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Zverev beats Marozsan to reach Miami semi-finals

Published in Tennis
Thursday, 28 March 2024 13:11

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev moved into the Miami Open semi-finals with a dominant win which ended the run of Hungary's Fabian Marozsan.

Zverev, 26, won 6-3 7-5 to reach the last four at the event for the first time since 2018.

The Olympic champion used his serve to great effect, while taking four of the seven break points he created against 57th-ranked Marozsan.

Zverev will play Spain's Carlos Alcaraz or Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov next.

Top seed Alcaraz and Dimitrov, seeded 11th, play their quarter-final match in Thursday's night session at the Florida event.

"I'm happy to be back in these late stages of these tournaments, playing the best players in the world, I think there are only those left," Zverev said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Italian second seed Jannik Sinner and Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev booked their places in the last four on Wednesday, setting up a rematch of their recent Australian Open final.

Zverev was beaten by Medvedev in the Melbourne last four as his wait for a maiden Grand Slam title goes on.

Despite not yet being able to land one of the sport's biggest prizes, Zverev has continued to demonstrate why he is one of the ATP Tour's leading players and reached his 17th Masters 1,000 semi-final by sweeping aside Marozsan.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are the only active players to have played in more Masters semi-finals.

Against Marozsan, Zverev's quality shone through in a dominant opening set where his huge serve was a reliable and effective weapon.

The German broke in the third game at the fourth attempt and had only lost one point on serve until Marozsan - who had already beaten top-10 players Holger Rune and Alex de Minaur on his way to the last eight - threatened to break back in the sixth.

However, Zverev saved that with an accurate serve under pressure and sealed the set when Marozsan produced a double fault on set point.

A tight second set saw Marozsan survive two break points at 1-0 and 3-2 before Zverev took a third chance on match point with a brilliant backhand winner down the line.

Rybakina 'switched off mind' to beat Azarenka in Miami

Published in Tennis
Thursday, 28 March 2024 15:27

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina moved into the Miami final for the second straight year with a gutsy win against Victoria Azarenka in a deciding tie-break.

Kazakhstan's Rybakina, 24, recovered from an awful second set to win 6-4 0-6 7-6 (7-2) against the Belarusian.

Rybakina showed resilience in the final stages, having led 5-3 before losing serve at 5-4 as Azarenka levelled.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion will face unseeded Danielle Collins or 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final.

Last year, Rybakina was beaten by Czech Petra Kvitova to the trophy as she aimed to complete the 'Sunshine Double' of back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami.

Now she is the favourite to land the WTA 1000 prize against American Collins or Russia's Alexandrova on Saturday.

"It was such a tough battle, this tournament was a target from day one and I'm glad I made it to the final," said Rybakina, who missed Indian Wells earlier this month through illness.

"I knew I would fight till the end and that's what I did. I switched off my mind in the tie-break and just went for it."

McMillan & Martin start for Scots against France

Published in Rugby
Thursday, 28 March 2024 04:54

Leicester hooker Elis Martin will make her first Scotland start when France visit Edinburgh in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday.

Louise McMillan earns her 50th cap as she returns to the starting line-up in the only other change.

The experienced Saracens second row replaced Sarah Bonar during last weekend's opening win in Wales.

"She's been a real stalwart within this group," said head coach Bryan Easson of McMillan.

"Person first, player second, she is a real role model. That is something that we go after a lot and she fits the bill perfectly."

Among the replacements, centre Nicole Flynn and lock Fiona McIntosh are in contention to make their debuts.

Having made six appearances as a substitute, Martin takes over from Lana Skeldon, who was injured in Cardiff along with Bonar.

Beth Blacklock, Francesca McGhie, Rachel McLachlan and Jade Konkel remain absent.

"We've been really clear about how important it is to build this squad," said Easson.

"Players make the matchday 23 because of the work they put in, because of their personalities, because of their diligence around how we play.

