GOLF
Tseng slide continues
Taiwanese star Yani Tseng slid another place to 19th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings on Monday after failing to make the cut at the rain-shortened LPGA Evian Championship in France over the weekend. Tseng is expected to return to Taiwan for a rest and to prepare for the LPGA Tour’s Asia swing, which will feature events in China, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan from early next month to mid-November. Though the former world No. 1 has fallen on hard times since losing her top ranking in late March — finishing in the top 10 only once since then — Tseng said she was still confident in her game ahead of the Asia events. Suzann Pettersen of Norway won the Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France, by two shots, moving her into second place in the women’s golf rankings, behind South Korea’s Inbee Park. Tseng, who held the No. 1 spot for 109 consecutive weeks, has not won an LPGA Tour event since March last year.
TENNIS
Querrey rallies to advance
Sam Querrey of the US recovered from a set down to beat Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 and reach the second round of the Moselle Open on Monday. The 31st-ranked American, who is seeded sixth in the French city of Metz, got off to a slow start, but managed to force a tiebreaker in the second set and pull through in the only first round match of the day. The contest featured 37 aces, including 25 from the 34-year-old Karlovic. Querrey comes into the tournament on the back of a disappointing second-round exit at the US Open. Defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is top-seeded for the tournament and has a bye into the second round.
TENNIS
Youzhny wins Russian battle
Second-seeded Mikhail Youzhny advanced to the second round of the St Petersburg Open on Monday by rallying to beat fellow Russian wild-card Alsan Karatsev 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-2. Youzhny, the 2004 champion, won four consecutive games in the second set and broke Karatsev twice in the decider. The 20th-ranked Youzhny is looking for his second title this season. He won his ninth career title in Gstaad, Switzerland, in June. Another Russian wild-card, 17-year-old Karen Khachanov, who is making his debut on the ATP Tour, prevailed to eliminate Romanian veteran Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4).
SNOOKER
World champ points finger
Reigning world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan yesterday alleged that Stephen Lee may not be the only top-level player to have taken part in match-fixing. Lee, a former world No. 5, was found guilty of match-fixing on Monday over matches in 2008 and 2009. He could be handed a lifetime ban at a hearing next week. O’Sullivan claims Lee’s case may only be the tip of the iceberg, and accused snooker authorities of not doing everything in their power to bring corruption in the sport to light. “I’ve heard there’s many more players who throw snooker matches .. I suppose Steve lee was just caught out,” he wrote on Twitter. “I just love putting it out there bring it all out in the open.. Nothing like a bit of transparency is what I say.. No need to worry if you got nothing to hide. But plenty of people have got loads to hide. That’s why there is no free speech. There [sic] hiding.” He added: “They will prob fine me for talking about it.. They don’t like you doing that.. Like to keep things under the carpet..”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care