Britain's Andy Murray said he played "only top-70, top-60 level" tennis as he lost to Alex de Minaur in the last 16 of the Zhuhai Championships.

Former world number one Murray - now ranked 413 after returning from hip surgery - won the first set against the Australian in China.

But the 32-year-old slipped to a 4-6 6-2 6-4 defeat by the world number 31.

"Physically, I was struggling," he said. "My level dropped off a little bit and he capitalised on that."

Murray won two matches on the lower-level Challenger Tour at the Rafa Nadal Open last month.

But Tuesday's three-set win over Tennys Sandgren in the first round of the Zhuhai Championships was his first singles victory on the ATP Tour since January.

"My body held up well after two pretty long matches but the rest of my body is just tired," Murray said.

"I wasn't able to sustain it for long enough. I played one or two good points, but then I was trying to finish the points a little bit early and shot selection goes down when you're tired."

Seventh seed De Minaur will now face Borna Coric in the quarter-finals after the Croat beat China's Wu Di 6-3 6-3.

Also in China, fellow Briton Dan Evans lost 5-7 5-7 to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in last 16 at the Chengdu Open.

Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty is through to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open after beating Croat Petra Martic 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 6-3.

The Australian, 23, will face Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the final after the Belarusian won 6-3 1-6 6-1 against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina.

World number seven Petra Kvitova beat Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska 6-2 6-4 to set up a semi-final clash with Alison Riske after the American upset world number three Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-3.

Carlos Cornes takes out top seed Max Lee
By ZHENG GUAN KNG – Squash Mad Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR – The big guns came out to play but it was teenager Aira Azman who completely stole the show on the second day of the Malaysian Open squash championships.

The 14-year-old, without even a PSA world ranking, was a late entrant to the tournament. But she’s certainly making the most out of it after producing yet another outstanding performance to beat world No. 51 Lee Ka Yi of Hong Kong in the second round at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil on Thursday.

Aira, who turns 15 on Sunday, was really cool and calm beyond her tender years as she bounced back from an opening game loss to complete a 13-15, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 turnaround against world No. 51 Ka Yi.

It’s her second big upset after she had packed off world No. 71 Tessa ter Sluis of Holland in the first round on Wednesday.

“It’s really an unexpected outcome for me. I wasn’t even supposed to play in this tournament but I got a late call-up,” said Aira. “Today I was really just trying to play my best against a senior player. I know that if I want to progress then I just have to go all out.

“I’m really delighted to make it into the quarter-finals. And it’s double the joy since I turn 15 in three more days,” added Aira.

The Kedahan goes on to meet fourth seed Vanessa Chu of Hong Kong in the last eight. World No. 49 Vanessa was convincing in beating Lai Wen Li 11-9, 11-5, 11-7.

There was no joy for sister Aifa, however. The 17-year-old saw her 10-match winning streak on the PSA Tour cut short as she lost to compatriot and defending champion Low Wee Wern.

Former world No. 5 Wee Wern, who is seeded second, made the best of her experience as she claimed an 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 win.

“I’m pleased with this win because Aifa was coming back very strong in the third so I’m happy to close it out in three,” said Wee Wern.

“She’s been in top form and in confidence while I lost a couple of matches here and there so it was really a balance for me to use as much experience I had over her to win.”
The Penangite goes on to meet seventh seed Menna Hamed of Egypt, who edged past Chan Yiwen 14-12, 11-6, 12-10.

“It was quite a big battle. She was up in the first game and I had to stay calm because I know winning the first is always important,” said Menna.

“I was better in the second but the third was really too close as she went 10-8 and I’m glad to get through in the end.”

Also through with an upset is world No. 86 Ooi Kah Yan who showed great resolve as she came from two games down to knock out sixth seed Anna Serme of Czech Republic.

The pint-sized Kah Yan saved match balls in the third and fourth games before coolly holding her nerves to seal an 8-11, 10-12, 14-12, 12-10, 12-10 win in 53 minutes.

