a very experienced player.
"That adds to the strength we have in that position. I am looking forward to seeing Marcus play this weekend, and when you add in Owen [Farrell] and Fin Smith – who I have been hugely impressed by – it shows [it's] a position where we are blessed to have a number of top-quality players."
Max Malins has been left out of the squad while he nurses an ankle issue, with Jonny May called up in his place.
Novak Djokovic was made to work hard for his 18th consecutive victory, eventually putting away Tomas Machac in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Djokovic, who is celebrating a record 378th week as world number one, had to rely on a third-set tie-break to finally get over the line, defeating his Czech opponent 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-1) on Tuesday.
Machac is ranked 130th in the world, but caused Djokovic plenty of problems, earning 10 break points across the match, though he was only able to convert three.
Djokovic had a 4-1 lead in the deciding set before Machac fought back to force a tie-break, but the Australian Open champion ultimately had few problems at 6-6 as he won seven of the eight points played to clinch the win.
"Tomas certainly didn't play like the No. 130 in the world today," Djokovic said of his opponent. "He was giving me all kinds of trouble. But I guess when it mattered, I found another gear."
Djokovic, who is still undefeated in 2023, will face Tallon Griekspoor in the second round.
Elsewhere, fresh off two titles in as many weeks, third seed Daniil Medvedev eased past Matteo Arnaldi 6-4 6-2 to tee up a tie with Alexander Bublik next after his opponent Alexandar Lazarov retired hurt with Bublik leading 6-1 1-0.
Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Maxime Cressy 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3, but sixth seed Karen Khachanov is out after he was beaten 7-5 6-2 by Botic van de Zandschulp.
The Dutchman will take on Mikael Ymer in the second round after his 6-2 6-3 win against Francesco Passaro, while eighth seed Borna Coric and Dan Evans played just four games before the latter retired hurt.
Christopher O'Connell set up a match against Alexander Zverev in the next round after he overcame Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5 6-4.
Gavin Lux's season is over before it even began.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced on Tuesday the infielder will miss the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL in his right knee.
Lux sustained the injury on Monday in a spring training game when running between second and third base.
Needing to adjust his stride to avoid being hit by a throw, Lux's leg buckled awkwardly when he stepped down on his right foot. He tumbled to the ground and needed to be carted off the field.
Roberts said Lux also suffered damage to his LCL and will have surgery next week.
It is a devastating scenario for Lux, who was expected to be the Dodgers' everyday shortstop this season after Trea Turner left in free agency over the offseason to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.
A first-round pick by the Dodgers in 2016, the 25-year-old Lux played in a career-high 129 games last season for Los Angeles, batting .276 with six home runs, 20 doubles and a National League-high seven triples.
In 273 career games over the parts of four MLB seasons, Turner is batting .253 with 18 home runs, 38 doubles and 105 RBIs.
Veteran Miguel Rojas will likely take over at shortstop for the Dodgers while the versatile Chris Taylor can also fill in.
The Green Bay Packers appear to be ready to acknowledge Aaron Rodgers may not be their quarterback for the 2023 season.
The Packers worked hard to keep Rodgers, then the back-to-back MVP, when he appeared to be entertaining the idea of a trade last year.
What followed was a record-breaking contract but an underwhelming season as Green Bay missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record.
Rodgers, 39, has again delivered cryptic messaging on his future this year, leaving for a four-day "darkness retreat" to consider his options.
Regardless, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst would not commit to the team working to bring Rodgers back when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.
Gutekunst's comments appeared to stand in contrast to the eagerness of previous years, as he said: "He's a great player, but until we have those conversations, I think all options are on the table right now.
"We really need to have those conversations. We want what's best for the Green Bay Packers, what's best for Aaron. So, we'll get to that once those conversations happen."
Despite last year's contract extension, Gutekunst has not been surprised by the way the issue of Rodgers' future has arisen again.
"I don't know if things shifted," he said. "I think with a player who's played as long as Aaron has and as we've gone the last few years, we realised for him it's been a year-to-year type of proposition.
"I think we've kind of known that moving forward, that last year when we did the contract it was going to be year to year. That's kind of where we're at. I don't think it really adjusted or changed too much.
"We've always kind of known it was going to be year to year with him.
"I will say our season last year certainly adjusted some things and our thinking a little bit. Obviously, it was a disappointing season. Not where we wanted to be.
"Whenever that happens, you're going to look at a number of things that you're going to change."
Gutekunst added it "would be helpful for our football team" if a decision was reached by Rodgers ahead of free agency in mid-March.
Shaun Wane has signed a new contract with England to remain as head coach until the end of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.
There was disappointment for England at last year's World Cup on home soil as they lost to Samoa in golden-point extra time to exit the tournament in the semi-finals.
Australia went on to defeat Samoa in the final, with the competition – officially the 2021 edition – having been held one year later than planned due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
But following a thorough review, which included the Rugby Football League (RFL) consulting with senior players, former Wigan Warriors boss Wane will retain his job, with France set to host the next World Cup in 2025.
"The RFL Board received and considered at length a detailed review of the performance of each of the England teams at RLWC2021," RFL chair Simon Johnson said.
"No stone was left unturned in the review, which included submissions from coaches, players and staff alike.
"The report generated a good, robust and lengthy discussion at our February board meeting. We are confident that we have the right people in place."
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Indian Wells Open as he continues his recovery from a hip injury.
Nadal sustained the injury during his straight-sets defeat to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January, struggling to move around the court during the closing stages of the contest in Melbourne.
A day after that match, the Spaniard wrote on Twitter: "I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday. The MRI shows a grade two lesion in the iliopsoas of the left leg. Now it's sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time six to eight weeks."
It seems that Indian Wells, the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, has come too soon for the 36-year-old, and it remains to be seen if he will be able to compete at the Miami Open later in March.
The tournament's director, Tommy Haas, said on Tuesday: "We wish Rafa continued healing, and hope to see him back at the BNP Paribas Open next year."
Nadal reached the final of last year's tournament at Indian Wells, where he lost to American Taylor Fritz.
He has won three titles at Indian Wells, but the last came back in 2013.
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