TENNIS
Bencic battles into quarters
No. 1-seeded Belinda Bencic on Thursday reached the quarter-finals of the Ricoh Open with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Varvara Lepchenko, her second difficult match in the grass-court tournament where she reached the final last year. Bencic, coming off a two-month injury layoff, had to rally from a set down to reach a quarter-final against fellow Swiss Viktorija Golubic, who beat Risa Ozaki 6-4, 6-2. Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic lost 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-4 to Evgeniya Rodina and No. 4 Jelena Ostapenko lost 7-5, 6-2 to Kateryna Kozlova. In the men’s draw, two-time champion and No. 1-seeded David Ferrer beat Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-4 in his first grass-court match of the season and No. 3 Ivo Karlovic beat Igor Sijsling 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5). Ferrer moved into a quarter-final match against seventh-seeded Gilles Muller, who beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5, 6-1.
GOLF
Otaegui takes Lyoness lead
Spanish rookie Adrian Otaegui on Thursday carved out a two-shot lead after the first round of the Lyoness Open thanks to an impressive eight-under 64 at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, Austria. The qualifying-school graduate enjoyed birdies at the third, seventh, eighth and ninth holes, followed by three successive gains from the 14th and another on the 18th. Sweden’s Bjorn Akesson is two shots behind, with France’s Gary Stal and Zander Lombard of South Africa a stroke further back on five-under. “I’m hoping now I can play four days in the same way so that’s the main goal,” Otaegui said Defending champion Chris Wood of England was three-under after 13, but dropped three shots either side of another birdie at seven for a one-under 71.
GOLF
Darren Clarke quits US Open
Darren Clarke has withdrawn from the US Open, because he said his Ryder Cup duties have kept him from preparing the right way. He had a five-year exemption from winning the British Open at Royal St George’s in 2011. This likely would have been the last US Open for the 47-year-old from Northern Ireland. Clarke said his role as European captain for the Ryder Cup has affected his performance on the golf course. He has made only two cuts in eight tournaments this year. His best was a tie for 43rd in the Irish Open. Clarke said the US Open is not the place to be when his golf game is not at its best. He has not made the cut at the US Open in 10 years.
BASKETBALL
US to host four-team contest
The US women’s national basketball team is to host a four-team, three-city tournament before heading to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics. The US are to face France, Canada and Australia, playing games in Delaware, Connecticut and New York. The tournament tips off on July 27 at the University of Delaware, followed by games on July 29 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The exhibition series is to finish up on July 29 at Madison Square Garden. After the series, the US are to head to Houston for processing before traveling to Rio. The US will be trying for their sixth consecutive gold medal in the Olympics. While the US, Canada and Australia have already qualified for the Rio Games, France still have to earn a spot. The silver medalists from the 2012 Olympics are hosting the last-chance qualifier tournament starting on Monday. The top five teams from that tournament are to earn Olympic bids. The US are to open play at the Olympics against Senegal on Aug. 7, followed by the No. 4 team from the Olympic qualifier on Aug. 8, Serbia on Aug. 10 and Canada on Aug. 12.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely