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Novak Djokovic continued his dominance of the Australian Open by overwhelming an irritated Daniil Medvedev to win a record-extending ninth men's title.

Top seed Djokovic won 7-5 6-2 6-2 to claim his 18th Grand Slam, leaving him two behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the men's record books.

The 33-year-old Serb has never lost a final at Melbourne Park and beating Medvedev is a third triumph in a row.

Russian fourth seed Medvedev, 25, has lost both of his Grand Slam finals.

After collecting the trophy, Djokovic told the Rod Laver Arena: "I love you each year more and more. The love affair keeps going."

Medvedev, who lost to Nadal in the 2019 US Open final, was tipped to push Djokovic close and win his maiden major.

The Russian had reached the Melbourne final on the back of a 20-match winning streak, but floundered under the intense pressure applied by Djokovic.

Throwing racquets, poor body language and shouting angrily at his team were an illustration of how the Russian imploded in the third set, contrasting starkly with Djokovic's confident and steely exterior.

Djokovic clinched the title after one hour and 53 minutes with a backhand overhead volley, falling to the blue court on his back before lapping up the acclaim of the reduced 7,500 crowd.

Djokovic roared loudly and tapped his heart, before exchanging hugs with coach Goran Ivanisevic and the rest of his support team.

After thinking an abdominal injury earlier in the tournament might scupper his chances, the pride and relief of Team Djokovic was clear in their celebrations.

Brilliant Djokovic refuses to 'hand over' to younger generation

In-form Medvedev had, perhaps playfully, insisted "all the pressure" was on Djokovic because of his desire to chase Nadal and Federer in the battle to finish with the most men's Grand Slams titles.

Maybe it was a ploy to deflect the attention off himself. Either way it did not work as Djokovic emphatically proved he is still the man to beat.

World number one Djokovic responded to Medvedev's comments with a withering tone in his assessment that the younger generation "still have a lot of work to do."

"I'm not going to stand here and hand it over to them," he told Eurosport after his semi-final win against Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.

He was true to his word. Djokovic produced a masterclass of intensity, focus and execution, looking comfortable on a court he has described as a "home from home".

Djokovic, like he had in his previous three Melbourne finals, started quickly with an immediate break of serve as he looked to stamp his authority.

Medvedev remain unflustered - until later in the match, at least - and continued in his attempt to drag Djokovic into some gruelling baseline exchanges.

Djokovic tried to avoid long points by employing the odd drop-shot but that helped the Russian to level at 3-3.

A fascinating opening set could have swung either way, but it was the reigning champion who edged it when he unpicked Medvedev's serve again in the 12th game.

History was ominous for the Russian: Djokovic had only lost five of 264 Grand Slam matches when he had won the first set.

Medvedev implodes as wait for Grand Slam continues

Medvedev went into the final on the back of a 20-match winning streak and had won his past 12 matches against top-10 opponents.

However, extending those runs looked unlikely once he began to implode in the second set.

After the pair exchanged breaks in the opening two games, Djokovic pounced again when a raft of unforced errors crept into Medvedev's game.

Medvedev started to look a little irritated, perhaps partly because of some disruptive fans in the previous game but mainly because he could not negate Djokovic, bouncing his racquet down on the court before the Serb moved 4-1 ahead.

The racquet survived that, but not the second thud Medvedev gave it when he whacked a forehand long for 5-2.

Djokovic sealed the two-set advantage with a crunching forehand which Medvedev could not handle.

Medvedev had never won after losing the opening two sets, but did fight back against Nadal at the 2019 US Open to force a decider.

Negativity looked to be deep-rooted, however, and the prospect of a similar fightback looked far-fetched.

There was a brief glimmer of hope at 30-30 in the seventh game of the third set, but Djokovic held for 5-2 - prodding his temple with his finger to emphasise his mental toughness - and served out to seal a one-sided win which few expected.

"We know how tough Novak is and he played a sensational final," said former British number one Annabel Croft on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"You have to be so dialled in, in all departments. Medvedev went away from the tactics he showed in the first set and went into a slump and a strop."

Analysis - 'Astonishing performance by Djokovic'

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

This was another astonishing Australian Open final performance by Novak Djokovic, at the end of one of the most stressful Grand Slam fortnights of his career.

