The IPL 2021 auction will take place in Chennai on Thursday, February 18, 2021. Eight franchises will take part in the auction for IPL 14, with 292 players up for buying. A maximum of 61 can be bought from those who are part of the auction.

When is the IPL 2021 auction taking place?
The IPL 2021 auction will take place in Chennai on February 18, 2021. It will start at 3:00 PM India time.

How many players are part of the auction?
292 players have been shortlisted by the eight franchises. There are only 61 slots available to be filled, if each franchise hits the maximum allowable limit of 25 players.

How many slots for Indian and overseas players?
A maximum of 22 overseas players can be bought, given the cap of 8 overseas players per franchise.

Which players are expected to fetch the highest price?
Several prominent names are part of the auction and could fetch big prices. These include: Glenn Maxwell, Chris Morris, Shakib Al Hasan, Moeen Ali, Steven Smith, Harbhajan Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Karun Nair, Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Marnus Labuschagne and Aaron Finch.

Which team has the highest budget, and the lowest?
The budgets and slots available for each side are as follow: Chennai Super Kings: INR 19.9 crore. 6 slots available. 1 overseas slot available. Delhi Capitals: INR 13.4 crore. 8 slots available. 3 overseas slot available. Kolkata Knight Riders: INR 10.75 crore. 8 slots available. 2 overseas slot available. Mumbai Indians: INR 15.35 crore. 7 slots available. 4 overseas slot available. Punjab Kings: INR 53.2 crore. 9 slots available. 5 overseas slot available. Rajasthan Royals: INR 37.85 crore. 9 slots available. 3 overseas slot available. Royal Challengers Bangalore: INR 35.4 crore. 11 slots available. 3 overseas slot available. Sunrisers Hyderabad: INR 10.75 crore. 3 slots available. 1 overseas slot available.

Punjab Kings - formerly Kings XI Punjab - have the highest budget with INR 53.2 crore. Both KKR and SRH have the joint lowest budget with INR 10.75 crore. RCB have the most slots available, with 11, while defending champions MI have the most overseas slot available with 4.

How will the IPL 2021 auction run?
Players will be grouped into different sets. 14 marquee players will form the first two sets. The rest of the players are grouped by skill - batsmen, wicketkeepers, fast bowlers, spin bowlers, allrounders - and the sets are formed based on international and IPL experience.

Will there be an accelerated auction too?
Yes there will. After the first 13 sets, comprising 87 players, are completed, the auction will become an accelerated one, where teams will submit names of players from those who have gone unsold till then and those yet to come under the hammer. The next round(s) will comprise of only those players whose names have been submitted.

Do franchises have a Right To Match card option No, they do not. Right To Match cards are only there in mega auctions. The next mega auction is scheduled for 2022, next year.

When will IPL 2021 start, and where will it be held?
BCCI has not announced the dates and venue(s) for IPL 2021 but it is expected to be held in India, from April till the first week of June.

Where will the IPL 2021 auction be telecast?
On Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1HD, and on the Star Sports regional channels.

The decision to elevate wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan as captain of Multan Sultans was an acknowledgement of his inherent leadership qualities rather than his recent red-hot form, according to head coach Andy Flower. Flower said his franchise hoped to play a part in Rizwan's development for the good of Pakistan cricket.

Multan's decision to replace Shan Masood, who led them to the play-offs last year, days before the sixth season was surprising - Masood was integral in trialing a system of signals between coaching staff and the captain on-field, a kind of real-time strategising as play went on. That was a system England later used in their T20s against South Africa - Nathan Leamon, England's white-ball analyst was also with Multan. But at least partly it would appear the change is a result of a shake-up within the franchise. ESPNcricinfo understands that Alamgir Tareen, a prominent businessman, has now taken complete ownership of the franchise, in a move that has seen Ali Tareen, his nephew and hitherto the face of the franchise, moved out.

Multan insisted, however, that the decision was a cricketing one.

"Rizwan has shown that he's got leadership qualities when he captained Pakistan while Babar (Azam) was injured," Flower said. "He's also got a really good record in domestic cricket, recently won the T20 tournament for his state (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) so he's got the qualities to make a very successful leader. I don't know him well, but obviously been doing a bit of research on him and he had some of the leadership qualities that we're looking for for a new way forward. In saying that, I would say that I really enjoyed working with Shan Masood last year. I thought he captained very well, played very well, and was very much a part of us doing well last season.

"However, nothing stays permanent in life and this is a change that we've made. Shan is still a very important part of the Multan group. In whatever way, as a batsman or an internal leader, he'll still play a very big part in this upcoming tournament. But for the moment, Rizwan is our captain and we're very much looking forward to him leading the side and us getting to the play-offs again. It's not a short-term decision. Rizwan has shown leadership qualities over a longer period of time and It's not just his form with the bat."

