TENNIS
Thai star, beauty queen split
Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan and his wife, former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, are separating after three years of marriage. The couple said in a statement on Thursday that they decided to split in July last year because work commitments had kept them apart. The former No. 9-ranked player and the Canadian pageant queen have launched beauty products, diet supplements and a Bangkok restaurant together. They said in the statement they planned to continue to do business with one another. The pair met at the Thailand Open on the ATP Tour in 2006, a year after Glebova was crowned Miss Universe. They quickly became one of Bangkok’s most recognizable celebrity couples and were married in September 2007, the year that Paradorn’s tennis career ended due to a wrist injury. Paradorn’s father, Chanachai Srichaphan, was quoted in Thai newspapers as saying the couple continued to share the same house, but no longer as husband and wife.
TENNIS
Ferrer rallies to win
Top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain rallied from a set down on Thursday night to defeat Argentine Juan Monaco 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 and reach the semi-finals of the Mexican Open. Ferrer’s countryman, Nicolas Almagro, also advanced with a 7-6 (0), 5-7, 6-4 win over Colombian Santiago Giraldo, moving within two victories of winning his third straight ATP title. Ferrer saved 10 of the 14 break points he faced and overcame six double faults to win the two-hour, 43-minute match. In other quarter-final matches, Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil needed just over three hours to defeat Poland’s Lukasz Kubot 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, and Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine upset No. 4 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 7-6 (6). In quarter-final matches on the women’s side of the joint ATP-WTA event, Johanna Larsson of Sweden upset third-seeded Greta Arn of Hungary 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, No. 6 seed Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain defeated compatriot Loudres Dominguez Lino 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, and fourth seed Gisela Dulko of Argentina outlasted Laura Pous-Tio of Spain, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0. Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain also advanced when Carla Suarez Navarro, retired from their match trailing 6-2, 2-2.
CYCLING
Irizar wins Ruta del Sol
Spaniard Markel Irizar (Radioshack) secured overall victory in the Ruta del Sol in Spain on Thursday after the fifth and final stage, won by compatriot Oscar Freire of Rabobank. Irizar took a one-second overnight lead over Jurgen Van den Broeck into the 162km ride from Cordoba to Antequera, and defended his slim advantage to secure his first major success. Van den Broeck finished second, with another RadioShack rider, American Levi Leipheimer third. “This is unbelievable,” Irizar said. “I am so happy with this victory, but even more with the way my teammates worked for me.”
SOCCER
Fabregas to miss final
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has vowed to win the League Cup for stricken skipper Cesc Fabregas after injury ruled the club captain out of tomorrow’s clash with Birmingham. Fabregas limped out of Wednesday’s Premier League win over Stoke with a hamstring strain and will now miss the final at Wembley, where Arsenal are bidding to win their first silverware since 2005. Wenger said he hoped Arsenal would go on to lift the trophy as a tribute to Fabregas, who is now battling to be fit for the club’s Champions League second leg match with Barcelona on March 8.
BASEBALL
Miguel Cabrera apologizes
Miguel Cabrera arrived at Detroit Tigers spring training on Thursday and promptly apologized for being arrested last week on suspicion of drunken driving. MLB officials also said the Venezuelan player will undergo alcohol abuse treatment administered by management and its players’ union. The first baseman was arrested in Florida on Wednesday last week on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He is set to be arraigned on March 16. “I am very sorry for what I have done,” Cabrera said through a translator. “I have worked hard for a period of time and I hope everyone forgives me. All I ask for is forgiveness.” Cabrera didn’t deny that he had an alcohol problem, but said he was willing to undergo treatment and the Tigers have been working with doctors to find a solution.
BASEBALL
Wainwright out for season
St Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will undergo season-ending surgery on his right elbow and miss the entire MLB campaign this year, the team announced on Thursday. The 29-year-old US right-hander, who injured his arm on Monday during a pre-season workout, went 20-11 with a 2.42 earned-run average last year and won 19 games for the NL club in 2009. “You’re losing an ace,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “It’s not something you can replace overnight.” Wainwright finished second to Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay in balloting for last year’s NL’s Cy Young Award as best pitcher. He was sent to St Louis on Wednesday for a medical evaluation. The Cardinals lose a major edge they had over NL Central division rivals Cincinnati and Milwaukee, although they have a solid lineup of pitchers in Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook.
GOLF
David Toms tied for lead
David Toms, seeking his first PGA Tour victory in five years, birdied two of his last three holes to surge into a four-way tie for the lead at the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico on Thursday. The 44-year-old American shrugged off gusting winds to fire a first-round five-under-par 66 on the El Camaleon course at the resort of Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya. Toms, who has not won on the US circuit since the 2006 Sony Open, ended the day level with compatriots Andres Gonzales and Kyle Stanley, plus Australian Mark Hensby. “Overall just a good day,” Toms told reporters after carding seven birdies and two bogeys. “I kept the ball in play, picked my spots when to be aggressive.”
BOXING
Acosta to defend WBA crown
Venezuelan Miguel Acosta will defend his claim to the lightweight boxing throne today when he faces unbeaten American Brandon Rios in a title showdown. Acosta, who has 19 fights in a row and has not lost since 2003, will defend the WBA lightweight crown, although the sanctioning body’s top-regarded “super champion” in the division is Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez. Acosta, 33, is 28-3 with two drawn and 22 knockouts while Rios, 24, is 26-0 with one drawn and 19 knockouts. “Rios is a strong guy and dangerous. He comes forward. I plan to take him into the late rounds and break him down,” Acosta said. Rios, who has won eight fights in a row since a majority draw against countryman Manuel Perez in 2008, is confident entering his first world title bout. “This is a dream come true,” Rios said.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
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