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.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and