I Dig Sports
German second seed Alexander Zverev began his latest bid for a first Grand Slam title with a comfortable straight-set victory over French wildcard Lucas Pouille at the Australian Open.
The 27-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne last year, cruised into the second round with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win.
Zverev, who faced just two break points against the 103rd-ranked Pouille, will play Spaniard Pedro Martinez next.
Former world number 10 Pouille, a semi-finalist in 2019, could have provided a potential obstacle for Zverev but it felt like the world number two still had plenty more gears to go through.
In recent years it has been a case of so near yet so far for Zverev when it comes to winning a major.
Last year he fell in the last four in Melbourne - losing to Russian Daniil Medvedev despite taking a two-set lead - and finished runner-up to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros, having reached the semi-finals on his previous three appearances in Paris.
But it was a clinical start from Zverev on Rod Laver Arena as he aims to win his first Grand Slam at the 36th time of asking and on his 10th appearance at the Australian Open.
Should he succeed in Melbourne, he would go joint-second alongside Stan Wawrinka of most attempts before winning a major title in the Open era.
Earlier on Sunday, Kei Nishikori, playing in Melbourne for the first time in four years, edged a five-set thriller against Brazil's Thiago Monteiro 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-2 6-3.
Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud avoided becoming the first top-10 casualty at this year's tournament by coming through in five sets against Spain's Jaume Munar.
The 26-year-old, a three-time Slam runner-up, won 6-3 1-6 7-5 2-6 6-1.
Kartal 'far below expectations' in Melbourne defeat
Kartal and Bouzas Maneiro were made to wait several hours to get on to court after thunderstorms held up play.
Even when they arrived at 18:15 local time, there was still a delay as the chair umpire and staff dried the court with towels.
Kartal sees herself as a "disrupter" but she was unable to unsettle Bouzas Maneiro in the early rallies.
Bouzas Maneiro managed to get on top in the baseline duels, knocking powerful winners off both flanks as she won 29 of the 44 points in a one-sided first set.
When Kartal lost serve and went 3-0 down in the second set, it looked as though she was heading towards a rapid defeat.
But Bouzas Maneiro began to look nervous, suddenly making more unforced errors as Kartal clawed back the break.
A chance for the Spaniard to clinch the match came at 5-4 30-40, but a tight forehand volley wide indicated the pressure she was feeling.
However, Kartal did not fully capitalise on her opponent's tension.
The Briton moved 4-2 ahead in the tie-break, but was pushed back on her weaker backhand as Bouzas Maneiro wiped out the mini-break and turned the match back in her favour.
Bouzas Maneiro will now go on to face Sabalenka after the top seed started her bid for a third consecutive title with a straight-set win over American Sloane Stephens.
'Feels like home' - Sabalenka starts title defence with win
Sabalenka entertained the Melbourne crowd with some dancing on court after the match, having built up a following on social media by posting videos of her dancing with her team on TikTok.
Fast becoming a fan favourite, she then went to take a picture of the crowd with a polaroid camera before realising it had run out of film.
The top seed will face Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who knocked out British hopeful Sonay Kartal, in the next round.
Rain affected proceedings on the outside courts on day one of the season's first Grand Slam, but the Rod Laver Arena roof was open in time for Sabalenka's evening match after Zheng Qinwen, her opponent in last year's final, beat Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni.
Sabalenka finished 2024 as the year-end world number one for the first time and, beginning her campaign in Australia as two-time defending champion and top seed, looked in fine form as she raced to a 4-0 lead.
But Stephens, who has pedigree on the hard court as a former US Open champion, pegged Sabalenka back, breaking back twice for 4-3 as Sabalenka made a series of unforced errors.
Often animated on court, Sabalenka roared in frustration at each mistake, waving her arms around in exasperation.
What had looked likely to be a straightforward opening set of her campaign turned out to be more tricky but the three-time Grand Slam champion converted her fifth break point for 5-3 then served to take the set.
