World number one Naomi Osaka came through a tricky test against Greece's Maria Sakkari to reach round two at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham.

Osaka, who before the tournament said she was "not really that comfortable" on grass, had looked in early control before battling to a 6-1 4-6 6-4 win.

The Japanese 21-year-old will face Yulia Putintseva next after the Kazakh beat British wildcard Harriet Dart.

"I was kind of screaming on the inside during that entire match," Osaka said.

"I got lucky a little bit I guess. I knew she was going to be a very difficult opponent."

US and Australian Open champion Osaka found herself 0-40 on her serve at 2-2 in the final set but, after saving six break points in a near 10-minute game, finally held.

It proved pivotal as she went on to break the Greek world number 33 in the following game before holding to love and then going on to seal victory on her first match point as the clock ticked past two hours.

Britain's Dart was well beaten by Putintseva, who is ranked 114 places above the British world number 157, losing 6-1 6-4.

The 22-year-old Briton had a glimmer of hope when she broke early in the second set but could not match Putintseva's consistency.

Eighth seed Julia Gorges is also through to the second round after coming from behind to beat Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska 3-6 6-4 6-3.

British number one Johanna Konta, who beat Anett Kontaveit on Monday, found out her second-round opponent will be former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko after the Latvian took just 52 minutes to beat Polish qualifier Iga Swiatek 6-0 6-2.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams is in action later on Tuesday against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, although play was suspended at the Edgbaston Priory Club soon after Osaka's win.

The weather has also disrupted Tuesday's schedule at the men's grass-court event at Queen's, where no tennis had been played by 16:15 BST.

Busy day as Pilley and Cuskelly power through 
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent

The tournament’s top seeds flexed their muscle on day two of the WSF World Doubles Squash Championships at Carrara Squash Centre on the Gold Coast in Australia, with the top-seeded pairs in both the men’s and women’s draws remaining undefeated.

Men’s top seeds, Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly and Cameron Pilley, won both matches to sit undefeated (3-0) at the top of Pool A.

The duo from New South Wales, defeated the Canadian pair of Madison Eggert and Thomas King 11-5, 11-5 in the morning session before backing up with an 11-5, 11-5 win against Robert Garcia and David Pelino of the Philippines.

“The guy on the left (Garcia) was actually pretty skilful, he was a really good player,” said Cuskelly after the match.

The defending world champions will face Queensland brothers Tom and Nick Calvert next, with the debutants looking to lock up a semi-final spot alongside their higher ranked compatriots.

The fourth-seeded Calverts also defeated Canada 11-6, 11-8 but face a do-or-die match against South Africa’s Jean-Pierre Brits and Christo Potgieter on day three, with the winners of that match expected to finish second in Pool A.

The South African pair continued a strong tournament, surviving a tough match against Garcia and Pelino (11-5, 8-11, 11-9) to move to a 2-1 record for the tournament (after a loss against Cuskelly/Pilley).

In Men’s Pool B, Australians Zac Alexander and Rex Hedrick look set to top the pool after defeating the spirited Sri Lankan pairing of Ravindu Laksiri and Shamil Wakeel 11-5, 11-6.

The highlight of the women’s draw was an all-Australian clash between tournament top seeds Donna Lobban and Christine Nunn and debutants Taylor Flavell and Selena Shaikh. The more fancied Australians took the match 11-3, 11-6.

“I’m really pleased with how we played today actually,” Lobban said. “We maybe struggled a little bit yesterday to get going after playing all weekend at the Aussie Open Doubles and I thought we were maybe a bit flat and not switched on yesterday so we made sure today that we were really up for it.”

Despite the scoreline, Flavell says there was plenty to like for the Victorian pair on debut.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking to start with for sure and it took us a while to get into the match but we got there in the end and started to hit where we wanted to.”

Colombia looks set to challenge the Australians in the race for medals, with sisters Laura and Maria Tovar impressive on day two. The third-seeded Colombian pairing defeated Jemyca Aribado and Aysah Dalida of the Philippines 11-4, 11-7 to move to third in the women’s standings.

In the mixed doubles competition, 17-year-old Australian Ethan Eyles made his senior international debut, pairing with Christine Nunn to defeat Aribado and Garcia (Philippines) 11-4, 11-10.

Colombian pair Catalina Pelaez and Matias Knudsen continue to look impressive as a mixed doubles duo, remaining undefeated after an 11-9, 11-4 win over Australian’s Zac Alexander and Alex Haydon.

The event’s first upset took place in the Mixed battle between Aysah Dalida and Reymark Begornia of the Philippines and Malta’s Colette and Kijan Sultana, the No.7 seeds from the Philippines getting the better of the sixth-seeded Maltese pair 11-8, 11-10.

