SNOOKER
Marco Fu scores ‘crazy’ 147
Hong Kong’s Marco Fu on Saturday hit a maximum break to defeat four-time world champion John Higgins in the deciding frame at the Hong Kong Masters semi-finals. Fu’s heroics brought the crowd of nearly 6,000 to its feet at the cavernous Hong Kong Coliseum. “I still can’t believe what just happened today, this is crazy!” Fu wrote on Facebook after his win. The local favorite was behind for the whole match with Higgins taking the opening frame on an assured 105 break and pushing ahead for a 4-2 lead. The Scot recorded another ton on the ninth frame to go up 5-4, but Fu clawed his way back to 5-5 before launching into what he described post-match as the greatest moment of his career. After methodically putting away the final black ball, he was greeted with thunderous cheers and a standing ovation.
TENNIS
Fritz wins Japan Open
Taylor Fritz yesterday beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) in a tense final to win the Japan Open. The two 24-year-olds traded breaks in the opening set before the greater consistency of Fritz took him ahead in the tiebreak and he secured it with a cracking forehand, breaking his opponent’s streak of 13 tiebreak wins. Fritz’s serve proved impenetrable in the second set and Tiafoe bravely defended several break point chances inside Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum. In the tiebreak, Fritz raced into a 6-2 lead with relentless power and accuracy before sealing victory when Tiafoe’s forehand went out. Fritz is to enter the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time today. “It’s so crazy, and I couldn’t have written it any better,” Fritz said after wrapping up victory just under 2 hours.
CYCLING
Ganna beats world record
Italian Filippo Ganna made up for a disappointing season so far by powering to a new track 1-hour world record of 56.792km at the Grenchen velodrome in Switzerland on Saturday. Olympic team pursuit champion Ganna bettered the surprise mark set by Britain’s Daniel Bigham, a performance engineer at his Ineos Grenadiers team, of 55.548km on the same track in August last year. “It’s amazing, fantastic. I achieved my goal,” Ganna said. “I thank my staff and everyone who contributed to this record.”
FOOTBALL
NFL concussion rules change
The NFL and its players’ association have agreed to enhanced concussion protocols after a head injury suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa prompted widespread concern. A joint statement from the two parties on Saturday said ataxia — which includes abnormal balance, motor coordination or “dysfunctional speech” — would be added as a “no-go” symptom. Players diagnosed with ataxia during a game would not be allowed to return to the field. Tagovailoa was last week carried off the field when his head slammed into the turf as he took a sack during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. A probe was launched after people questioned why he was allowed to play, as four days prior he looked disoriented after hitting his head on the ground during a game against the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa was not traveling for his team’s game against the New York Jets yesterday.
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
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
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
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