Good evening!

The world’s best surfers continue to wait for favourable waves at the Pipe Pro in Hawaii, with competition delayed another day. Since the event window began on 27 January, there has only been one day of surfing.

However, that one day (last Thursday) saw 11-time world champion Kelly Slater win his opening heat at the age of 52!

So, my real question is… could LeBron still be playing in 12 years time?

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Stat of the day

15,678
The number of points Devin Booker has scored for the Phoenix Suns. Booker surpassed the previous franchise record (15,666 held by Walter Davis) on Monday night, scoring 34 points in the Suns’ 121-119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Booker has played 642 games for the Suns since being picked in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Quote of the day

"What we need to do, we need to give Sam the opportunity to go through the trial. Once we complete the trial, then we'll have a holistic view of what's happened."
Football Australia boss James Johnson speaking to reporters about the status of Sam Kerr's return to the Matildas. The star striker, who has been sidelined since January 2024 with an ACL injury, is currently facing trial in the UK where she has been accused of racially abusing a police officer. Kerr is expected to return from injury in time for the Matildas’ friendlies against South Korea in April. However, her captaincy and inclusion in the squad could depend upon the outcome of the ongoing trial.

Random fact of the day

On this day in 1924, the first Winter Olympics came to an end in Chamonix, France. The event saw 16 nations compete. Norway topped the medal tally with 17 medals (4 gold, 7 silver, 6 bronze). The first-ever Winter Olympic champion was Charles Jewtraw, an American speed skater who won the Games’ opening event, the 500m speed skating.

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In case you missed it…

⛳ Tiger Woods's mother Kutilda has died aged 80. Woods made the announcement and paid tribute to his mother on social media, saying: “My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.”

🏈 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league will continue to invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),  despite many companies abandoning such initiatives following Donald Trump’s re-election. In an annual state of the league address ahead of the Super Bowl on 10 February, Goodell said: "We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the NFL. And we’re going to continue towards that, because we've not only convinced ourselves, I think we've proven that it does make the NFL better."

🏉 Former West Coast Eagles player Adam Hunter has died aged 43. The 2006 premiership winner was found dead last night in his hometown of Bunbury in Western Australia. The death is being treated as non-suspicious. The news compounds an already difficult week for the AFL community following the deaths of coach Dale Tapping and former Lions player Troy Selwood on Tuesday.

I’ve got 1 minute

Romanian tennis star Simona Halep announces retirement

Former world number one Simona Halep announced her retirement from tennis this week. Halep, a two-time grand slam champion, made the announcement on-court shortly after losing the opening round match of a tournament on home soil in Romania.

Career

Halep rose to prominence early last decade, winning six WTA titles during the 2013 season and cracking the top ten in 2014. The 33-year-old played and lost in three grand slam finals before finally winning the 2018 French Open. Perhaps her greatest achievement came a year later, beating tennis legend Serena Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final. During her time on the WTA Tour, Halep won 24 titles.

The final years of her career were marred by a doping suspension after Halep tested positive for a banned substance in 2022. Following an appeal, the length of the ban was reduced from four years to nine months in February 2024, and she returned to the tour late last year. Since returning, Halep has battled with injury and struggled to replicate the same form that saw her become Romania’s first-ever women’s world number one and Wimbledon winner.

What they said

Halep said: "Who knows whether I will return, but at the moment it is for the last time that I play here. I don't want to cry, it is a beautiful thing, I became world number one, I won Grand Slams, it is everything I ever wanted. Life moves on, there is life after tennis too."

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Aussies prepare for second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle

The second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka begins tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

Second Test

Both Tests in the series were scheduled at the same venue in Galle, a city on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Australia is the favourite to win after their comprehensive victory in the first match by an innings and 242 runs. The result marked Sri Lanka’s heaviest-ever defeat as a Test-playing nation.

That being said, any Test series in Sri Lanka has the potential to shift quickly in momentum. In 2022, Australia won the first two Tests of the series before being handed a heavy defeat in the third.

What they said

Ahead of the Test, Travis Head told cricket.com.au: “[Sri Lanka] will look to get better and we expect them to come back in a place where they do well. We’ve got to make sure we're on our best game."

Sam Konstas flies home

Teenage batting sensation Sam Konstas has flown home early from Sri Lanka to play for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. Despite impressing in two Tests against India during the recent Border-Gavaskar series, and being included in the Sri Lanka tour squad, Konstas has not been named in the starting side for either Test.

Instead, selectors opted to move Travis Head up the batting order and fill the gap lower down the order with Josh Inglis. After solid performances from Head and Inglis in the opening test at Galle, including Inglis making a century on debut, it seems there was no room in the side for Konstas.

What’s next?

Following the second Test, Australia will remain in Sri Lanka for two One-Day Internationals in Colombo against the host nation on 12 and 14 February.

A message from Deakin University

Whether it’s home or away, follow them through every game

The Sport Science degree at Deakin University provides students with the opportunity to acquire world-class knowledge in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and sport psychology - essential areas that contribute to optimising elite performance.

Gain insight into cutting-edge training techniques, injury prevention strategies, and advanced performance analytics used in global sporting events.

By studying at Deakin, you'll be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to support athletes at the highest level, preparing you for a dynamic and rewarding career in the field of sport science.

Looking back…

Looking forward… (All times are AEDT)

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