"Fi's only been in a short while but she's been a leader. And then Nicole, she's just got that exuberance of youth. She's come in and she's just got on with it."

France scored five tries in their 38-17 win over Ireland on the same day Scotland earned a 20-18 success in Wales.

"They are top three in the world for a reason," Easson said of the French.

"They've been consistent with their performances. They are really physical, but they're also chaotic.

"We've trained quite a bit of chaotic stuff this week, so that we know how to expect that. But we've also got to make sure that we don't get thrown into that as well.

"We want to stick to our processes, stick to our systems, trust the system."

Scotland: Meryl Smith, Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Coreen Grant, Helen Nelson, Caity Mattinson; Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin, Christine Belisle, Emma Wassell, Louise McMillan, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher.

Replacements: Molly Wright, Lisa Cockburn, Elliann Clarke, Fiona McIntosh, Eva Donaldson, Mairi McDonald, Nicole Flynn, Chloe Rollie.

Men's captain George takes England women's session

Published in Rugby
Thursday, 28 March 2024 11:21

England men's captain Jamie George joined the women's team in a training session to help their hookers.

Red Roses head coach John Mitchell was the England men's defence coach from 2018 to 2021, with George his starting hooker.

"When I got this role, Jamie said, 'If you ever need any help with the girls then hit me up'," Mitchell said.

"Jamie was the one that actually encouraged it for this situation and we made it work."

Bristol Bears hooker Lark Atkin-Davies started England's opening Women's Six Nations victory over Italy and has retained her spot in the starting XV to face Wales in Bristol on Saturday.

Harlequins' Connie Powell has been Atkin-Davies' deputy, with regular starting hooker Amy Cokayne back in training this week after injury.

Mitchell hopes this is the start of specialist senior men's players helping out the women's team after the benefit his hookers gained from the session.

"We can have good cross-pollination between the specialist players," Mitchell said. "It is not something we will try and do in abundance, but the nines would also benefit from some kicking connections as well.

"It is a starting point which is fantastic."

George, who helped England to a third-place finish in the men's Six Nations, has previously worked with Saracens hooker May Campbell at club level.

Red Roses captain Marlie Packer wants such links to continue at international and club level, but only when the time is right.

"We don't want to force it as they obviously have their own programmes the same as us and timing needs to be right for both," Packer said.

"You don't want someone being there that doesn't want to be there."

England forwards Ludlam & Sinckler to join Toulon

Published in Rugby
Thursday, 28 March 2024 11:00

England forwards Lewis Ludlam and Kyle Sinckler will join Toulon for next season, say the French Top 14 club.

Bristol prop Sinckler, 31, and Northampton back-rower Ludlam, 28, are both to move across the English Channel on three-year deals.

The switch to the three-time Champions Cup winners would effectively end the England aspirations of both players.

Under existing rules, England head coach Steve Borthwick is unable to select players based with clubs abroad.

Toulon, who won the last of their four French titles in 2014, currently sit fifth in the Top 14 with seven rounds of the regular season remaining.

"They are two good signings who will complete our forward pack for many years," Toulon club president Bernard Lemaitre told the AFP news agency.

Ludlam will link up with former Northampton team-mate Dave Ribbans, who made the same move last summer.

"They respond to the profiles we're looking for in our recruitment," added Lemaitre.

"We're trying to have higher expectations on mentality, behaviour and lifestyle of players like their impressive compatriot Dave Ribbans."

Sinckler, 31, won the most recent of his 68 England caps at the Rugby World Cup in France last autumn.

Ludlam, 28, also played in the tournament, winning his 25th cap in the third-place play off against Argentina.

But both missed out on selection for Borthwick's squad for this year's Six Nations.

Former England great Jonny Wilkinson won the second of back-to-back European crowns with Toulon a decade ago.

England make seven changes for Wales game

Published in Rugby
Thursday, 28 March 2024 09:01

Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard are among seven changes for England who face Wales in the Women's Six Nations at Bristol's Ashton Gate on Saturday.

