Home favourite cards a sensation nine under par 62 to lift the European Tour's SA Open trophy with a three-shot win.

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova prevailed in a three-set tug-of-war with Madison Keys to become the first three-time winner at the Brisbane International

Gonçalves, the 2013 cross-country rallies world champion and 2015 runner-up and a four-time top 10 Dakar finisher, was racing his 13th Dakar.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz extended his Dakar Rally lead with a second stage win in five days.

But American Johannes Veerman put together an even faster finish for the first round lead in the South African Open.

This is to protect the event's neutrality and its status as a peaceful meeting, IOC president said.

The predicament for Murray will be playing enough matches and avoiding injuries.

Despite being injured, Branch's determination sees him claim a third place.

'I’m sure in the back of his mind he knows that now he has a great chance this year and in the next four Slams to tie Roger and even go ahead of him.'

Maria overjoyed to play in this month's Australian Open.