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'It was never if, just when' - Keys' journey to Slam glory

Published in Tennis
Saturday, 25 January 2025 08:46

Keys' success is all the more impressive considering her injury woes in 2024.

The 29-year-old missed last year's Australian Open with a shoulder injury before a hamstring problem ended her Wimbledon run in the fourth round.

Determined to keep competing, Keys - on the advice of her coach and now husband Bjorn Fratangelo - decided to make a change.

Fratangelo convinced her to switch her Wilson racquets for Japanese brand Yonex - a swap he thought would limit her injuries.

"I have no idea why I like this racquet, what it does, like, all the specifics of it. I just knew when I picked it up, it felt really good, and that was the winner," Keys told Bounces on Tuesday., external

And just before the pair got married in November, Fratangelo dragged a "kicking and screaming" Keys into reworking her service motion.

"If you are going to rip things apart, you might as well rip everything apart, right?" she said.

Sinner bids for history as Zverev eyes first major

Published in Tennis
Saturday, 25 January 2025 09:09

Sinner followed up his maiden triumph at Melbourne Park 12 months ago by winning the US Open last September.

The Slam double was among eight titles he won during a stellar 2024, establishing himself as the leading player in the men's game in the same season that Rafael Nadal's retirement left Novak Djokovic as the last 'Big Three' player standing.

Sinner claimed his first major in dramatic circumstances last January, recovering from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller before embarking on a memorable season in which he won 73 of 79 matches.

Sinner has dropped just two sets in six matches at this year's tournament, despite battling illness in his fourth-round win over Holger Rune and cramp in the semi-finals against Ben Shelton.

His run to his second Australian Open final has come against the backdrop of the Italian's ongoing doping case, which will be heard behind closed doors at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) from 16-17 April.

The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed against the decision to clear Sinner of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance last March and is seeking a one to two-year ban.

"There's a lot of things going on, on and off the court," said Sinner.

"I try to isolate myself a little bit, trying to be myself on the court. There are days where it's easier, days where I struggle a little bit more.

"I'm just happy to play for a big trophy again."

Scarlets deny Edinburgh to maintain impressive home form

Published in Rugby
Saturday, 25 January 2025 09:01

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Jac Davies, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Josh Macleod (capt), Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Sam O'Connor, Gabe Hawley, Jac Price, Taine Plumtree, Efan Jones, Charlie Titcombe, Jarrod Taylor.

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen; Harry Paterson, Matt Currie, James Lang, Lewis Wells; Ben Healy, Ali Price; Boan Venter, Paddy Harrison, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Sam Skinner (capt), Liam McConnell, Hamish Watson, Tom Dodd.

Replacements: Harri Morris, Robin Hislop, Javan Sebastian, Rob Carmichael, Tom Currie, Ben Vellacott, Ross Thompson, Mosese Tuipulotu.

Referee: Andrea Piardi

Assistant referees: Craig Evans & Aaron Parry

TMO: Matteo Liperini

Sin bin: Harrison (23), Fifita (30)

Sheehan scores twice as Leinster beat Stormers

Published in Rugby
Saturday, 25 January 2025 11:10

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan scored twice on his return from injury as Leinster defeated the Stormers 36-12 in Dublin.

Sheehan was making his first appearance of the season after sustaining a knee injury in Ireland's summer tour of South Africa.

After taking a lead through Ross Byrne's early penalty, Leinster's first try came when Andrew Osborne raced over in the corner after being fed by Jordie Barrett.

The Stormers responded when Ben Loader scampered over out wide but the hosts had the final say in the half.

After a lengthy delay to treat the injured Luke McGrath, who gave the thumbs up after being stretchered off, Leinster struck with the clock in the red as Sheehan rounded off a flowing move in the corner.

After an error-strewn start to the second half, New Zealand centre Barrett spotted a gap to slide over the line in the 59th minute, and Byrne added the conversion.

Sheehan secured the bonus point four minutes later when he gathered James Lowe's cross-field kick to score unchallenged.

Lowe, who was also making his return from injury, had a try disallowed but wing Osborne, brother of Ireland international Jamie, grabbed his second score of the game as he intercepted the ball on the Stormers line before diving over to touch down.

The Stormers grabbed a consolation through back row Evan Roos but could not stop Leinster's winning run this season.

Leo Cullen's side are unbeaten in 10 matches in the United Rugby Championship and topped Pool B in the Investec Champions Cup with four wins from four matches.

Sheehan and Lowe will now link up with Simon Easterby's Ireland squad in Portugal before the start of the Six Nations.

