Top-seeded David Ferrer defeated fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 on Wednesday to advance to his fifth straight Mexican Open quarter-finals.
Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, is next to play South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, who eliminated the US’ Sam Querrey,7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
“I believe ‘Feli’ [Lopez] had several chances in the first set, but didn’t take advantage of them,” Ferrer said. “It was a tough one for me because he’s a very smart player and knows my game.”
Also on Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the US 6-4, 6-3 while Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.
On the women’s side of the combined ATP-WTA tournament, top-seeded Dominika Cibulkova reached the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium.
“I’m still struggling with my serve, but I got another win so I’m happy,” Cibulkova said.
Cibulkova has won her first matches since her run to the Australian Open final and is due to play Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, who defeated Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-4.
In other matches, eighth-seeded Shuai Zhang of China beat Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-4; the US’ Christina McHale knocked out Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan 7-5, 6-1; Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic eliminated Victoria Duval of the US 6-3, 6-0; and Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia downed Sharon Fichman of Canada 6-2, 7-5.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or