The move is further confirmation of Rizwan's swiftly rising status within Pakistan cricket, having for so long been back-up to Sarfraz Ahmed. He has now firmly established his place across formats with PCB naming him vice-captain in Test cricket. He announced himself in England last year to win a Player-of-the-Series award and his stocks rose further in New Zealand where even though the team lost both Tests under his leadership, he continued scoring runs in crisis situations.

Though he's scored first-class runs for a while now in much the same vein, the surprise has been his T20 form. In the National T20 Cup before the New Zealand series, he scored four fifties, including an unbeaten 99 against Central Punjab, which helped him finish as the highest run-scorer. His tournament tally of 389 runs at 38.90 - and a strike rate of 127.96 - led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the 2020 title.

"We would like to be a part of his development for his own good, and also for the good of Pakistan cricket," Flower said. "All of the franchises, I think, need to keep in mind the development of Pakistan cricket and its long-term good and Rizwan is case in point. In our particular example, Shan is a really good young man and a strong young man. He's had various speed bumps and hurdles to overcome in his young career and this will be another one for him. It's not easy for him and we can empathise with him, but we all grow stronger from some of these hurdles that we have to overcome. And in this case, I am absolutely certain that that is the way Shan will react."

Although he is yet to play T20Is for Pakistan, Masood rose to prominence with good run in domestic cricket last year scoring 569 at 27.09 at a strike rate of 125.60. However, he isn't an explosive opening batsman and with Rizwan likely to play in the top order Masood's chances of keeping his place seem bleak with James Vince, Chris Lynn, Sohaib Maqsood, and Rilee Rossouw also around.

"We've got a good number of options for the top order, but there are also people in that line-up that have batted at Nos. 3 and 4 quite regularly," Flower said. "So we're not concerned about the order. I think it's a strength for us. That we have players that are adaptable and that we can adapt either to the conditions that are at play or the opposition and some of their tactics. So we think that the number of options that we have at the top of the order and in the middle order is a strength. If you're asking about what particular order we're going to use, I'm not going to tell you right now, we've got a couple of practice matches now, but obviously sharing that sort of information for our opposition, we wouldn't do that."

Mark Wood has withdrawn his name from the IPL's longlist on the eve of Wednesday's player auction.

It is understood that franchises were told at a briefing in Chennai on Wednesday that Wood had decided to pull out of the auction in order to spend time with his family at home. Wood, who is the father of a young child, was rested for England's first two Tests in India but has returned to the squad ahead of the remaining two matches and the white-ball leg of the tour, which runs until March 28.

Wood had put himself forward at the highest base price (2 crore/£200,000) ahead of the auction, and is understood to have attracted some interest from franchises, but opted to withdraw his name in advance rather than pulling out after selection.

He had previously been lined up by Mumbai Indians as a potential replacement for Lasith Malinga ahead of the 2020 season, but decided not to take up their offer, with the franchise ultimately signing James Pattinson instead. He was signed by Chennai Super Kings for the 2018 season, but played only once, conceding 49 runs in his four overs.

Wood's withdrawal from the IPL shines an unfavourable light on England's central contracts system. Despite being named in squads for England's last five Test series and a long run of involvement in their limited-overs set-up, Wood only holds a white-ball central contract, meaning that he earns significantly less than Test specialists on red-ball deals - not least with match fees and bonuses reportedly cut during the pandemic.

However, while he might normally expect to supplement his income with contracts in franchise tournaments, England's packed schedule in 2021 has left him feeling unable to do so, instead reasoning that he needs to rest ahead of another busy home summer. Given Wood has previously admitted considering pursuing a white-ball-only career, his example may prompt calls for a reformed contract structure, not least with the backdrop of Chris Silverwood, England's head coach, defending the ECB's attitude towards the IPL on Wednesday. [LINK DOBELL PIECE]

Wood's withdrawal means that there are 16 English players due to go under the hammer in Wednesday's auction, including Dawid Malan, Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Jason Roy and Adil Rashid. Among those missing are Tom Banton and James Vince, both of whom decided against entering the auction in order to ensure their availability for the start of the County Championship season in April.

Joe Root also declined to put his name forward for the second auction in a row, despite recently re-stating his ambition to force his way into England's T20 World Cup plans.

"I am desperate to be part of an IPL season and hopefully a few more beyond," Root said last week. "[But] with the amount of Test cricket in particular this year, it didn't feel like it was the right time and I didn't feel like I could throw all my energy into it, which I think it deserves."

Chris Silverwood has insisted Test cricket remains a priority for England, and that their ongoing rotation policy is more a reflection of the length of Test tours than a desire to maximise the players' white-ball opportunities.

While England are unlikely to field a first-choice XI in any of the six Tests they play this winter, they have named a full-strength side for the T20I series that starts in India in March. And while all of England's all-format players will have missed some international cricket over the English winter, it seems none of them will be required to miss any cricket in the IPL.