The abdominal injury he suffered during his third-round victory over Taylor Fritz improved faster than he thought it might. But it still compromised him for the next couple of rounds, and prevented practice on his days off.

He outlasted Milos Raonic and Alex Zverev in tense four setters, and was able to save his best until the last.

Daniil Medvedev spent much of the second half of the match in a one way conversation with his coach and wife. He was driven to distraction by Djokovic's brilliance, but he showed surprising fragility for someone with previous experience of a Grand Slam final, and so many recent wins over top 10 players.

The world number one is firmly back on track. Two Slams behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with a six-year age advantage on the Swiss and 12 months on the Spaniard.

Where's your money?

Novak Djokovic says his journey to a ninth Australian Open title and 18th overall Grand Slam trophy was an "emotional rollercoaster".

The world number one continued his dominance at Melbourne Park with a 7-5 6-2 6-2 dismantling of Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic won the title despite tearing an abdominal muscle during the third round, which impacted his training.

"Emotionally it was one of the hardest tournaments that I've ever had, to be honest," the Serb, 34, said.

"It was very challenging to keep my mind serene and focus on what matters the most.

"I've put a lot of energy and time to be sitting here with the trophy."

Djokovic's victory leaves him two Grand Slams behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the three-way battle to finish with the most men's titles.

"Most of my attention and my energy from this day forward, until I retire from tennis, is going to be directed in majors, trying to win more major trophies," said Djokovic.

"Roger and Rafa inspire me. That's something that I've said before. I think as long as they go, I'll go."

Next month Djokovic is guaranteed to reach one of his major career goals by surpassing Federer's record of 310 weeks at world number one.

Djokovic sets tone for year

Djokovic's victory comes with the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and players forced into a 14-day quarantine on arrival.

He was heavily criticised in the Australian press for a letter he wrote to tournament director Craig Tiley about the quarantine protocols.

He returned to Australia as defending champion after a challenging 2020 on and off the court.

He was widely criticised for organising the Adria Tour - a Balkans-based tournament featuring several ATP players - in the middle of the pandemic.

When the tour resumed, he was defaulted from the US Open after accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball he had swatted away in anger, before being thrashed in the French Open final by Rafael Nadal.

"Last season was what it was: six months with no tennis in the middle of the season," Djokovic said.

"I have managed to start the season very well throughout my career and it sets the tone for the rest of the season for me.

"I have added motivation to perform well here. It gives me extra wind in my sails."

Djokovic 'aware' of injury speculation

Djokovic suffered an abdominal injury against Taylor Fritz, leaving him barely able to serve and move against the American.

He said after the match he believed he had torn a muscle but refused to elaborate further, instead opting not to train before any matches.

His recovery against Fritz - and his subsequent improved movement in the next rounds - led some to question how serious the injury was.

"It is a tear of the oblique muscle and I felt it straight away," he explained after beating Medvedev.

"I know there has been a lot of speculation, people questioning whether I'm injured, how can I recover so quickly. I get it.

"I just felt like it was a bit unfair at times. But it's not the first or the last time."

Djokovic's presentation with the trophy came after Tennis Australia executive Jayne Hrdlicka was booed for mentioning the Covid-19 vaccine and the Victorian government.

The unusual scenes came at the end of a tournament that was delayed three weeks because of coronavirus and had to bar fans for five days when state authorities ordered a snap lockdown.

Medvedev envious of 'cyborgs of tennis'

Going into the final, in-form Medvedev had playfully insisted "all the pressure" was on Djokovic because of his desire to catch Nadal and Federer.

He had won three of his past four meetings against Djokovic and competed well in a tight first set, before crumbling against a player he described as "the King of Melbourne".

Medvedev lost his first Grand Slam final to Nadal at the US Open in 2019, and his defeat here means Dominic Thiem is still the only male player born after 1988 to win a Grand Slam.

"To win nine Australian Opens, I need to win every year until I'm 34," Medvedev said.

"I believe in myself, but I don't think I'm able to do it.

"Same with Rafa, 13 Roland Garros. We're talking about some Cyborgs of tennis. They're just unbelievable."

