World Sports News in Brief

Djokovic edges Thiem in thriller to clinch eighth Australian Open

Novak Djokovic endured a fierce challenge to his Melbourne Park reign before overhauling Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 on Sunday to clinch an eighth Australian Open crown and reclaim the world number one ranking.

Tennis - Australian Open - Men's Singles Final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - February 3, 2020. Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning his match against Austria's Dominic Thiem. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Men's Singles Final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - February 3, 2020. Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning his match against Austria's Dominic Thiem. (Reuters)

* Eleventh seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury halted the incredible doubles run of Australian Open wildcards Max Purcell and Luke Saville Sunday (Feb 2), crushing them 6-4, 6-2 in the final to take the title.

* Cristiano Ronaldo stretched his scoring streak to nine consecutive league games with a penalty double on Sunday (Feb 2) as Juventus bounced back from last weekend's defeat to Napoli with a 3-0 win over Fiorentina.

* Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati scored twice to lead his side to a 2-1 win at home to Levante on Sunday, finding the net in a league game for the first time in more than four months and becoming the youngest player to net a La Liga double.

* Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday but Mikel Arteta's side can count themselves lucky to leave with a point. Jay Rodriguez and Jeff Hendrick missed golden chances for Burney to win a match they dominated for large stretches.

* Steven Bergwijn made an instant impact on his Tottenham Hotspur debut with a stunning opener in his side's 2-0 win over champions Manchester City in an incident-packed Premier League game on Sunday.

* FIFA is ending its six-month intervention in African soccer's governing body, it said on Sunday, after the mission to speed up the reform of football on the continent was "successfully completed".

* Olympique de Marseille were held to a goalless draw at Girondins de Bordeaux, damaging their fading Ligue 1 title hopes and continuing a 42-year winless away streak against Sunday's opponents.

* Danish forward Kasper Dolberg scored twice as Nice avenged their midweek French Cup exit to Lyon with a 2-1 victory on Sunday (Feb 2) in a game that saw both sides finish with 10 men.

Reuters, CNA