Sports News Roundup: Tennis-Sinner enjoying the 'privilege' of Davis Cup pressure; Motor racing-McLaren F1 team extend Mercedes engine deal to 2030 and more

In the first he was the "Blade Runner", the multiple Paralympic gold medallist with carbon-fibre prosthetic legs who also took on the best in the 2012 London Olympics. Soccer-Onana ready to face Everton, Hojlund doubtful, says Ten Hag Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is ready to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday but striker Rasmus Hojlund is doubtful, manager Erik ten Hag said on Friday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis-Sinner enjoying the 'privilege' of Davis Cup pressure

Jannik Sinner said he was embracing the pressure of the Davis Cup Finals after pulling double duty to help former champions Italy defeat the Netherlands 2-1 and make the semi-finals for the second straight year. Sinner, who arrived in Malaga after losing his ATP Finals title clash to Novak Djokovic, overcame Tallon Griekspoor on Thursday to level the tie at 1-1 and later teamed up with Lorenzo Sonego to down Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof.

Tennis-Australia outclass Finland to return to Davis Cup final

Australia reached a second successive Davis Cup final when Alex de Minaur overpowered Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 6-3 after Alexei Popyrin beat Otto Virtanen 7-6(5) 6-2 to earn the 28-time champions a 2-0 win over Finland on Friday. Lleyton Hewitt's team, who lost to Canada in the 2022 final and missed the opportunity to close in on 32-time champions the United States, will face Serbia or Italy who meet in the second semi-final on Saturday.

Motor racing-Formula One set to change sprint format for 2024

Formula One is set to change its sprint format for 2024 after support from teams and stakeholders to make race weekends easier to follow. The governing FIA said on Friday its Sporting Advisory Committee would present a final proposal to the F1 Commission in January.

Motor racing-McLaren F1 team extend Mercedes engine deal to 2030

The McLaren Formula One team will use Mercedes power units until at least 2030 after extending their existing deal into the sport's new engine era that starts in 2026, both parties announced on Friday. McLaren, whose drivers are Britain's Lando Norris and Australian Oscar Piastri, are the first customer team to commit to the new Mercedes power unit alongside the works outfit.

Soccer-Arsenal have Jesus, Odegaard available after international break - Arteta

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus and midfielder Martin Odegaard have returned from the international break fit to face Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Thursday. Jesus and Odegaard both missed Arsenal's last two league games due to injury, but Jesus played in Brazil's 1-0 loss to Argentina this week after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Oscar Pistorius, track star turned murderer, granted parole

Oscar Pistorius's life story from before and after Valentine's Day 2013 reads like the script to two markedly different films – the first an inspirational sporting biopic and the second a grim tale of murder. In the first he was the "Blade Runner", the multiple Paralympic gold medallist with carbon-fibre prosthetic legs who also took on the best in the 2012 London Olympics.

Soccer-Onana ready to face Everton, Hojlund doubtful, says Ten Hag

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is ready to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday but striker Rasmus Hojlund is doubtful, manager Erik ten Hag said on Friday. Onana sustained an injury playing for Cameroon in their 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Mauritius last week.

Olympics-Switzerland to bid for 2030 or 2034 Winter Games

Switzerland on Friday announced it would bid for either the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which would be the third time the Alpine country has hosted the event.

Switzerland has pledged to organise a "decentralised" Games using existing facilities spread across the country of around 9 million people. It said the Games would be largely financed by the private sector.

Soccer-Man City innocent until proven guilty, says Guardiola

Manchester City are innocent until proven guilty of over 100 charges of breaking the Premier League's financial rules, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday. Everton were last week handed an unprecedented 10-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

South African 'Blade Runner' Pistorius gets parole a decade after killing girlfriend

Jailed South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was granted parole on Friday more than 10 years after murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, and will be released on Jan. 5, authorities said. Pistorius - known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs - shot the 29-year-old model and law graduate through a bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013, and later repeatedly told courts he had mistaken her for an intruder.

(With inputs from agencies.)