 
WSF World Doubles Squash Championships, Gold Coast, Australia.

SECOND POOL ROUND
Men’s Pool A:
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [8] Madison Eggert & Thomas King (CAN) 11-1, 11-5 (14m)
[5] Jean-Pierre Brits & Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt [9] Robert Garcia & David Pelino (PHI) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (32m)
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [9] Robert Garcia & David Pelino (PHI) 11-5, 11-5 (18m)
[4] Nicholas Calvert & Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt [8] Madison Eggert & Thomas King (CAN) 11-6, 11-8 (22m)
Pool B
[2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [7] Bradley Hindle & Kijan Sultana (MLT) 11-2, 11-2 (15m)
[6] Darren Chan & Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) bt [10] Ravindu Laksiri & Shamil Wakeel (SRI) 11-7, 4-11, 11-9 (33m)
[3] Andrés Herrera & Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt [7] Bradley Hindle & Kijan Sultana (MLT) 11-4, 11-6 (14m)
[2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [10] Ravindu Laksiri & Shamil Wakeel (SRI) 11-5, 11-6 (15m)

Women’s Pool:
[1] Donna Lobban & Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [4] Taylor Flavell & Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-3, 11-6 (19m)
[3] Laura Tovar & Maria Tovar (COL) bt [5] Jemyca Aribado & Aysah Dalida (PHI) 11-4, 11-7 (18m)

Mixed Pool A:
[4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS) bt [5] Jemyca Aribado & Robert Garcia (PHI) 11-4, 11-10 (23m)
Pool B:
[2] Catalina Pelaez & Matias Knudsen (COL) bt [3] Alex Haydon & Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-9, 11-4 (16m)
[7] Aysah Dalida & Reymark Begornia (PHI) bt [6] Colette Sultana & Kijan Sultana (MLT) 11-8, 11-10 (18m) 

Pictures courtesy of CRAIG STEWART, Brisbane Sports Photography

Wasps have brought in Martin Gleeson from rugby league side Salford to bolster head coach Dai Young's backroom staff as assistant attack coach.

Wigan-born Gleeson, 39, has been with Salford for the past six and a half years, first a player and then as the Super League side's assistant coach.

"We have operated with a smaller coaching team than most Premiership clubs for a while now," said Young.

"I'm pleased to have found Martin, who is an exciting young coach."

Young continued: "He has forged a very strong reputation as a quality coach within rugby league, having made a big impact with Salford."

Former Huddersfield, St Helens, Warrington, Wigan, Hull, Salford, Great Britain and England centre Gleeson is added to a coaching group which already includes attack and backs coach Lee Blackett, defence coach Ian Costello and forwards coach Andy Titterrell.

"Our current coaches have done an excellent job," said Young. "I'm really pleased with how they have developed in their first Premiership coaching roles.

Attack 'more than a one-man job'

"But I now feel that attack is more than a one-man job. Our attack has been a strong part of our game. We have been one of the top try-scoring teams in the Premiership for a number of seasons. But we took a step back last season from where we would have liked to have been.

"Between the two of them, I believe they will complement each other and get our attack back to where we want it to be."

Former dual Wales international Young also has experience of the 13-man code, having spent six seasons as a forward in league, first with Leeds, then mostly at Salford, before returning to union at the start of the professional era.

Gleeson made his international debut in July 2002 for Great Britain against Australia in Sydney, going on to win 20 caps, as well as six for England.

He was signed by Salford after being banned for three years, half of which was suspended following an inadvertent breach of anti-doping rules.

His move to rugby union follows that last week of his old rugby league team-mate Sean Long to Harlequins.

Sacked Australia full-back Israel Folau says "the devil" is trying to influence the debate over transgender rights.

Folau, 30, is taking legal action after having his Rugby Australia contract terminated over a social media post saying "hell awaits" gay people.

In a church sermon on Sunday, he again criticised homosexuality.

Folau also said "kids in primary school" were being allowed to "change their gender" because the government was taking away input from parents.

In April, Tasmania became the first state in Australia to make it legally optional to list gender on birth certificates.

The legislation allows people aged 16 or older to apply to change their listed gender without the approval of their parents.

Legislation changes have also been discussed in the state of Western Australia.

In his sermon on Sunday, which was broadcast on Facebook, Folau - a devout Christian - said: "They are allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want by taking away the permission of the parents.

"They are trying to take control, as a government, to make those decisions for young kids who are basically 16 years old, or young.

"They don't even know what they are doing.

"This is what the devil is trying to do. To instil into this government, into this world, into society. And it is slowly happening."

He added: "They say that a man and a man should be able to be married and there is nothing wrong with it.

