| Pro14 |
|---|
| Southern Kings (13) 18 |
| Tries: Ungerer, Basson, Klaasen Pen: Pretorius |
| Dragons (8) 18 |
| Tries: Warren, J Williams, Con: Lewis Pens: Lewis 2 |
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Predictions and burning questions for Texas Tech-UVa title game
Published in
Breaking News
Monday, 08 April 2019 06:23
The Virginia Cavaliers and Texas Tech Red Raiders will compete for the national championship on Monday night in Minneapolis. Our panel made predictions for the final game of the 2018-19 college basketball season and addressed other issues surrounding the matchup.
Jump to predictions for Monday's national championship game
We just endured the most controversial two seconds in Final Four history. What has to happen Monday night to redeem this tournament? Does it need to be redeemed?
Myron Medcalf, senior college basketball writer: I don't think this tournament needs redemption. We just witnessed a great Elite Eight, and the controversial conclusion of Saturday's Virginia-Auburn outcome was fueled by the emotions more than the facts. But it would be nice if Texas Tech and Virginia somehow shocked us all by manufacturing an entertaining finale. I think many are anticipating an ugly game. Both teams have played some thrilling games this season. If we get the measured matchup we expect to see, I think the lasting memory from this tournament, for many, will be Saturday's controversy. And this season's NCAA tournament deserves better.
Jeff Borzello, college basketball insider: I'm not sure it needs to be redeemed, and I think a lot of people have forgotten the fairly lackluster first weekend of the tournament. And if they haven't forgotten it, oh well. The regional final round was perhaps the best in the history of the NCAA tournament, and we've gotten some all-time great games (Virginia vs. Purdue chief among them). As for Saturday night, it was a clear foul by Samir Doughty on Kyle Guy. End of discussion. Fouled him on the way up, and didn't let him land. The missed-double-dribble debate is a different story, but then we have to get into a debate about the missed foul when Bryce Brown grabbed Ty Jerome a split second before the double dribble. Missed calls happen. It is what it is.
John Gasaway, college basketball writer: No redemption needed, but speaking less abstractly, a great title game will drown out such talk, whether that's fair or not. The incorrect non-call on Jerome's double dribble followed by the correct (if brave) foul called on Doughty with 0.6 seconds remaining were yet two more examples of the deal we make when we care about this "sports" thing. Calls are wrong all the time, and even technically correct calls can be questioned. We knew the "calls are wrong" part after last season's NFC Championship Game. I feel for Charles Barkley and every other Auburn fan, and welcome to that club, Tigers. A faint but tenacious and inescapable residue of injustice is, alas, a feature and not a bug.
Jordan Schultz, insider/analyst: The tournament was redeemed with an exceptional Elite Eight that featured blue-blood programs, clutch shot-making and high-level NBA talent. As disappointing as the opening weekend was from an upset standpoint, all we need now is a clean game without referee drama. In Texas Tech and Virginia, Monday's national title tilt has two teams that mirror one another. Both rank in the top five nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and both are comfortable playing half-court slugfests. That does not necessarily translate to a boring game, however. Defense and rebounding will come into play, and offense will be at a premium, which puts additional pressure on the future pros, especially Tech's Jarrett Culver, who has struggled to find his shooting stroke of late. But Culver thrives on pressure -- he single-handedly closed out the Spartans with a personal 6-0 run -- and we hope it will bring out the best of him once again.
Courtney Cronin, college basketball/NFL reporter: Nah. Isn't that the beauty of the news cycle in sports? Whenever there's one big moment, whether rooted in glory or controversy, another is bound to pop up not long after and allow us to move on in the process. Monday's national title game is going to be an affair that comes down to the wire, so it's not far-fetched to believe we'll get another thrilling finish as a champion is crowned. Will it make everyone forget about the non-call on Jerome's double dribble? Will that erase the fact that Auburn had Virginia beat and then lost it all within a matter of a moment? No, but this is what we signed up for as sports fans.
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but what happened in the final moments of the Auburn-Virginia game does not feel as egregious as what transpired on the blatantly missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship Game. Not taking away from the heartbreak of the Tigers' fan base, but even Bruce Pearl pointed to the fact that Auburn had other chances to close out Virginia long before Doughty jumped into Guy while he was shooting a last-second 3-pointer. We've been treated to a lot of excellent games in the tournament, with the best Sweet 16/Elite Eight weekend in years. Virginia-Texas Tech might not be the sexiest brand of basketball, but the storylines surrounding each team and the circumstances of how the Cavaliers and Red Raiders got to be the last two teams playing Monday night are intriguing and worthy of the game's biggest stage.
Texas Tech won in spite of Jarrett Culver's ineffectiveness for the first 38 minutes on Saturday. Virginia's Kyle Guy hit three huge, game-winning free throws but has had an up-and-down tournament. Which team can least afford a bad game from its top scorer?
Medcalf: I think it's Texas Tech. In Texas Tech's six losses this season, Culver has 30 turnovers. How did West Virginia (West Virginia!) beat Texas Tech in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament? Well, Culver's 0-for-6 mark from the 3-point line and four turnovers in that game didn't help. Virginia has weathered stretches this season when Jerome, Guy or De'Andre Hunter have struggled. The Cavaliers have more offensive options. I just don't see Texas Tech winning if Culver can't put together a solid 40-minute effort Monday night.