Watch highlights of Novak Djokovic's 7-5 6-2 6-2 win over Daniil Medvedev to win a record-extending ninth men's Australian Open title, his 18th Grand Slam.

REPORT: Novak Djokovic wins ninth Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev

Watch extended Australian Open match highlights on BBC TV and iPlayer.

Available to UK users only.

Not only was Novak Djokovic playing for the Australian Open title on Sunday, he was playing catch-up in the race to be crowned the 'GOAT' in men's tennis.

The number of Grand Slam titles is the most obvious and easiest metric for those who wish to determine - and not everyone does - which man is the Greatest Of All Time.

Serbia's Djokovic won in Melbourne to land an 18th major title, moving him two behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer's all-time leading tally of 20 Grand Slam singles victories.

Beating Russia's Daniil Medvedev for a ninth Australian Open title may prove to be pivotal in the race.

The 33-year-old is a year younger than Nadal and seems to have plenty of time on his side over 39-year-old Federer, who did not play in Melbourne because of a knee injury.

For some, the 'GOAT' discussion is frivolous and does a disservice to the achievements of each player in their own right.

Looking purely at the numbers does not tell the full picture. It is not possible to quantify their different playing styles, how they have adapted their games, their physical and mental strength, nor how they have overcome the tough moments that have peppered all of their careers.

But it does provide the framework for the debate. Here, BBC Sport crunches the statistics for you to consider and then have your say in the comments section at the bottom.

From a clear frontrunner to a three-horse race

The race to be crowned the 'GOAT' - in terms of major titles, at least - is tighter between the top three men than it ever has been before.

When Federer overtook Pete Sampras' previous best mark - winning his 15th Grand Slam title, aged 27, at Wimbledon in 2009 - few thought he would ever be caught.

At that stage, 23-year-old Nadal had won six majors and 22-year-old Djokovic had not added to his maiden title at the Australian Open in 2008.

After winning at least one major in every year between 2003 and 2010, Federer's trajectory began to plateau during 2011, the year Djokovic took his game to new heights.

Another Wimbledon title followed in 2012 but then, thanks to a combination of his rivals' brilliance and his injuries, the Swiss did not win another major in the next four years.

Most had written him off as Nadal and Djokovic closed in on his tally, before Federer's renaissance in 2017 - on the back of his rivals stumbling in the race because of injury and loss of form - kept him at least three titles ahead.

That was until 2019 when Nadal and Djokovic shared the four majors equally between them, leaving the trio closer together than ever.

Now Federer has company - for the first time since he was briefly level with Sampras in 2009 - after Nadal's win at Roland Garros last year.

How do they compare across the different surfaces?

Some argue that Nadal's utter dominance on the Roland Garros clay means he is perhaps not as complete an all-round player as Federer and Djokovic.

The 'King of Clay' has won 13 of his 20 major titles in Paris. Neither Federer nor Djokovic have been as dominant as that at one place, although neither has any other player - male or female - in the history of the sport.

But Federer and Djokovic do each have a Grand Slam they have bossed over the years and at which they hold the record for the number of men's titles won.

Djokovic has claimed nine of his 18 victories on the Australian Open hard courts, while Federer has won eight of his 20 majors on the Wimbledon grass.

However, there is still one feat evading them. Neither Federer, Nadal nor Djokovic have managed to become the first man in the Open era to win each of the four Grand Slams twice.

Djokovic had the opportunity when he played Nadal in the French Open final last year, but was outplayed as the Spaniard won.

Djokovic and Federer have the next chance to claim this achievement before their rivals when they return to Roland Garros in May.

How have they fared against each other?

This is another area where Djokovic's claims are strengthened.

He has a better head-to-head record against both Federer and Nadal in their total meetings.

Djokovic's dominance over Federer has also borne out in their Grand Slam meetings.

However, Nadal's win in October's French Open final means the Spaniard has the upper hand over Djokovic at the majors.

Nadal has also beaten his two biggest rivals the most times on the way to his Grand Slam wins:

How do they compare in terms of longevity?

Aside from Grand Slam titles, the length of time spent as the world number one is another key indicator.

