Hong Kong  - Maria Sharapova will miss a high-powered Hong Kong tune-up event for only the second time since 2004 after the reigning Australian Open champion was forced to withdraw due to lack of preparation.

The Russian revealed that she underwent arthroscopic surgery in October on her problem shoulder and was only able to return to the practise court in Los Angeles a few weeks ago.

Los Angeles - LeBron James celebrated his 24th birthday, but the Miami Heat spoiled the party.

Dwyane Wade had 21 points with 12 assists, Mario Chalmers added 21 points with a career-high six three-pointers and the Heat snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers' six-game winning streak with a 104-95 home-court victory on Tuesday night.

Although James erupted for 38 points, the All-Star forward dropped to 0-3 playing on his birthday.

"I'm sad," he said sarcastically. "I'm going to cry."

Before the game, the birthday boy asked for something simple.

London  - Andy Murray has fulfilled predictions by leaving his former home-grown management to sign with the Hollywood-style agency which also represents football star David Beckham.

The world number four Scot will begin in two months with 19 Entertainment, which works with Los Angeles show business powerhouse CAA.

Also along for the ride is Murray's doubles-only elder brother Jamie.

London, Dec. 31: Russo-Latvian billionaire and owner of the Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich has been told that he would need to fork out 7.2 billion pounds to buy his hard-up country Latvia.

The Daily Express quoted insiders as saying that Abramovich, who is said to be worth up to 23 billion pounds, could be tempted to splash out.

Debt-laden Latvians have set up an Internet campaign to urge Abramovich, 42, to take control to save them from financial disaster.

Their tongue-in-cheek message says: "The population is hard working and pleasant, the country is environmentally clean and there is plenty of space to dock your yacht."

Melbourne, Dec. 31: South Africa has vowed to maintain the pressure on Australia during the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which begins on Saturday.

Injured vice-captain Ashwell Prince revealed today the triumphant tourists had a "proper party last night" to celebrate their series-clinching nine-wicket win at the MCG, but warned that the psychological edge over Ricky Ponting''s team would be maintained going into the return three-Test series in South Africa starting in February.

Melbourne, Dec. 31 : Australia's chief cricket selector Andrew Hilditch has reiterated that the rebuilding process is progressing well and asserted that now was "not a time for chopping and changing" the squad despite the series loss to South Africa.