Borzello: It's probably Texas Tech, and that's why I believe the Culver vs. Hunter matchup is the most intriguing. Both players are lottery picks, if not top-five selections. But both players, particularly Hunter, have been somewhat streaky offensively in the NCAA tournament. Culver was invisible for about 38 minutes on Saturday night before hitting a couple of big shots late -- including the dagger 3 with just under a minute left. He has struggled shooting the ball for much of the tournament, going 5-for-19 against Gonzaga, 9-for-19 against Michigan and 6-for-17 against Buffalo. Hunter had 23 points in the first game of the NCAA tournament against Gardner-Webb, but he has averaged just 11.3 points in the four games since. He has had stretches of showing aggressiveness over the past couple of contests, but Virginia needs that more often. That said, I'm not sure Tech can win without a big game from Culver.
Gasaway: May I choose "none of the above"? Honestly, these are two of the least "leading scorer-reliant" teams we've seen come down the pike in a while. Texas Tech's defense could in theory put the team in position to win games in which the Red Raiders score 45 points (just an illustration, not a request). And anyway, who knew Matt Mooney would blow up to "Jarrett who?" levels like this? As for the Cavaliers, they too have a pretty stout D, and you can make a case that the more versatile Ty Jerome is the perhaps most indispensable Hoo on offense.
Schultz: Culver must be locked in for the Red Raiders, who rank just 78th nationally in offensive efficiency -- as compared to Virginia, slotted at seventh. The problem for Chris Beard & Co. is that the future lottery pick has not quite been himself in March. Gonzaga coerced Culver into a 5-for-19 performance; and despite his late-game heroics against Sparty, Culver finished with just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting. While senior grad transfer Matt Mooney was brilliant with 22 big points versus Michigan State, we cannot expect a repeat performance against Virginia's pack-line defense. The Hoos rank first in allowing just 55.5 points per game and third in allowing 28.7 percent from distance.
Cronin: Honestly, I think Virginia will be far worse off if Jerome is having a bad night. Jerome carried the Cavaliers against Auburn (21 points, nine rebounds, six assists) and made momentum-changing plays against Purdue in the Elite Eight to get Virginia to the Final Four. The consistency he has provided in running this team while Guy has struggled at points this tournament is a reason why the Cavaliers have gotten this far. And things tend to unravel when Jerome is not on the floor, like how when Auburn came back from a late-game deficit after Jerome went to the bench with four fouls. While Virginia has been able to get by without Guy in his best form at all times, it won't be able to surpass the Red Raiders' smothering defense without its other star.
Tony Bennett and Chris Beard have both heard their names speculated in connection with other coaching positions, in particular the UCLA job. Which of these coaches will still be at their current school in five years -- one, both or neither?
Medcalf: I'll say neither. They'll just have too many options. Within the next five years, Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse could all open up. Kansas could too. The domino effect that's coming will create opportunities too lucrative and intriguing for two of the top coaches in America to ignore. Now, I think we'll see both of these guys on the sidelines at their current schools next season. Five years from now, however, feels like the distant future in their profession. Whether it's a college gig or something in the NBA, which is always searching for fresh faces and approaches, Beard and Bennett will have new zip codes in five years.
Borzello: Good question. I'll say neither. I think Bennett -- and the feeling would be stronger if he can bring a national title to Charlottesville -- will either be in the NBA or at one of the true blue bloods in college basketball, more so the former. If North Carolina or Duke opened in the next couple of years, would Bennett be on the list? Outside of that, though, I think the NBA is a legitimate possibility. When talking to industry sources about college coaches making the jump, Bennett's name is generally the first one that comes up. As for Beard, I see him at Kansas or Texas or Arizona or somewhere like that, and that could be as soon as in the next 12 months. Beard is a perfect fit for Texas Tech, but at some point, one of the big boys with deeper pockets is going to come calling, and I think he would make the jump.
Gasaway: Bennett will either still be in Charlottesville or he'll have grown bored with going 65-6 or so over two-season periods at the college level and will have taken a shot at the NBA. Call that 50-50. Beard, on the other hand, will be long gone. What's the precedent for a 3-point-era coach emerging at a slightly off-map basketball program, taking it to Monday night in April and then actually staying? Jim Calhoun at UConn once upon a time, I suppose. Yes, Mark Few at Gonzaga. That's it. Those guys are the exceptions that prove the rule. Win or lose Monday, Beard can write his own ticket as the hottest coaching target in the sport since Brad Stevens eight or nine years ago. He'll be gone.
Schultz: Both. Beard has found a true home in Lubbock; he can recruit Texas hard while still "staying small" and continuing to build a national power. Bennett, meanwhile, is as classy as he is loyal. He has morphed into a demigod now that he finally has Virginia within striking distance of its first national championship. Could one or both coaches leave? Certainly. They are young and highly touted, but I'm banking on both schools paying them handsomely to stay put, even when the more traditional powers come calling. If anything, you almost have to wonder whether Bennett would ever try his hand at the NBA game.