Leinster: H McErlean; A Osborne, L Turner, J Barrett, J Lowe; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, D Sheehan (capt), R Slimani; R Snyman, B Deeny; A Soroka, S Penny, M Deegan.

Replacements: J McKee, P McCarthy, R McGuire, D Mangan, J Culhane, W Connors, C Foley, C Tector.

Stormers: W Gelant; B Loader; R Nel, J Roche; L Zas; M Libbok, P de Wet; A Vermaak, J Dweba, N Fouche; JD Schickerling, R van Heerden; D Fourie (capt), B-J Dixon, E Roos.

Replacements: A-H Venter, B Harris, F Malherbe, S Moerat, M Theunissen, P de Villiers, H Jantjies, W Simelane.

Munster ease past Dragons with four-minute blitz

Published in Rugby
Saturday, 25 January 2025 13:42

Dragons: Huw Anderson; Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen (capt), Harri Ackerman, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Morgan Lloyd; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Taine Basham

Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Harry Wilson

Sin bin: Evans (20)

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Dian Bleuler, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Evan O'Connell, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, John Hodnett

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Ben Connor & Matthew Leon (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Gloucester beat Tigers in Slater Cup thriller

Published in Rugby
Saturday, 25 January 2025 10:11

With the potential for both teams to climb to second place in the table, it didn't take long for the first score of the day.

Following an unsuccessful drive from a five-metre lineout, Ben Youngs picked the perfect pass for Wallaby centre Perese, who went over untouched.

But the Cherry and Whites struck back quickly, Seb Atkinson making a half break between Tigers' defenders before feeding Max Llewellyn who put Williams through for the home side's first try of the game.

Following a bizarre incident in which Llewellyn was penalised for an incorrect restart, Leicester struck again. From the ensuing scrum, a simple back-line move resulted in Mike Brown charging over as the Gloucester defenders found themselves overwhelmed.

George Skivington's men thought they had levelled soon after. A fortuitous bounce from a grubber kick saw Christian Wade touch down in the corner, only for the try to be chalked off for offside in the build-up.

But Gloucester were not to be denied for long. Having worked their way into the Tigers' 22, Clement's drive was repelled before Carreras' acrobatic effort in the corner.

On the edge of half-time, the match swung again. Brown picked off Gareth Anscombe as Gloucester pressed. The former England fullback made it well into the opposing half, before offloading to Radwan to score with his first touch as a Tigers player.

Leicester carried that momentum into the second half, Wells forcing his way over from short range following a break down the wing from Ollie Hassell-Collins.

But Gloucester then found a second wind. Having driven up to the Leicester 22, Clement exploited a tiring Tigers defence to score before Harris, on his 100th appearance for the club, touched down to cap a frenzied period of play.

Things only got worse for Michael Cheika's men with Perese being yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle, before Blake emerged with the ball from the resultant lineout drive for Gloucester's fifth try.

Leicester were shell-shocked, but came away with two losing bonus point following Pollard's late penalty.

The result leaves both teams on 35 points, with Gloucester in third, ahead of their defeated opponents on points difference.

Exeter beat Saracens for rare Premiership victory

Published in Rugby
Saturday, 25 January 2025 11:50

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon:

"It's a relief, but there's also an enjoyment factor to it.

"I'm pleased for the lads, I'm pleased for the club really as well and the supporters who've been here a bit through thick and thin for quite a while as well.

"That was an important victory for us to have some feelgood factor going into this next two-month block through the Six Nations.

"Without that I think we'd still be looking around going 'are we heading in the right direction?'

"It was a much-changed Saracens side, but they were typical Saracens weren't they? There was nothing easy out there and, if anything, a much-changed Saracens side almost put more pressure on us to have to achieve something today."

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"It doesn't feel like a Premiership weekend is necessary on a weekend like this, when there are international camps and there are players away, when it is only an 18-game regular season.

"We said before the game that in lots of ways the outcome was immaterial to what we wanted from the game as we knew that come the end of the Six Nations when the Premiership recommences, we were going to be in the mix anyway, with seven games to go.

"We had a lot of unavailability through international call-ups and the big casualty list we have got, and we brought a bit of a younger and inexperienced team and we asked them to play big today and not play within themselves, and show how good they are, and not be cautious, and I thought they were wonderful.

"The energy in the team, in the first 40 minutes in particular, was absolutely outstanding. We had senior players who showed the way and we had younger players who played big like we asked them to, and that continued in the second half.

"And then we had that unfortunate 45 seconds or so where they scored a try from the halfway line and then another from the restart, and that's 14 points in no time at all.

