Digest

SOCCER

Son set for surgery, World Cup in doubt

Tottenham on Wednesday said forward Son Heung-min will undergo surgery on a fracture around his left eye, putting the South Korean star's World Cup at risk.

Son was forced off during the first half of Spurs' 2-1 win over Marseille on Tuesday that secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

"We can confirm that Son Heungmin will undergo surgery to stabilize a fracture around his left eye," Tottenham said in a statement.

"Following surgery, Son will commence rehabilitation with our medical staff and we shall update supporters further in due course."

The Premier League club gave no date for his return, but he faces a race against time to be fit for South Korea's opening match of the World Cup against Uruguay on Nov 24.

Son is his country's captain and a national icon thanks to his exploits for both club and country.

The 30-year-old has scored 35 goals in 106 international appearances and won gold at the Asian Games in 2018, a medal which secured him an exemption from national service.

South Korea also faces Portugal and Ghana in Group H.

Neuer reveals he had skin cancer surgery

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer revealed Wednesday that he was previously treated for skin cancer and had to undergo surgery.

Neuer said he has a scar near his nose and that "had to be operated on three times and I had skin cancer there," in a video launching a new skin-care line with former top-ranked tennis player Angelique Kerber.

Neuer, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, didn't say when the operations took place. The Bayern Munich keeper was pictured last year wearing a plaster over the affected area.

Ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, the 36-year-old Neuer has not played since Oct 8 because of a shoulder problem. Bayern has said he could return to action Saturday against Hertha Berlin.

BASKETBALL

Kyrie donates $500k in reparation for tweet

Kyrie Irving said Wednesday he opposes all forms of hate, and he and the Brooklyn Nets will each donate $500,000 toward groups that work to eradicate it.

Irving took responsibility for the negative impact on the Jewish community that was caused by his appearing to support an anti-Semitic work, as the Nets and their star guard worked to sooth the anger that had been directed at them since Irving's Twitter post and refusal to apologize for it.

"I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day," Irving said in a joint statement with the Nets and Anti-Defamation League. "I am aware of the negative impact of my post toward the Jewish community and I take responsibility."

Irving had drawn criticism around the NBA — including from Nets owner Joe Tsai — for posting a link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America on his Twitter feed last week.

TENNIS

Nadal stunned by Paul at Paris Masters

Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Paris Masters in the second round on Wednesday after losing in three sets to American Tommy Paul, boosting Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of finishing the year as world No 1.

Nadal was playing his first singles match in two months after a short break at home in Mallorca with his wife and newborn son.

Alcaraz, the reigning US Open champion, will play Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16 after defeating Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-4.

Nadal's early exit was preceded by that of Daniil Medvedev, the 2020 Paris champion who was knocked out by Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Andrey Rublev qualified for the ATP Finals after Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz, the other contenders for the two remaining spots, lost in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday.

GOLF

PGA Tour backtracks over bonus criteria

The PGA Tour made headlines when it announced that players would need to participate in all "elevated" events to earn Player Impact Program (PIP) bonuses, but the tour shifted gears this week, giving all players one exemption apiece for those events.

The PGA's latest guidance allowing players to miss an event for "personal or professional reasons" and still be eligible to collect PIP bonuses, which are rising from $50 million to $100 million next year.

In total, 13 events will be designated as "elevated" in 2023. Those events, in order, are the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Phoenix Open, the Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, the World Golf Championships, RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship, the Memorial Tournament, Travelers Championship, St. Jude, BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.

Those 13 events have helped raise the estimated total purse for next season, from $428.6 million to $528.9 million.

Agencies