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Sabalenka sets up semi-final against Coco Gauff
Rtv news
24 Jan 2024, 18:48
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka set up a tantalising Australian Open semi-final against American teenager Coco Gauff after overpowering Barbora Krejcikova in a straight-set victory.
Sabalenka's 6-2 6-3 win confirmed a repeat of September's thrilling US Open final, in which Gauff came back from a set down to win a first major title.
Gauff, 19, scraped past Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in three sets in Melbourne.
The American made 51 unforced errors but won 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2.
Belarusian Sabalenka, who claimed her maiden singles Slam triumph on Rod Laver Arena 12 months ago, hit 20 winners and broke Czech 2021 French Open champion Krejcikova's serve six times in a devastating quarter-final display.
That was in sharp contrast to last-four opponent Gauff's victory, with the fourth seed saying she hopes to have "got the bad match out of the way" as she aims to become the first women's player since Naomi Osaka three years ago to win back-to-back majors.
The other two quarter-finals in a women's singles draw blown open by a string of high-profile early exits take place on Wednesday.
One of China's Zheng Qinwen, Russia's Anna Kalinskaya, Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska and Czech Republic's Linda Noskova - none of who have ever played in a Grand Slam semi-final - will meet Gauff or Sabalenka in Saturday's showpiece.
'Hurt Ukraine feels world is forgetting our war'
Sabalenka continues to shine
Sabalenka could not have wished for a much smoother Australian Open title defence to this point.
The 25-year-old is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park this fortnight, conceding just 16 games in five matches on her way to the last four and not losing more than three games in any single set.
She took just 71 minutes to dismiss ninth seed Krejcikova - the longest she has been kept on court at this year's tournament - before she prepares to exact revenge on Gauff.
The second seed was already up a double break in the opening set by the time Krejcikova landed a first blow, momentarily reducing the deficit to 4-2 before a fired-up Sabalenka struck for a third time.
There was little Krejcikova could do to delay Sabalenka as she again trailed 4-1 in the second set, earning one break back before falling to the first of three match points on her serve.
"I think it was a really great match today. I played really great tennis," said Sabalenka.
"I really hope that I can keep playing that way, or even better."
Unbeaten in her last 12 matches in Melbourne, Sabalenka has now reached the semi-finals at her past six Grand Slams, becoming the first player to achieve that feat since Serena Williams made 10 in a row between 2014-17.
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Kyrgios to return from injury next week with 'fire in belly'
Nick Kyrgios expects to return to the tennis court next week after the Australian missed virtually the entire 2023 season with injury.
The former Wimbledon finalist has played just one ATP Tour match since late 2022 after suffering wrist and knee injuries.
However, the 28-year-old told the Australian Open Show podcast he will soon be practising again, having previously hinted his tennis career could be over.
"I'm hitting for the first time next week, so as soon as I get back out on court, I guess it's just going to be starting up, getting that load back through my wrist and my body," he said.
Kyrgios, who lost the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic, didn't give a date when he will be back playing on the ATP Tour.
"I'm going to take my time, come back and just enjoy being back out there," he said.
Kyrgios, who once reached a career-high 13 in the world, called it "one of the hardest years of my life, tennis-wise".
"Everything else has been amazing, I can't complain about anything else," he said.
"But tennis-wise I've had some really hard conversations with myself, if I want to keep doing this.
Source: BSS
"So I know there's still fire in the belly, which is good, it's healthy."
Emmanuel Macron wants to see Mbappe in Paris Olympics
The French president hopes the forward will take part in the football tournament, despite Euro 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his desire to see the superstar of the French national team, Kylian Mbappe, play at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
The coach of the men’s national team of the World Cup runners-up has already stated that this would be very difficult due to Mbappe’s participation in the European Championship in Germany.
“I hope Mbappe can play at the Olympic Games,” Macron shared, responding to questions from children during a visit to a primary school in the French capital.
Emmanuel Macron also shared under what condition he would visit Germany for Euro 2024: “I will go if we reach the semifinals or final. The final is on July 14, a national holiday.”
Source: 7sport
Jasprit Bumrah becomes 2nd Indian pacer to pick 150 IPL wickets
Jasprit Bumrah became the second Indian bowler and third-fastest pacer to pick 150 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
Jasprit scripted history by becoming only the second Indian bowler and the third-fastest pacer to claim 150 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bumrah achieved the landmark during the IPL 2024 group clash between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals at Wankhede Stadium.
Bumrah accomplished this significant milestone in his 125th IPL match, showcasing his prowess as one of the premier fast bowlers in the world. Notably, the former Mumbai Indians player and current bowling coach, Lasith Malinga, achieved the feat in just 105 games, while the crafty leg-spinner of Rajasthan Royals, Yuzvendra Chahal, reached it in 118 appearances.
