TENNIS
Baghdatis, Muller go through
Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and Gilles Muller of Luxembourg claimed straight-sets victories over German opponents on Monday to move into the second round of the Moselle Open in Metz, France. Baghdatis won seven straight games on his way to a 7-5, 6-2 win over Matthias Bachinger, while Muller edged Philipp Petzschner 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5). Baghdatis, the Australian Open runner-up in 2006, won the last three games of the first set and jumped into a 4-0 lead in the second set before wrapping up the win, earning him a second-round match against third-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine. Baghdatis converted three of seven break points, while Bachinger failed to convert his only break chance. Muller had a much tougher time, saving five break points in the first set to force a tie-breaker. The left-hander took a 5-0 lead before sending down an ace to clinch the set. Petzschner broke for a 4-2 lead in the second set but failed to serve it out at 5-3. Muller will next face Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan or Benoit Paire of France.
SOCCER
Breno escapes blaze
Bayern Munich defender Breno was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation early yesterday after his house caught fire and was almost completely destroyed, police said. Brazilian Breno, 21, was alone at the time of the fire and was otherwise unhurt. Police said they were investigating the cause of the blaze that swept through the villa in Munich’s Gruenwald neighborhood. Breno joined Bayern as an 18-year-old back in 2008.
CRICKET
Injury downs Southee
New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee pulled out of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket series yesterday after suffering a knee injury. Southee, who recently won the ICC Twenty20 International Performance of the Year award, was to have flown to India this week to join the Chennai Super Kings ahead of their first match on Saturday. However, he will now stay home for treatment in an attempt to be fit for New Zealand’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. Southee’s performance of the year award was for his five wickets in eight balls, including a hat-trick, when New Zealand beat Pakistan by five wickets last December.
RUGBY WORLD CUP
‘It’s a girl’ for Pritchard
Canada fullback James Pritchard missed the birth of his daughter Hayden Emily on Sunday to take on mighty France. Pritchard took the decision play one of the biggest games of his life instead of attending her birth, which took place about two hours before kick-off. “I wasn’t able to be there, but I’ll definitely remember where I was,” he said. “It would have been even better to remember if we were able to turn the French. It was hard to concentrate knowing I had just had a baby girl,” Pritchard admitted. “Just before the game it was hard to concentrate, but once the game started it was all rugby.”
RUGBY WORLD CUP
Japan visit ancient tree
Japan took time out after their heavy defeat to New Zealand to visit a sacred tree reverered by the Maoris on Monday. Tane Mahuta, meaning “Lord of the Forest,” is the world’s oldest kauri tree, dated at 2,000 years old. “Today is our spiritual day. We can practise and train all we want, but if you don’t stop and respect our past and our future, then our spirits will be dead,” Japan’s coach John Kirwan said.
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
Armand Duplantis will be among the reigning Olympic champions adding star power to the world indoor championships this weekend when the Chinese city of Nanjing hosts the first major global athletics meet since the Paris Games last year. The three-day event was originally slated for 2020 and faced multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nanjing’s Sports Training Center would finally welcome more than 570 athletes for the start of the showpiece today. One of the main attractions would be pole vaulter “Mondo” Duplantis, who soared 6.27m to break the world record for a staggering 11th time in Clermont-Ferrand last
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