Sports News Roundup: Tennis-New mother Osaka tames nerves for winning return in Brisbane; Tennis-Nadal makes long-awaited comeback in Brisbane doubles defeat and more

New York will go into the record books as the 4-0 winner of the inaugural contest but more significantly the game marked the launch of a league with ambitious plans to do for ice hockey what the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) did for their sports. NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough dies at age of 84 Cale Yarborough, who won three consecutive NASCAR Cup championships in a Hall of Fame racing career that included four Daytona 500 wins, died at age 84, NASCAR said on Sunday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis-New mother Osaka tames nerves for winning return in Brisbane

Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka felt the nerves but looked solid on her return to elite tennis after 15 months out as she got past Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday. The 26-year-old from Japan last competed on tour at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022 and had her first child, daughter Shai, in July before stepping up her preparations for the Jan. 14-28 Australian Open.

Ducks hope to slow Connor McDavid, Oilers

The Anaheim Ducks were hoping an eight-game homestand would provide the jumpstart they needed to move up the Western Conference playoff standings. However, heading into a Sunday night game with the red-hot Edmonton Oilers, the Ducks have won just one of the first four games of the home sequence.

NHL roundup: Rangers' Artemi Panarin (hat trick) lights up Lightning

Artemi Panarin recorded his sixth career hat trick, Vincent Trocheck notched a goal and three assists and the New York Rangers whipped the host Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 on Saturday night. In tying his career high with four points, Trocheck had helpers on two of Panarin's goals and Chris Kreider's marker. Trocheck's tally marked his third game-winner of the season for the Rangers, who went 9-5-0 in December. Alexis Lafreniere recorded two assists, while goaltender Igor Shesterkin had 34 saves and recorded his fifth consecutive win.

NBA roundup: Suns lean on star power to clip Magic

Kevin Durant recorded 31 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals to help the Phoenix Suns post a 112-107 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Bradley Beal scored a season-best 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting as Phoenix won its third straight game. Devin Booker had 21 points and three steals for the Suns, who got to see their big three of Booker, Durant and Beal all play in the same game for just the fourth time this season.

Tennis-Swiatek keeps winning in United Cup as Poland reach quarter-finals

Iga Swiatek overcame Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 6-1 at the United Cup on Monday for a second singles win of the season and partnered Hubert Hurkacz to dish out a "double bagel" that put Poland into the quarter-finals of the mixed team tournament. Swiatek and Hurkacz eased past Sorribes Tormo and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-0 6-0 in the mixed doubles decider to ensure the top seeds finished as Group A winners in the 18-nation event that offers $10 million in prize money.

Ice Hockey-PWHL launch gives women a league of their own

The new year ushered in a new era in women's sport on Monday with tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King handling ceremonial opening faceoff duties as Toronto and New York met in the Professional Women's Hockey League's (PWHL) first game. New York will go into the record books as the 4-0 winner of the inaugural contest but more significantly the game marked the launch of a league with ambitious plans to do for ice hockey what the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) did for their sports.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough dies at age of 84

Cale Yarborough, who won three consecutive NASCAR Cup championships in a Hall of Fame racing career that included four Daytona 500 wins, died at age 84, NASCAR said on Sunday. The news comes after NASCAR Vice President John Dodson in April said Yarborough "was not doing well" and asked fans to keep him in their prayers.

NFL roundup: Ravens thrash Dolphins, grab No. 1 seed in AFC

Lamar Jackson passed for 321 yards and matched his career high of five touchdown passes and the Baltimore Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 56-19 dismantling of the visiting Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Isaiah Likely had two touchdown receptions and Zay Flowers (106 receiving yards), Justice Hill, Patrick Ricard and Charlie Kolar each had one for the Ravens (13-3). Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon III each rushed for a score for Baltimore, which has won six straight games and 10 of its past 11.

Tennis-Djokovic delivers as Serbia beat China in United Cup

Novak Djokovic closed out his spectacular 2023 on a winning note as the world number one eased past China's Zhang Zhizhen 6-3 6-2 on his United Cup debut on Sunday before doubling up to secure a 2-1 victory for Serbia in the mixed team tournament. The 36-year-old showed no signs of slowing down as he lifted the Australian, French and U.S. Open trophies last season - with his only blip being a five-set defeat in the Wimbledon final - before securing the year-end top spot at the ATP Finals.

Tennis-Nadal makes long-awaited comeback in Brisbane doubles defeat

Rafa Nadal returned to action for the first time since January at the Brisbane International on Sunday, losing his doubles match but overall showing no obvious after-effects of the hip injury that ruined his year. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who is gearing up for the Jan. 14-28 Australian Open, sustained the hip problem in his second round loss at Melbourne Park at the start of 2023 and ended his season early after having surgery in June.