It has also now emerged that England's Test team for the first Test against New Zealand - scheduled for the start of June - will not contain players involved in the play-off stages of the IPL.

Although the T20 World Cup - scheduled to be played in India towards the end of the year - provides one explanation for the policy, England's on-going interest in the World Test Championship (they could still qualify for the final if they win the final two Tests of the series against India) would appear to contradict that justification.

Nevertheless, England's recent Test record - notwithstanding their heavy defeat in last week's second Test in Chennai - remains impressive, with four series wins in a row dating back to last winter's tour of South Africa.

Silverwood, the England head coach, insists "Test cricket is the priority to us most definitely" and feels absences incurred during Test series are more a reflection of the length of time required for such campaigns than any reflection of their diminishing importance.

"Test cricket is really important to me," Silverwood said. "I've always said that. It's something Joe Root and I are very passionate about. We prioritise Tests and T20 equally, to be honest.

"We know we have a great opportunity to have a bit of a dry run with the T20 World Cup being in India but equally we have to respect that to get people to the T20 World Cup and the Ashes fresh and on top form, we have to look after them. It is the world we are living in. But I can guarantee that we are not prioritising anything above Test cricket

"The length of time we are here for the Test series compared say to the length of the T20 series is chalk and cheese. To play four Tests over here in this bubble, we have to rotate people. Obviously, families can't come to us, so we have to do our best to get people to their families.

"Equally, from a World Cup point of view, this series is a fantastic opportunity for us to learn as a group, for players to experience those conditions and take a lot away from that.

"All I can do though is reiterate that Test cricket is very, very important to us."

Silverwood also expressed a relaxed attitude towards the IPL. While he accepts there will be times he loses players because of it, he also believes the experience of playing in it will improve those players when they return. Most of all, he seems to understand the financial benefits it provides render it a non-negotiable part of the calendar.

"I understand that that is how the world works," he said. "I understand it, I embrace it and I'll do the best to make it work.

"I think it is very difficult to say 'no, you can't play in the IPL'. You certainly can't say no to one and yes to another. We will reap the rewards they come back and play T20 for us, having improved their skills and with knowledge of other players.

"These guys are playing a high-level of T20 cricket which can only benefit us. We reap the benefits when they play T20 for England. Players make their own minds up with the competitions they go in, but we reap the benefits.

"I can understand [the frustration of supporters] but I'm at peace with where we are, to be honest."

One player who will not now be involved in this year's IPL is Mark Wood, who has decided to withdraw from Thursday's auction in order to spend more time with his family.

Silverwood also provided an encouraging update on the fitness of Jofra Archer and Zak Crawley. Both have been back in the nets in recent days boosting hopes they will be available for the third Test. He also expressed some excitement about the prospect of using a pink SG ball in that game - a day-night encounter - suggesting it appeared to swing more and for longer than the red version. If so, it might benefit an England attack expected to contain Archer and James Anderson.

"Jofra bowled today," Silverwood said. "And Zak has been hitting balls throughout the last Test. So we are hoping that the two of them will be able to throw their hat in the ring.

"I am excited by the pink ball. During practice it has swung more and scuffed up less. It seems a little bit more durable than the red version. I'm looking forward to seeing one or two more people with it in their hands in Ahmedabad."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars are going teal.

The team on Wednesday announced that it's switching from black to teal as its primary home uniform color, which was a big part of the uniform during the franchise's success during its early years.

"We've heard the fans loud and clear," head equipment manager Jimmy Luck said in a statement. "As the only team in the NFL that wears teal, we know what this color means to our organization, the 904 and our entire fanbase. Teal inspires great memories of some of our franchise's greatest moments. Making the switch to teal as our primary uniform color allows us to celebrate that history while kicking off a new era of Jaguars football."

Per the team, the Jaguars have a 64-50 record (60-42 in home games) while wearing teal jerseys, which includes a victory in their first appearance on Monday Night Football as well as one of the greatest moments in franchise history: the 62-7 playoff victory over the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 15, 2000, which turned out to be the final game for both Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Jaguars unofficially announced the color change on Twitter on Tuesday by sending out a series of tweets in which the first letter of each tweet spelled out "teal is primary."

The team then tweeted that Twitter figured out its "cryptic message" and that the team would make teal the primary color if that tweet got 21,000 retweets. The tweet had 23,000 retweets as of 11:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.

The team put out a hype video on Twitter on Wednesday that featured defensive end Josh Allen.

New energy.
New primary.#TealWithIt pic.twitter.com/YKuEb0znRT

— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) February 17, 2021

The color change is part of a rebranding of a franchise that has been one of the league's worst over the last decade. The Jaguars have lost 10 or more games in nine of the past 10 seasons and went a franchise-worst 1-15 in 2020, which resulted in general manager Dave Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone being fired.

