Manchester City intensified its pursuit of AC Milan midfielder Kaka on Thursday by increasing its offer to more than double the world record and has received permission to negotiate directly with the Brazilian.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic defeats Croatia's Mario Ancic at Sydney International, Benesova reaches Hobart final. Del Potro, Querrey reach Auckland semifinals. Federer advances to Kooyong final.

Roger Federer practicing at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. Christopher Clarey and other sports journalists from around the world look ahead to 2009 Australian Open.

• Australian Open, Part one: Resurgent Roger?
• Christopher Clarey

Carlos Sainz abandoned the race Thursday after he careened his Volkswagen into a ravine but wasn't injured.

Netherland Antilles Sprinter Churandy Martina made his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday to be reinstated as the Olympic 200 meters silver medalist.

Johan Edfors and Mikael Lundberg score 66 on Thursday in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers book a trip to the Super Bowl, where they would face the Arizona Cardinals or the Philadelphia Eagles, there will be the faintest hint of fratricide in the air. After all, the Steelers have shared more than just a common purpose with each team. They have also shared a stadium, a locker room and a jersey.

MEN: Tyrell Biggs scored 16 points and Pittsburgh struggled early for the second time in as many games since reaching No. 1 before pulling away to beat South Florida 75-62 on Wednesday night. WOMEN: Courtney Paris had 19 points and 12 rebounds for her 107th consecutive double-double and No. 3 Oklahoma leaned on its reserves to pull away in the second half and hand No. 17 Kansas State its first loss of the season with a 64-48 victory.

Roger Mason hit a jumper with 10 seconds left and made a free throw after being fouled by Derrick Fisher, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 on Wednesday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Western Conference finals.

• New York playmakers failing to pass muster
• Looking like a big mistake

Alex Ovechkin had two goals and an assist and the Washington Capitals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night.

A year ago, at the Australian Open, Roger Federer was still master of his universe, but as the world's best tennis players reconvene at Melbourne Park, it is Rafael Nadal who has an intimidating lead in the rankings.

• A 2009 tennis wish list: Let's start with health
• International coach takes the Roddick challenge

Any tennis dream sheet has to start with wishes for good health. Maria Sharapova, the women's Australian Open champion, for example, has not played a tournament since early August because of a shoulder injury and won't be defending her title.

After nearly 15 years of exploring the strengths and fault lines of players from other countries, Larry Stefanki, the Californian extrovert, has returned to more familiar territory.