Cronin: Neither. Texas Tech reportedly anticipates no financial restrictions in being able to retain Beard beyond this season. The success he has cultivated in Lubbock in a short period of time backed by the culture he has built in a basketball program rooted in Bob Knight principles is something the Red Raiders will continue to benefit from for the next few years -- until a program such as Kansas comes calling. While Beard's jump to a bigger program feels inevitable, I don't think it has to come in the next few years while Texas Tech's crescendo as a Big 12 power continues. But by 2022, I would expect the AP coach of the year to be at a much bigger program. As for Bennett, my money is on him continuing the great thing he has going in Charlottesville before the NBA comes calling.
Who is going to be the final image of the "One Shining Moment" montage on Monday night?
Medcalf: It's going to be Bennett. And I don't even think it's a conversation if Virginia wins. He has endured the most embarrassing loss in the history of the NCAA tournament, and now he is on the mountaintop. On Monday night in Prince's hometown, I think his squad will write the final scene of a story that Disney will one day showcase on the big screen. Dick Bennett, his father, will be there. I imagine they will embrace as the confetti is falling at U.S. Bank Stadium. I believe ultimate redemption is coming for Tony Bennett.
Borzello: Zion Williamson. Just kidding. I think. It's going to be Culver -- and I think it's going to look awfully similar to his pose after making the 3-pointer with 58 seconds left to bury Michigan State. When Tech needs a basket, it goes to Culver. Not off screens or pindowns, either. The Red Raiders give him the ball and say go get a bucket. So, if Monday's game comes down to the wire, which it will, I see Culver getting the ball and hitting either the game winner or a shot to seal the victory. Beard hugging his daughters after winning the national championship would be a close second choice.
Gasaway: I'll stick with both my preseason and my post-Selection Sunday picks and say the final image will be a beaming Bennett as time expires, the UMBC ghosts having been banished at last and forever. Now, do I feel serenely confident in that pick knowing Texas Tech was the laptop underdog in each of the past three games yet was never seriously challenged in the last two minutes of any of those contests? Not in the slightest. However, I guess the one thing we're yet to see from five Red Raiders opponents in this tournament (something West Virginia supplied when it beat Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament) is 3-point shooting that clocks in at better than 33 percent. Virginia can deliver that.
Schultz: Kyle Guy. After calmly knocking down the three biggest free throws of his life, Guy will put together another clutch performance against Texas Tech's top-ranked defense. Guy is a great shooter (39.2 percent on 3s) who has the creativity and charisma to handle the big stage. Expect Jerome to find him out of pick-and-rolls for some clean looks, but also expect Guy to create his own offense, an area in which he does not get enough credit. Guy is capable off the bounce -- especially as a pull-up jump shooter -- and a high-level athlete who finishes through contact. Who knows: Maybe he will finally remove that indelible Twitter avatar image of the UMBC loss from 2018.
Cronin: My guess is we'll see a smiling Guy in similar fashion to the hero's walk-off he had against Auburn. Guy's up-and-down tournament and shooting struggles might have caused him to fade into the background at moments over the past few weeks, but when Virginia's season came down to the junior needing to hit three free throws, no one on that team doubted the ability of the person taking those shots. The type of pressure he faced at the free throw line on Saturday is something so few will ever be able to understand, and whatever demons he needed to exorcise during this tournament never caused his confidence to take a hit. For a team that has been among the top stories of the tournament in its thunderous charge back after being on the wrong side of history last March, I bet we see Guy with another ice-in-his-veins moment against Texas Tech that is celebrated as confetti pours from the ceiling and the nets are cut down in Minneapolis.
Score predictions for Virginia/Texas Tech, 9:20 p.m. ET, CBS (Virginia -1, Over/Under 117.5)
Medcalf: Virginia 61, Texas Tech 60
Borzello: Texas Tech 54, Virginia 51
Gasaway: Virginia 64, Texas Tech 62
Schultz: Virginia 70, Texas Tech 63
Cronin: Virginia 60, Texas Tech 58
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Edward Cheserek equals world best – weekly round-up
Published in
Athletics
Monday, 08 April 2019 03:07
Edward Cheserek equals world 5km best in Carlsbad as Europe stages a number of high-quality marathons and half-marathons
While British eyes were on the ERRA Spring Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield, there were many other notable performances all over the world.
Carlsbad 5000, USA, April 7
Kenya’s Edward Cheserek won in 13:29 and equalled the world 5km record mark of Julian Wanders set in Monaco. The distance has only been regarded for world records in recent months and faster times set in previous years have been disregarded for record purposes.
Sharon Lokedi was first woman in 15:48 with Britain’s Charlotte Arter second in 16:01 while further Brits included Alice Wright 16:05 and Jenny Nesbitt 16:38.
Newly-crowned world masters indoors M40 1500m champion James Thie won the masters race in 15:48.
Cherry Blossom 10, USA, April 7
Rosemary Wanjiru set a world best of 50:42 to eclipse Sonia O’Sullivan’s 51:00 2002 time. It was the Kenyan’s first ever race longer than 10km, as Goytetom Gebrslase in 50:47 and Margaret Muriuku in 51:38 completed the women’s top three.
