TENNIS
Erakovic claims WTA title
Marina Erakovic became the first New Zealander since 1989 to win a WTA title on Saturday, lifting her first career trophy with a truncated triumph over third-seeded German Sabine Lisicki in Memphis. Erakovic confidently raced to a 6-1 first-set victory, and the title was hers when the struggling Lisicki retired. In men’s action in this combined ATP and WTA event, fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan advanced to yesterday’s final after a short day’s work. He had won the first set against Marinko Matosevic 6-4 when the Australian retired with a bone bruise on the bottom of his right foot. Nishikori was due to take on Spain’s Feliciano Lopez for the title. Lopez beat Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. The last New Zealander to win a WTA title was Belinda Cordwell in Singapore in 1989.
TENNIS
Berdych cruises into final
Top-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic cruised past Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 6-1 to reach the final of the Open 13 in Marseille, France, on Saturday. Berdych will seek his first title of the season against third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-2 in an all-French semi-final. Berdych led the Czech Republic to the Davis Cup title last year. “I wanted to step on the court and be strong, because you never know what could happen with him,” Berdych said of Tursunov. Tursunov is a former top-20 player who has dropped to 119th in the rankings. He was playing in his first semi-final since June 2011. In a match between former Open 13 champions, Tsonga hit 15 winners to 10 for Simon in the first set, breaking his opponent’s serve twice. Tsonga then won the last five games of the second, converting his second match point when Simon netted a forehand. “My goal is to snatch him by the throat and to not let him breathe,” Tsonga said about his game plan for yesterday’s final.
TENNIS
Ferrer set to defend title
David Ferrer is set defend his Copa Claro title in the final against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland after their straight-sets wins in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Ferrer defeated fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-2 on the outdoor clay, and Wawrinka defeated Nicolas Almagro — also of Spain — 6-3, 7-5 to reach his first final. He lost his two other semi-final appearances, including last year to Almagro. Ferrer is the heavy favorite to take the title again after improving his record against Robredo to 6-2.
SOCCER
Les Verts stay in the race
AS Saint-Etienne kept pace with fourth-place OGC Nice in the race for a European spot by routing bottom side AS Nancy-Lorraine 3-0 in the French league on Saturday. Brazilian striker Brandao gave Saint-Etienne the lead in the 17th minute, before Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it 2-0 in the 40th. Saint-Etienne were down to 10 men in the 64th when Fabien Lemoine was sent off for a foul on Nancy midfielder Vincent Muratori. However, Aubameyang put the result beyond doubt by notching his 14th goal in the 89th. Saint-Etienne sit in fifth place just one point behind Nice, who beat Stade de Reims 2-0 on Friday. In other play, it was: Stade Rennais 2, Sochaux-Montbeliard 2; Montpellier-Herault 1, Evian Thonon Gaillard 0; LOSC Lille Metropole 3, AC Ajaccio 1; Valenciennes 0, Toulouse 0; and ES Troyes AC 0, SC Bastia 0.
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a brief visit to Brazil on Friday with a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but despite the defeat, the team outshone their divisional rivals in the fight for the hearts and minds of Brazilian fans. In Sao Paulo for just the second-ever NFL game in the city, Chiefs players — especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce — were treated as major celebrities throughout their stay, turning Corinthians Arena into a scene reminiscent of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. Before kickoff, crowds of fans gathered around the Chiefs’ tunnel, eager to catch a
New Zealand stayed firm at their Eden Park fortress to claim an attritional 24-17 win over South Africa in a heavyweight clash between the world’s top two rugby sides yesterday. Under pressure after conceding a first-ever defeat on Argentine soil against the Pumas two weeks ago, the All Blacks responded with a performance of grit and discipline to stretch their unbeaten run at their Auckland stronghold to 51 matches. Two well-taken tries by Emoni Narawa and Will Jordan set up a 14-3 lead at halftime before Quinn Tupaea grabbed a third five-pointer for the hosts 13 minutes from time. Well-held for most of
Mikel Merino on Sunday scored a hat-trick as a majestic Spain thumped Turkey 6-0 away in World Cup qualifying, while a brilliant Florian Wirtz free-kick helped Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 to get their bid up and running. European champions Spain were in unstoppable form in the central Turkish city of Konya, claiming their second biggest-ever away win in World Cup qualifying as Arsenal midfielder Merino scored his first professional hat-trick. Barcelona playmaker Pedri Gonzalez opened the scoring inside six minutes and later completed the scoring, with Ferran Torres netting the visitors’ other goal. The quality of Merino’s strikes was remarkable, with his
The Wallabies trusted their instincts to keep pushing for a late try instead of a potential equalizing penalty goal late in their Rugby Championship Test match yesterday against Argentina, with prop Angus Bell scoring the clinching try in the sixth minute of added time to give Australia a comeback 28-24 win. The Wallabies were awarded three kickable penalties after the 80th minute, but kept pushing in search of the match-winning try, which was finally delivered by an unlikely hero in reserve prop Bell. “It’s just relieving,” Bell said. “It’s just awesome we could get the win in the end; not go for
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