Owner Shad Khan hired former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, and the Jaguars have the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The team is expected to select Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Fives were wild at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas upset Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set match to make the semifinals.

"I'm speechless. I have no words to describe what just happened on the court. My tennis speaks for itself," Tsitsipas said after the 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-5 win.

Second-seeded Nadal, 34, took the first two sets fairly easily to run his streak of consecutive sets won at major tournaments to 35, one shy of Roger Federer's record in the professional era.

But he made some mistakes in a third-set tiebreaker and dropped it.

Tsitsipas, 22, then took the fourth set, too.

"I don't know what happened after the third set. I flew like a little bird," Tsitsipas said.

Previously, Nadal had only once lost a Grand Slam match after taking the first two sets. That happened at the 2015 US Open against Fabio Fognini.

"I missed couple of balls in the tiebreak that I shouldn't, that I could not miss if I want to win," Nadal said. "And that's it. I think Stefanos played a great fourth and fifth set.

"I was there. I played a couple of bad games. Just well done for him."

Nadal and Federer are currently tied at 20 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other man in the history of tennis. There won't be a chance at 21 this week.

"Australian Open is one of my favorite events, without a doubt," Nadal said. "So I missed an opportunity to be in that semifinals again. And that's it.

"Well done for him. He played better than me probably in important moments. Was an equal match."

In his post-match news conference, Tsitsipas said that there was no major mental adjustment that turned things around.

"The thing is that I wasn't really thinking about a lot of things," he said. "Nothing was going through my head. I was so much -- how would I describe myself? Nirvana. Just, like, there. Playing, not thinking."

Earlier Wednesday, here's how uncomfortably hot it was during Daniil Medvedev's quarterfinal victory over Andrey Rublev: The winner needed to get a massage for cramping in his left thigh before he could stand up for his on-court TV interview.

The No. 4-seeded Medvedev moved into the third Grand Slam semifinal of his career and pushed his current winning streak to 19 matches by beating his good pal Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

Medvedev said he had a hard time moving his left leg on the last three points while serving out the victory, and he could tell Rublev was cramping, too. A couple of times during a crucial portion of the second set, Rublev went over to a courtside box meant to hold the playe

"It was not easy," Medvedev said.

The all-Russian matchup only lasted about two hours, but it was still a struggle, with so many lengthy baseline back-and-forths -- one particularly grueling point contained 44 strokes, including the serve -- and the mid-afternoon sun making the temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

"We had some unbelievable rallies, and after the point, it's tough to breathe," said Medvedev, the runner-up to Nadal at the 2019 US Open and also a semifinalist on New York's hard courts last year after beating Rublev in the quarters.

"Actually," Medvedev said with a wry smile, "I think I am one of the first players to make Andrey that tired on the court, so I'm quite happy about it."

On Friday night, Medvedev will face Tsitsipas for a spot in the final.

The other men's semifinal will be No. 1 Novak Djokovic against 114th-ranked Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev. The 27-year-old Karatsev is playing in the main draw of a major tournament for the first time, and he's the only man in the professional era to make it to the semifinals of his Grand Slam debut.

He and Medvedev give Russia a pair of semifinalists at the same major for only the third time.

"Amazing," Medvedev said about Karatsev's run so far. "It's unbelievable."

Medvedev and Rublev have known each other since they were kids. Medvedev -- at 25, two years older -- has always gotten the better of their matchups as pros, taking every set they've contested, mixing styles and covering the court so well with all of his 6-foot-6 frame.

This time, it was even up until 5-all, when Medvedev nosed ahead with a hold, then broke at love to win the set with the help of a pair of missed backhands and a netted forehand from Rublev.

Another key stretch arrived midway through the second set.

With Medvedev up 3-2, and Rublev serving at deuce, they settled in for that 44-swing point that just had to take a physical toll on both men. And while Rublev earned that point when his friend-slash-foe missed a forehand, he seemed sapped afterward.

That's when Rublev first took a seat for a bit of a respite. Later, at a changeover, he slumped back and leaned his head down, as though taking a nap on a park bench.

He managed to hold to 3-all, then really could have grabbed control of that set when he earned a trio of break points in the next game. But Medvedev steeled himself, played some terrific defense, and held to begin a three-game, set-claiming run.

Rublev went to the locker room before the third, returning with wet hair, looking as if he had tried to cool off by hopping into the shower. It might have made him feel better, but did nothing to alter the outcome.

"My game matches his quite well. I've known him [for a] long time," Medvedev said, "so I know how to neutralize his amazing, big shots."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Serena Williams is two wins away from winning the Australian Open to tie Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam championships with 24. The first hurdle for the No. 10-seeded Williams is a semifinal matchup against No. 2 Naomi Osaka (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

Osaka already has prevented Williams from reaching the record 24th major championship once, when she pulled off a straight-sets upset in a controversial US Open final in 2018.

ESPN experts weigh in on the highly anticipated Williams-Osaka match.

