The 69-year-old pontiff likes not just to watch but also to play, according to reports.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy will play in the Australian Open for the next two years, the world number two said Wednesday, ending a long absence from the tournament.

Australian former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis avoided jail for driving in a way "likely to cause harm" before his car struck and killed his Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins.

Jannik Sinner came through the first true test of his comeback from a doping ban with Tuesday's straight-sets win over Francisco Cerundolo which took the world number one into the Italian Open quarter-finals.

Spaniard Jose Riveiro received a fitting farewell on Tuesday as coach of Orlando Pirates, who kept their slim South African Premiership title hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Golden Arrows.