Federer has spent the most weeks in history at the top of the men's rankings - but will be overtaken by Djokovic next month.

Nadal losing in the Australian Open quarter-finals ensured Djokovic will take that record away from the Swiss.

The Serb cannot be dislodged for the time being and, on 8 March, will be top of the rankings for a 311th week of his career.

That will move him ahead of Federer's 310 weeks, with Pete Sampras (287), Ivan Lendl (270), Jimmy Connors (268) and Nadal (209) trailing behind.

"That was a big goal. Achieving that is a relief for me and now I'm mostly going to focus all my attention on Slams," said Djokovic.

What about the other big tournaments?

While Grand Slams garner the most attention because of their prestige, there are plenty of other important tournaments that feed into this conversation.

Of the big three, Federer has won the most titles in his career. In fact, only American Jimmy Connors - who won 109 titles - has bettered this tally in the men's game.

Federer also leads the way in terms of winning the end-of-season ATP Tour Finals, considered by most as the fifth Grand Slam.

The Swiss has won six of those events, which see a round-robin group followed by a knockout stage for the world's top eight leading players over the season.

Djokovic has won the event five times, while Nadal curiously has never won.

Nadal is a two-time runner-up - losing to Federer in 2010 and Djokovic in 2013 - but has missed four of the past nine tournaments through injury.

Underneath the Grand Slams and the Tour Finals, the next tier of events are the nine Masters tournaments.

Since 2009, these have been held on hard courts in Indian Wells, Miami, Canada (alternating between Montreal and Toronto), Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris Bercy, with clay-courts events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome.

Last year because of the coronavirus pandemic the only events held were in Cincinnati, Rome - both won by Djokovic - and the Paris indoors won by Medvedev.

Djokovic won on the Rome clay to claim his 36th Masters title and move clear of Nadal (35), with Federer (27), Andre Agassi (18) and Andy Murray (14) following behind.

In 2018, Djokovic became the first and only man to win all nine Masters tournaments.

Now you have considered the evidence, who do you think is the men's GOAT? Have your say in the comments section below.

Prized possessions, been there, got the shirt

Published in Table Tennis
Sunday, 21 February 2021 08:21

By Ian Marsahall

Such a person is Josep Francesch, resident in Vimbodi, a village in Catalonia, Spain; small by any standards, the 2018 census recorded just 917 inhabitants.

He is a player and assistant coach at the local Taula Borges Tennis Club and is most certainly putting his small village on the map; not because his club has gained outstanding success but because of his quite incredible collection, one of which the curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London would by proud!

Five years ago, he started to approach players for their shirts, the response has been quite staggering. He makes agreements with players to send them by courier or he travels to major championships, meets fellow collectors or whoever.

From the start he established the principle that all must be donations, no payments; as the collection grew, he faced the problem of how best to display the shirts, fortunately, he had space in the attic of his home but glass frames or similar were out of the question, too expensive.

Shopping in a local supermarket, his attention was diverted from the mundane tin cans and rows of sparkling drinks, he saw mannequins for sale, he bought 200!

Currently, he has 82 national team shirts, over 300 shirts in total, of which more than 200 are displayed on the mannequins, the shirts of Fan Zhendong and Timo Boll being prized possessions as is that of Jordi Morales, the reigning men’s class 7 Para world champion from Spain.

In addition, not just focused on clothing, amongst a host of other memorabilia, he has collected some 1,230 table tennis balls, all carefully displayed carefully on shelving.

“The truth is that the collection is beautiful, and it is a real pleasure for me to have these kits at home.” Josep Francesch

A magnificent collection and a tribute to the sport of table tennis, in September he has attracted the attention of TV3, the Catalan regional television and more recently in January Esport3 and Antena3.

Now he is waiting for a visit from representatives of the Guinness Book of Records but maybe first he needs to visit that supermarket for more mannequins!

It is one way he is contributing to the local economy and there is another; his village has the busiest postman in the whole region!

By DAVE WORSLEY – Squash Mad Correspondent

Evan Williams and Emma Millar emerged triumphant after two dramatic, five-game finals in the Henderson Rochelle Hobbs PSA Open tournament in Auckland.