The was nearly a major upset but two-time world junior champion and top seed Rowan Elaraby of Egypt survived a fierce challenge against compatriot Hana Ramadan for an 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4 win.

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In the men’s competition, Spanish pair Edmon Lopez and Carlos Cornes stunned the field to gatecrash into the last eight.

World No. 59 Lopez was on song as he defeated eighth seed Karim El Hammamy of Egypt 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8.

“It’s a good win for me. I played well, played solid against Karim whom I’ve never beaten before so I’m happy with my performance,” said Lopez who meets another Egyptian in third seed Youssef Soliman next.

World No. 80 Cornes on the other hand delivered a huge upset by taking down top seed and world No. 26 Max Lee of Hong Kong 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9.

“It’s massive for me. I know that on the day rankings don’t matter and it’s just who’s hungrier to win. I was really hungry to win today and I’ll be hungrier tomorrow,” said Cornes.

The Spaniard goes to meet Portugal’s Rui Soares, who also scored an upset by knocking out seventh seed Mahesh Mangaonkar of India 11-13, 11-9, 1-11, 11-5, 11-7. It was an astonishing scoreline, with Mangaonkar dominating the third game but then unable to repeat that form as Soares regrouped.

The Malaysian challenge, meanwhile, will be carried out by Ng Eain Yow and Ivan Yuen, with the pair both notching convincing victories.

Fourth seed Eain Yow was too good for Hong Kong’s Henry Leung as he strolled to an 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 win.

Fifth seed Ivan on the other hand was purely business as he dispatched surprise package Ong Sai Hung 11-3, 11-7, 11-2.

Eain Yow goes on to meet Pakistan’s Tayyab Aslam, who knocked out Syafiq Kamal, while Yuen will have a daunting task against second seed Nicolas Mueller of Switzerland

Malaysian Open 2019, Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Men’s $30k Second Round:
[9/16] Carlos Cornes (ESP) bt [1] Max Lee (HKG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
Rui Soares (POR) bt [7] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 11-13, 11-9, 1-11, 11-5, 11-7 (61m)
[6] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 11-4, 20-18, 7-11, 11-8 (61m)
[4] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt [9/16] Henry Leung (HKG) 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (30m)
[3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [9/16] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 (43m)
[9/16] Edmon Lopez (ESP) bt [8] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8 (53m)
[5] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt [WC] Ong Sai Hung (MAS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2 (22m)
[2] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bt Lau Tsz Kwan (HKG) 11-5, 11-13, 11-6, 6-11, 11-4 (48m)

Quarter Finals:
[9/16] Carlos Cornes (ESP) v Rui Soares (POR)
[4] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [6] Tayyab Aslam (PAK)
[3] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [9/16] Edmon Lopez (ESP)
[2] Nicolas Müller (SUI) v [5] Ivan Yuen (MAS)

Women’s $20k Second Round:
[1] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt [9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY) 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4 (47m)
[8] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt [9/16] Farah Momen (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 13-11 (26m)
[9/16] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS) bt [6] Anna Serme (CZE) 8-11, 10-12, 14-12, 12-10, 12-10 (53m)
[3] Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Tanvi Khanna (IND) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 (24m)
[4] Vanessa Chu (HKG) bt [9/16] Lai Wen Li (MAS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 (25m)
Aira Azman (MAS) bt [5] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) 13-15, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (43m)
[7] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt [WC] Chan Yiwen (MAS) 14-12, 11-6, 12-10 (34m)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [WC] Aifa Azman (MAS) 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (33m)

Quarter Finals:
[1] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v [8] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
[3] Rachel Arnold (MAS) v [9/16] Ooi Kah Yan (MAS)
[4] Vanessa Chu (HKG) v Aira Azman (MAS)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [7] Menna Hamed (EGY)

Pictures courtesy of ZHENG GUAN KNG

Banned Australia winger Reece Hodge said he had no knowledge of World Rugby's new guidance on high tackles.