Sabalenka once again earned herself a double break in the second set and this time was able to hold on to her advantage over Stephens, who has not won a match since last year's Wimbledon.
By contrast, Sabalenka warmed up for the tournament by winning the Brisbane - and she looks in fine form for a historic 'three-peat'.
Gwalia Lightning produced a second half fightback and scored a try in the 80th minute to earn a dramatic victory over winless Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge.
The Welsh side were favourites, having won two of their first three matches, while the Warriors remain at the bottom of the table.
Wales flanker Bryonie King returned to captain Gwalia after sustaining an ankle injury in round two.
The home side quickly took the lead when Rhodd Parry scored the opening try two minutes into the match. Carys Hughes, who had already amassed 22 points in the first three rounds, added the conversion.
Glasgow responded when Briar McNamara broke through to power over under the posts, but she missed the conversion.
Gemma Bell followed the same path, breaking through Gwalia's defence in the 28th minute and McNamara added the conversion.
Glasgow's third try came a minute later, with full-back Sky Phimister taking control of a high kick.
She shrugged off a defender with a quick dummy and goosestep, then ran almost the length of the pitch for a magnificent solo try for Warriors to lead by 12 points at the break after McNamara's conversion.
Alaw Pyrs scored Gwalia's second try from a close-range line-out to bring the score to 12-19 after 54 minutes.
Warriors hit back instantly to secure a crucial bonus point through McNamara, who also converted, as the visitors led 26-12.
But that first win was not to be. Courtney Greenway showed great awareness close to the try line, scooping the ball up and diving over the ruck to score Gwalia's third try.
Two minutes later Greenway's pace in open space allowed her to glide over to bring Lightning back to 24-26 after Hughes' conversion.
Gwalia needed one last push to secure the win, and as the clock hit 80 minutes, captain King seized the moment with a pick and go from the back of a ruck to power through the weary Warriors defence.
Hughes stepped up and nailed the conversion, putting Gwalia five points ahead to complete the comeback.
Gwalia Lightning have notched up three wins from four matches, moving up to third place in the Celtic Challenge table, just behind the Irish teams Wolfhounds and Clovers.
Dragons: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Harri Ackerman, Jared Rosser; Angus O'Brien (capt), Che Hope; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Lloyd, Lloyd Evans, Ewan Rosser
Pau: Clément Mondinat; Theo Attissogbe, Eliott Roudil (capt), Fabien Brau-Boirie, Gregoire Arfeuil; Axel Desperes, Dan Robson; Remi Seneca, Romain Ruffenach, Jon Zabala Arrieta, Hugo Auradou, Jimi Maximin, Mehdi Tlili, Reece Hewat, Thibaut Hamonou.
Sin bin: Hamonou (3)
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Daniel Bibi Biziwu, Harry Williams, Remi Picquette, Loic Credoz, Thomas Souverbie, Quentin Valentino, Jack Maddocks.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira & Griffin Colby (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Bristol: Elizalde; Bates, Ravouvou, Williams, Heward; Byrne, Marmion; Thomas, Thacker, Lahiff, Owen, Batley, Grondona, Harding (capt), Mata.
Replacements: Oghre, Genge, Kloska, Barker, Luatua, Randall, Van Rensburg, Lane.
Benetton: Smith; Gallagher, Menoncello, Brex, Ratave; Albornoz, Uren; Gallo, Maile, Zilocchi, N Cannone, Ruzza, Lamaro (capt), Zuliani, L Cannone.
Replacements: Bernasconi, Ferrari, Avaca, Snyman, Favretto, Izekor, Garbisi, Marin.
Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
Leinster maintain winning run with La Rochelle victory
La Rochelle: Dulin; Nowell; Seuteni, Favre; Leyds; Hastoy, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Lespiaucq, Atonio; Lavault, Douglas; Boudehent, Jegou, Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Clavier, Nail, Garnier, Marchais, Boichot, Kamoto, Thomas, Obiang Hguema.