"The whole energy of the ground changed and that was the game really."

Williamson Reflects On Chili Bowl Debut

Published in Racing
Saturday, 25 January 2025 10:00

BARBERVILLE, Fla. After winning his second Super DIRTcar Series championship, Mat Williamson didnt rest in the offseason.

Instead, he took on the Chili Bowl Nationals for the first time behind the wheel of a Keith Kunz Motorsports Midget.

It was the first time the St. Catharines, Ontario, driver traveled to Tulsa for the annual event, an experience he described in one word: Amazing.

I really tried to tell people that it was a lot like Super Dirt Week, Williamson said. It felt like when we walked into the mile back in the day. It was pretty wowing.

Its certainly something that you really have to experience once or twice.

Williamson started the week with two practice sessions, before running his preliminary night on Tuesday of the week-long event. Thats where Money Mat had an unforgettable experience in his Heat Race, flipping his No. 71P after contact with 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars Rookie of the Year Buddy Kofoid.

However, Williamson said he wasnt frustrated after the incident.

I actually think that calmed me down a little bit, Williamson said.  I dont ever really destroy race cars. I got a pretty good track record at being conservative behind the wheel and not tearing up equipment. Then, getting in a Keith Kunz car I flip at the first race. So, after they put me back over, I kept going and Im like, Shit, you know, I think I did all right for flipping this thing over. I didnt tear it up too bad.

Once that happened, I think my nerves kind of went away and I got a little bit more relaxed behind the wheel and just focused on racing instead of worrying about wrecking the race car.

After finishing fifth in his qualifier, Williamson transferred to the nights B-Main where he narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Feature. As he drove through Turns 3 and 4, Williamsons Midget wheelied off the corner, allowing Garet Williamson to drive by him for the final transfer spot.

That finish sent him to the E-Main on Saturday, where he finished 11th, ultimately ending his first attempt at the Chili Bowl.

I feel like if I had a hot lap session on Saturday it wouldve probably made my week a little easier, Williamson said.  But you know, I dont do it as often as I should, and I hadnt ever done it before. By the end of Tuesday, I felt like I was really comfortable behind the wheel, but then you know we take four days off and then I go back, and I race against people that do it all time.

I was pretty happy with our results. I think that puts us in the top 100 cars that are there. And there was damn near 400 there so theres a lot of cars with far more experience.

With the Chili Bowl complete, Williamson is turning his attention to the Super DIRTcar Series and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park Feb. 12-15.

If he drives his Buzz Chew Racing No. 88 to another Big Gator title in February, Williamson will be the first driver to win preseason championship for three consecutive years since the Big Gator trophy was introduced in 2012.

Along with winning the week-long championship, hes reached victory lane six times at Volusia since 2020, including three of the last five features.

I feel like any time you give us a couple days to figure out the race track, I feel like we thrive, Williamson said.  We do a really good job adapting to the race track and as long as we stay focused, we really adapt pretty well. So, I think that weve got a pretty decent notebook for that place because we go so often.

Ogier Nears 10th Monte Carlo Triumph

Published in Racing
Saturday, 25 January 2025 12:17

Sébastien Ogier is on the cusp of an unprecedented 10th Rally Monte Carlo victory after another flawless performance on Saturday, further extending his lead at the iconic French Alps event.

The Frenchman, driving a GR Yaris Rally1 for Toyota GAZOO Racing, heads into Sundays final leg with a commanding lead of 20.3 seconds, having delivered a measured and calculated drive through six challenging stages west of Gap on Saturday. His and co-driver Vincent Landais efforts kept the chasing pack firmly at bay.

Despite milder temperatures offering respite from ice, Ogier had to battle the toughest of the days conditions.

His 10th-place starting position meant he faced mud and loose stones left on the road by the cars ahead, yet the eight-time world champion used every ounce of his Monte-Carlo experience to push on, extending his lead which stood at 12.6 seconds after Friday. Behind him, Elfyn Evans and Adrien Fourmaux continued their fight for second place, while a fast-finishing Ott Tänak also staked his claim for a podium result.

We are still in the lead. Its not increasing much, but its still going the right way, reflected Ogier. It was a positive day, but I am happy to have it behind me. Starting last [on the road] of the Rally1s was definitely the most challenging conditions, so I am happy with what we have done.

Just 4.3sec separated Evans and Fourmaux at the end of the rallys longest day, with the Welshman taking back control of second place after a thrilling back-and-forth. Fourmaux, on what has been a stunning Hyundai WRC debut so far, hit top gear in the morning to snatch second from Evans on SS11, but the Toyota driver fought back in the afternoon, edging ahead once more.