He was given a three-match ban for a dangerous challenge on Peceli Yato in Australia's win over Fiji.

World Rugby said: "The player conceded he had no effective knowledge of World Rugby's 'Decision making framework for high tackles'.

"[He said] had not been trained on it... because [his] tackles are mainly in the waist to knees area."

Hodge will miss the remaining pool games with Wales, Uruguay and Georgia.

Yato had scored the game's opening try but after Hodge's tackle in the 25th minute he failed a Head Injury Assessment and had to be replaced.

The ban was reduced from six games because of "Hodge's exemplary disciplinary record, good character and conduct at the hearing".

The Australian escaped on-field punishment before going on to score his side's second try in their comeback win, and Fiji head coach John McKee said losing the impressive Yato so early "was a big loss ".

England coach Eddie Jones joked Owen Farrell was "missing half his nose" after a shoulder charge by John Quill saw the United States flanker sent off in England's 45-7 win.

Quill received the first red card of the tournament when he made contact with Farrell's head in the second half.

But the England talisman stayed on the pitch as his side completed a seven-try thrashing in Kobe.

"I'm sure his nose is out there," Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I don't think he [John Quill] deliberately tried to take Owen [Farrell] out but he ended up hitting his head."

It follows Australian winger Reece Hodge's three-game ban after being cited for a no-arms tackle on Fiji's Peceli Yato, and Samoa centre Rey Lee-lo, whose yellow card for a high tackle on Russia captain Vasily Artemyev has also been upgraded to a three-match ban.

Former England international Lewis Moody said Quill's challenge was a "classic American football-style tackle where you lead with the shoulder".

"After all the conversation around high tackles the referee was only going to go one way," Moody told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It was clear red card and it sets a precedent for the rest of the tournament."

While Quill was shown a straight red card, England centre Piers Francis avoided any on-field punishment, but could also be cited after a high challenge on Will Hooley.

"Piers [Francis] went in to make a tackle and there is not one player in our team who deliberately tackles high," said Jones.

"We will leave all of that to the judicial process and we are happy to take whatever they give us."

After a laboured win against Tonga on Sunday, England's World Cup campaign gathered pace in hot and humid conditions.

Captain George Ford broke free to score under the posts before Billy Vunipola and Luke Cowan-Dickie claimed tries from rolling mauls.

Joe Cokanasiga crossed twice in the second half and Ruaridh McConnochie and Lewis Ludlam both scored their first World Cup tries.

England could have had more, but handling errors denied them an even greater scoreline, something Jones put down to humidity.

"It was like a wet-weather game," he added. "But we found our rhythm and tempo really well in the second half.

"We will improve. They are quite unique conditions, it's 27C and it's 70% humidity. The ball is like a cake of soap because we know we have got good players who can catch and pass, so it must be something else."

'Argentina are a difficult team to beat'

Things will only get tougher from here as England prepare to face Argentina on 5 October before their final pool game against France.

But they may be buoyed by the return of prop Mako Vunipola and wing Jack Nowell, who will both undergo a "tough session" on Friday to test whether they are ready to play again.

"Can we play better?" Jones said. "Yes. We'll need to play better in our next game.

"We understand Argentina are going to be playing for their life. They're a passionate, proud rugby country.

"It's going to be important that we match their passion and play with control. They're a difficult team to beat."

'A calamity in Kobe'

United States head coach Gary Gold, who has worked at Premiership sides Bath and Worcester, struggled to find positives despite a late try from Bryce Campbell.

He also did not seem in any doubt that the decision to give Quill a red card was the right one.

"You're not allowed to make contact with the head and you certainly need to use the arms," he explained. "He didn't do either.

"We were taught a lesson today. We lost every single aspect of the game. That's what happens when you play world-class teams - they punish you very badly.

"It was a bit of a calamity in Kobe tonight. We're not better than England but we're a better team than that."

