SOCCER
Fiorentina held by Bologna
Third-placed ACF Fiorentina missed the chance to close the gap on the top two in Serie A when they labored to a 1-1 draw at Bologna on Saturday, while Genoa played out a goalless draw with SS Lazio. Fiorentina’s title challenge has stuttered as they have won only four of their past nine league games. They are seven points behind leaders SSC Napoli and five behind second-placed Juventus. Already without coach Paulo Sousa, who was serving a touchline ban, Fiorentina lost Matias Fernandez to a second yellow card in the 57th minute. Despite the setback, they took the lead two minutes later when Federico Bernardeschi fired Cristiano Tello’s cross past Angelo da Costa. Emanuele Giaccherini equalized four minutes later with his sixth goal of the season. The stalemate at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris meant hosts Genoa have 25 points and remain only two places above the relegation zone in 16th place.
GOLF
Willett leads Desert Classic
Britain’s Danny Willett shot a sparkling third-round 65 to lead the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday, while Rory McIlroy stayed in contention to retain his title with a late surge. The world No. 2 conjured up six birdies over the closing holes to finish on eight-under, eight strokes behind Willett and seven adrift of Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Britain’s Andy Sullivan was a shot back in third, one ahead of Dutchman Joost Luiten. Willett, runner-up to McIlroy in last season’s Race to Dubai, fired a second successive 65 at the Emirates Golf Club to move to 16-under, sinking a superb 30-foot eagle putt at the 13th. A double-bogey on the ninth looked to have ended McIlroy’s victory hopes, but the Northern Irishman birdied three of his final four holes for a 68 that give him an outside chance of winning the tournament for the third time. South African Ernie Els, like McIlroy a four-time major champion, struggled to a 74 and finished on seven-under.
TENNIS
Gasquet rallies past Brown
Defending champion Richard Gasquet remained on course to defend his Open Sud de France title after rallying to beat Dustin Brown of Germany 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday, setting up an all-French final against veteran Paul-Henri Mathieu. Mathieu earlier beat German teenager Alexander Zverev 7-6 (13/11), 7-5 in a hard-fought match. Mathieu, who won the last of his four career ATP Tour titles in 2007, had nine aces and withstood 15 from the 18-year-old Zverev, who beat US Open champion Marin Cilic in the second round. Top seed Gasquet was in deep trouble, but fought back from 3-0 down in the second set as Brown, who fired 17 aces in the match, started to get more nervous approaching victory.
TENNIS
Bautista Agut to face Troicki
Top seed Roberto Bautista Agut advanced to the Sofia Open final by beating Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on Saturday. The Spaniard was due to meet second seed Viktor Troicki for the first time in the final after the Serb took nearly two-and-a-half hours to put away seventh seed Martin Klizan of Slovakia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Bautista Agut won 75 percent of his service points, while Muller did well to save six of seven break points, but after Muller dropped the opener in a tiebreaker, he was broken in the third game of the second set. The final was due to feature players going for their second titles of the year. World No. 18 Bautista Agut won his third career title last month in Auckland. Troicki also won his third career title on the same day, in Sydney.
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