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.
GUNNING FOR A WIN: The victory sending Arsenal to the final for the first time in six years was cathartic for a team who had lost their previous four semi-finals Arsenal on Tuesday reached the League Cup final for the first time in eight years as Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg. Mikel Arteta’s side had put themselves in pole position in the first leg and Havertz came off the bench to finish the 4-2 aggregate victory in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium. It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in last year’s UEFA Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 UEFA Europa League. In their first final for six years,
SUPERSTAR DELIVERS: Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to propel the Spurs to a 135-123 victory over the Dallas Mavericks The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday shook off the early exit of injured star Luka Doncic, rallying without him in the second half for a 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Austin Reaves, again coming off the bench in his second game back from a 19-game injury absence, scored 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, drilling a pair of back-to-back three-pointers to give the Lakers their first lead of the game early in the final frame. “Losing Luka, you know nothing’s going to be easy after that because he does so much for us, but we bonded together,” said
Ademola Lookman on Thursday scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis Balompie that sent Diego Simeone’s team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored for Atletico as they advanced to the last four for the third straight season. Atletico are trying to reach their first Copa final since winning the competition in 2012-2013. Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone added to the lead in the 30th, before Lookman got his first goal for Atletico on a fast
DEADLINE DAY: Rennes’ Jacquet had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea earlier this month, but was reportedly put off the move due to the Blues’ bloated squad Liverpool on Monday won the race to sign Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet on the quiet final day of the English Premier League transfer window, while Crystal Palace swooped for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen despite the collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s move to AC Milan. The Reds agreed a reported fee of up to ￡60 million (US$82 million) for the highly rated Jacquet. However, the 20-year-old will not join the Premier League champions until the summer despite Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements. Jacquet had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea earlier this month, but was reportedly put off
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