* Top seed and defending champion Elina Svitolina crashed out of the Brisbane International at the hands of Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Wednesday (Jan 2). In a replay of last year's final, Sasnovich reversed that result as she ousted Svitolina 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
* Andy Murray's latest comeback from a persistent hip issue ended prematurely on Wednesday when he was beaten 7-5 6-2 by Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the second round of the Brisbane International.
* Rafa Nadal has pulled out of the Brisbane International due to a left thigh problem, with the Spaniard saying he did not want to risk an injury ahead of this month's Australian Open.
* Chelsea have signed Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund but the American playmaker will spend the rest of the season on loan at the Bundesliga side, the German club announced on Wednesday (Jan 2). The Premier League club paid €64 million (£57.6 million) for the 20-year-old.
* World rally championship runners-up Hyundai have parted company with team principal Michel Nandan and appointed Andrea Adamo in his place after missing out on both titles last season. Hyundai said on Wednesday that Adamo, an Italian, had taken over with immediate effect.
* Former world number one Maria Sharapova qualified for the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen WTA after struggling against China's great tennis hope Wang Xinyu, who was forced to retire from the match in pain.
* Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari expects out-of-favour attacking midfielder Isco to remain at the club and rediscover the form that made him one of the team's most important players over the past two years.
* Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named head coach of Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy on Wednesday, barely two weeks after parting company with Argentina club Boca Juniors.
