TENNIS

Swiss superman Roger Federer flew towards a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam in an extraordinary display on Tuesday as last year's winner Novak Djokovic sensationally withdrew from his quarterfinal. Federer, a three-time champion here, completely outplayed 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 to make his 19th consecutive Major semifinal, where he will meet old rival Andy Roddick.

CRICKET

England's players will be available to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) both this year and next year, it was announced on Tuesday. A joint statement issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said England players would be available to participate in the IPL auction on February 6 and to play in the IPL "for a minimum of a three week period in 2009 and 2010".

CRICKET

Zimbabwe allrounder Elton Chigumbura scored 79 and claimed two wickets to lead his team to a 109-run win over Kenya in the first of a five-match limited-overs series in Mombasa on Tuesday. He smashed 79 off 38 balls as Zimbabwe reached 306-7 for their equal eighth highest limited-overs total. Chigumbura then took the opening two wickets to leave Kenya on 16-2 in the sixth over before they were bowled out for 197 in the 47th.

CRICKET

The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday it had replaced Shoaib Malik with Younus Khan as captain of the national cricket team.

FOOTBALL

With a game in hand and a match against last-place West Bromwich Albion coming up, Premier League leaders Manchester United should be cruising toward their third straight title. Alex Ferguson has a major injury headache, however, with 12 players sidelined for Tuesday's game at West Brom. Because of the long list, the United manager is being forced to field players out of their regular positions.