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Sabalenka, Rybakina to Open New Season in Brisbane 

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
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Sabalenka, Rybakina to Open New Season in Brisbane 

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)

World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organizers said on Tuesday.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka was already announced for the WTA 500 event, which is returning in the first week of January after a three-year hiatus forced initially by the COVID pandemic.

Sabalenka is ineligible to compete in the United Cup mixed tournament taking place in Perth and Sydney the same week because of the continuing ban on teams from Belarus and Russia stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.

The 25-year-old will join her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park.

"Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there," Sabalenka said in a news release.

"I can't wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans."

Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, lost to Sabalenka in this year's Melbourne final.

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NBA Postpones Game Between Lakers and Hornets Due to Wildfires in LA Area

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
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NBA Postpones Game Between Lakers and Hornets Due to Wildfires in LA Area

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.
It was the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles was postponed, The Associated Press reported. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
The dates for the rescheduled games have not been announced. The Kings said tickets for their postponed game against Calgary will be good for the rescheduled date.
Several major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex following two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, close to the heart of the entertainment industry, but had been contained by Thursday morning.
Roughly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (117 square kilometers) — roughly the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history.
NFL playoffs The Los Angeles Rams sent out a statement to season ticket holders and fans Thursday morning reiterating that Monday night's NFC wild-card round postseason game against the Minnesota Vikings remains set to be played as scheduled at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The NFL said Wednesday evening if the game had to be moved, it would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular-season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.
The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both train in areas not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring the air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players’ outdoor time in coastal El Segundo. The Chargers are leaving after practice on Thursday for Houston and their AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans on Saturday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers’ offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. The air quality at the team’s complex was 185 on Wednesday. Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy.
The Rams held their first practice on Thursday but canceled their player media availability so everybody could go home quickly. Their headquarters are in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
NBA Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard abruptly left the team before its game at Denver on Wednesday because of what the team described as personal reasons. Leonard bought a house in Pacific Palisades in 2021.
“You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100 percent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
The West Coast Conference postponed women's basketball games scheduled for Thursday night at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.
Pepperdine was scheduled to face Portland at Firestone Field House on the school’s Malibu campus. Pepperdine canceled classes Wednesday, and access to its coastal campus was restricted.
Loyola Marymount had its game against San Diego postponed as a precautionary measure due to air quality concerns inside Gersten Pavilion while the facility is being renovated.
Horse racing Santa Anita Park postponed Friday's racing program until Jan. 16 because of poor air quality forecast in Arcadia, near the Eaton Fire.
The California Horse Racing Board approved the rescheduling of the 10-race card, which will be run with the horses previously entered.
“While Santa Anita continues to remain well outside of any active fire area, the smoke from the wildfires is affecting all of Los Angeles County,” track general manager Nate Newby said. “We also want to respect the impact that this tragedy has had on many of our community, including our horsemen and women and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires.”
A decision on Saturday and Sunday's racing will be made Friday.
The track was handing out N-95 masks to all backstretch and frontside workers as well as protective eyewear because of the smoke.
Golf The PGA Tour has not decided whether to play the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, scheduled for Feb. 13-16.
Riviera, which will host golf in the 2028 Olympics, is in the Pacific Palisades community and was part of the evacuation order. In a memo to players Thursday, the tour said the course was not directly affected by the fire. Golf tournaments require building hospitality tents around the course.
Tiger Woods is the host of the tournament, a signature event with a $20 million purse.
Soccer Ali Riley, a defender for Angel City in the National Women's Soccer League who also plays for the New Zealand national team, said her family's home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
Riley posted a photo on Instagram of the devastated neighborhood with an arrow pointing to where the house once stood.
"I was there Monday night eating dinner. Hanging with mom and dad. Watched the sunset," she wrote. “And now it's gone forever.”