The women’s contest featured top-100 ranked Emma Millar winning 12-10 in the fifth against Henderson club captain and former top ten pro Shelley Kitchen, who at 41 showed plenty of power and fitness as if she was ready to play in the British Open once again.

Kitchen won the first game 10-12 after an initial struggle, but then found herself well beaten by current New Zealand national champion, Millar from the Waikato. However, the tables were turned in the third game with Kitchen again winning, this time 11-9.

Into the fourth the style of play became a little bit less frantic and the two players varied the pace more and Millar equalled the games.

In the fifth and final it was difficult to pick a winner as Millar, 12 years the junior of Kitchen chipped away to eventually win 12-10 in an enthralling and powerful contest.

Emma Miller squeezes past Shelley Kitchen in the fifth

The men’s final had Joel Arscott ranked 248 in the world in his first PSA Challenger tournament final take an early lead and look-odds on to score a victory over the much more experienced Evan Williams from Wellington.

Arscott was up two games and had a total of four match balls before Williams ranked 89th somehow edged his way back into the match on each occasion scrapping his way into the contest to fight for another point.

Going into the fourth game 1-2 down, Williams used all of his experienced to take the set 11-8 and then with renewed vigour hit the fifth game with energy as Arscott appeared zapped of energy to win the fifth and final game 11-1 for an overall score of 9-11, 10-12,16-14, 11-8, 11-1 in well over an hours play.

For the left-handed Williams, a Commonwealth Games rep at the Gold Coast games, it was his seventh pro Challenger title and one of the harder fought tournaments having played a five game quarter-final win, four games in the semis and then five in the final.

The next tournament in the Summer Series of events in this week at Eden Epsom with two PSA Satellite events.

Evan Williams wins the final against Joel Arscott in Auckland

Surprises in semi-finals

Top seeds Evan Williams and Emma Millar are through to their respective finals at the Henderson Rochelle Hobbs PSA Open in Auckland after a busy day of matches featuring plenty of interest, but they will face surprise finalists.

Williams ranked in the world’s top 100 will be looking to defend his title at Henderson, but didn’t have it all his way to make the final. He was taken to five games in his quarter-final earlier in the day by Temwa Chileshe and then to four games in his semifinal.

His opponent for the title, Joel Arscott is ranked 248 in the world and known for his competitiveness on court. For 21-eyar-old Arscott it will be his first PSA final and came after two straight game wins, one over Finn Trimble in the quarters and then Elijah Tomas in the semis.

Earlier, teenager Tomas scored the upset of the tournament with a five game victory over second seed and world No.149 Lwamba Chileshe.

In the women’s draw Millar, who is 98 on the PSA rankings, beat teenager Sophie Hodges in her quarter-final and then had a dramatic struggle to overcome Lana Harrison in five games in the semis.

A 5-5 in the fifth Harrison copped a racket in the forehead from Millar and needed a blood timeout. She’s now sporting a large lump and a nasty gash after the accidental hit to the head. Millar eventually won 8-11 9-11 11-4 11-3 12-10.

Millar will take on former top-ten ranked Shelley Kitchen for the title. The now 41-year-old Kitchen, who is the club captain at Henderson, displayed plenty of power to defeat second seed Lauren Clarke in straight games. Earlier Kitchen beat Katie Templeton in straight games in the quarters.

Kitchen continues to look like she could still match it on the PSA circuit and will now doubt give national champion Millar a competitive match.

Henderson Rochelle Hobbs PSA Open, Auckland, New Zealand.

Men’s final:
[1] Evan Williams bt Joel Arscott 9-11, 10-12, 16-14, 11-8, 11-1,

Men’s semi-finals:
[1] Evan Williams beat Lance Beddoes 11-3 8-11 1-5 11-4,
Joel Arscott beat Elijah Thomas 11-5 11-6 11-9

Men’s quarterfinals:
[1] Evan Williams beat Temwa Chileshe 11-3 10-12 11-7 12-14 11-6
Lance Beddoes beat [3] Sion Wiggin 8-11 11-4 5-11 12-10 11-5
Joel Arscott beat Finn Trimble 11-6 11-3 11-6
Elijah Thomas beat [2] Lwamba Chileshe 11-8 9-11 5-11 11-8 11-8

Women’s final:
[1] Emma Millar bt Shelley Kitchen 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10.