Tänak came alive in the afternoon after set-up tweaks unlocked more speed from his Hyundai. He surged past Toyotas Kalle Rovanperä on SS13, then set a blistering pace on SS14 winning the stage and beating Fourmaux by 13.3 seconds. Another powerful run on the days finale left the Estonian only 2.5sec adrift of his team-mate heading into Sunday.

Two-time WRC champion Rovanperä, who ended 27.9sec behind Tänak in fifth, felt that he couldnt have done much more. His preference for faster, flowing stages left him at a disadvantage on the days tighter, more technical roads.

More than two minutes separated the Toyotas of Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari in sixth and seventh overall, with both drivers relieved to have completed another day without any major drama. The same couldnt be said for Thierry Neuville, who languished eighth after a power delivery issue on SS10 cost him around 50 seconds and stunted any hopes of a fightback after his Friday struggles.

For Grégoire Munster, the day was bittersweet. The M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver celebrated his first-ever fastest WRC stage time on Saturdays opener, but after retiring with a technical fault on the final liaison section back to service on Friday, hes unable to challenge his Rally1 rivals for an overall position. Without the issues, Munster could have been in the mix for a top-five finish.

Puma Rally1 debutant Josh McErlean made huge strides, breaking into the top nine as he gained valuable mileage in the car. Nikolay Gryazin was 10th overnight, while Yohan Rossel extended his lead in the WRC2 category and also sits 11th overall.

Sundays final leg starts from Gap and includes three more tricky stages as the rally journeys south to the finish in Monaco.

Power Enters Contract Year Very Determined

Published in Racing
Saturday, 25 January 2025 15:42

As Will Power stares at year No. 18 behind the wheel of an Indy car, his drive to keep rolling only grows.

The longtime Team Penske driver, who turns 44 in March, is coming off perhaps one of his more impressive seasons behind the wheel of the No. 12 Chevrolet. 

Three victories and four runner-up results propelled Power to a fourth-place points effort by seasons end.

However, it very well couldve been a third championship had the final two races turned out differently. 

Following a second-place result in the first of two races at The Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin, Power was in prime position to threaten points leader Alex Palou.

Palou endured uncharacteristic battery failure prior to the start of the second event, which sidelined the Chip Ganassi Racing driver for the first 28 circuits. 

The points situation swung Powers way momentarily until a spin relegated the driver of the No. 12 to 10th on the grid. 

Will Power at Nashville. (IndyCar Photo)

Looking ahead to the finale at Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee, Powers title hopes were dashed due to a belt issue early in the event. Hed finish 24th. 

While the season could be chalked up as a what couldve been year, Powers mentally thrown away the negatives and is ready for a fresh slate. 

Based on the performance the second half, really most of the season last year were very strong, Power said. A very disappointing end, obviously, there to drop back a couple in the championship standings.

Yeah, very determined to come back and have a strong 2025. I think well have the car, engine, package to do it, and I think Penske is in a very good spot right now.

As Penskes longest-tenured driver in the series, the question of how much longer Power will remain with the team is a recurring question seemingly every year with the rise of teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. 

Power inked an extension with the team following his second title in 2022. 

However, hes entering a contract year in 2025. Earlier in January, Power signed with Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonsos agency, A14 Management, as Power looks ahead to negotiations. 

With high performance a must, especially in the final year of his deal, Power stressed the importance of staying at the pinnacle of his game.

Its not just so about being impressive, its like necessary. Youre certainly not sticking around if youre not doing that, Power said. Youd better turn up or else shes over. Thats just the way it is.

But I love it. I love the competition. I love the preparation. I love finding new little details and things to be better every year.

Yeah, its kind of funny you get to this point in your career and I feel youre at your absolute best as far as putting a whole series together, weekend together, races together. You kind of have the same speed that you had but you dont really build on speed, Power continued. 

I think its just a natural thing that you have. But the whole other package takes a long time to get unless youre Palou, like some of those guys that just mature, and they work that out very early.

As far as a timeline of how much longer Power feels hed be able to compete at a high level, he believes he could be absolutely competitive for another five years if I wanted. 

Its absolutely the goal, yeah, to definitely keep rolling while Im really competitive, Power said. I was like very competitive last year. I won three races and seven podiums. No one else in the field but McLaughlin did that. So Im still performing really high.

Yeah, if I wasnt performing, I wouldnt want to do it. Im still learning. Its crazy, but youre still learning stuff.

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