World Sports News in Brief

Federer wows fans on Twitter with video of trick shots

Roger Federer delighted fans by posting a video on Twitter on Tuesday (Mar 31), which shows him executing some trademark trick shots against a wall in the snow.

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - "The Match In Africa" Exhibition Match - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - February 7, 2020 Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after winning the exhibition match against Spain's Rafael Nadal. (Reuters)
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - "The Match In Africa" Exhibition Match - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - February 7, 2020 Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after winning the exhibition match against Spain's Rafael Nadal. (Reuters)

The video has already garnered over 3.85 million views and shows Federer hitting between-the-legs "tweeners" and behind-the-back shots.

* England's Jos Buttler is auctioning the shirt he wore in last year's dramatic Cricket World Cup final win in support of hospitals treating the coronavirus. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman played a key role in England's thrilling defeat of New Zealand at Lord's in July, scoring a fifty, batting in the Super Over and then running out Martin Guptill off the very last ball of the match.

* With lower-level players reeling financially from the tennis shutdown over the coronavirus, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) told Reuters it is working to boost players' earnings when the sport resumes and considering extending the 2020 season.

* US golfer Phil Mickelson got fans excited in the midst of a virtual halt to live sports by the coronavirus pandemic when he hinted at a rematch with longtime rival Tiger Woods. Mickelson was asked on Twitter about the possibility of a round of golf against Woods being live streamed in the near future.

* Three-quarters of Rugby Australia's staff were on Tuesday (Mar 31) laid off until Jul 1 as the governing body predicted huge financial losses from the sport's coronavirus-enforced shutdown. RA chief executive Raelene Castle described the cuts as "the toughest decision in the game's history" but said they were necessary to help it survive.

* Player salaries for the South African 2020-21 cricket season are safe, but the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic could mean the country's cricketers earn less in the future, Cricket South Africa Acting CEO Jacques Faul has said.

* German clubs from the top two divisions on Tuesday ratified a proposal to extend the suspension of matches until at least April 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak but still plan to finish the season by June 30, the German Football League (DFL) said.

* Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will take a 25% wage deferral to help ease the financial burden of the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) said on Tuesday. The head coaches of Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, Scotland's two professional sides, and the SRU's board of directors will also take a 25% deferral, while chief executive Mark Dodson will take a 30% deferral, the SRU added.

* Formula One world champions Mercedes will not be allowed to use their innovative steering system next year even though the cars are staying the same, the governing FIA said on Tuesday (Mar 31). The dual-axis system (DAS) allows a driver to change the 'toe angle' of the front wheels by pushing and pulling on the steering wheel, rather than just moving it sideways.

* FIFA are working on the details of a "Football Marshall plan" to deal with the financial fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic, which will almost certainly result in them dipping into their US$2.7 billion reserves.

* Organisers of next year's World Games said on Tuesday they were urgently reviewing their options after the rescheduling of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic. The World Games are held every four years and showcase over 35 sports not on the Olympic program, with next year's event scheduled for July 15–25 in Birmingham, Alabama.

* A 10-part documentary series on retired NBA legend Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls dynasty has been finished early for an April release to US and worldwide audiences, presenters announced Tuesday (Mar 31). "The Last Dance" originally was expected to debut in early June alongside the start of the 2020 NBA Finals before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has shut down sports leagues, but now will start April 19 on ESPN.

* The International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s non-compliant list, WADA said on Tuesday (Mar 31) following a vote by its executive committee. The ITF had been ruled non-compliant in October last year for failing to complete and submit a Code Compliance questionnaire.

* Streaming service DAZN Group has told sports leagues it will not pay rights fees for any suspended or cancelled games amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a source familiar with the matter. DAZN will also not pay for future seasons until the company is given an update on when those seasons will begin, the source said.

* Tottenham Hotspur have imposed a 20% pay cut on 550 non-playing staff in April and May due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said in a statement the move was to protect jobs and the club planned to use a government furlough scheme where appropriate.

Reuters, CNA