■ BASEBALL
Chinese player makes roster
The Seattle Mariners assigned catcher Wei Wang to Class A High Desert on Thursday, making him the first-ever player from China to make a minor league roster. Wang, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent in June, played professionally in China for 10 years. He has been the starting catcher for China since 2002. As part of his deal with the Mariners, Wang is free to rejoin the Chinese team when requested to do so.
■ GOLF
Westwood leads in Spain
England's Lee Westwood began his Masters preparations in convincing style on Thursday when he hit a seven under par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Andalucia Open in Marbella, Spain. Westwood leads English amateur Danny Willett and Norway's Jan-Are Larsen. The Englishman began and finished with 18 foot birdie putts and had five more birdies in between. Willett, the world's No. 1 ranked amateur, marked his European Tour debut with two eagles in his opening seven holes and could have had a share of the lead but for a dropped shot on the final green for a six under par 66. Australia's Matthew Millar is two off the lead after a five under par 67 with three players tied at four under -- Frenchman Christian Cevaer, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlory. Meanwhile, Spain's two-time Masters winner Jose-Maria Olazabal returned to the tour for the first time in seven months and carded a solid one-under par 71.
■ SNOOKER
O'Sullivan video shocker
Twice world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan's lewd comments and bad language at the China Open this week might land him in hot water back home. British media said the sport's governing body -- the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association -- was reviewing video of the news conference that took place after O'Sullivan's defeat in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday. A version posted on the Internet showed O'Sullivan gesturing toward a microphone in his lap and making a series of lewd suggestions. Most of his comments, liberally scattered with swear words, were intended as asides to a man sat next to him on the platform as his verdict on the defeat was translated into Chinese. O'Sullivan had lost 5-4 to Hong Kong's Marco Fu.
■ SOCCER
Racism costs Metz point
First division strugglers Metz were on Thursday deducted one point by the French league disciplinary commission after a fan racially abused Valenciennes' Moroccan international defender Abdeslam Ouaddou in a league game last month. The Valenciennes player was so upset at the barrage of abuse he suffered in the game that he marched into the Stade Saint-Symphorien stands at half-time to remonstrate with his tormentor. French league disciplinary commission president Jacques Riolacci said that the club would also have to play a match behind closed doors. Metz, bottom of the French league table with 18 points from 30 games, have leave to appeal the decision. Metz president Carlo Molinari condemned the penalty as "too heavy." "I find this a very heavy one for a club like ours. We have tried to tackle the problems of racism. It is a flabbergasting penalty," he said.
Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles at the French Open, after she and German partner Mark Wallner defeated Slovenian Andreja Klepac and Briton Lloyd Glasspool in straight sets, despite temperatures exceeding 32°C in Paris, while Taiwan’s top men’s doubles player Ray Ho also reached the second round. Hsieh, who made it to the semi-finals in the mixed doubles at Roland Garros in 2024, and Wallner defeated Klepac and Glasspool 6-3, 7-5 in just more than an hour, converting three of five break points, while holding their opponents to just one conversion
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
FAST AND LOOSE: Despite command struggles, Ohtani has pitched his way out of trouble after falling behind in counts, which manager Roberts credited to his velocity Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night tossed six innings of no-hit ball, gave himself an early lead with a home run and still was not satisfied with his performance. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar dropped some expletives that were picked up by the on-field mic as he struggled with his command in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. He struck out seven, walked four and gave up an earned run in the fourth inning while visibly fuming on the mound. Ohtani (5-2) earned his third consecutive victory. “Just command was off, and I just felt like I was battling the lack of
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