TENNIS
Chans make quarters
Taiwan’s Latisha Chan and Chan Hao-ching on Wednesday advanced to the women’s doubles semi-finals at the Dubai Tennis Championships after a dominant 6-1, 6-3 last-eight win over top seeds Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff. The Chan sisters needed only 29 minutes to win the first set, breaking the US pairing of Gauff and Pegula three times in a row without giving up serve. The Chans cemented their lead in the second set after they broke the US duo’s serve for a fourth time in the match after holding serve, securing a two-game advantage. The Taiwanese duo scored on the first of their two match points in the ninth game of the second set, clinching the victory. The win set the Chan sisters up for their first semi-final at the Dubai Tennis Championship since 2019. The other three quarter-finals were to be completed after press time last night.
TENNIS
Female team a first
Saudi Arabia is entering a female team for the first time at an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament — this week’s Asia/Oceania pre-qualifying event for the Billie Jean King Cup Juniors in Sri Lanka. Saudi Arabia and Brunei are making their Billie Jean King Cup Juniors debuts in the tournament this week for players 16 years and under that is to determine which teams qualify for the main junior event to be decided later this year. “This is an amazing experience and it is so empowering,” Areej Farah, captain of the four-player Saudi Arabia team, said in an interview for the ITF’s Web site. “Taking part in this event is a big step for women’s tennis in Saudi and we are all very proud to represent our country and do our best.”
BOXING
Ukraine boycotts events
Ukraine’s boxing federation (FBU) on Wednesday joined a boycott of the amateur world championships over the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian boxers, who have been allowed to compete with national flags and anthems. FBU vice president Oleg Ilchenko told public broadcaster Suspline that their boxers would not compete in this year’s men’s and women’s championships, which is to be held in New Delhi and Tashkent respectively. Both competitions are organized by the International Boxing Association, led by Russian Umar Kremlev.
CRICKET
Coach says ‘no tension’
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurasingha on Wednesday said that there is “no tension” between him and senior players in the team as he begins his second tenure in charge of the side. Sri Lankan Hathurasingha’s first stint with the side from 2014 to 2017 was marked by several run-ins with senior players in the team, some of whom are also part of the current squad. Following his complaint, star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was banned for six months for “misbehavior” in 2014. “There’s no tension with any of the players with me,” Hathurasingha said. “I don’t think it [working with senior players] is going to be a challenge. I have spoken to all the senior players. Everybody is focused on one thing: Team is No. 1. Everyone wants the team to do well. Even in my last time, I didn’t face challenges with any of the players.”
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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