Serena's fitness level and overall movement have been much improved this tournament. Where has that made the biggest difference in her game so far?

Mary Joe Fernandez: This is the best Serena has moved in the past few years. It has made the biggest difference in the fact that she doesn't have to go for shots that aren't there. She can hang in rallies better and wait for the right opportunity to be aggressive. She is more consistent as a result of her better defense.

Brad Gilbert: Serena's movement [in the quarterfinals] was the best I have seen her look since she has come back from having her daughter. Her defense and ability to defend was very big.

D'Arcy Maine: Serena has been able to run down every ball and contend in the long rallies. She joked she hasn't felt as good about her ability to do that since 1926 after her match against [Simona] Halep, and while it hasn't quite been that long, it's obvious how happy she is to be able to do that and the confidence it then gives her in all aspects of her game. Because of her improved mobility, some of the angles she was able to find against Simona Halep [in the quarterfinals] made me wish I had paid more attention in geometry class.

Jake Michaels: She's moving with much more freedom than we've seen in recent years and it's made her an even tougher proposition. Against Halep, we saw her track down balls from all over the court and pretty much beat the world No. 2 at her own game. It's hard to believe this Serena, probably the fittest she's been in Melbourne for at least five years, is 39.

Pam Shriver: Serena's overall fitness improvement is the biggest difference in her game, making it possible for her to have a better chance at tying Court's record 24 singles majors. As we saw during both the Aryna Sabalenka and Halep wins, Serena is playing much better defense, extending rallies and able to win with both her offensive and defensive skills. The past couple of years post-maternity leave, she was unable to play enough defense.

Rennae Stubbs: When you feel like you can grind one more ball back in the court and wait for the right one, you do. When Serena was at her best, that's what she did. She has the power to attempt a winner on almost every ball, but if you're not in the right position, it doesn't matter who you are, you will not be successful. So now with the extra speed and ability to hang in a little longer to wait for the right shot, it's making a world of difference. Also, an added feature to being slightly fitter is you mentally don't get as fatigued and, therefore, you make better decisions.

Matt Walsh: We all know how powerful Serena is and how damaging she can be when on the attack, but some of her defensive work this tournament has been unbelievable. She's been getting to balls that 39-year-olds should not be reaching, and it's made even more impressive given a throng of players have said this year's courts are the fastest they've ever seen in Melbourne.

How have both players improved since their last meeting at a Slam, the 2018 US Open final?

Fernandez: Naomi has improved all aspects of her game. Her serve is more powerful and her big weapon. Her backhand is more consistent and she can open court with the cross-court angles. Her movement is better as well. Serena's biggest improvement is her ability to defend better.

Gilbert: Osaka has dramatically improved her fitness and movement since that 2018 matchup.

Maine: Serena hasn't looked better since coming back from childbirth than she does right now. Her movement on court, her defense (I'm still not over this point from her match against Sabalenka), her ability to win the long rallies -- it's been very impressive. Perhaps most importantly, she seems to be brimming with confidence again and that could make a big difference. The 2018 US Open was Osaka's first major title and she's come so far since that time in adjusting to being the top dog. We saw her struggle after her win in Australia in 2019, but she's since found her rhythm and now knows what it takes to consistently win at this level.

Michaels: As mentioned, Williams looks to be fitter and moving much freer than we saw in that now-infamous final, which means it's only going to be a more daunting prospect for Osaka. But Osaka has gained a significant amount of experience, winning a further two majors since her maiden triumph at Flushing Meadows. The mental side of the game also looks to have improved significantly for Osaka in the past couple of seasons.

Shriver: Since Osaka and Serena played in the US Open final, Serena is better physically and emotionally. Even with the events that unfolded during that final, with the code of conduct changing the course of the match, Serena was not playing well enough to beat Osaka in that final. While Osaka played a wonderful first major singles final 30 months ago, she is a more skilled player today. Osaka has gained more patience, variety and fitness. Her serve is also more of a weapon now.

Stubbs: Serena is in a better place, I feel, emotionally and physically. I also believe she will be better prepared for the matchup tactically. Naomi, on the other hand, is so much more assured of herself emotionally; her confidence and maturity are through the roof compared to back in 2018. She is fully in control of her life, her legacies and her brand now, as well as her tennis.

Walsh: Osaka's composure has improved noticeably since that breakthrough, and it was plainly evident in her fourth-round match against an in-form Garbine Muguruza. Facing two match points down 4-5 in the third set, Osaka managed to recompose, and from that point went 22 points without an unforced error, eventually winning the match. For Williams, she seems to have embraced perspective really well as she gets into the twilight of her career, and looks to really be enjoying her tennis.

Fans are set to return to Melbourne Park for the women's semifinals. Will this be a help or hindrance for either player?

Fernandez: I actually think no fans helped Serena stay more focused and perhaps feel less pressure.

