Venus Williams to return to Auckland Classic at the age of 45
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will play in January's Auckland's Classic at the age of 45, tournament organisers announced Wednesday.Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was also announced as a confirmed entry for the tournament.
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Luvu's punishment is changed to a $100,000 fine.
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Christian Anderson scores 34 as No. 10 Texas Tech routs Lindenwood 98-60 in opener
Christian Anderson had career highs with 34 points and 11 assists, leading No. 10 Texas Tech to a 98-60 victory over Lindenwood on Tuesday night as the Red Raiders extended their nonconference home winning streak to 39 games. Texas Tech, which has the highest preseason ranking in school history coming off the program's third Elite Eight appearance, was without preseason Big 12 player of the year JT Toppin and LeJuan Watts, a Washington State transfer who is the preseason newcomer of the year. Toppin and Watts were listed with lower-body injuries, as were two more transfers in Josiah Moseley (Villanova) and Luke Bamgboye (Virginia Commonwealth).
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Desmond Bane ejected from Magic's game at Hawks after flagrant and technical fouls
Desmond Bane was ejected in the third quarter of Orlando's game against Atlanta on Tuesday night after flagrantly fouling Onyeka Okongwu and then spiking the ball into the Hawks forward's head as he fell. Okongwu caught a long pass from Jalen Johnson and as he went up for a shot Bane grabbed his arm and pulled him down toward the court. Bane was called for a Flagrant 1 foul and also given a technical foul, which led to an ejection.
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![](/<figure><img src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/afp.com/9a9ed86d2ac4e0c32b0a35b0ee2fe636" data-uuid="d5dd921a-9ce7-313c-89d3-5cab519bfea8"><figcaption>Venus Williams will play in Auckland in January, aged 45 (Rob Carr)</figcaption></figure><p>Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will play in January's Auckland's Classic at the age of 45, tournament organisers announced Wednesday.</p><p>Williams has been awarded a wild card for the Australian Open warm-up event from January 5-11 after only returning to the circuit in August at the US Open after a 16-month break.</p><p>"She is one of the great players in the modern era and her performances on the court speak for themselves," said tournament director Nicolas Lamperin, who added that she was in "remarkable shape and form".</p><p>"Off the court she has made an equally significant contribution to the game and to the development of female players worldwide," he said. </p><p>"Venus has had a profound influence on the evolution of women's tennis and has inspired the next generation with her unshakeable passion for the sport."</p><p>Williams, who won the Auckland Classic in 2015 when she beat Caroline Wozniacki in the final, has lifted five Wimbledon singles titles, two US Opens and an Olympic gold, in Sydney in 2000.</p><p>Lamperin said it was a "privilege" to have Williams back at the tournament.</p><p>"All sports fans should take this opportunity to watch one of the sport's all-time greats in action."</p><p>Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was also announced as a confirmed entry for the tournament.</p><p>The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 18.</p><p>bes/sft/dh</p>)