TENNIS
Nadal, Djokovic advance
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic turned in impressive displays to reach the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Thursday. Nadal, chasing a record-extending 12th Monte Carlo title, broke Grigor Dimitrov’s serve on four occasions to defeat the Bulgarian 6-4, 6-1. After recovering from two break points down in his opening service game, Nadal attacked Dimitrov’s backhand with power and precision to move into a 3-1 lead. The 32-year-old Spaniard continued to extract errors from Dimitrov to claim the first set before racing to his 15th quarter-final on the Monte Carlo clay. After struggling to rediscover his rhythm in his opener against Philipp Kohlschreiber, Djokovic looked in complete control as he swept past Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-0. The 31-year-old Serb quickly adjusted the pace on his groundstrokes to claim three consecutive service breaks and take the opening set. Fritz failed to offer any kind of resistance in the second set and was ultimately undone by his 28 unforced errors. Djokovic faces Russian Daniil Medvedev for a semi-final spot. Medvedev defeated sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Serb Dusan Lajovic pulled off the biggest upset of the day as he saved seven of nine break points faced to knock out Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-3.
GOLF
Ji leads in Hawaii
Ji Eun-hee rebounded from a bogey on the par-four 18th with an eagle on the par-five first and shot a seven-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead over Nelly Korda at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii on Thursday. Ji had a 15-under 129 total to break the tournament 36-hole record by five strokes. She played her final nine in the afternoon at Ko Olina in six-under 30, following the eagle with birdies on four of the next seven holes. Korda birdied four of her final five in the morning in a 68, also finishing on No. 9. Two Taiwanese made the cut, with Hsu Wei-ling the best placed in a share of 48th with rounds of 73 and 69. Chien Pei-yun was right on the cusp in a share of 69th after a 70 and a 74. Yani Tseng missed the cut after rounds of 81 and 73.
SOCCER
MLS to expand to 30 teams
Major League Soccer is to expand to 30 teams, league commissioner Don Garber said on Thursday at a board of governors’ meeting in Los Angeles. The league is currently at 24 teams, with Cincinnati joining the league this season. Nashville and Miami are to start next year, with Austin to come aboard in 2021.
ATHLETICS
China bans marathoners
China has banned for life three runners who broke the rules at the Boston Marathon on Monday, accusing them of giving the country a bad name and vowing to root out cheats. Marathon running is growing fast in China, but there have been numerous instances of cheating, including a woman who jumped on a bike in a recent domestic race and several others who took shortcuts. In the latest cases, one entrant in Boston gave his bib to someone else, while two other Chinese participants presented forged certificates of previous races to gain entry, the Chinese Athletic Association (CAA) said. “All the three runners were hit with a life ban from all road running races under the CAA,” said Xinhua news agency, citing the association.
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
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
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
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