MOTORSPORTS
Max Verstappen takes pole
Runaway championship leader Max Verstappen yesterday took pole position for today’s Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight world title in Suzuka. The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in dry conditions with a time of 1 minute 29.304 seconds, just 0.010 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, his nearest championship rival. Carlos Sainz was third in the other Ferrari. Verstappen was handed a reprimand after an incident involving the Dutchman and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Norris was forced onto the grass to avoid hitting Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver muttering “unbelievable” over his team radio, but later apologizing. Verstappen can clinch the title today if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do. The Dutchman would also retain his crown if he wins and Leclerc is third or lower. “It was incredible to drive here again and of course very happy to be on pole, but just super happy to be back here,” said Verstappen, whose car lost a chunk of bodywork on his last lap after he ran wide on a section of the track. “I lost a bit of my duct on that last lap which is why I didn’t improve. Tomorrow [today] will be interesting with the weather.” Showers are forecast for today.
TENNIS
Frances Tiafoe reaches final
Frances Tiafoe yesterday battled past unseeded Kwon Soon-woo of South Korea in three sets to reach the Japan Open final, but the American said that it had not made pretty viewing. The fourth-seeded Tiafoe won 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 and faces compatriot Taylor Fritz in today’s final in Tokyo after Fritz beat Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3. “It was a weird match, but I’m happy to get through,” Tiafoe said. “I wasn’t expecting him [Kwon] to play like that. He played really fast and really aggressive. He was playing really well, obviously, but a win’s a win, and you take it,” the 24-year-old said. “It’s not always going to be pretty, it’s not always going to be the best stuff, but a win is what matters.”
SOCCER
Mbappe to earn US$128m
French superstar striker Kylian Mbappe is expected to earn a record US$128 million in annual earnings to top the list of the world’s highest-paid soccer players, Forbes magazine reported on Friday. The magazine said that Mbappe crossed the US$100 million milestone at age 23, while such legends as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were in their 30s and at the peak of their careers when crossing that money mark for the first time. Mbappe in May signed a three-year contract extension to remain with Ligue 1 side Paris-Saint Germain. Forbes reported that the deal would bring Mbappe about US$110 million for his salary and season share of a signing bonus, plus an estimated US$18 million in annual endorsement income from such companies as Nike, Dior, Hublot and Oakley. Mbappe was on the cover of the EA Sports FIFA video game, founded the production company Zebra Valley and is an investor in fantasy NFT platform Sorare. “He’s a global icon already,” Sorare cofounder Nicolas Julia told Forbes. “He wants to aid the world and show, also, that huge things can be built out of France.” PSG teammate Messi, 35, ranks second at US$120 million, with Manchester United’s Ronaldo, 37, third on US$100 million.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
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