Women’s semi-finals:
[1] Emma Millar beat Lana Harrison 8-11 9-11 11-4 11-3 12-10,
Shelley Kitchen beat [2] Lauren Clarke 11-3 12-10 11-8

Women’s quarter-finals:
[1] Emma Millar beat Sophie Hodges 11-4 11-5 11-3
Lana Harrison beat [4] Ella Lash 8-11 11-4 11-1 11-4
Shelley Kitchen beat [3] Katie Templeton 11-9 11-5 11-1
[2] Lauren Clarke beat Grace Hymers 11-4 11-8 11-4

Pictures courtesy of Jonathan Zouch (Squash NZ)

London Irish mounted a second-half fightback to draw with Premiership leaders Bristol Bears as both sides ran in four tries.

Trailing 31-13 at the break, Paddy Jackson converted Tom Parton's late try to level the game after Theo Brophy Clews and Nick Phipps had also crossed.

Two Siva Naulago efforts and scores from Piers O'Conor and Chris Vui had given the Bears a 25-point lead.

But the Exiles replied through Steve Mafi before dominating after the break.

Irish could even have snatched victory in stoppage time, but Parton's pass inside was knocked on when the hosts had a numerical advantage.

The result moves Bristol three points clear of defending champions Exeter Chiefs at the top of the table, while the Exiles climb two places to seventh.

Dramatic afternoon in west London

The match officials had a busy day, with Bristol centre Sam Bedlow fortunate to only see yellow for an early tip-tackle on Brophy Clews, who was deemed to have landed on the top of his back.

But, after Jackson's early penalty for the hosts, the Bears raced into a 14-point lead in Bedlow's absence courtesy of two interception tries.

Charles Piutau raced away to lay the platform for O'Conor's opening try and three minutes later Naulago motored the length of the field after picking off Blair Cowan's pass.

Bristol's fourth score, which put them 31-6 up, was a brilliant counter-attacking move which Piutau and Naulago worked down the left wing before the Fijian winger finished.

Yet Irish, who struggled with their line-out in the first half, were invigorated by their replacements after the break.

The Exiles had full-back Ben Loader sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on but the hosts scored through Brophy Clews and Phipps after Bristol number eight Mitch Eadie saw yellow for a shoulder charge at the breakdown.

And Parton capped a good passage of play to complete a remarkable comeback as Irish drew for the second time in the league this season.

London Irish director of rugby Declan Kidney:

"We were a pass away from winning it. Draws are always strange. We got ourselves back into contention, got a draw but nearly won.

"We talked about approaching it as if it's 0-0 all the time.

"If you have good people with the spirit our lads have, and you chip away at it, you can bring it back. It was a reasonable comeback."

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam:

"We've worked hard to get into this situation, and the challenge for a lot of these guys are that there are targets on their backs.

"They've got to get used to not be the underdogs like they were a few years ago. To play with a big lead, they have to be even more dogged.

"You have to give a lot of credit to London Irish. We knew that would happen if we let them back into it.

"We feel like we've dropped two points, but they could also have easily won that game had that pass stuck at the end. We're fortunate to have three points."

London Irish: Stokes; Loader, Rona, Brophy Clews, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, Meehan; Goodrick-Clarke, Cornish, Chawatama, Mafi, Nott, Rogerson (capt), Cowan, Tuisue.

Replacements: Creevy, Dell, Hoskins, Munga, O'Brien, Phipps, Hepetema, Parton.

Sin-bin: Loader (57).

Bristol: C Piutau; Morahan, O'Conor, Bedlow, Naulago; Sheedy, Uren; Y Thomas, Capon, Afoa, Holme, Vui, Luatua (capt), D Thomas, Eadie.

Replacements: Kloska, Woolmore, Armstrong, Hawkins, Heenan, Kessell, Lloyd, Leiua.

Sin-bin: Bedlow (3), Eadie (61).

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU).

Five of the French side who started the Six Nations win over Ireland will miss the match with Scotland next Sunday after testing positive for Covid-19.