Analysis

Former World Cup winning England scrum-half Matt Dawson, on BBC Radio 5 Live

John Quill is absolutely shattered and he has just had a blip in the mind. It is cut and dry and no-one can argue that it wasn't a red card. He knew he was in trouble.

The highlight for me was England's discipline. I think there were only three penalties that were all in the first half. It is in stark contrast to where they were last week and the team needed to move on.

If they can get anywhere near four or five penalties against Argentina, they will blow them away. If they keep progressing like that, they are going to be a difficult team to beat.

Harlequins and England scrum-half Danny Care on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think anyone will begrudge the United States that try at the end. Referee Nic Berry did a great job of owning the game and making the big decisions - England will be quite happy with that.

Jonny May will definitely come back in [against Argentina], especially as England will kick more. Jonny has made that chase his own - he is genuinely rapid. If Jack Nowell is fit I'd throw him in. He's got something different to the other wingers out there.

MONTREAL – Alex Guénette will once again sub for a sidelined Alex Tagliani this weekend in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series season finale at Jukasa Motor Speedway.

The 23-year old from Terrebonne, Quebec, will be making his 19th NASCAR Pinty’s Series start, his second-straight at the wheel of the No. 18 EpiPen/RONA/St Hubert/Spectra Premium Chevrolet.

Last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Guénette posted the best result of his Pinty’s Series season with a seventh place finish for Team 22 Racing.

“The healing process is almost complete, and I was mentally ready to return to competition at Jukasa,” said Alex Tagliani, who is recovering from a minor myocarditis viral infection. “But on second thought, I realized that I nothing to prove this season except preserving our fourth place standing in the owner’s championship, something that can be achieve by Alex Guénette.

“It is best for me to continue on the road to recovery and rest until the date set by my physician, so I don’t suffer any after-effects. The risk of violent contact while driving my car could endanger and lengthen the healing process. I would rather close the book on this season and start training for the next one when I get the green light from my doctor. But really, there was no other option.”

BARRE, Vt. – The 57th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank is on deck at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl this weekend.

Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day on Saturday and the Vermont Milk Bowl on Sunday will feature some of the top Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model racers in the state, region, and country battling for victory.

Two hometown racers, Jason Corliss and Nick Sweet, will be chasing history this weekend. Corliss, the newly-crowned King of the Road, is chasing an unprecedented third-straight Milk Bowl crown. Sweet, meanwhile, is one of two drivers – along with Patrick Laperle – who could match Robbie Crouch’s all-time record of four Milk Bowl triumphs.

“I feel good,” Corliss said. “I have confidence, and the team has confidence. But the Milk Bowl is its own animal – previous results and history don’t mean a whole lot. You have experience, and you know you can get the job done, but as soon as the green flag drops in the time trials, it’s a whole new deal. There’s no resting on previous results. It’s all eyes ahead on what you have to accomplish to get in the show, hopefully get a good starting spot, and then do well in Segment 1. You just have to take it one step at a time, one practice at a time, and get the car driving the best you can – and enjoy the process as you go.

While Corliss will be focused on not getting ahead of himself when he gets to the track, he admitted the dream of three straight Milk Bowl wins has crossed his mind in the meantime. Such an accomplishment would be befitting a driver who fell in love with the Milk Bowl even before he got started in the Allen Lumber Street Stock ranks nearly 15 years ago.

“This race is huge,” Corliss stated. “It’s a big deal. It means the world to me. Just growing up at Thunder Road and being a part of this race as a fan or crew member, and now as a driver, it’s as big as it gets. (The Milk Bowl) is tough, it’s not easy, and it shows. The fans and everyone involved can see just how difficult this race is. You really have to have a perfect day to be able to win the race between car performance, driver focus, and just plain luck.”

Sweet, on the other hand, made a last-minute decision to enter this year’s event. As of Monday, Sweet was just planning to run the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model event on Saturday. However, a conversation with his Maddog Motorsports boss Eric Chase quickly changed that.

