Sports News Roundup: South African 'Blade Runner' Pistorius gets parole a decade after killing girlfriend; Soccer-Arsenal have Jesus, Odegaard available after international break - Arteta and more
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.
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.
NBA roundup: Balanced scoring lifts Bucks past Wizards
Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each eclipsed 30 points as the Milwaukee Bucks improved to 3-0 in in-season tournament play with a 131-128 win over the visiting Washington Wizards. It's the first game in Bucks franchise history in which three players had 30 points or more. Lopez tied his career high with 39, while Antetokounmpo (nine rebounds) and Lillard (10 assists) each had 31.
Golf-Strong finish sees Lee open up three-shot lead at Australian PGA
Min Woo Lee will take a three-shot lead over Japan's Rikuya Hosino into the final round of the Australian PGA Championship after increasing his advantage at Royal Queensland with a second consecutive five-under-par round of 66 on Saturday. A strong showing over the closing holes allowed the 25-year-old to open up a gap on the chasing pack as he looks to secure his third win on the European Tour.
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.)

