TENNIS
Taiwan’s Wu makes semis
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and partner Jiang Xinyu of China yesterday advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles at the Qatar Open with a walkover against compatriot Chan Hao-ching and Veronika Kudermetova of Russia. Kudermetova could not play due to a back injury. Chan and Kudermetova reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win over Luisa Stefani of Brazil and the US’ Peyton Stearns on Wednesday.
BASEBALL
Bregman linked to Boston
Alex Bregman and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a US$120 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told reporters on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Bregman can opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons to become a free agent again. He might need to shift from third base to second with the Red Sox, who already have All-Star slugger Rafael Devers at the hot corner. A two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during nine years with Houston, the 30-year-old Bregman is coming off one of his poorest offensive seasons. He hit .260 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs in the final season of a US$100 million, five-year contract, also winning his first Gold Glove. Bregman has 19 post-season home runs, tied for sixth in major-league history. He was selected by Houston with the second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, made his big-league debut a year later and hit .284 with 19 homers, 71 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2017. He walked just 44 times this year with a 23.6 percent chase rate, his highest since 2017. Bregman has a .272 average with 191 homers and 663 RBIs in nine big-league seasons. Because he turned down a US$21.05 million qualifying offer from the Astros, they are to receive an extra pick after the fourth round of the amateur draft in July.
RUGBY UNION
’Canes name four captains
The Wellington Hurricanes have named four captains for the Super Rugby season, employing the Maori kaitiaki approach of guardians overseeing the protection and growth of the team. Hooker Asafo Aumua, flankers Du’Plessis Kirifi and Brad Shields, and center Billy Proctor have all been entrusted with the role. “Yes, the approach is a little bit different, but we’re not just doing it for the sake of being different,” Hurricanes coach Craig Laidlaw said. “This is what we felt was the best way to structure and provide leadership and guidance within our environment this season.” The ’Canes topped the regular-season standings last year, but were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual runners-up the Waikato Chiefs. They start their campaign away against the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch today. “The concept of a kaitiaki was chosen for its holistic meaning, which we thought was a good reflection of the environment and the kaupapa [values] this team has been building over the last couple of years,” Hurricanes cultural adviser Te Wehi Wright said. Laidlaw said the reality was that they were unlikely to have four named skippers on the field at any one time. “We’ll designate a captain, or cocaptains, week-to-week based on the make-up of the team and who is available,” he said.
Robinson Cano spent 17 seasons playing in the MLB in front of all kinds of baseball fans, but he said there is something special about his stint with the Mexican Baseball League’s Diablos Rojos. He is not alone. The league last week opened its 100th season, aiming to keep an impressive growth in attendance that began after the national team’s surprise run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and is already surpassing some first-division soccer clubs. After finishing third in the 2023 tournament, many casual fans, some of them soccer enthusiasts disappointed after Mexico were eliminated in the first round in the 2022
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
Arne Slot has denied that Darwin Nunez was dropped from Liverpool’s win against West Ham because of a training-ground row with a member of his coaching staff. The Liverpool head coach on Sunday last week said that Nunez was absent from the 2-1 victory at Anfield, having felt unwell during training the day before, although the striker sat behind the substitutes throughout the game. Speculation has been rife that the Uruguay international, whom Slot criticized for his work rate against Wolves and Aston Villa in February, was left out for disciplinary reasons. Asked on Friday to clarify the situation, Slot said: “He
CUNNINGHAM CONNECTS: In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons snapped their record 15-game playoff losing streak by beating the Knicks to level their series at 1-1 Kawhi Leonard on Monday scored 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting as the Los Angeles Clippers evened their first-round NBA Playoffs series against the Nuggets with a 105-102 win in Denver. “It feels like he didn’t miss a shot,” James Harden said. “His shot-making ability is elite.” Good thing, too, because his teammates were a combined 26 of 66 for a 39 percent clip. “I made shots tonight,” Leonard said. “I just keep playing, try to stay in the zone no matter if I’m making or missing shots.” The fifth-seeded Clippers needed every bit of his brilliance to snatch the homecourt advantage in the series
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