Behind, Steph Twell clocked 52:58 to go No.10 on the UK all-time rankings.
In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer won in 45:36 to beat Kenya’s Josphat Tanui by a second, with Edwin Kibichiy third in 45:57. In fourth, former Kenyan Stanley Kebenei set a US record of 46:00.
IAAF Walks Grand Prix, Podebrady, Czech Republic, April 6
Vasiliy Mizinov, and authorised neutral athlete and the European bronze medallist, won the 87th event in 80:14 with Britain’s Callum Wilkinson sixth in 81:34 which is a UK under-23 record and moves him second all-time among UK seniors behind Tom Bosworth.
Italy’s Eleonora Giorgi won the women’s race in 1:27:48 while Heather Lewis was 12th in a PB 1:35:04 which consolidates her position as fifth all-time among British athletes.
Chris Snook was second in the under-20 10km in 43:37 which puts him third all-time among UK juniors.
ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, April 7
There were 13095 finishers in the event and Jenny Spink won the women’s race in 2:35:19 with Fanni Gyurlo second in 2:39:51.
The first man to finish was Aaron Richmond of Bideford in 2:21:34 with Gareth Raven second on 2:26:07. Simon Lawson won the wheelchair marathon in 1:31:52.
Paddock Wood Half-Marathon, Kent, April 7
Top M40 Nick Torry won the men’s race in 65:34 by over a minute as Eilidh Bell won the women’s race in 79:03.
Victoria Park Harriers 5, April 6
Ahmed Abdulle won the men’s race in 25:19 with Paul Martelletti third in 25:49 having warmed up with 10 miles at the same pace as he did a marathon-paced run. Annabel Gummow won the women’s race in 28:09.
NN Rotterdam Marathon, Netherlands, April 7
Kenya’s Marius Kipserem broke the course record with a 2:04:11 PB made up of 62:17 and 61:54 half-marathon splits.
Kaan Kigen Ozbilen went second on the European all-time list behind Mo Farah with a Turkish record 2:05:26.
Kenyan Emmanuel Saina was third in 2:05:42 while Abdi Nageeye smashed the Dutch record with 2:06:18 to finish fourth and move to fourth on the European all-time list.
European champion Koen Naert just missed the Belgian record but was seventh in a PB 2:07:39.
Ethiopia’s Ashete Bekere won the women’s race in 2:22:55 ahead of Kenya’s Stella Barsosio (2:23:37) and Aliphine Tuliamuk from USA (2:26:48).
Sportisimo Prague Half-Marathon, Czech Republic, April 6
Benard Kimeli defended his title in a fast 59:07 and took 40 seconds off his PB as he defeated Felix Kibitok by a second and led a Kenyan sweep of the top five. Stephen Kiprop was third in 59:20.
Caroline Kipkirui won the women’s race in 65:44 half a minute in front of European 10,000m champion Lonah Salpeter, whose 66:09 was an Israeli record.
#PragueHalf the absolute winner of this year Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon is Benard Kimeli! Huge congratulations! pic.twitter.com/g8r5ZwQjaZ
— RunCzech (@RunCzech) April 6, 2019
Milan Marathon, Italy, Apr 7
Titus Ekiru with an even 2:04:46 and Vivian Kiplagat (2:22:55) broke the Italian all-comers’ records.
Evans Chebet (2:07:22) and Edwin Koech (2:08:24) completed a Kenyan men’s clean sweep while Kiplagat won by more than 10 minutes ahead of team-mate Joan Kigen (2:32:32).
#rp @milanomarathon
Titus Ekiru! ⚡️ 2h04’46’’ ⚡️ Nuovo record in Italia. @generaligroup #MilanoMarathon nella storia! Ph. Credits @endritmuhametaj https://t.co/t3pcGBOyQx pic.twitter.com/oMuDgvGaGQ— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) April 7, 2019
Daegu Marathon, Korea, April 7
Kenya’s Filex Kipchirchir broke the course record with a 2:05:33 ahead of Ethiopia’s Shiferaw Tamru Aredo (2:06:21) with Uganda’s Fred Musobo third in 2:06:55.
Kenya’s Pamela Rotich won the women’s race in 2:28:10.
Vienna Marathon, Austria, April 7
Kenya’s Nancy Kiprop won her third title, breaking the long-standing course record with 2:22:12 ahead of team-mates Angela Tanui (2:25:37) and Maurine Chepkemoi (2:26:16).
In the men’s race, Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba won in a PB 2:06:56 to defeat Switzerland’s Tadesse Abraham (2:07:24).
Rome Marathon, Italy, April 7
Tebalu Zawude won an Ethiopian-dominated race in 2:08:37 while Megertu Alemu won the women’s race in 2:22:52.
Hannover Marathon, Germany, April 7
Kenya’s Racheal Mutgaa broke the women’s course record in 2:26:15 while Silas Mwetich (2:09:37) won the men’s race.
Berlin Half-Marathon, Germany, April 7
European 5000m champion Sifan Hassan won in 65:45 as she won by more than three minutes. The Dutch athlete went through 10km in 30:51 but drifted off world record pace in the latter stages.
Kenya’s William Wanjiku won a three-way sprint finish for the men’s race in 61:00.
