Melbourne, Jan.

Auckland - Argentine Juan Del Potro has a chance to begin a new winning streak after lifting four titles in 2008 when he plays the Saturday final at the Heineken Open.

The South American will face big-hitting American Sam Querry after defeating Swede Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-3

Querrey booked his place with an upset of second seed and 2007 winner David Ferrer of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Del Potro fired ten aces in his victory over Sodering as the world number nine advanced in his first event of the new season.

Sydney, Jan. 16 : Australian Test opener Phil Jaques has delayed his return to action by a further week after experiencing discomfort in his back during training.

Jaques, who missed the entire Test summer after undergoing surgery for a bulging disc, was due to return to the crease in grade cricket for Sutherland this weekend.

"Phil experienced a small amount of discomfort after a training session during the week, as a result of which his surgeon recommended allowing an extra week for recovery," Cricket NSW said in a statement.

Sydney - Flying Finn Jarkko Nieminen stunned Novak Djokovic on the eve of the Australian Open, hammering the top seed out of the Medibank International warm-up event 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) on Friday.

The 40th-ranked Niemimen, who secured a walkover the day before when 2008 Melbourne finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew from their quarter-final with a back injury, will face Argentine David Nalbandian for the title on Saturday.

London, Jan. 16 : Real Madrid has unveiled their most expensive seat ticket for the visit of Liverpool in the Champions League.

Karachi, Jan. 16 : As Pakistan prepares to host Sri Lanka in a much needed one-day international series, coach Intikhab Alam has said that his side will offer a tough fight to the islanders, and hoped that it continues the winning streak from where it left in the last series against the West Indies.

Alam said that it was very important for Pakistan to win the home series after it swept the three match series against West Indies, 3-0, in November last year.

"It is also important for us to win the series after having done well against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi," The News quoted Alam, as saying.

He asked the Shoaib Malik led squad to play like a cohesive unit, and ensure that the series is pocketed by the home team.