Dwayne Bravo (137) and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (138) follow closely in the rankings.
The 30-year-old speedster reached his 150th IPL wicket during the match by dismissing Abhishek Porel in the 16th over of the second innings. A mistimed shot by Porel off a full toss from Bumrah resulted in a simple catch for Tim David at long-on. With this, Bumrah now stands as the second-highest wicket-taker for the Mumbai Indians franchise, trailing only behind Malinga, who boasts an impressive tally of 195 wickets.
Bumrah's journey to IPL stardom began in 2013 when he made a memorable debut by claiming the prized scalp of Virat Kohli. Since then, he has been a consistent performer in every IPL season, earning accolades and securing a permanent spot in the national side. His standout season came in 2020, where he scalped 27 wickets from 15 fixtures.
Remarkably, Bumrah has maintained an impressive economy rate since 2016, consistently conceding runs at less than eight runs per over.
Moreover, Bumrah's 150-wicket haul places him at the tenth position in the list of all-time IPL wicket-takers, sharing the spot with former Mumbai Indians spinner Harbhajan Singh, who claimed 160 wickets in 163 matches. Bumrah had reached a significant milestone by securing his 150th wicket for MI in T20 cricket, further extending his tally to 151 with a stellar three-wicket haul against GT.
While he has been a potent force in the Indian Premier League, claiming a remarkable 148 scalps, Bumrah has also left his mark in the now-defunct Champions League T20, where he captured three wickets. Notably, Bumrah's achievement places him in an elite club alongside Lasith Malinga, who stands as the only other player to have surpassed the 150-wicket mark for Mumbai Indians, boasting an impressive tally of 195 wickets.
Source: India Today
Mustafizur joins CSK
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman returned to Chennai to join his side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) today after completing his visa procedure.
Mustafizur came back to Bangladesh from IPL on April 2 as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) called him to complete the visa process for the USA where the T20 World Cup will be held alongside West Indies in June.
Mustafizur was the part of CSK in the first three matches and took seven wickets so far to occupy the second spot. Chennai played the last game without him and lost the game.
However, CSK will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) tomorrow and Mustafizur is expected to be available for the selection.
Source: BSS
Frattesi late show pushes Inter close to title glory
Davide Frattesi fired Inter Milan one step closer to the Serie A title with his last-gasp winner in Monday's comeback 2-1 victory at struggling Udinese.
Italy midfielder Frattesi poked home the decisive goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time in Udine to maintain Inter's 14-point lead at the top of the table with seven matches left in the season.
Inter looked to be heading for a draw as they toiled to add to Hakan Calhanoglu's penalty, scored nine minutes after half-time, which levelled Lazar Samardzic's freak deflected opener for Udinese.
"We absolutely don't think we've won it yet. We have other matches to play and we need to go out and get it," said Frattesi to Sky Sport.
"I'm really happy, it's a really big win towards we need to do. You can't win every match 4-0, it's important that you also manage to win the tough matches."
AC Milan are Inter's closest challengers and Monday's win ensured that the champions-elect could seal their 20th Scudetto in a hotly-anticipated derby with their local rivals in a fortnight's time.
Claiming the league crown with a sixth straight derby win would be some revenge for Calhanoglu who is detested by Milan supporters after switching sides of the northern Italian city three years ago.
"In all honesty I don't like talking about the other side from where I came," said Calhanoglu.
"I respect them and I have a good relationship with the players. What happened in my first year here is history.
"I'm concentrated on my teammates because they're fantastic... That's what matters."
Udinese meanwhile are in a desperate fight for survival as they are two points above the relegation zone and have to face Napoli, Roma and Bologna before the end of the season.
Inter near glory
Inter are not playing with the same flair as they did before being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid but they gritted their teeth to come from behind at the Bluenergy Stadium.
Simone Inzaghi's side not only have the chance to win the title in the Milan derby but can also beat the single-season points record of 102 set by Juventus in 2014.
On 82 points, Inter need to win all of their remaining seven matches to take their total for this campaign to 103.
Samardzic's goal came towards the end of a first half in which Inter went close to scoring three times only to be denied by super saves from Maduka Okoye.
Nigeria goalkeeper Okoye twice denied Calhanoglu from opening the scoring with fine efforts from distance before Samardzic gave the hosts a shock lead.
And Okoye pulled off another stunning stop two minutes after his team went ahead, stretching to his left to keep out Lautaro Martinez's thumping goal-bound header.
Inter were further frustrated again right after the break when Carlos Augusto's close-range finish was ruled out for offside but not long afterwards Okoye was penalised for crashing into Marcus Thuram and gave away the spot-kick from which Calhanoglu levelled.