Sifan wins the Generali Berlin Half Marathon in 1:05:46
Congrats @SifanHassan! pic.twitter.com/jnQn0Il9Jm
— Global Sports Comm (@GlobalSportsCom) April 7, 2019
Istanbul Marathon, Turkey, April 7
Ruth Chepngetich went 11th on the world all-time list with a 65:30 women’s victory. Fellow Kenyan Dorcas Jepchirchir was second in 66:33 with Ethiopian Helen Tola third in 66:45.
Kenya’s Benard Ngeno won the men’s race with 59:56, two seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Abayneh Degu, with Kenyan Hillary Kipchumba third in 60:01.
Australian Championships, April 7
Guesting world champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand won the shot put with world-leading 21.91m while Naa Anang took the women’s long jump with a wind-assisted 6.88m but also did a legal 6.81m to top the world rankings.
Lauren Wells won the 400m hurdles in 54.87 beating Portia Bing who clocked a New Zealand record of 55.86.
New Zealand 17-year-old Eddie Nketia won the 100m in 10.22 after a national junior record of 10.19 in the semi-final.
Chloe Tighe, a Herne Hill Harrier with a British coach (Geoff Jerwood), won the 1500m in 4:11.74.
At the Australian Track & Field Championships the Men’s Open Shot Put is underway.
Here is NZ athlete Tom Walsh throwing 21.91m
Tune in – https://t.co/vrSwjwZelb#thisisathletics pic.twitter.com/hHvu2iJm7A— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) April 7, 2019
Charleston, USA, Apr 6
There were 10km wins for Silas Kipruto (27:58) and Monicah Ngige (31:37).
Tucson, April 6
There was a world-leading 12.87 in the 100m hurdles for Chanel Brissett of the United States.
Houston, April 6
USA’s Gwen Berry set a world-leading women’s hammer mark of 76.23m.
Tempe, April 6
There was a world lead in the women shot for American Chase Ealey who threw 19.67m.
British Masters 10km Championships, Blyth, April 7
M35 Richard Mair was the men’s winner in a fast 31:38 while World Championships marathoner Alyson Dixon was a clear women’s winner in 33:28.
World masters 1500m and 3000m champion Guy Bracken was first M55 in 34:31 while M75 1500m champion Victor Shirley was another back in action a week after winning gold in Poland as he triumphed in 45:27.
Multiple world champion Angela Copson – her range stretches from 400m to 10km – won the W70 gold in 45:05.
Other male age group winners included M40 John Butters (33:08), M45 Terry Scott (31:48), M50 Lee Bennett (33:55), Alastair Walker (35:18), M65 Stan Owen (39:14), M70 Alex Sutherland (40:56), M80 Walter Ryder (62:35) and M85 James Pittillo (64:59).
Other female age group gold medallists were W35 Elizabeth Renondeau (35:45), W45 Kathryn Stevenson (39:30), W50 Kath Davis (38:55), W55 Wendy Roethenbaugh (40:39), W60 Maggie Loraine (44:17), W65 Dorothy Kesterton (45:13).
Irish University Champs, Athlone, April 6
Phil Healy won the women’s 200m in 23.04 and the 100m in 11.51.
Parkrun, April 6
The fastest men’s time was by Andrew Heyes with 14:18 at Bakewell while the fastest woman was Naomi Taschimowitz who ran 16:44 at Hackney. The top age-graded run was by W65 Jeanette Craig who ran 22:12 at Springburn in Glasgow and achieved a 98.65% age-grading.
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Azarenka reaches first singles final for three years
Published in
Tennis
Saturday, 06 April 2019 23:48
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka reached her first singles final in three years by defeating top seed Angelique Kerber at the Monterrey Open.
The Belarusian beat Kerber - another former world number one - 6-4 4-6 6-1.
She now faces Spain's Garbine Muguruza in Sunday's final in Mexico.
"I haven't won many of those in the last couple years so it's good that I'm able to turn it around and pick up my level," Azarenka said.
The 29-year-old last contested a singles final in April 2016, winning both Indian Wells and Miami within two weeks before announcing her pregnancy later that year and giving birth to son Leo in December.
She returned to the sport competitively the following summer but has been involved in a custody battle with the child's father which has impacted on her tennis.
"I'm getting back used to playing, and I'm trying to make better decisions, better choices under pressure," Azarenka said after her win against the German.
"It's all about taking one step at a time. To put it all together is always more tricky, so I'm glad that I'm able to put little pieces together in the important moments.
Former Wimbledon champion Muguruza earlier reached the final with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.
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Bains requests to change nationality from Australian to British
Published in
Tennis
Sunday, 07 April 2019 10:51
World number 253 Naiktha Bains has made a formal request to both the WTA and ITF to change her playing nationality from Australian to British.
Bains, 21, was born in Leeds but emigrated to Brisbane aged eight, and holds dual citizenship.
She has won two singles and 12 doubles titles on the ITF Tour.
Bains' situation is a reversal of that which saw Olympic silver medallist Laura Robson move to the UK aged six having been born in Melbourne.
The move to change her nationality has been made independent of the Lawn Tennis Association.
