TENNIS
Estrella Burgos wins first
Victor Estrella Burgos became the oldest player to lift a maiden ATP Tour title and the first from the Dominican Republic when he upset world No. 14 Feliciano Lopez to win the Ecuador Open on Sunday. The 34-year-old beat the Spanish first seed 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(5) in the ATP 250 clay court tournament, a day after he played in and lost his first doubles final on tour. “I was nervous at the beginning, but thank God I was able to win the first ATP [tournament] in Quito and the first for me,” Estrella Burgos was quoted as saying by Ecuadorean daily El Comercio. The world No. 73 rated his good preparation for the rarefied air at nearly 3,000m in Quito, saying: “Today I felt as if I was playing at sea level. I felt very good on court.”
TENNIS
Gasquet wins Open Sud
Local favorite Richard Gasquet won the Open Sud de France when Jerzy Janowicz retired ill while trailing 3-0 in the first set on Sunday. The fourth-seeded Gasquet, who did not lose a set all week, lifted the trophy for the third time after winning in 2006, when the tournament was held in Lyon, and 2013. Last year, Gasquet was runner-up to his French Davis Cup teammate Gael Monfils, whom he beat in the semifinals on Saturday. Janowicz retired after losing 14 straight points, as the 28-year-old Gasquet, who was born in the nearby city of Beziers, raced to a 3-0, 30-0 lead. “I’m extremely disappointed because I felt pretty OK the whole week,” the big serving Pole said. “I saved six match points in the first round and after that I played pretty good tennis. Two days ago, I got sick. I haven’t slept in almost two days. I had a fever and the flu and I’m so weak. There was not much that I could do today.” It was Gasquet’s 11th title and his first since 2013.
SPEEDSKATING
Fontana, Migunov win 500m
Italy’s Arianna Fontana and Russia’s Dmitry Migunov won 500m races on Sunday at a short track speedskating World Cup meet. Fontana led from start to finish to beat European champion Elise Christie of Britain and Fan Kexin of China. Fan’s third place was enough to secure the overall 500 title. Migunov finished ahead of Canada’s Francois Hamelin for his third win of the season. South Korea’s Kwak Yoon-gy was third. South Koreans dominated the women’s 1,500, with Shim Suk-hee finishing ahead of compatriot Kim A-lang. Tao Jiaying of China was third, ahead of American Jessica Smith. Russia’s Semion Elistratov won the men’s 1,500. Canada won the women’s 3,000 relay final for its first relay victory of the season, while the Netherlands won the men’s race.
RUGBY UNION
France replace Debaty, Suta
France have called up Vincent Debaty and Jocelino Suta to replace injured pair Alexandre Menini and Alexandre Flanquart ahead of their trip to Ireland this coming weekend. Toulon prop Menini, 31, has an injured foot and is replaced by fellow veteran Debaty, 33, of Clermont. Lock Flanquart, 25, hurt his neck while playing for Stade Francais CASG against Union Sportive Oyonnax Rugby at the end of last month and is still not at 100 percent, France said in a statement released on Sunday. He did not feature in Saturday’s 15-8 win over Scotland at the Stade de France and has now been replaced by Toulon second row Suta, 32. France travel to Dublin on Saturday to tackle reigning Six Nations champions Ireland, who began with a 26-3 win in Italy.
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