Leicester's Jones and Gloucester-Hartpury's Heard form a new partnership at centre, while Emily Scarratt and the injured Helena Rowland are out.

Both played in last weekend's 48-0 victory over Italy in Parma.

The Red Roses will play in front of their largest home crowd for a fixture not played at Twickenham.

"To have sold 18,000 tickets with two days to go until matchday shows the appetite for Red Roses rugby in this country," said head coach John Mitchell.

Prior to the tournament Mitchell said he would rotate his squad and the 60-year-old remains true to his word.

"Tatyana [Heard] can win the gainline and that is one of her big strengths," added Mitchell.

"Meg [Jones] is a little dynamo, she is quick, a triple threat and a huge competitor. They've played together before which I think is a good combination."

He has also picked a new half-back pairing in Natasha Hunt and Holly Aitchison.

Lock Zoe Aldcroft retains her place in the starting XV and will win her 50th cap, while captain Marlie Packer, who made her 100th appearance in Italy, also starts.

Elsewhere in the pack, prop Maud Muir and second row Rosie Galligan start, with Alex Matthews promoted from the bench to number eight.

This comes after Sarah Beckett was given a three-week suspension following her red card against Italy for a dangerous clear-out.

The back three of Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne, who scored two tries in Parma, remain unchanged.

"Some returning players [against Italy] had difficult starts, but each of those players will get better and better," Mitchell added.

Wales have made six changes after narrowly losing their opening game to Scotland in Cardiff last weekend, with scrum-half Sian Jones making her first start.

England are seeking a third successive Grand Slam and a sixth successive Six Nations title.

Line-ups

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Aldcroft, Galligan, Kabeya, Packer (capt), Matthews.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Clifford, Ward, Feaunati, Packer, Harrison, Gregson.

Wales: Hesketh; Joyce, Jones, Lake, Cox; George, Jones; Pyrs, Phillips, Rose, Fleming, Evans, Williams, Callender, Lewis.

Replacements: Jones, Constable, Tuipulotu, John, Butchers, Bevan, Powell, Metcalfe.

Fedotov's KHL deal ends; goalie may join Flyers

Published in Hockey
Thursday, 28 March 2024 12:59

PHILADELPHIA -- Ivan Fedotov had his contract in Russia's KHL terminated by CSKA Moscow, a move that could pave the way for the goaltender to join the Flyers.

CSKA announced the abrupt termination Thursday with one year remaining on the deal, saying it keeps his KHL rights and "the club thanks Ivan Fedotov and wishes him good luck in further career."

Messages sent to Fedotov's agent and Flyers general manager Danny Briere seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Fedotov, 27, is under contract with the Flyers this season after his initial deal, signed in May 2022, was tolled. He attempted to come to North America in July 2022 but instead was taken by authorities to a remote military base in the Arctic Circle for a year of service.

Last summer, after completing that service, Fedotov signed a two-year contract with CSKA. He played for the team this past season, appearing in 49 games through March 8, when it was eliminated in the first round of the KHL's Gagarin Cup playoffs.

Because Fedotov already had an NHL contract with the Flyers, the International Ice Hockey Federation last summer ruled in their favor and sanctioned him and CSKA.

Fedotov was the starter for the Russian Olympic Committee team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics when it reached the final and lost to Finland.

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Published in Soccer
Thursday, 28 March 2024 15:59

Leicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal disciplinary process found he had breached the team's code of conduct, the Women's Super League (WSL) club announced Thursday.

Kirk had been suspended earlier this month, with The Guardian reporting that he was being investigated for an alleged relationship with one of his squad members.

"Following an extensive internal disciplinary process and respecting the Club's obligations to individual privacy, Willie was determined to have breached the team's code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable," Leicester said in a statement.

Kirk was absent from the team's 2-0 win over Liverpool on March 9 that earned them a place in the FA Cup semifinals. Assistant Jennifer Foster and first-team coach Stephen Kirby have shared caretaker duties. The Foxes have since lost the two league games they have played.