"This buys into the theme of pleasing man rather than pleasing God and standing up for the truth."

Folau earned 73 rugby union caps for his country, and also represented Australia at rugby league and Australian rules football.

He had a contract with Rugby Australia until 2022 and had been expected to play at this year's World Cup. As well as being sacked, he lost sponsorship deals, including with car manufacturer Land Rover and sportswear brand Asics.

When it was announced earlier in June that he is claiming his employment was unlawfully terminated, Folau said: "No Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion."

Mathieu Bastareaud and Morgan Parra have been left out of France's 37-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Centre Bastareaud, 30, previously captained Les Bleus in the absence of regular skipper Guilhem Guirado.

Scrum-half Parra, also 30, is ruled out with an ankle injury sustained playing for Clermont last month.

Racing 92 wing Teddy Thomas and La Rochelle prop Uini Atonio also miss out on selection for the tournament, which begins in Japan on 20 September.

France start their campaign against Argentina on 21 September before facing the United States, Tonga and Eddie Jones' England in Pool C.

Bastareaud, capped 54 times by his country, and Parra, who has 71 caps, both played in the France team beaten by New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup, while Parra also featured in the 2011 tournament.

But outgoing head coach Jacques Brunel, who will be succeeded by Fabien Galthie after the World Cup, has not included either on his list of 31 plus six standby players.

Brunel has named three uncapped players in Clermont wing Alivereti Raka, Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka and Toulon prop Emerick Setiano.

Toulouse's Top 14-winning side dominate the list with seven players, including a place for centre Sofiane Guitoune, whose last cap came during in 2015.

Brunel revealed Guitoune's form had been one of the reasons for Bastareaud's omission.

"He [Bastareaud] is in a position full of competition with players in form. I'm thinking of Sofiane Guitoune who has been very good," Brunel said.

"I wasn't sure if Guitoune could keep up his form during the whole season but he did."

France squad

Forwards

Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), Priso (La Rochelle), Guirado (Toulon, capt), Chat (Racing 92), Mauvaka (Toulouse), Setiano (Toulon), Slimani (Clermont), Bamba (Brive), Vahaamahina (Clermont), Lambey (Lyon), B Le Roux (Racing 92), Gabrillagues (Stade Francais), Iturria (Clermont), Y Camara (Montpellier), Lauret (Racing 92), Alldritt (La Rochelle), Picamoles (Montpellier)

Backs

A Dupont (Toulouse), Serin (Bordeaux-Begles), Machenaud (Racing 92), Ntamack (Toulouse), Lopez (Clermont), Fofana (Clermont), Fickou (Stade Francais), Doumayrou (La Rochelle), Guitoune (Toulouse), Huget (Toulouse), Penaud (Clermont), Raka (Clermont), Ramos (Toulouse), Medard (Toulouse)

Reserves

Falgoux (Clermont), Ollivon (Toulon), F Cros (Toulouse), Willemse (Montpellier), Belleau (Toulon), Rattez (La Rochelle)

International rugby chiefs have until Friday to decide whether to back the Nations Championship planned for 2022.

World Rugby needs unanimous support from the 10 unions that make up Europe's Six Nations and the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship.

While there are concerns about relegation and promotion, the Rugby Football Union broadly backs the idea.

"We support the concept and think it makes sense," RFU boss Bill Sweeney said.

In April, Six Nations unions agreed to a period of due diligence while weighing up offers from private equity.

"It's coming to the sharp end of that," added Sweeney. "It is well known publicly that June is a key month for where that is going.

"It's good for the global growth of the game. From a financial point of view, the numbers are good to enable us to reinvest back into the game.

"It is such a complex proposal. There are a number of issues around governance, around competition structure, and player welfare that we need to see a bit more detail on before we sign on the dotted line and I think that is the same with some of the other nations, so we are right in the middle of that process right now."

Scheduled to launch in 2022, the Nations Championship would see a top division of 12 teams from both hemispheres play each other once in a calendar year, either through traditional competitions like the Six Nations or the Rugby Championship, or in summer or autumn Test windows.

The top two teams would then meet in an end-of-year showpiece final.

A major sticking point is the concept of promotion and relegation, with Six Nations unions such as Scotland and Ireland yet to be convinced on the sustainability and vibrancy of the second division.

The proposals would also see November international schedules redrawn, with second-tier campaigners fearing the shake-up would reduce opportunities for smaller nations.

However, a 12-team first division would see regular exposure against the top nations for the likes of Fiji and Japan, who would each benefit from as many as 11 matches each year against top-tier nations.

