TENNIS
Watson upsets Wozniacki
Britain’s Heather Watson on Friday defeated second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 7-5, 6-4 to earn her place in the semi-finals of the Abierto Monterrey Afirme in Mexico. “I’m very happy with how I played today, I thought I played very well. I needed to against Caroline because she’s a great player, and I had to fight to the end because I knew she would,” Watson was quoted as saying on the WTA Web site. In the other matches on Friday, Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens downed the UK’s Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-1, fifth-seeded Caroline Garcia overcame fellow Frenchman Pauline Parmentier 7-5, 6-2, and Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit trounced the US’ Nicole Gibbs 6-1, 6-4.
CRICKET
Pakistan get Asia Cup win
Umar Akmal hit 48 off 37 balls as Pakistan ended their Asia Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Friday. Pakistan reached 151-4 in 19.2 overs after Sri Lanka posted 150-4 with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan undefeated on 75 off 56 balls. Sarfraz Ahmed scored 38 for Pakistan, while opener Sharjeel Khan made 31. Akmal’s 56-run partnership with Shoaib Malik (13 not out) was key to Pakistan’s victory. Akmal smashed a six to level the score before another attempt cost his wicket. Malik took a single for victory. Dilshan claimed 1-2 with his off-spin. Both teams were already out of contention for today’s final between Bangladesh and India.
ICE HOCKEY
Star meets chocolate double
Soviet ice hockey star Vladislav Tretiak on Friday came face-to-face with a life-size chocolate doppelganger created to mark the opening of a confectionery fair in Moscow. At 2m tall with an arm raised as if in victory, the cocoa-based statue shows triple-Olympic champion Tretiak in the red uniform of CSKA Moscow, where he played as goalkeeper. “This gives me a great deal of pleasure, especially since this year we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of ice hockey in Russia,” said the 63-year-old, who is currently president of the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. Created by chocolatier Mila Zakatova, the sweet sculpture weighs about 100kg.
SWIMMING
Champion in Twitter gaffe
Italian former Olympic swimming champion Federica Pellegrini accidentally left her address and mobile phone number for all to see when she posted a photograph on Twitter on Friday. The 27-year-old Pellegrini, whose Twitter account @mafaldina88 has 455,000 followers, tweeted on Friday morning that she had been subjected to a random doping test and posted a photo of documents relating to the control. The problem was that her number and address were clearly visible on the documents. Almost immediately, she received numerous tweets urging her to hide the number, although others asked if they could add her on messaging app WhatsApp.
TENNIS
Bud Collins dies, aged 86
Bud Collins, the tennis historian and American voice of the sport in print and on TV for decades, has died. He was 86. His wife, Anita Ruthling Klaussen, said in a telephone interview that Collins died on Friday at home in Brookline, Massachusetts, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Collins was well-known for creative player nicknames and turns of phrase that were as colorful as his trademark bow ties and one-of-a-kind pants created from cloth he collected around the world.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
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