REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 7:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. ET

Venus Williams celebrated her 19th main draw appearance at the Australian Open with a come-from-behind 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2 victory over 25th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu on Tuesday, marking a successful day for some of the sport’s oldest active competitors.

OLYMPICS-2020-TAKEDA/

Japan's Olympic Committee head denies impropriety in 2020 bid procedures

TOKYO (Reuters) - The head of Japan’s Olympic Committee confirmed that he had been questioned by French authorities in December on Tuesday but repeated his denial there was anything improper about Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Games and vowed to prove his innocence.

SWIMMING-FINA/

Swimming: FINA clears swimmers to compete in independent events

BERLIN (Reuters) - FINA on Tuesday allowed athletes to take part in independent competitions in a bid to settle a financial dispute, but the world swimming federation said results from those events will require its approval to be considered as official.

UPCOMING

SOCCER

SOCCER-ENGLAND-BBR-NEW/REPORT

Soccer - England - FA Cup Third Round Replay - Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United

A fourth round clash with Watford awaits the winners

15 Jan 14:45 ET / 19:45 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-BBR-NEW/ (PIX)

Soccer - England - FA Cup Third Round Replay - Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United

15 Jan 14:45 ET / 19:45 GMT

SOCCER-USA/AUSTIN

Soccer-MLS Commissioner to make major announcement in Austin

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Austin FC Chairman Anthony Precourt will make a "major announcement" about the future of MLS in the city.

15 Jan 17:00 ET / 22:00 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN-CUP/REPORT

Soccer - Spain - Copa del Rey - Valencia vs Sporting Gijon

Valencia host Sporting Gijon in a Copa del Rey last 16 second leg, trailing 2-1 in the tie.

15 Jan 15:30 ET / 20:30 GMT

SOCCER-ASIANCUP-VNM-YEM/

Soccer - AFC Asian Cup - Vietnam v Yemen

Vietnam play Yemen in the AFC Asian Cup Group D match at Al Ain's Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

16 Jan 11:00 ET / 16:00 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY-JUV-MIL/REPORT

Soccer - Italy - Italian Super Cup - Juventus v AC Milan

Juventus meet AC Milan in the annual Super Cup match between the Serie A champions and the Coppa Italia winners.

16 Jan 12:30 ET / 17:30 GMT

SOCCER-ASIANCUP-KOR-CHN/ (PIX)

Soccer - AFC Asian Cup - South Korea v China

South Korea play China in the AFC Asian Cup Group C match at Abu Dhabi's Al Nahyan Stadium.

16 Jan 08:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN-ATM-GIR/REPORT

Soccer - Spain - Copa del Rey - Atletico Madrid v Girona

Atletico Madrid play Girona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie.

16 Jan 13:30 ET / 18:30 GMT

SOCCER-ASIANCUP-IRN-IRQ/ (PIX)

Soccer - AFC Asian Cup - Iran v Iraq

Iran play Iraq in the AFC Asian Cup Group D match at Dubai's Al-Maktoum Stadium.

16 Jan 11:00 ET / 16:00 GMT

SOCCER-ASIANCUP-KGZ-PHL/

Soccer - AFC Asian Cup - Kyrgyzstan v Philippines

Kyrgyzstan play Philippines in the AFC Asian Cup Group C match at Dubai's Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium.

16 Jan 08:30 ET / 13:30 GMT

MOTOR RALLYING

MOTOR-RALLY-DAKAR/ (PIX) (TV)

Rallying - Dakar Rally

Peru hosts the 2019 Dakar Rally - stage eight is from San Juan de Marcona to Pisco.

15 Jan 15:00 ET / 20:00 GMT

TENNIS

TENNIS-AUSOPEN/POTAPOVA (PIX)

Tennis-Interview with Russian teenager Potapova

Former junior standout Anastasia Potapova made a big splash in 2018 in her second year on the WTA circuit and reached the second round of the Australian Open in only her second appearance in a Grand Slam main draw.

16 Jan 01:00 ET / 06:00 GMT

TENNIS-AUSOPEN/ (PIX) (TV)

Tennis - Australian Open

Defending champions Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki are both in action on day three of the Australian Open.Switzerland's Federer plays Briton Dan Evans while Wozniacki of Denmark takes on Sweden's Johanna Larsson.

16 Jan 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

RUGBY

RUGBY-UNION-NATIONS-SCO/ (PIX)

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Scotland squad announcement

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend names his squad for the Six Nations Championship

16 Jan 05:30 ET / 10:30 GMT

BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL-NBA-WAS-NYK/PREVIEW (TV)

Basketball - NBA London Game - Washington Wizards v New York Knicks - Preview

Washington Wizards and New York Knicks prepare for the 2019 NBA London Game at the 02 Arena in London.

16 Jan 07:30 ET / 12:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-NOTEBOOK

NBA notebook- Field Level Media

News and notes from around the NBA.

15 JAN, 20:00 ET/ 16 JAN, 01:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-ROUNDUP

NBA roundup- Field Level Media

Summary recaps of NBA games played Tuesday.

15 JAN, 22:00 ET/ 16 JAN, 03:00 GMT

NFL

FOOTBALL-NFL-NOTEBOOK

NFL notebook- Field Level Media

News and notes from around the NFL.

15 Jan, 19:30 ET/ 16 Jan, 00:30 GMT

NHL

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NOTEBOOK

NHL notebook- Field Level Media

News and notes from around the NHL.

15 JAN, 20:00 ET/ 16 JAN, 01:00 GMT