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Muguruza defends Monterrey Open title as Azarenka withdraws with injury
Published in
Tennis
Sunday, 07 April 2019 16:09
Garbine Muguruza defended her Monterrey Open title after Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire with a leg injury.
Former world number one Azarenka, playing her first singles final in three years, required a medical timeout after losing the first set to have strapping applied to her right calf.
The Belarusian, 29, carried on but was clearly restricted before withdrawing when trailing 6-1 3-1.
"I'm very happy with this week," said Spain's Muguruza, 25.
"It's a great feeling to come back and defend a title - it's never easy."
It is two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza's first title since winning in Mexico last year.
Azarenka last contested a singles final in April 2016, winning both Indian Wells and Miami within two weeks before announcing her pregnancy later that year and giving birth to son Leo in December.
She returned to the sport competitively the following summer but has been involved in a custody battle with her son's father which has impacted on her tennis.
Keys wins first clay title
Earlier, Madison Keys beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to win the Charleston Open - her first title on clay.
The American, 24, won 7-6 (7-5) 6-3, hitting 54 winners against Danish fifth seed Wozniacki, the 2011 champion.
It marks a fourth career title for Keys and her first since 2017.
The eighth seed beat three Grand Slam champions - Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens and Jelena Ostapenko - en route to victory, as well as reigning Olympic champion Monica Puig.
Wozniacki - playing in her third Charleston final, having finished as runner-up in 2009 - said Keys was "just too good".
World number 18 Keys is the first American winner of the tournament since Stephens three years ago.
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Hurts that squash is still not part of Olympics: Saurav Ghosal - Times Now
Published in
Squash
Sunday, 07 April 2019 11:43
Saurav Ghosal (File Photo)& | Photo Credit: PTI
Kolkata: Although he recently made history by becoming the first Indian male squash player to break into the top-10 of the PSA world rankings, Saurav Ghosal still rues the fact that the sport is not a part of the Olympic Games. "It's disappointing not only for me but every squash player around the world," Ghosal told IANS in an interview. He is on his way to Macau to take part in the Macau Open starting April 10. He is the second seed in that competition.
"It hurts to see squash not being part of the 2024 Olympics. We need to help the sport grow and Olympics is something every sportsperson looks forward to."
Ghosal said the plan is not to think of too far ahead now and keep working hard to stay where he is. The 32-year-old city-born player was the first Indian to be ranked World's No.1 junior.
"Obviously I am very happy to be in the top-10 of the PSA rankings. The journey has been really hard. I had to do well on a regular basis to attain this and this is why it is all the more fulfilling," said Ghosal, a 12-time national champion who has also won Asian Games medals on six occasions.
"I would want to continue doing well on the PSA circuit as it's important to stay consistent. There is no point in setting your sights on things which are too far ahead now. Taking it to step by step helps," he said.
Ghosal won the Kolkata International title in November last year here, to then enter the quarterfinals of the 2018-2019 PSA World Championships in Chicago for the first time in his career in February, and make the same stage at the prestigious Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last month.
Ghosal said he received a congratulatory message from brother-in-law Dinesh Karthik among others and was happy his team Kolkata Knight Riders were doing well in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
"It feels good when your family and near and dear ones support you. D.K. messaged me and I am happy for him as well as KKR is doing well."
For the record, Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa have both reached the highest ranking of world's no. 10 in 2012 and 2016, respectively.
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Lion-bite victim Baldwin thanks surgeon who saved his hand
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Rugby
Sunday, 07 April 2019 06:17
Sport is littered with tales of freak injuries, but perhaps none will ever be more bizarre than that of hooker Scott Baldwin, who hit global headlines in 2017 when he was bitten on the hand by a lion.
"When you put your hand in a fence where there is a lion, you will get bitten," then Ospreys coach Steve Tandy said at the time as the Welsh region worried that the Wales international might lose his hand, let alone his rugby career.
Baldwin's misfortune happened during a team trip to Weltevrede Game Lodge on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, before the Ospreys' Pro14 match against their appropriately named hosts, the Cheetahs.
Everyone present on the visit was, according to Tandy, given plenty of warning not to stick their hand into the lion's den, but Baldwin did not heed the advice.
- Ouch! Freak sporting injuries
- Scott Baldwin: Ospreys player feared he could lose hand after lion bite
Not only was he bitten, he quickly developed an infection.
"The infection was the major issue," Baldwin told BBC Sport at the time.
"The next day it started tracking up my arm. The surgeon said there was a chance I could lose my hand.
"The surgeon said [after the operation] it was the best possible outcome considering I had been bitten by a lion."
Thankfully Baldwin made a full recovery and now, with the Ospreys again in Bloemfontein for Saturday's 31-14 win over the Cheetahs he has taken the chance to personally thank the surgeon, Faf Weyers, who was presented with Baldwin's match shirt following the victory.
"Faf literally saved my hand, thank you my man," Baldwin wrote on social media.
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Dragons draw in South Africa as long wait for away win continues
Published in
Rugby
Sunday, 07 April 2019 08:07
The Dragons' long search for an away victory in the Pro14 continued, although they did fight back to earn an 18-18 draw with Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Their last league success on the road was a 32-17 victory over Benetton in Treviso on 28 March 2015.
