Tennis: Former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro has confirmed he will defend his Sydney International title in January after making his return from 10 months on the sidelines in Brisbane the previous week. The Argentine last played on the ATP Tour when he retired from his opening match at the Dubai International in February and underwent surgery on his left wrist in late March. “I love playing in Sydney. The city and the fans are great and I can’t wait to come back,” he said.

Rugby Union: South Africa captain Jean de Villiers says he is hopeful of being fit for the World Cup in England in September after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee yesterday. “The procedure went well but at this stage it is difficult to determine an exact return in terms of time frame,” team doctor Craig Roberts said. “The use of an artificial graft should speed up his rehabilitation.”

Cricket: England captain Alastair Cook has been handed a one-match suspension for a second slow over-rate offence within 12 months. England beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in a rain-shortened match at Hambantota on Wednesday but were one over short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration. Cook, who scored 34 on Wednesday, was also fined 20 per cent of his match fee. He will miss the fourth one dayer to be played in Colombo on Sunday.

Alpine Skiing: Pop violinist Vanessa Mae is appealing a four-year ban imposed for fixing giant slalom races which allowed her to qualify for the Sochi Olympics. Mae skied for Thailand at the Games under her father’s surname of Vanakorn. She was given the ban in November when FIS listed a series of irregularities at four qualifying races in Slovenia, and her Sochi results were scrubbed.