Gilbert: It will be interesting when fans return. It probably will benefit Serena but won't be a big deal for the outcome.

Maine: This match deserves a crowd, so from a fan perspective, we should all be thrilled for this development. However, neither player needs the extra motivation -- with a spot in the finals on the line, you can rest assured, they're all good there -- and for Williams, it actually might be somewhat distracting. She has talked about that throughout the tournament and mentioned how sometimes she gets anxious and nervous when the crowd is really into it during match point or other big moments. She will have to find a way to tune them out.

Michaels: I think it can only help the two. Let's be honest, both of them are used to playing in front of packed arenas, so it's not exactly going to be anything unfamiliar for either player. It's not as if fans will be leaving mid-match ala Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz!

Shriver: Fans returning to the AO will hurt Serena and help Osaka. Serena has said on ESPN this week that she feels an increase in anxiety with fans. Her play during the no-fan phase has been strong and focused. Osaka can more easily get into a zone needed to win, regardless if fans are in the arena or not.

Stubbs: I don't think it benefits any player. I honestly believe no crowd helps Serena stay calm, which to me is a must for her if she wants another Slam, as she has to control those emotions. Naomi is pretty shy and internally inside quite emotional, so no crowds also makes her calm. With the crowds, those emotions will return, so to me, it won't benefit either that much.

Walsh: I think given both players did play some (but not many) tournaments without crowds in 2020 but have also had limited crowds in Melbourne, it won't matter either way. Both players will be well supported in Melbourne regardless of crowd size.

You're coaching Serena heading into this match. What is your strategy?

Fernandez: Serena needs to get a high percentage of first serves -- over 60%, because she is winning about 80% of those points. That will allow her to take more chances on Naomi's serve. Once the point starts, it will be important for Serena to dictate with her forehand like she did against Simona Halep [in the quarterfinals].

Gilbert: It's crucial for Serena to serve strong and get free points. Once again defense will be key, as Osaka is probably the biggest hitter on tour.

Maine: I would just tell her to stay calm. Trust herself and her game and all the work she's done. Focus point by point and ignore the outside noise and the weight of the moment.

Michaels: Dictate the play. We saw Serena slap a return winner in the first point of the match against Halep and that sort of aggression needs to be on display against Osaka. Serena looked nearly unbeatable against Halep when she had the Romanian scrambling behind the baseline, and it's exactly what she needs to do against Osaka if she is to prevail and return to the Australian Open final.

Shriver: Serena needs to play all aspects of her game -- offense, defense and the mental game -- at her best level to beat Osaka. Serena will benefit from being on the half of the draw with a day off between quarters and semis. She needs to have a top-shelf serving day.

Stubbs: Go hard to the forehand, whether it's through the middle or getting Naomi running more to the forehand. Also, try and stay as calm and in control as you can throughout. Use the body serve slightly more than you usually do to back Naomi up and not allow her to attack your serve as much. Overall, take control and never let up.

Walsh: I'm not sure any advice I have for a 23-time Grand Slam winner is going to be good advice, but if there's one thing I will say, it's put the ball in positions where Osaka might make mistakes -- which is no easy task. That Osaka unforced error stat from the [Garbine] Muguruza match is outrageous -- Williams must keep her moving and give her no easy returns.

And for Osaka?

Fernandez: It's very similar for Naomi. First-strike tennis will be important. If she is serving well, that will put a lot of pressure on Serena. She will want to get into the crosscourt backhand pattern to open up the court.

Maine: No one really needs coaching advice from me, but I would emphasize to Osaka to not think about who is across the net. Don't think about this match as different from any other and play your game that has gotten you this far.

Michaels: It's important that Naomi start the match well. Sure, she is certainly capable of coming back from a set down, but Serena will only grow in confidence and ability as the match wears on. If Osaka is to win, she needs to plant the seed of doubt in Williams' mind early and not let the 23-time Grand Slam champion boss her around the court.

Shriver: Osaka needs to do what she has been doing in major tennis when she reaches the final stages: continue to play power tennis with the ability to hurt any opponent with both her ground strokes and her serve. She has not lost a semifinal of a major yet and I believe she is doing everything Serena does, but just a little bit better.

Stubbs: Believe in your ability to manage the power, take the ball through the middle of the court sometimes and force Serena back; make her play one more ball. Pressure the second serve when you can. Serve body on big points to mix it up.

Walsh: Play your game. She shouldn't need to do anything different to try and beat Serena -- there's a reason Osaka is favorite with the bookies and is expected to win this tournament despite not being the No. 1 seed.

Serena or Osaka: What is your prediction?

Fernandez: Osaka is the favorite but Serena keeps improving with each match. The better the opponent, the better she plays.

Gilbert: I picked Osaka to win the tournament two weeks ago and I'm staying with that, 6-4 7-6.