They briefly led in South Africa but trailed 13-8 at the break and 18-8 at one stage in the second half.
But the Dragons fought back with a Jordan Williams try and two penalties.
The Welsh region made a confident start, claiming the first try of the match through centre Adam Warren.
Josh Lewis started the move by chipping for the corner and wing Hallam Amos showed his exceptional skill by taking the high ball and unloading perfectly to Warren who dived over.
Lewis missed the conversion by a distance, but he did add to the Dragons' advantage with a penalty.
However, the Welsh region could not sustain their fast start and were soon behind.
First scrum-half Stefan Ungerer dived over a ruck to touch down and although Maixole Banda was off target with the conversion attempt, Bjorn Basson scored another try within three minutes with Ungerer the provider.
A penalty from Bader Pretorius extended the lead to 13-8 at the interval.
The hosts added to their advantage when centre Harlon Klaasen crossed, although Pretorious missed the extras on a day where neither side shone with their kicking.
The Dragons desperately needed a score and found one when replacement Jordan Williams collected a loose ball 40 metres out and danced through for a superb solo effort, with Lewis adding the extras to make it 18-15.
Rhodri Williams then thought he had given Dragons the advantage once more, but Jack Dixon's pass to him was adjudged by the TMO to have been forward.
A bad-tempered second half meant at one point there were only 26 men on the field with both sides reduced to 13.
Opposing props Tshakweni Alulutho and Leon Brown were yellow carded for scrum infringements and Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother and Kings wing Michael Makase sin-binned for acts of dangerous play.
Both sides were at full strength when the visitors nicked a draw as Brown won a penalty and Lewis landed the kick from 40 metres out.
The Kings remain one point ahead of the Dragons at the bottom of Conference B.
Southern Kings: Banda; Penxe, H Klaasen, Kruger, Basson; Pretorius, Ungerer; Ferreira, Willemse, Terblanche, Van Schalkwyk, Astle (capt), Ntsila, Burger, Lerm.
Replacements: Van Rooyen, Tshakweni, Scholtz, Greeff, De Wit, Van Rooyen, B Klaasen, Beyers.
Dragons: Kirchner; Rosser, Warren, Dixon, Amos; Lewis, R Williams; Harris, Hibbard (c), Brown, M Williams, Screech, Wainwright, Basham, Moriarty.
Replacements: Lawrence, Bevington, Fairbrother, Taylor, Greggains, Knoyle, Tovey, J Williams.
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Paul Mente (SARU)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SARU)
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| Gallagher Premiership |
|---|
| Northampton (19) 31 |
| Tries: Naiyaravoro, Francis, Reinach, Marshall, Hutchinson Cons: Biggar 2, Francis |
| Gloucester (26) 40 |
| Tries: Atkinson 3, Ackermann, Slater, Marais Cons: Twelvetrees 5 |
A first-half hat-trick from Mark Atkinson saw Gloucester strengthen their play-off credentials with an impressive victory at Northampton.
The centre was backed up by scores from Ruan Ackermann, Ed Slater and Franco Marais in an entertaining encounter.
Northampton also scored five tries of their own through Taqele Naiyaravoro, Piers Francis, Cobas Reinach, Reece Marshall and Rory Hutchinson.
Gloucester have an 11-point lead over Sale in fifth with four games left.
The Cherry and Whites also recorded a third Premiership win in a row for the first time since December 2017 and inflicted just a second home defeat in all competitions this season on Saints.
Northampton remain seventh and will hope not to be sucked into the relegation battle below them, although they hold a healthy 13-point cushion over bottom side Newcastle Falcons.
They still have to travel to Worcester and Newcastle in the bottom two in their last four games as well as host play-off contenders Harlequins and leaders Exeter.
Saints did claim a try bonus point and looked on course for more when winger Naiyarovoro and centre Francis twice put them ahead early on.
But Gloucester showed a clinical edge in the Saints 22 as they kept the hosts at arm's length once Atkinson's second try of the game after 15 minutes put them into a lead they would not relinquish.
The only thing to mar their victory were second-half injuries to fly-half Danny Cipriani (groin), winger Charlie Sharples (ankle) and full-back Tom Hudson (shoulder).
Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd:
"We knew what was going on, but we just didn't deal with it. We still haven't got the necessary accuracy when we come under pressure.
"We have never discussed a finishing position, but we've slipped to seventh.
"We have four games to play, two against sides above us and two below, who are fighting for their lives, so it will be an interesting end to the season."
Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann:
"We are not getting over-excited but it's a nice position to be in. But with four games to go, there are still a lot of teams on our tail.
"Mark (Atkinson) caught my eye when I first came to the club and we've always believed in him. He has all the skill as well as being a big physical presence.
"He's now had a good run of games and has developed a good understanding with Danny (Cipriani) and Billy (Twelvetrees) as a midfield trio."
On the initial post-match injury news: "It's the wrong time of the year to pick up injuries. We can't speculate on the extent of them as we will have to wait for scans on Monday.
"Danny (Cipriani) has a groin problem, but hopefully as we brought him off early he will be okay, but Tom Hudson's shoulder and Charlie Sharples' ankle will have to be assessed."
