"Lleyton Hewitt is one of the best players in history. He was one of my idols, I have a signed shirt of his in my house. It is the only one of a tennis player that I have," says David Ferrer.

Now Lleyton is going to speak to the crowd...

Tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt bows out of the Australian Open - and professional singles tennis - for the final time as he succumbs in straight sets to David Ferrer.

It is all about the vanquished rather than the victor though at the end of the match.

Ferrer offers heartfelt congratulations and Hewitt salutes all sides of the Rod Laver Arena as they follow suit.

Emma Saunders
BBC Radio London Sport reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

A bleary-eyed Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino admits he is "very tired" as he faces the media little more than 12 hours after his side's FA Cup third-round replay win over Leicester.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic leaves the microphones and cameras behind as he heads off to prepare his troops for Saturday's meeting with Manchester City.

As quickly as Lleyton Hewitt establishes parity in the third set, David Ferrer whips it out from under him.

The Australian is broken in the seventh game and now has to serve to stay in the match.

Listen live on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Slaven Bilic believes that, after doing a 2-1 number on Manchester City at the Etihad in September, his West Ham side can rack up a repeat when the two are reunited at Upton Park on Saturday.

"We have beaten them already this season, I think they are better now, but we are confident and know what we can achieve," he said.  

A statement, external from Leyton Orient following the appointment of former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolanas player-manager.

"Kevin brings with him invaluable expertise and know how, with 17 years’ experience in high level football. 

"A number of strong candidates were interviewed by the chairman, but Kevin’s hunger, desire and passion to succeed, coupled with his experience, were key in the decision process."

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Just when you thought it was safe to start reading the rites on Lleyton Hewitt's final Australian Open campaign...

The Australian breaks to love to bring the third set back on serve and wins the opening point of the seventh game with a sublime drop-shot that deservedly brings bums off seats in the Rod Laver Arena.

All the action is live on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has his poker face on when asked whether there will be any more January signings in the wake of full-back Sam Byram's arrival from Leeds.

"We are still looking around for more players but we are not panicking. We are not desperate to do anything, I am happy," said Bilic.

And you would not like to see him unhappy. 

First day at work in the Premier League, and Sam Byram is playing it cool, bowling up to Chadwell Heath training ground as a low-rent Ryan Gosling in Drive.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic probably won't be asked about that in his press conference, but I'm sure there will be plenty of January transfer speculation and the chances of another big-name scalp ahead of Manchester City's visit on Saturday.

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The end may be nigh.

Lleyton Hewitt has been broken in the third set by David Ferrer and is suddenly looking all of his 34 years.

The Australian legend trails 6-2 6-4 3-1 to Ferrer.

Listen live on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

More on Liverpool's latest transfer target...

BBC Sport can confirm that Liverpool have made an approach to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian attacker Alex Teixeira as manager Jurgen Klopp attempts to secure his first major signing.

It is understood Liverpool are willing to pay around £24.5m for the 26-year-old but Shakhtar value Teixeira, who has also been linked with Chelsea, at closer to £39m.

Shakhtar, who are currently at a winter training camp in Florida, value Teixeira so highly after he scored 22 goals in 15 league games this season. He began his career at Vasco da Game in Brazil before moving to Shakhtar in 2010.

New York City FC head coach Patrick Vieira has been talking about the managers who have influenced him. The former Arsenal, Internazional and Manchester City midfielder "liked Roberto Mancini's passion, Jose Mourinho's preparation and the freedom Arsene Wenger gave players to express themselves".

That got us thinking... if you were to build a super manager (indulge us here), which skill would you take from what coach?

Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer? Gordon Strachan's quips? Paul Tisdale's dress sense?

Let us know at #bbcsportsday and on the Match of the Day Facebook page, external

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The Daily Star are reporting, external that Liverpool are attempting to gazump Chelsea's £25m move for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira.

Sussex announce their former batsman Keith Greenfield, who played for them between 1987-1999, is to become the club's first Director of Cricket., external

Arsene Wenger, who has previously L'Equipe, external that he believes Arsenal have played against teams who have doped in the past, insists that the problem is not apparent in England.

"I am sure that not one club in England is trying to dope its players. I am absolutely 100% convinced that nobody tries to do that as a club.”

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David Ferrer is no sucker for sentimentality.

The Spaniard has seen off the danger of seven break points in the eighth game and served out for a two-sets-to-love lead over hometown favourite Lleyton Hewitt.

Hewitt has a whole hemisphere to travel if he is to get back into this one.

Listen live on 5 live sports extra.

Some final thoughts from Arsene Wenger about doping in sport, and whether a meeting with UK Anti-Doping chiefs would be possible. 

"I have more desire than time, but I am always happy to help if I can," he says. "In football especially we all look like we want to tackle the problem now, but for a long period we didn’t.

"There are other people who have the responsibility to do that but what is important is that we all try to show we don’t accept it." 

BBC Sport's coverage of the World Bowls championships at Potters Resort in Norfolk continues on Red Button and online, with action also on BBC Two later on.

Connor Cinato takes on fellow Englishman Jamie Chestney right now in the men's singles before the women's matchplay singles final later.

Watch day four of the World Bowls championships

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