Leinster: Barrett; J O'Brien; Ringrose, Henshaw; J Osbourne; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Healy, Kelleher, Furlong; J McCarthy, Ryan; Baird, van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: G McCarthy, Porter, Silmani, Snyman, Conan, McGrath, Byrne, Frawley.
Toulon: Domon; Drean, Frisch, Sinzelle, Wainiqolo; Garbisi, Serin; Priso, Lucchesi, Sinckler, Halagahu, Ribbans (capt), Ludlam, Abadie, Isa.
Replacements: Ivaldi, Brennan, Setiano, Alainu'uese, Rebbadj, Coulon, White, Biggar.
Harlequins: Green; David, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Launchbury, Hammond, Chisholm, Kenningham, Dombrandt (capt).
Replacements: Riley, Jones, Kerrod, Cunningham-South, W Evans, Care, J Evans, Waghorn.
Sin-bin: Chisholm
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. Saturday was the halfway point of the Pitt Stop Motorsports IMCATV Western Nationals at Central Arizona Raceway.
IMCA sanctioned divisions added more cars to set a Casa Grande record of 238 for the five divisions.
Modified action produced a sterling drive by Ricky Alvarado with his flag to flag and traffic filled effort leading to a win. Alvarados heat win from 5th starting earned him a front row starting spot.
Chaz Baca drew closer to Alvarado in traffic but settled for second and Dylan Thornton was third.
Braden Richards controlled the stock car main but did have a little close call on the next to last lap when he appeared to brush the wall in turn two. Richards recovered from that and claimed the win over Justin Luinenburg and Mike Albertsen.
Northern sport mods were led by Gilbert Deschamp for 13 laps with Taylor Kuehl and Jake Smith steadily closing.
Eventually it became three drivers in a group and it was Smith who used the bottom of turn four to take the lead with seven laps remaining.
Smith led the last seven to get the win over Taylor Kuehl and Cole Suckow.
Dillon Richards won another hobby stock main and Billy Foultz matched Richards with his sport compact win.
Action resumes next Tuesday with the Gene Freeman Memorial Pit Crew Contest along with a non-points hobby stock main. Practice sessions will complete the evening.
ANAHEIM, Calif. A sold out Angel Stadium was alive with the excitement and anticipation of Round 1 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, part of the SMX World ChampionshipTM series. Red Bull KTM Racings Chase Sexton took his first opening round win in convincing fashion.
Even with a brief stall near the midpoint, Sexton never relinquished the lead after taking it less than four minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap main event.
Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzukis Ken Roczen also battled forward, reaching second place early and holding the spot to the finish.
Monster Energy Kawasakis Jason Anderson managed to avoid first-turn chaos and found himself in the lead on the first lap. After intense battles with Sexton and Roczen he finished the race on the podium with third place.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racings Eli Tomac crashed on the opening lap while leading. The defending champion, Team Honda HRC Progressives Jett Lawrence, had two big mistakes in the opening laps and was only able to climb back to 12th spot.
I kind of knew where I was at coming in here. I knew I had good speed. I feel more like myself in 2023 when I was fast, but I feel like Im a little more mature now and I can get out front and kind of run my own laps and not make mistakes, so it was a fun race, Sexton explained. [I] had Kenny behind me, and also Jason, and it was just a good ride.
Honestly, I had so much fun on this track tonight. I cant give it up to the team enough. They put in so much hard work this off-season to get me comfortable, knowing that I wasnt comfortable last year; and coming in now were back where we need to be. We still have lots to improve; its only one race in and theres 16 left, but were off to a good start and first time winning A1 feels pretty good.
In 250SX class racing, Joe Shimoda took the win without being challenged throughout the 15-minute plus 1 lap Main Event. It was Shimodas first opening round podium finish.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racings Julien Beaumer put in a strong performance; Beaumer was the fastest qualifier and won his heat race. He held close to Shimoda for much of the race but never got close enough to make a run at the lead. Triumph Racing Factory Teams Jordon Smith recovered brilliantly from a tip-over in a left-hand turn. With just 11 seconds on the race clock he reached third place and held the spot to the end.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