Maine: This is really tough. Serena is playing such amazing tennis, but Osaka feels almost unbeatable right now. Just ask Muguruza. Osaka in three sets, but I will likely change this answer several times before the match starts.

Michaels: I'll take Osaka in three epic sets. Williams has been playing some exceptional tennis at this tournament, but youth is on Osaka's side and she looks hungry for more Grand Slam success. Don't forget, every time Osaka has reached the fourth round at a major, she's gone on to win the title.

Shriver: Osaka is the winner.

Stubbs: Whoever serves a higher percentage will win. I believe Serena is playing and looking the best she has in years. This is going to be the biggest test for them both. I give a slight advantage to Serena, by a whisker.

Walsh: Osaka in a tight two sets: 7-6 (5), 7-5.

For most of tennis's existence, winning even a single Grand Slam tournament meant career affirmation.

From 1990 to '98, 16 different players won a major, six for the first and only time. If there was a big-picture narrative involved, it likely had to do with reaching No. 1 in the ATP rankings.

A lone Slam win prompted Thomas Muster's rise to No. 1 in early 1996, just as it did for Carlos Moya in 1999. Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Patrick Rafter reached the summit in 1999 as well, just as Lleyton Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin would in the years that followed. In late 2003, it was Andy Roddick's turn to both win a Slam (the US Open) and reach No. 1.

Since 2004, however, only four men have been ranked No. 1: Roger Federer (310 weeks), Novak Djokovic (308), Rafael Nadal (209) and Andy Murray (41). The first three on that list have also won 57 of the past 69 Slams, and the only narrative that has mattered over the past decade has been: Who will finish with the most Slam titles? Nadal tied Federer at 20 with his late-2020 French Open win, and Djokovic, at 17, has been reeling in both of them for a while.

That makes every loss noteworthy, especially with all three in the advanced stages of their respective careers (Federer is 39 years old, Nadal 34, Djokovic 33). When Djokovic got ejected from the US Open last fall for accidentally hitting a linesperson with a ball, it was a huge missed opportunity to get to within one title of Nadal and two of Federer; Nadal then snared another one when he swept Djokovic in Paris.

Nadal missed his own opportunity on Wednesday in the Australian Open quarterfinals when he blew only his second two-set advantage at a Slam and lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-5.

This was a massive moment for the 22-year-old Tsitsipas, who has now overcome two-set disadvantages in consecutive Slams and has reached his third major semifinal, the second in a row. It was only his second win over a top-10 player in a Slam too. But sticking to tennis's biggest narrative, we must ask what this does to the career Slams race as well.

Hard-court titles are bonus points for Nadal

Nadal is the greatest clay-court player of all time; of that, there is no doubt. And he's an all-time great overall because his prowess isn't limited to clay -- he's won five hard-court Slams and two Wimbledons.

His 13 French Open titles, however, are obviously the key to his position in the major titles race; he's won only two Slams outside of Paris in the last seven years (the 2017 and 2019 US Opens). If he finishes atop the heap, it will be because of Roland Garros, and as he proved last fall, his dominance in Paris is far from over. He's won four straight French Opens, and he didn't drop a set on the way to last year's championship.

Obviously, a title in Melbourne would have benefited Nadal greatly, and blowing a two-set advantage is never anything but costly. But this isn't his event.

The Australian Open means far more to Djokovic's case than Nadal's

Maybe the biggest plot twist in Djokovic's pursuit happened when he became the best grass-courter in the world; despite the generic assumptions we might make about a player who defends so well and has a great, but not elite, attacking game -- that he must be better-suited to hard or clay courts than grass -- he has won four of the last six Wimbledons, pinning opponents deep, serving better and better, and forcing copious mistakes. He will be the favorite in London when the tournament resumes this summer.

Still, Melbourne is to Djokovic what Paris is to Nadal. He's won eight Australian Open titles, including seven of the last 10. If we set the eventual over/under for Slam titles at 22 or 23, that means he needs five or six more. Since almost half of his 17 titles have come in Australia, you figure at least two future titles, maybe three, will need to come from there as well.

Djokovic reached the semis with a four-set quarterfinal win over Alexander Zverev, but his form hasn't been tiptop in this fortnight. He dropped a set to Frances Tiafoe in the second round, then suffered a mysterious injury against Taylor Fritz in the third round. He survived that match in five sets before beating Milos Raonic and Zverev each in four, but while these results would be incredible for just about any player alive, it's clear Djokovic isn't at full strength.

Despite the injury, Caesars by William Hill lists Djokovic's betting odds at -1450 (equivalent to a 94% chance of winning) against qualifier and Cinderella story Aslan Karatsev in the semifinals. But even if we assume he advances -- though we know odds have in no way applied to Karatsev's run so far -- he'll still have to face either Tsitsipas or Daniil Medvedev in the finals.