Leicester City confirmed that first-team responsibilities will continue to be led by Foster, supported by Kirby, while the club search for a new permanent manager.

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Published in Soccer
Thursday, 28 March 2024 15:59

The agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the club for issuing what he called an "ultimatum" over their latest contract offer to the Canada international.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl said last week that "at some point in life you have to say yes or no" in regard to the "very concrete, appreciative offer" he said the club had extended to the 23-year-old left-sided player.

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Davies' contract with Bayern expires at the end of next season, meaning the club could lose him in 2025 without receiving a fee if he decides not to extend.

But in an interview with German publication Bild on Thursday, Davies' agent Nick Huoseh said Bayern's approach was not fair to the player.

"It's unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked," Huoseh said.

"We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn't hear anything for seven months. Although I tried during this time to contact the club myself.

"Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management? That's not fair.

"It's a very important contract in Alphonso's career and we're supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That's why we think it's unfair to react to the ultimatum."

Responding to those comments in an interview with Sky Germany, Eberl dismissed the idea that the club was "under pressure," adding that "there is a normal relationship between player and club."

However, he reiterated that "at some point, a decision has to be made."

Sources recently told ESPN that Real Madrid remain interested in signing Davies, but are unwilling to pay more than 40 million ($43.5m) to sign him this summer and are prepared to wait another year to acquire his services on a free transfer.

Davies' desire is to join Madrid, sources have said.

Bayern's leadership team has undergone a number of changes in the past year. At the end of last season, the club fired chief executive Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić, with Eberl appointed last month.

Despite manager Thomas Tuchel only being appointed a year ago, the club has already announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Davies, who has 15 goals in 45 games for Canada, has made 127 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern.

A naturalised Canadian born in Ghana, Davies joined Bayern in January 2019 after the club agreed a transfer worth up to $22 million with the Vancouver Whitecaps the year before for the then-17-year-old. It was a record for a MLS player at the time.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wrexham owe Reynolds, McElhenney $11m

Published in Soccer
Thursday, 28 March 2024 15:59

Wrexham, the Welsh team bought by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2021, released their accounts for the latest financial year on Thursday and reported that the amount owed to the two owner/celebrities has risen to nearly 9 million ($11.4m).

That was up from 3.7m ($4.67m) from the previous year, ending June 2022.

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While the club said turnover rose from nearly 6m ($7.5m) to 10.5m ($13.3m) and that future prospects are positive, losses increased to 5.1m ($6.4m) from 2.9m ($3.66m).

Reynolds and McElhenney purchased Wrexham, one of the world's oldest football clubs, for $2.5m while the team were in the fifth tier of the English game.

They have since been promoted to the English Football League and are bidding for back-to-back promotions, which would take the team to third-tier League One.

Wrexham are third in League Two heading into a home game against leader Mansfield on Friday. The top three teams at the end of the season are automatically promoted, and the next four enter a playoff for one last promotion spot. Wrexham are three points above fourth-place MK Dons with a game in hand.

Wrexham said the club's losses were "deemed necessary to allow the club to maximise its full potential in the shortest time practically possible.

"The club is under no immediate pressure to repay these loans at the expense of the progress we seek to achieve," Wrexham said, "and further financial support will be provided/secured to support the capital expenditure projects the club is currently planning."

Those projects include increasing the capacity of its Racecourse Ground stadium. Wrexham is regularly getting crowds of more than 10,000 spectators, more than three times the number attending before the takeover and a remarkable figure for a fourth-tier team.

"The financial losses suffered by the club since the takeover shouldn't be repeated," Wrexham said, "with income generated by the club now sufficient to meet the operational costs of the club going forward."

Wrexham pointed to the "continued popularity of 'Welcome to Wrexham'" -- the fly-on-the-wall documentary charting the progress of Reynolds and McElhenney as football owners -- and more money earned in the EFL as reasons to predict that turnover will carry on growing.

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