World number one Iga Swiatek has been named WTA Player of the Year for a second successive season, the governing body of women's tennis has said.
Swiatek won the French Open for a third time to take her Grand Slam tally to four, and finished the year by claiming her first WTA Finals crown and regaining top spot in the rankings after briefly losing it to Aryna Sabalenka.
The 22-year-old Pole, who won a tour-leading six titles, became the first player to be named WTA Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2015.
Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens picked up the Doubles Team of the Year award, China's Zheng Qinwen was named Most Improved Player while Russian Mirra Andreeva won Newcomer of the Year.
Elina Svitolina, who returned to tennis in April following a maternity break, was named Comeback Player of the Year after reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals and matching her best Grand Slam result by getting to the Wimbledon semis.
Clubs worldwide spent a record $2.35 billion on international transfers in men's soccer in the January window, nearly a 58 per cent increase from last year, world soccer's governing body FIFA said in a study published on Friday.
FIFA has suspended the Congo Republic's football association (FECOFOOT) and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), barring both from international competitions, the world soccer's governing body has said.
Cypriot rhythmic gymnastics judge Evangelia Trikomiti has been banned for four years for manipulating scores at the European Championships in May last year to ensure her compatriot qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Ons Jabeur exited the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at the quarter-final stage for the second consecutive year after losing a thrilling encounter against reigning champion Elena Rybakina, who joins Belinda Bencic, Ashlyn Krueger and Linda Noskova in the semi-finals.
Tim Seifert’s stellar cameo at the DP World ILT20 Season 3 helped the Sharjah Warriorz to seal a stunning six-wicket win against defending champions MI Emirates in their winner-takes-it-all Eliminator clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Thursday evening.