Medvedev is a three-time Slam semifinalist on hard courts and nearly took down Nadal in the 2019 US Open finals; Tennis Abstract's Elo ratings rank him as the No. 2 hard-court player in the world. Even if a wounded Djokovic is better than almost everyone on this surface, is he still better than Medvedev?

This is a huge moment for tennis's next generation

If "Who will finish with the most Slams?" has been the biggest question in men's tennis over the last decade, then "When will the younger generation overtake the Big Three?" is the second biggest. We've been asking it for a while.

The Raonic-Kei Nishikori-Grigor Dimitrov generation was slowed by injuries and missed opportunities, and there's an interesting dichotomy in the current ATP top 12: There are four players 33 or older, six 25 or younger and only two in between (Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman).

The 25-and-under group has shown massive potential; we're just waiting for a breakthrough. The current top three in this group -- Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev -- have combined to defeat Djokovic seven times, Federer six times and Nadal five times, but before Tsitsipas' quarterfinal win over Nadal, they were just 1-7 against the Big Three in Slams. Now they're 2-7.

We often overstate the effects of intangibles and immeasurables in sports (most of the most important things are indeed measurable), but it's obvious how much of a role confidence and sheer belief can play in a one-on-one sport like tennis. Tsitsipas not only came back to beat Nadal in five sets, he actually made Nadal look his age in the process. Nadal was clearly the more fatigued player late in the match.

The visuals this win provided could bring a domino effect. If the victory is combined with a Medvedev or Tsitsipas title, it could reshape not only how we look at the 2021 tour but also how we look at the career titles race. Suddenly the Big Three might see fewer great opportunities overall, and that over/under of 22 or 23 titles might become 21.

Or, hey, maybe Djokovic dominates Tsitsipas/Medvedev in the finals, and this becomes another false start for the next generation. Regardless, Tsitsipas' comeback makes the final three matches of the men's Australian Open even more intriguing than they already were.

NEW YORK -- - NBA All-Star Chris Paul has an off-court project in the works: His first book.

Paul's "Sixty-One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court" will come out in September, St. Martin's Press announced Wednesday.

Co-written with journalist and ESPN broadcaster Michael Wilbon, the memoir by the Phoenix Suns point guard is a tribute to his late grandfather and mentor, Nathaniel Jones, who died while Paul was in high school. The book's title refers to a high school game, played after his grandfather died, when Paul scored 61 points -- one for each year his grandfather lived.

"'Sixty-One' is a celebration of my Papa Chilly who helped shape who I am today and what I value," Paul said in a statement.

"His legacy of hard work and service to others is woven through the fabric of my parenting, my community work and how I have approached my basketball career. That high school game where I scored 61 points was a healing moment through basketball and I am thrilled to work with Michael Wilbon to share this story with the world."

Disney+ announced in December that a live-action film about Paul, which will be based on his book, was in development.

MADISON, Wis. -- Democrat Alex Lasry, a 33-year-old Milwaukee Bucks executive and son of a billionaire, announced Wednesday that he's running for the U.S. Senate in 2022 for the seat currently held by Republican Ron Johnson.

Lasry made the announcement with a YouTube video, saying "we need a new way of thinking and a new perspective." His launch video included endorsements from several prominent Milwaukee politicians, including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson.

Lasry is a son of Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and senior vice president of the team. Lasry plans to take a leave of absence from that position during the campaign. This is his first run for public office.

Lasry joins Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, also a Democrat, as the only two announced candidates in the race. Johnson, who has been one of former President Donald Trump's most ardent supporters, has not said yet whether he will seek a third term.

Last August, in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Bucks decided to not take the floor for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic. The Bucks' decision prompted the NBA to postpone all three postseason games scheduled for that day.

The Bucks issued a statement in support of the players' decision, saying in part, "The only way to bring change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue to stand alongside them and demand accountability and change."

Alex Lasry also tweeted his support at the time, saying, "Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we're fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I'm incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change."

Nelson, a former state lawmaker and candidate for Congress in 2016, said in a Twitter message that he welcomed Lasry to the race "as we all stand united to beat Ron Johnson."

But faced with the prospect of Lasry throwing millions of his own money into the campaign, Nelson challenged him not to spend any of his family's money on the race.

"I don't think anyone should buy a Senate seat," Nelson said.

Lasry told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he will "invest" in his campaign while also promising to raise small donations as well.

Other Democrats, including state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and state Sen. Chris Larson, of Milwaukee, are also considering bids.

Johnson's spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Johnson said in multiple interviews this week that he did not consider the U.S. Capitol riot last month to be an armed insurrection.

Lasry, a New York City native, was host committee chair for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was awarded to Milwaukee but moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was a former aide in Barack Obama's White House.

Lasry made headlines last month when he received the COVID-19 vaccine, even though he's not yet eligible in Wisconsin, after his wife's uncle, who is a rabbi at a senior living center in Milwaukee, said there was one available there.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.