MOTOR RACING
Rosberg wins Suzuka pole
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg put himself in the best possible position to widen his lead over Formula One title rival and teammate Lewis Hamilton by securing pole position yesterday for today’s Japanese Grand Prix. Rosberg clocked a time of 1 minute, 30.647 seconds on his final flying lap at the Suzuka circuit to beat Hamilton by just 0.01 seconds. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was a close third followed by teammate Sebastian Vettel, who was handed a three-place grid penalty and is to start in seventh. With five races remaining, Rosberg holds a 23-point lead over Hamilton, who is seeking a third straight victory in Japan. Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth and sixth.
SOCCER
Eligibility probe opened
FIFA is investigating complaints from Chile and Peru that Bolivia fielded an ineligible player against them in World Cup qualifying matches. FIFA is “gathering the necessary information and documentation to evaluate the situation and decide on potential next steps,” the world soccer body said on Friday. If FIFA rules for Chile, the Copa America champions could gain two points in their ailing bid to reach the 2018 tournament in Russia. Chile, who lost 3-0 against Ecuador on Thursday, are five points off a direct qualification place at the midway stage of the 10-team South American group. The top four advance and the fifth-placed team, currently Argentina, enter a playoff against a team from Oceania. The complaints from Chile and Peru are about Paraguay-born defender Nelson Cabrera, who previously played for Paraguay. Bolivia used the 33-year-old Cabrera as a late substitute in beating Peru 2-0 in La Paz on Sept. 1 and five days later in a 0-0 draw against Chile in Santiago. FIFA typically awards a 3-0 default loss against teams judged to have fielded ineligible players.
SOCCER
China boss urges confidence
The head of Chinese soccer told the national team not to lose confidence after their loss to war-torn Syria jeopardized hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. The national side’s 0-1 defeat on Thursday before a home crowd of 40,000 in Xian enraged fans, spurring many to call for the sacking of Chinese Football Association president Cai Zhenhua. He has ignored the calls so far and sought to reassure Team Dragon players that they “absolutely must not lose confidence because of this loss,” the Xin Kuaibao newspaper reported yesterday. “We still have seven games, you must bring out your fighting spirit. Especially at times like this [after a loss], you mustn’t give up.”
ICE HOCKEY
Transgender player debuts
The National Women’s Hockey League’s first transgender player scored a goal in her debut. Buffalo forward Harrison Browne was named the game’s second star in the Beauts’ 4-1 loss against the Boston Pride on Friday night. “It was unreal,” Browne said. “I’ve never felt something like that before.” Up until the season-opening game on Friday, the 23-year-old went by the name of Hailey Browne. That changed when she announced she prefers to be known as Harrison and identifies as a male in a story first published by ESPN. “I was just excited,” Browne said, adding that she had previously revealed her gender identity, but had not changed her name. “I’ve been out for a long time. I’m not scared about it. It’s nothing new to me.”
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
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
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a “crazy comeback,” saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tie-breaker, but won six straight points to reach her eighth semi-final of the season. “Elena is a great player and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.” “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down
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