Taiwan’s bid for promotion back to Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I on Sunday ended in failure at the Ulusal Tenis Egitim Merkezi Tennis Club in Izmir, Turkey, as Pakistan claimed a 3-2 victory to advance.
Wang Chieh-fu, who was standing in for Jimmy Wang, leveled the match at 2-2 by coming from a set down to win a thrilling first reverse singles rubber 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 6-3 over Pakistan’s Aqeel Khan.
Wang hit 20 aces and converted three of seven break points, completing the victory in 4 hours, 2 minutes.
However, Pakistan’s Aisam Qureshi gave his side the victory in the second reverse singles with a 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Hung Jui-chen in a match that lasted 3 hours, 56 minutes.
The teams had shared the points in the opening singles on Friday, with Khan defeating Hung 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 and Jimmy Wang crushing Samir Iftikhar 6-3, 6-2, 6-0.
Taiwan on Saturday fell behind 2-1 after Wang Chieh-fu and Jimmy Wang lost their doubles match 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to Khan and Qureshi.
The loss sees Taiwan remain in Asia/Oceania Group II next year, while Pakistan are promoted to Group I.
Pakistan were playing the match in Turkey due to the security situation back home.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani on Monday wobbled through a 28-pitch first inning at home against the San Diego Padres in his first appearance on the mound since August 2023. Scheduled to throw as many as two innings, Ohtani went a single frame while allowing one run on two hits. He did not issue a walk nor strike out a batter. “Not quite happy with the results overall, but the takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to make the next outing,” Ohtani said of his pitching performance. Ohtani still wound up with a positive impact
RSS