Sports News Roundup: Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open with back issue; Sizzling Jazz extend Lakers' skid and more

Golf: Sorenstam says not returning to LPGA Tour full time Annika Sorenstam says she is looking forward to playing at this week's LPGA Tour event in Florida after 13 years away but the 10-times major champion has no plans to make a permanent comeback.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Pandemic helped Swiatek deal with French Open success

French Open champion Iga Swiatek says the COVID-19 pandemic has been beneficial for her as the restrictions allowed the 19-year-old from Poland to settle into her life as a first-time Grand Slam winner. Swiatek went from being a largely unknown teenager to acquiring celebrity status when she became the youngest woman to win the French Open since Monica Seles in 1992 and the first to do so without dropping a set since Justine Henin in 2007.

About 1,000 Olympics volunteers quit this month in wake of furor over president

About 1,000 Olympics volunteers have quit over the past month, organisers said, during which time organising committee president Yoshiro Mori quit due to sexist remarks and a new president was chosen to replace him. Volunteers are the backbone of any Games, performing everything from guiding people to venues, translating and driving visitors around. A significant drop in their numbers could be another hurdle for Tokyo 2020, already hit by an unprecedented year-long postponement and a lack of public support fuelled by concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Another great Tiger Woods comeback is possible, say experts

Tiger Woods could return to competitive golf within a year, top orthopedic surgeons said on Wednesday, but the road back from serious leg injuries sustained in a car crash will be a long and grueling one. Already credited with one of sport's great comebacks when he returned from back surgery to win a fifth Masters in 2019, ending an 11-year majors drought, Woods will have to be even more resilient if he is to overcome the damage done in Tuesday's accident.

NBA roundup: Sizzling Jazz extend Lakers' skid

Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points as the red-hot Utah Jazz smashed the Los Angeles Lakers 114-89 Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, sending the defending NBA champions to their fourth consecutive defeat. Utah's Mike Conley finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Donovan Mitchell totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his first game since earning his second All-Star Game trip.

Barty party over in Australia amid doubts over top ranking

An Australian summer of tennis that promised so much for Ash Barty has ended in disappointment with the local hero falling at the first hurdle of the Adelaide International a week after blowing a golden chance to win her home Grand Slam. World number one Barty exited Memorial Drive on Wednesday after a 6-3 6-4 loss to Danielle Collins and took a defensive swipe at the Australian public for having unrealistic expectations of her.

Holloway keen to push his limits after record-breaking run

American Grant Holloway said he was not surprised by his blistering pace on the World Indoor Tour circuit this year as he eclipsed the long-standing world indoor 60m hurdles record in Madrid. Holloway, the outdoor 110m hurdles world champion, won his 10th race of the year on Wednesday as he finished the 60m hurdles final in 7.29 seconds, shaving 0.01 seconds off the previous mark set by Briton Colin Jackson in 1994.

Olympics: Queensland may build new stadium if 2032 bid successful - official

Australia may build a new stadium to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2032 Olympics if Brisbane secures the Games, Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday. Brisbane took a major step towards being named 2032 hosts after the International Olympic Committee said the city had been picked as the preferred partner to start talks for the Games.

Vaccines 'encouraged' but not compulsory for athletes at Tokyo: Coates

Athletes are being encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics but it will not be compulsory, IOC Vice President John Coates said on Thursday. "Not compulsory, we can't do that," Coates, head of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Games, told reporters in Brisbane.

Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open with back issue

World number two Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Rotterdam Open due to a back injury, the Spaniard said on Thursday. The 20-time Grand Slam winner has been struggling with a back issue since the build-up to the Australian Open and was forced to skip Spain's ATP Cup ties earlier this month.

Golf: Sorenstam says not returning to LPGA Tour full time

Annika Sorenstam says she is looking forward to playing at this week's LPGA Tour event in Florida after 13 years away but the 10-times major champion has no plans to make a permanent comeback. The Swede, who retired in 2008 and is third on the all-time list with 72 LPGA titles, said she decided to play at the Feb. 25-28 Gainbridge LPGA event as part of her preparations for the U.S. Senior Women's Open.

(With inputs from agencies.)