GAS CITY, Ind. — Top sprint cars drivers from the Midwest will converge on Gas City I-69 Speedway this Friday night in hopes of adding their name to the Jerry Gappens Sr. Memorial Cup and collect the $2,000 prize.

Last year this event generated one of the most exciting and closest finishes in Gas City I-69 Speedway history, as C.J. Leary won the inaugural Jerry Gappens Sr. Memorial non-winged sprint car race by inches.

The final two laps featured three-wide racing for first place, as Leary used the top groove to narrowly nip Matt Westfall and Shane Cockrum at the line. Leary, 23, was also in the news last weekend for winning the USAC Eastern Storm title.

The sprint cars will be joined by UMP-style modifieds, street stocks, hornets and AMSA mini-sprints at Gas City this Friday night.

Intermission entertainment will feature the Korporal Candyman Coin and Candy Scramble for kids on the front straightaway.

An adult general admissioncosts $15, and kids 12 and under are free. A pit pass costs $30. The pit gate opens for competitors at 3 p.m., while the grandstands open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the first race is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.  Parking is free.

There were a few movers and shakers this week in the SPEED SPORT Power Rankings, but does that mean there is a new No. 1? Click below to find out!

CONCORD, N.C. — Drag racing fans may want to consider jumping on the Mike Salinas bandwagon.

Who is Mike Salinas?

He’s a 58-year-old Top Fuel driver in his second full season of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competition. He’s no racing rookie, however, having spent eight years competing in the nostalgia ranks before stepping into a Top Fuel car in 2009.

The owner of a salvage and garbage business, Salinas has used patience and determination to turn his passion for drag racing into a profession.

His talent was on display during the April 26-28 NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. During a windy and brisk evening qualifying session where drivers in both nitro categories struggled to make it down the track, Salinas did so in record time.

Salinas, driving his own Scrappers Racing dragster, reset the zMAX Dragway Top Fuel elapsed-time record with an impressive 3.687-second run. That secured Salinas his second No. 1 qualifier honor of the season, though his weekend was cut short when he was knocked out in the semi-final round of eliminations.

Salinas picked up his first Top Fuel victory earlier in the year, winning the four-wide event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

At least part of Salinas’ success can be attributed to his crew, which includes a pair of very familiar names. During the offseason, Salinas, frustrated with a disappointing 2018 season that saw him end the year seventh in the Top Fuel ranks, hired legendary tuner Alan Johnson and championship crew chief Brian Husen.

“Alan has been coaching me well and teaching me some amazing things,” Salinas said. “They know what they’re doing and they just basically let me go out there and they give me instructions on how to run this thing and it’s working.”

Johnson and Husen most recently worked with John Force Racing and Brittany Force, propelling her to the 2017 Top Fuel championship. For Salinas, the opportunity to add such a potent pair to his family-run Top Fuel program was a no-brainer.

“It’s pretty amazing to watch them work and what they’re doing,” Salinas said. “I’m just the guy they let drive the car. So it’s kind of cool. They’re really good at what they do. We expect big things from them, too.

“The flip side of this is they work for me and I expect a lot out of all of them. We expect from each other and it’s a happy marriage.”

A happy marriage is a good choice of words. Since linking up with Johnson and Husan, Salinas has earned two No. 1 qualifiers and his first Top Fuel victory (as of late April). The results are speaking for themselves and Salinas is happy.

In fact, he was so happy with his team that prior to the start of eliminations at zMAX Dragway, Salinas surprised his entire team with new Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Now that’s a way to reward performance.

“This is what happens when you do good things,” Salinas said. “We’ve done pretty well in life, and we want to give back. These guys have given me something that very few people in the world have.”

Getting to this point in his career hasn’t been easy, but such things generally never are. Salinas made his first Top Fuel start in 2011 in Pomona, Calif., and progressively worked his way to full-time status by 2018. He wasn’t in a hurry and knew he had a lot to learn before attempting to take the full-time leap.

“I could have gone to Schumacher and paid to go drive a car, but at the end of the day I’m not showing my children how to be successful in life and business,” Salinas said.

Ironically, Salinas says he knew for some time that he was eventually going to add Johnson to his Top Fuel program. He didn’t know how and he didn’t know when, but he knew it was going to happen.

“I had Alan Johnson on my hit list for five years, he just didn’t know it,” Salinas admitted. “I eventually knew I was going to get him, or he was going to retire. I’m just lucky. I was like the cat watching the birds land in the trees and when it was my turn, it was my turn.”

Salinas admits there is still a lot for him to learn.

“I want to run these guys. I don’t want to win because they spun the tires,” Salinas said poignantly. “I want to do like we did in Vegas. I want to run them so it’s a true win. I don’t think there is any honor in winning when you spin the tires.”