The away side dominated the ball but barely threatened until deep into added time, when Frattesi struck the killer blow.
Frattesi was in the right place at the right time after Lautaro Martinez's rasping shot was pushed onto the post by Okoye, forcing home his seventh and most important goal of the season.
Reddy helps Hyderabad edge Punjab in IPL thriller
Sunrisers Hyderabad survived a late assault by Punjab Kings batsmen Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma to win by two runs in an IPL thriller on Tuesday.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, a 20-year-old batting all-rounder, pulled Hyderabad out of early trouble to guide them to 182-9 after being invited to bat first at Punjab's new home Mullanpur.
Punjab looked down and out at 114-6 but Shashank (46) and Sharma (33) put on an unbeaten stand of 66 off 27 balls to give Hyderabad a scare as Punjab ended on 180-6.
Hyderabad's Pat Cummins looked a relieved captain after left-arm quick Jaydev Unadkat just about defended 29 runs in the last over, which witnessed three dropped catches in the deep.
Cummins, who was paid $2.5 million by Hyderabad in the auction, praised Reddy for his batting, one wicket and a catch as well.
"He was awesome, fantastic debut last week," Australia's World Cup-winning captain said.
"Straight to the top for the order, fantastic in the field, bowled three overs too. To get us to 180 off his bat, it was amazing."
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two wickets to play a key part in Hyderabad's third win in five matches to stay fifth, above Punjab in the 10-team table.
But Reddy set up victory with his 37-ball 64 laced with four fours and five sixes as he put on a key 50-run sixth-wicket stand with Abdul Samad, who hit a 12-ball 25.
Punjab quick Arshdeep Singh struck twice in the space of three balls to send back Travis Head, for 21, and Aiden Markram, for a duck, before Reddy took charge.
Reddy rebuilt the innings as he stood firm despite wickets falling around him and mixed the right dose of caution and aggression.
Arshdeep again struck twice in an over as he sent back Samad and Reddy but Shahbaz Ahmed steered the team to a total which eventually proved enough with his unbeaten seven-ball 14.
Sam Curran and Harshal Patel took two wickets each but leaked runs.
Punjab wobbled early in their chase after Cummins took down Jonny Bairstow for a three-ball duck and soon slipped to 58-4 when Curran departed on 29.
Zimbabwe's Sikander Raza hit 28 but it was number six Shashank and number eight Sharma who took on the chase only to finish two short.
"There was always the hope that they could finish the game. Hats off to them that they brought it this close," Punjab skipper Shikhar Dhawan said after their third loss this season.
"Gives us confidence and hope for the next game. We have to do better in certain areas and improve."
Source: BSS
Miami, Messi crash out of CONCACAF Champions Cup
Mexican side Monterrey sent Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday after completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final clash.
Goals from Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo sealed a deserved 3-1 win on the night for the Liga-MX side, who advance to a semi-final with Major League Soccer champions Columbus.
Trailing 2-1 after last week's first leg in Florida, Inter Miami recalled Argentine superstar Messi to their starting line-up for the first time since his near-month-long injury absence.
But the presence of the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner was not enough to inspire Inter against a Monterrey side who looked far sharper in all departments.
Inter goalkeeper Drake Callender was forced into action early on, saving smartly after a bullet header by Monterrey's US international striker Vazquez.
Messi had Miami's best chance of the first half but he shot over the bar from just inside the area on 25 minutes.
Monterrey took the lead on 31 minutes after Vazquez punished a howler from Callender.
The goalkeeper miscued an attempted pass to Sergio Busquets and found Vazquez just yards from the Miami goal.
The American coolly picked his spot, sent Callender the wrong way and tucked away the finish.
Inter Miami created little of note thereafter, with Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez rightly having a goal disallowed for offside in first-half stoppage time.
On 58 minutes, Monterrey left Miami with a mountain to climb with a fantastic strike from their own Argentine striker Berterame.
After crisp approach play, Berterame jinked clear of his marker on the edge of the area and crashed a thunderous strike into the top corner.
Six minutes later Berterame turned provider, chipping a cross to an unmarked Gallardo, who buried a perfectly timed header past Callender.
A miserable night for Miami ended in acrimony on 78 minutes when former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba was sent off after picking up his second yellow card for a stamp on Gallardo.
Diego Gomez nodded in a late consolation goal for Miami from Messi's inviting free-kick on 85 minutes but it was too little too late for the MLS club.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the premier regional club competition for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, with the winner of this year's tournament earning a place at next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Mexican clubs have dominated the Champions Cup since Guadalajara won the first edition in 1962, lifting the trophy 38 times.
Source: BSS
