Hsieh Su-Wei in action during the match against Japan's Naomi Osaka - Australian Open - Third Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 19, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)

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The unseeded Hsieh, who knocked Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber out of the last 16 on Wednesday, was on the ropes at 5-1 down in the deciding set against the big-serving Pliskova, but won the last six games to deny the Czech victory.

* Nico Hulkenberg ended Formula One's first pre-season test in Spain on a high for Renault on Thursday with the fastest lap so far by any of the new crop of cars. The 31-year-old German, who holds the unwanted record of most races (156) without once stepping on the podium, lapped the Circuit de Catalunya in one minute 17.393 seconds in the late afternoon and on the softest tyre.

* Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined £45,000 by the Football Association on Thursday for comments he made about the referee after his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the Premier League on Feb 4. The German had said that referee Kevin Friend's performance was affected by the decision to allow Sadio Mane's opening goal, which should have been ruled out for offside.

* A Manchester City fan is in "critical condition in hospital" as a result of an alleged assault after their Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match against Schalke 04 in Germany on Wednesday, the English Premier League club said. City said in a statement that the club were "working with Greater Manchester Police and German Police to ascertain more information" and appealed to anyone with information to contact the authorities.

* Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund are hoping captain Marco Reus will be fit for Sunday's match against in-form Bayer Leverkusen as they look to reignite their stalled title run. The Ruhr valley club have seen a seven-point lead over champions Bayern Munich cut to three after three consecutive draws.

* Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra and forward Isaac Success have shaken off hamstring injuries and will be available for Friday's Premier League trip to Cardiff City, manager Javi Gracia has said. Pereyra, Watford's top scorer in the league with six goals from 24 starts, and Nigeria's Success last played in the club's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in late January.

* Erwin Koeman has taken over from fellow Dutchman Pim Verbeek as head coach of Oman, the country's football association has said.

* Tiger Woods shed some light on his Masters preparations as he said on Thursday he will skip next week's Honda Classic and return in the first two weeks of March for the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship.

* The 2021 Tour de France will depart from the Danish capital of Copenhagen, organisers announced on Thursday. Denmark will become the 10th country to host the Grand Depart of the Tour de France. The first three stages of the 108th edition of the race will take place in Copenhagen and the southern part of the country.

* Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday announced that they have reached an agreement with former French international midfielder Lassana Diarra to bring an early end to his contract. Diarra, 33, joined PSG last January. His contract is due to expire on June 30, 2019, but has been terminated beforehand.

* Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain revealed that Neymar returned to Brazil on Thursday to continue treatment on his fifth right metatarsal injury. Neymar had sustained a recurrence of fifth right metatarsal injury in a French Cup match in January, thus being sidelined for 10 weeks. It means that he cannot recover in time for both legs of Champions League round of 16 against Premier League side Manchester United.

* The Organising Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced on Thursday that it will propose four additional sports, including newcomer breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing to the Games, which is pending for validation by the International Olympic Committee.