TENNIS
Philippoussis eyes return
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Mark Philippoussis plans to make his return to the ATP Tour as a wild-card entry in the qualifying draw for next month’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championship. The Aussie, who once boasted one of the hardest serves on the ATP Tour, has been out of the game for almost a decade. The 38-year-old, who was born in Melbourne, will make his comeback on July 11 when qualifying begins, the organizers announced on Friday. The main draw begins two days later. His last career title came in 2006 when he defeated Justin Gimelstob in the final in Newport, Rhode Island. He retired that year. Philippoussis won 11 career titles, reached a career high ranking of world No. 8 and earned almost US$7 million in prize money. At one time or another he defeated most of the game’s top players in his era. He also made the finals at Wimbledon in 2003 and the US Open in 1998.
CYCLING
Armstrong to ride Tour route
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is still planning to court controversy by riding part of the Tour de France route next month for charity, according to a BBC report. The American will join former England soccer player Geoff Thomas and a team of amateurs, who are aiming to raise ￡1 million (US$1.57 million) for Cure Leukaemia, by cycling two stages a day before the peloton goes through. Armstrong is to go ahead with his plans, said Thomas, even though he was advised not to proceed by International Cycling Union president Brian Cookson in March. “We know Lance’s involvement has split opinion, so we’ve tried to be as respectful as possible,” Thomas told the BBC on Friday. “The stages Lance will be riding come toward the end of week two when I know all the [charity] riders will need some support.” Armstrong is due to ride stages 13 and 14 on July 16 and 17, but Cookson said earlier this year that his involvement would be unwise. “Lance would be well advised not to take part in that,” he said. “I’m sure Geoff Thomas means well, but frankly I think that’s completely inappropriate.”
SOCCER
Mainz to dump Chile’s Jara
Chile defender Gonzalo Jara could be dumped by German club FSV Mainz 05 following the storm of controversy which followed his attempt to shove a finger into the backside of an opponent at the Copa America. Jara was the subject of widespread revulsion on social media after photographs and camera footage clearly showed him jabbing a finger into the back of Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani’s shorts during Wednesday’s quarter-final, won 1-0 by Chile. The lurid provocation ultimately led to Cavani being sent off after the Paris Saint-Germain star flicked a retaliatory hand into Jara’s face. Mainz boss Christian Heidel said the Bundesliga club was ready to sell the 29-year-old player. “He knows it — if we receive an offer, he can leave,” Heidel told Bild. Jara joined Mainz from English side Nottingham Forest last year, but featured in just 17 games last season.
SOCCER
Tevez to rejoin Boca Juniors
The president of Boca Juniors said Carlos Tevez is leaving Juventus to return to the Buenos Aires club. Daniel Angelici, speaking on Friday to ESPN Argentina, said Tevez “will sign the contract” when the Copa America ends next week. Angelici said he had been to Italy to iron out details of the deal. Tevez was a fan favorite when he played for Boca between 2001 and 2004. He left to play for Brazil’s Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City and then Juventus.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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