SOCCER
Zenit take Russian title
Zenit St Petersburg clinched their second consecutive Russian title and third overall with a 2-1 win over Dynamo Moscow in the Russian capital on Saturday. The result left Zenit, who also won the 1984 Soviet title, with 84 points from 41 matches and an unassailable 15-point advantage over Moscow sides Dynamo and CSKA. Zenit, who needed just a point in their home match with Dynamo to secure the title, clinched the lead in the 30th minute through midfielder Roman Shirokov, who scored from Andrei Arshavin’s pass. Alexander Kerzhakov added a second six minutes later, scoring with a precise spotkick after Dynamo’s Balazs Dzsudzsak fouled Vladimir Bystrov in the box.
TENNIS
Bertens takes Fes Grand Prix
Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens, the world No. 149 playing in only her second WTA main draw, beat Spain’s Laura Pous-Tio 7-5, 6-0 to win the Fes Grand Prix claycourt title in Fes, Morocco, on Saturday. Before last week, 21-year-old Bertens had only played one WTA main draw, at her home event in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, last year where she lost in the first round. She almost didn’t make it into the main draw, surviving some close encounters in her last two qualifiers — she was down 3-1 in the third set to Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and 4-1 third set to Kristyna Pliskova — but she survived.
TENNIS
Azarenka wins with ease
World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka enjoyed another walk in the park against Agnieszka Radwanska on Saturday, beating the Pole for the fifth time this year to reach the Stuttgart Grand Prix final. Australian Open winner Azarenka next faces world No. 2 Maria Sharapova after the Russian beat Czech Petra Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion, 6-4, 7-6 in their semi-final. Azarenka had already beaten Radwanska in Sydney, at the Australian Open -quarter-finals, in Doha, United Arab Emirates, and in Indian Wells, California. The 22-year-old, who has lost only one match this season, went on to win all four tournaments.
BOXING
Dawson pummels Hopkins
Chad Dawson defeated Bernard Hopkins by a 12-round majority decision in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday to win the WBC light heavyweight title. The 29-year-old Dawson (31-1, 17 KOs) never let a deep cut near his left eye affect his methodical approach at taking out Hopkins. At 47, Hopkins (52-6-2) may have fought his last fight, though it seems impossible to count him out for another run at the belt. This rematch was no classic, but it was an improvement on their first bout in Los Angeles in October last year. Dawson had his TKO victory over Hopkins overturned and the decision was ruled a no-contest and the belt returned to the Philadelphia fighter. Dawson lifted Hopkins and tossed him to the canvas in that one.
CYCLING
Sanchez clinches fifth stage
Rabobank rider Luis Leon Sanchez won the fifth stage of the Tour de Romandie in Sion, Switzerland, on Saturday and took a nine-second lead over Britain’s Bradley Wiggins overall with just one day to go. The Spaniard finished the 184km stage from Bulle to Sion in 4 hours, 56 minutes, 13 seconds to claim his second win in two days. Sky rider Wiggins remained in the peloton as Sanchez won a sprint finish ahead of AG2R La Mondiale’s Rinaldo Nocentini in second and Movistar rider Branislau Samoilau in third.
GOLF
Wiesberger claims title
Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger eased to a maiden European Tour victory in clinical style yesterday, the overnight leader keeping his pursuers at arm’s length to record a five-shot victory at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea. Starting his round with a five-stroke cushion, the 26-year-old signed off with a bogey-free four-under 68, playing his last 59 holes at the Blackstone Golf Club in Seoul without dropping a shot to finish on 18-under for the tournament. Richie Ramsay, who closed with a 65, did manage to reduce the gap to three shots at one stage, but he never really posed a serious threat to the runaway winner, who had previously finished second twice last season. “I just tried to enjoy it and I had the three best rounds of my life,” Wiesberger told reporters. Taiwan’s Kao Shang-hung shot a disappointing 80 to finish in 73rd place on 13-over 301.
GOLF
Dufner extends his lead
Jason Dufner of the US, who is chasing his first USPGA title, extended his lead to two shots Saturday after firing a five-under 67 in the third round of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Dufner moved to 17-under 199, two strokes ahead of Canadian Graham DeLaet, who soared into contention with a six-under 66 for 201 at the TPC Louisiana. South African Ernie Els (68) and John Rollins of the US (69) were tied for third on 14-under 202. Dufner is looking for his first win in 163 starts. He has led after 54 holes two times previously, but failed to earn a victory both times. He led last year’s PGA Championship, before losing in a playoff, and he tied for third at the 2009 Canadian Open after leading at the end of three rounds. DeLaet shot his lowest round since firing a 63 in the opening round of the Sony Open. Ryan Palmer tied the course record with a 64, becoming the third player to shoot the score this week. He was tied for fifth on 13-under with Cameron Tringale (68) and Steve Stricker (69).
GOLF
Lewis leads from Lincicome
Stacy Lewis extended her lead in the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic on Saturday in Alabama, firing seven birdies in a five-under 67 that gave her a two-shot lead over Brittany Lincicome going into the final round. After two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine of the par-72 The Crossings course, Lewis — who led by one after the second round — caught fire coming in with five birdies in the space of six holes. Back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 were followed by three in a row from the 15th as Lewis built a 54-hole total of 14-under 202. Lincicome also posted a five-under 67 for her 12-under total of 204. France’s Karine Icher posted a 68 that included an eagle on the par-five 13th for sole possession of third on 205. South Korea’s Yoo Sun-young and Australian Lindsey Wright both carded 69s to share fourth on 206. Taiwan’s Candie Kung fired a 70 to lie tied for 35th on four-under 212.
MOTOGP
Stoner hails greatest race
Australia’s defending world champion Casey Stoner won the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez yesterday for his first win in the race and said it was the greatest race he had ever ridden. The Honda rider beat Spain’s 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha, while another Spaniard, Dani Pedrosa, was third on a Honda in his 100th race. Lorenzo retains his lead in the overall standings after winning the race opener in Qatar. Stoner, though, was ecstatic at his victory on a track which he has said he hates. “That is the greatest race I’ve ever done,” said the 26-year-old, who extended his run of 17 successive podium finishes.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was