by The Mercury

Spokesman Jermaine Craig said that more than 50 000 packages worth $115 million (R1.15 billion) had been bought by small and large businesses at a "much faster pace" than sales for the 2006 championship in Germany. - Sapa-AP

DOHA (Qatar): Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will open the 2009 ATP season by playing at the Qatar Open. Andy Murray and Andy Roddick will also take part in the hard-court tournament, which will begin on January 5. The tournament in Doha is one of three to start the 2009 season, along with the Brisbane International in Australia, and the Chennai Open in India. - Sapa-AP

The Nedbank Durban City Marathon will take place on Sunday February 8. The marathon, which will start and finish at Absa Stadium, will incorporate the SA Marathon Championships, which will serve as a qualifier for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany, in 2009. - Sapa

LONDON: English Premiership club Arsenal have appointed outgoing Major League Soccer deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis as their chief executive. Gazidis's duties will include transfer and contract negotiations, filling a gap left when David Dein quit as vice-chairman last year. - Sapa-AP

JOHANNESBURG: One of Africa's most successful boxing exports to the US, Ike Quartey of Ghana, will fight in South African against Tshepo Mashego in a middleweight non-title fight at the Carousel Casino next Friday. Quartey, famous for his memorable battle against Oscar de la Hoya in 1999, will be making a comeback after a brief layoff. He had previously taken a five-year break in boxing following his loss to the then-unbeaten IBF junior middleweight champion, Fernando Vargas, in 2000. - Sapa

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