Northampton: Furbank; Tuala, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Reinach; Van Wyk, Marshall, Hill, Moon, Lawes, Ludlam, Brussow, Harrison (capt).
Replacements: Dawidiuk, Waller, Franks, Ratuniyarawa, Gibson, Mitchell, Burrell, Pisi.
Sin-bin: Naiyaravoro (29 mins).
Gloucester: Hudson; Banahan, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Sharples; Cipriani, Heinz (capt); Hohneck, Marais, Balmain, Slater, Mostert, Ackermann, Kriel, Morgan.
Replacements: Sherry, Rapava Ruskin, Dreyer, Savage, Clarke, Polledri, Braley, Seabrook.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.
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BRASELTON, Ga. – Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias won his first race of the MotoAmerica EBC Brakes Superbike Series season Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The Spaniard bested Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz by 1.839 seconds under sunny skies on the final day of the Suzuki Championship.
The win, combined with his second place from Saturday, gives Elias the early lead in the EBC Brakes Superbike Championship with 45 points – four more than Saturday’s winner Cameron Beaubier, who was third Sunday.
As was the case yesterday, the Superbike race began with six riders running together at the front with those three – Elias, Scholtz and Beaubier – joined by Beaubier’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing teammate Garrett Gerloff, Attack Performance Estenson Racing’s J.D. Beach and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Josh Herrin.
Gerloff was the first to have issues, the Texan slowed by a front fender flapping in the wind. Despite repeated attempts at kicking the bodywork off his bike, Gerloff eventually had to pull over to remove the fender. He would continue onward and eventually finish ninth.
Herrin, meanwhile, lacked the pace to stay with the top four with the race coming down to just three in the final laps as the trio pulled slightly clear of Beach. Then both Beaubier and Scholtz were bauked badly by a back marker with two laps to go, costing them any shot at Elias and also allowing Beach to move to the tail of the battling duo. Scholtz ended up getting the edge on Beaubier to take second with Beach finishing just .3 of a second off the back of the defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion.
Apparently, the birth of his son just a few weeks ago hasn’t slowed Elias who leaves the opening round with the points lead for the fourth straight season.
“Everybody was telling me that,” Elias said of his pace being slowed with having a child. “I was kind of worried. When he was born, in my head I said, ‘what the heck? Now I have a really strong reason to fight for,’ so that’s what happened. I’m super motivated. I didn’t slow down. So, I’m happy. This winter the team worked so good. But, honestly, I was thinking to be more comfortable in these first rounds. Last year to be more competitive we took a good direction. I was thinking this would change a little bit… but then we arrive here and seems different… all the time the bike is moving a lot around. We were going to do some changes for this morning, but we couldn’t try anything. For everybody it was the same. Same tire. Harder than yesterday. I was not thinking yesterday to do that slow pace. I think it’s the race. A little bit frustrated. I couldn’t do what I wanted.
“In the mid part of the race I started to lose a lot of grip, maybe less than J.D. and Mathew. But Cameron was so strong. I missed something there. Anyway, for today I was going to use the same tire as Dunlop wanted, and it was really good. The tire has been super consistent all the race, but we still have to improve in some areas. Anyway, yesterday 20 points. Could be zero. Now 25 (points), so perfect Sunday.”
In Supersport, Saturday’s second-place finisher Bobby Fong came back strong on Sunday and notched the race win aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. Second-place finisher P.J. Jacobsen kept Fong honest throughout the majority of the 18-lap race to record his first MotoAmerica podium result in his second race aboard his Celtic HSBK Racing Yamaha.
Hudson Motorcycles – HB Racing Yamaha rider Richie Escalante finished third and dedicated the race to his grandfather after getting the sad news earlier in the day that he had passed away.
In Liqui Moly Junior Cup, Saturday’s race winner Rocco Landers did the double and got the win on Sunday aboard his Landers Racing Kawasaki. Almost a carbon copy of yesterday, he got a great jump off the line from the pole position, led the 11-lap race from start to finish, and pulled a gap of nearly five seconds.
Dallas Daniels, the second-place finisher from Saturday’s race, once again finished second on Sunday aboard his Quarterley Racing/On Track Development Kawasaki. Altus Motorsports rider Kevin Olmedo finished third to complete the podium.
Last year’s Stock 1000 champion Andrew Lee got his 2019 season off to a flying start with a win in Sunday’s race. The Northern Californian is defending his title aboard his No. 1 Franklin Armory/Graves Kawasaki, and he stalked second-place finisher Michael Gilbert, who led the majority of the race on his Team Norris Racing Kawasaki until Lee made his decisive move and took the checkers. MESA37 Racing’s Stefano Mesa came in third, making it a Kawasaki podium sweep.
The same podium finishers in Saturday’s Twins Cup race were again on the podium in Sunday’s race, and Quarterley Racing Ducati rider Michael Barnes was the race winner for the second day in a row. Barnes once again showed that experience (age) is the secret to success as he had the measure of his competitors. Defending class champ Chris Parrish improved on his Saturday third-place result by finishing second on Sunday aboard his Ghetto Customs Suzuki, and RBoM Racing’s Curtis Murray rounded out the podium in third.
The post Elias Shines In MotoAmerica Superbike Action appeared first on SPEED SPORT.
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