Centre Arthur Vincent and hooker Julien Marchand are the latest to return positive test results.

Gabin Villiere, Mohamed Haouas and star scrum-half Antoine Dupont are also in isolation after catching the virus.

France have named a fresh 31-man squad, with the country's rugby authorities insisting they will fulfil the fixture.

The country's health minister said on Thursday that anyone testing positive would need to remain out of contact with others for 10 days, up from seven.

All members of the squad were tested again on Sunday, after wing Villiere and prop Haouas followed scrum-half Dupont in being confirmed cases.

Head coach Fabien Galthie and assistant William Servat tested positive earlier this week and have been isolating.

The French currently lead the championship after two rounds of fixtures.

Fly-half Adam Hastings is back in the Scotland squad for the Six Nations game in France after a shoulder injury.

Uncapped Josh Bayliss has also joined the squad, with the Bath back row qualifying through his grandmother.

Gregor Townsend will be without centre Cameron Redpath and back rowers Gary Graham and Blade Thomson, with the injured trio returning to their clubs.

Zander Fagerson is also absent from the 36-man squad although Scottish Rugby is to appeal against his four-match ban.

The prop was red carded in the 25-24 defeat to Wales at Murrayfield.

Jamie Dobie gets his first full call-up while Jamie Bhatti, Cornell du Preez, Rob Harley and Sam Johnson all return.

Selinsgrove Season Full Of 75th Anniversary Events

Published in Racing
Sunday, 21 February 2021 10:00

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The 75th anniversary season of racing at Selinsgrove Speedway is set to get underway in one month, when the Short Track Super Series modifieds hits the track on March 20.

The entire season at Selinsgrove will be laced with special events that give a shout out to the commemorative 75th milestone.

The first such event comes up on Saturday, May 15, with the running of the super late model 46er.

The super late models will compete in the 46-lap event meant to represent the opening year of Selinsgrove Speedway in 1946.

Next up, the Modern Heritage 410 sprint cars will gather to compete in the Pennsylvania Speedweek finale on Sunday, July 4, paying $7,500 to win.

Then, a pair of special 75th anniversary races for the Modern Heritage 410s and the super late models will be staged on Tuesday night, July 20.

The rare mid-week event at Selinsgrove Speedway will take place exactly 75 years to the date that the first race ever was contested at the track on July 20, 1946.

A few weeks later, the second running of the Bill Holland Classic for USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars will take center stage.

The Holland Classic will honor the very first winner at the track on that day back in 1946, and it will again go 75 laps in distance, while paying $8,075 to the winner in keeping with the 75th anniversary theme.

It will be a season-long celebration at Selinsgrove Speedway in 2021, as the half-mile facility remembers its roots with big races, big purses and big names in local and national dirt track racing.

To get the season started, the STSS Modifieds will race 40 laps for $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 to take the green flag from a purse totaling more than $25,570 on March 20.

STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will take part in a 25-lap feature with $1,500 going to the winner and $100 to take the green flag.

The speedway will return a week later, on Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. with March Madness for the Modern Heritage 410 sprint cars and the super late models.

Soccer

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EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester United's miserable season ended with confirmation of the...

Arteta reassures Arsenal fans: 'We'll win it' in end

Arteta reassures Arsenal fans: 'We'll win it' in end

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta has urged Arsenal not to be satisfied with being runne...

As it happened: Man City beat Arsenal to title

As it happened: Man City beat Arsenal to title

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe final day of the 2023-24 Premier League saw Manchester City win...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Anunoby, Hart starting for Knicks in Game 7

Anunoby, Hart starting for Knicks in Game 7

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNew York Knicks forwards OG Anunoby and Josh Hart were both in the...

Murray 'feels great', 'hungry' for big Game 7

Murray 'feels great', 'hungry' for big Game 7

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray is "feeling great" and we...

Baseball

Twins RHP Jackson DFA'd after May struggles

Twins RHP Jackson DFA'd after May struggles

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsVeteran Jay Jackson was designated for assignment by the Minnesota...

Rangers' Garcia scratched with forearm soreness

Rangers' Garcia scratched with forearm soreness

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia was scratch...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

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    National Basketball Association
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  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
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    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

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