“I was talking to Eric and giving him the update on the shop status,” Sweet recounted. “And he said, ‘so what about you for the Milk Bowl?’ I replied, ‘What about me? I’m planning on working with you (as crew chief). I’ve got the PASS car.’ And he said, ‘No, no, you’re going to race, too.’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t have anything prepared.’ He was like, ‘I don’t care. Get working.’”

“So here we are,” Sweet continued. “We’re trying to manage getting people involved and get the car ready. It’s about as unprepared as I’ve ever been for the Milk Bowl – so it’ll be interesting.”

Still, fans of Northeast racing have learned to never count out Nick Sweet at Thunder Road or the Milk Bowl. He won three Vermont Milk Bowls between 2013 and 2016, a three-in-four-years feat that had previously only been accomplished by Laperle and Russ Ingerson. Add in his two track championships, four Labor Day Classic wins, three Community Bank 150 wins, and numerous other accomplishments, and it would be foolhardy to think Sweet won’t be a factor.

Despite this résumé, Sweet is keeping his expectations modest for this weekend. He’ll have a hectic schedule between preparing his Milk Bowl car and attempting to defending his PASS Super Late Model year from last year against the likes of D.J. Shaw, Derek Griffith, Bobby Therrien, and Vermont Governor Phil Scott. Nevertheless, he remains excited about the biggest Thunder Road race weekend of the year.

“It’ll be interesting, but it’ll be fun,” Sweet said. “Either way, I get to go out and race. Hopefully we can put it in the show – that’ll be the biggest thing. I’m looking forward to it. Things are just going to be a bit chaotic the next couple days. If I’m a little wall-eyed the next time you see me, it’s just because of no sleep!”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ilmor Engineering and NASCAR have announced the preliminary results of an investigation the engine failures during the recent NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Four of Ilmor’s NT1 engines failed during the World of Westgate 200 on Sept. 13, including those in the ThorSport Racing Ford trucks of playoff drivers Grant Enfinger, Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton. The engine in the Young’s Motorsports No. 02 of Tyler Dippel also failed.

As a result of the engine failures, Enfinger and Sauter both failed to advance to the second round of the Truck Series playoffs. Enfinger was the regular season Truck Series champion entering the playoffs.

Ilmor Engineering attributed the engine issues to, “the high engine load condition combined with the extreme weather conditions in Las Vegas,” according to a statement from company officials.

“Ilmor Engineering is committed to our partnership with NASCAR and to the long-term development of the NT1 engine,” the company said in its statement. “To that end, following the issues experienced by a number of different teams and competitors during the Sept. 13 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, engines were returned to the NASCAR R&D Center for technical inspection and data review. The combination of the high engine load condition combined with the extreme weather conditions in Las Vegas resulted in some engines suffering severe detonation. Ilmor is taking new measures in engine calibration to ensure to this situation is corrected for all future races.”

In a story appearing on NASCAR.com, it was revealed that NASCAR officials visited the ThorSport Racing shop in the days after the race at Las Vegas to collect all of the damaged engines. They also collected the engine from the No. 99 ThorSport truck driven by Ben Rhodes when it was discovered that engine also suffered some damage.

Additional issues were discovered in other NT1 engines, including the engine out of the No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet driven by Brett Moffitt, resulting in Ilmor requesting all 32 engines be returned to their shop for inspection.

According to Andrew Richards, a motorsports development engineer with Ilmor who was quoted in the NASCAR.com story, there was no particular part that resulted in the failure of the engines. Instead, failsafes in the engines turned out to be “insufficient.”

“We commend Ilmor Engineering for their thorough review and the forthright way they’ve claimed ownership of the engine issues suffered by teams during the Sept. 13 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,” NASCAR officials said in a statement. “The NT1 engine has played a vital role in the health of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and that’s been evident in the tremendous competition we’ve seen all season. We’re confident that will continue in the years ahead.”