TENNIS
Serena Williams wins prize
Serena Williams has been awarded Spain’s Princess of Asturias Prize for Sports for her stellar tennis career, organizers said yesterday. The 43-year-old American won 73 career singles titles, including 23 Grand Slams. She in 2022 said that she was stepping away from tennis to focus on her family and business interests. The 50,000 euros (US$56,684) award is one of eight annual prizes covering different areas, including arts, literature and science among others.
MOUNTAINEERING
Climber released in Nepal
Ukrainian climber Andrew Ushakov, who completed a journey from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest in a record four days, has been released on bail following his arrest for carrying undeclared foreign currency, a Nepalese official said on Tuesday. “If he chooses to raise hands [not fight the case in court] he forfeits the bail money,” Nepalese Department of Revenue Investigation Director-General Chandi Prasad Ghimire said. He had previously said the bail was set at US$60,000 — three times the amount allegedly carried by Ushakov, 40, when he was taken into custody on Sunday. Ushakov, a structural engineer who lives in the US, flew from New York to Nepal on May 15 before scaling Everest without the usual period of several weeks of acclimatization.
CYCLING
Roglic out of Giro d’Italia
Giro d’Italia favorite Primoz Roglic on Tuesday abandoned the race after suffering a crash on a downhill section alongside Richard Carapaz on stage 16. The 203km ride from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino was plagued by heavy rainfall, leading to several crashes. The 2023 winner’s title bid had already suffered a major blow after a crash on Saturday, his third in a week.
OLYMPICS
Berlin seeks 2036 Games
Berlin has formally presented its bid to host the Olympics in the same stadium where Jesse Owens starred during the 1936 Games under the Nazis. Berlin Senator for Interior, Digitalization and Sport Iris Spranger on Tuesday said the city wants to put on a sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044, by refurbishing existing sports venues. She gave few details during a presentation, saying the bid was still at concept phase. Many Berliners oppose staging the Olympics at all, regardless of them potentially taking place on the 100th anniversary of the Games already hosted by the Nazis. An initiative called “NOlympia Berlin” has announced plans to block it by collecting enough signatures to force a referendum.
GYMNASTICS
Olympian Retton arrested
Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton was arrested for driving under the influence earlier this month, records on the West Virginia Judiciary Web site showed. The 57-year-old was charged with “driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs” on May 17 after police responded to reports of someone driving a Porsche erratically. Retton was slurring her words when police stopped her, and officers saw a container of wine on the passenger seat of her car, the report said. She refused to take a breath test and was released after posting a US$1,500 bond.
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
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