Sinner and Djokovic reach Shanghai Masters final. Sabalenka rallies over Gauff at Wuhan

Sinner and Djokovic reach Shanghai Masters final. Sabalenka rallies over Gauff at Wuhan
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Taylor Fritz of the United States in the men’s singles semifinals match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, on Oct. 12, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 12 October 2024
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Sinner and Djokovic reach Shanghai Masters final. Sabalenka rallies over Gauff at Wuhan

Sinner and Djokovic reach Shanghai Masters final. Sabalenka rallies over Gauff at Wuhan
  • Victory ensured Sinner will be the ATP year-end No. 1 and the first Italian to achieve that feat
  • Djokovic was clearly struggling for mobility and balance with his left knee heavily strapped, but US Open runner-up Fritz could not take advantage

SHANGHAI: Top-ranked Jannik Sinner will chase his seventh ATP title of the year in the Shanghai Masters final after beating Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday.
Victory ensured Sinner will be the ATP year-end No. 1 and the first Italian to achieve that feat.
His 64th match win of the year set up a final against Novak Djokovic, who overcame physical discomfort to beat seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6 (6) and move closer to a 100th career title and a record-extending fifth at Shanghai.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion also improved to 10-0 in his career matches against Fritz, who blew a 5-3 lead in the second-set tiebreaker and a set point at 6-5 up.
Djokovic was clearly struggling for mobility and balance with his left knee heavily strapped, but US Open runner-up Fritz could not take advantage.
He lost a long rally at 6-6 and succumbed on the first match point when Djokovic stabbed a volley at the net and the American flicked it just long at full stretch.
Djokovic leads 4-3 overall against Sinner, who has won the last two — including in the Australian Open semifinals.
Earlier, Sinner weathered a nearly two-hour baseline storm from No. 33-ranked Machac, who beat No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
The Italian has a shot at his third Masters title in 2024 following victories in Miami and Cincinnati, to go with his wins at the Australian Open and US Open.
“I just tried to stay there every point, to see what was going to happen,” Sinner said. “Just playing every point with the maximum intensity I could, so I’m very happy about that. I’m happy to be back in a final again.
“I’m just looking forward to (the final), to try to find a solution somehow ... and hopefully it’s going to win the match.”
Sinner fired 10 aces and 28 winners, against only seven unforced errors, in a characteristically efficient performance.
Wuhan Open
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a slow start to beat an in-form Coco Gauff 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals to advance to her third straight Wuhan final and preserve her perfect record at the tournament.
Sabalenka will face seventh-ranked Zheng Qinwen in the final. The Paris Olympics champion beat No. 51-ranked Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-4. Sabalenka will be bidding for her fourth title of the season, which includes the Australian Open and US Open.
The Belarussian’s 16th straight victory at Wuhan ended Gauff’s own recent win streak at nine, including the China Open title last week. But it looked anything but certain for Sabalenka as she crashed 6-1 in the opening set.
“In the first set she was just crushing it,” Sabalenka said. “Whatever she was doing, everything was flying in. Everything was so aggressive. I didn’t have much opportunities.”
In a fight between the last two US Open champions, Gauff led by a break early in the second but Sabalenka responded to pull level at 4-4 and saved a break point on serve to take a 5-4 lead.
Serving to stay in the set, Gauff was broken as Sabalenka hit a lunging forehand volley to force a deciding set.
The Belarussian carried her momentum into the third, extending her streak to seven games for a 3-0 lead. Gauff fought back to level at 4-4, but Sabalenka held strong to halt Gauff’s run.
Sabalenka broke once more after Gauff hit her season-worst 21st double fault on match point, ending the 2 1/2-hour match.
“I know what she’s going through. This is really difficult,” said Sabalenka, who had issues on her serve in the past. “But I know that if she’ll be able to overcome this serve situation, I’m pretty sure she’s going to be one of the greatest players.”


Cricket-Suryavanshi ends dream debut IPL season with impressive half-century

Cricket-Suryavanshi ends dream debut IPL season with impressive half-century
Updated 38 sec ago
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Cricket-Suryavanshi ends dream debut IPL season with impressive half-century

Cricket-Suryavanshi ends dream debut IPL season with impressive half-century
  • The left-handed batter finished his campaign with 252 runs from seven matches with a strike rate of 206.55, the highest by any batter this season
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fairytale debut season began with a first-ball six last month and ended with a scintillating half-century on Tuesday as the 14-year-old continues to justify the hype around him in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rajasthan Royals were unable to make the playoffs but finished their campaign on a winning note against Chennai Super Kings thanks to Suryavanshi’s 57 off 33 balls.
The left-handed batter finished his campaign with 252 runs from seven matches with a strike rate of 206.55, the highest by any batter this season.
“I don’t have words for him,” Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson said.
“Today in the middle overs, he smartly picked his scoring options. He did not swing at every ball. He was waiting for the left-arm spinners. It shows how smart he is.”
Suryavanshi’s talent and ability to read the game make him a long-term prospect for an India side heading into an era without stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following their test retirements.
“It’s an absolutely stunning combination... There’s something special for Indian cricket in the coming years,” Samson said.
Eyebrows were raised when Rajasthan signed Suryavanshi last year, with many even fearing for his safety facing some of the world’s most dreaded fast bowlers.
Wrapped in cotton wool for the first half of the tournament, Suryavanshi announced his arrival by hitting the first ball he faced, from India international Shardul Thakur, for a flat six in an April 19 match against Lucknow Super Giants.
However, it was his breathtaking 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans that sparked talk about the arrival of a generation talent.
Rajasthan coach Rahul Dravid has warned that the youngster would need help to deal with his overnight fame and, after Tuesday’s match, said the player needs to keep improving.
“Remember, the bowlers will come better prepared against you next time,” Dravid told Suryavanshi in a video posted on the IPL website on Wednesday. “To dominate them, you need to develop your skills and be even better next season.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder rout Wolves in West opener

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder rout Wolves in West opener
Updated 42 min 49 sec ago
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder rout Wolves in West opener

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder rout Wolves in West opener
  • While Gilgeous-Alexander turned up the pressure on offense, it was the Thunder’s defense that played the biggest role in the victory
  • Overall, Oklahoma City scored 31 points on 19 Timberwolves’ turnovers

OKLAHOMA CITY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcame a slow start to score 31 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-88 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday.

It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth consecutive game with 30 or more points and his eighth in 12 playoff games this season. He added a game-high nine assists.

With seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander drove toward the basket and began falling, flipping the ball toward the bucket as he went down.

The ball rolled around the rim briefly before dropping through, and Jaden McDaniels was called for the foul.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished off the three-point play to put the Thunder up by 14. He finished 10 of 27 from the floor and 0 of 4 from 3-point range, but he made 11 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Early on, the Timberwolves’ defense gave Gilgeous-Alexander fits, holding him to just 2-of-13 shooting in the first half.

Oklahoma City trailed by nine with a little more than a minute remaining in the first half before the Thunder closed on a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to four.

In the second half, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault moved Gilgeous-Alexander off the ball, and it helped the likely Most Valuable Player find a rhythm.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the third quarter as Oklahoma City outscored Minnesota 32-18.

While Gilgeous-Alexander turned up the pressure on offense, it was the Thunder’s defense that played the biggest role in the victory.

Overall, Oklahoma City scored 31 points on 19 Timberwolves’ turnovers. Minnesota managed only 10 points off the Thunder’s 15 giveaways.

Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams produced 19 points and eight rebounds, while Chet Holmgren added 15 points and seven boards.

The Thunder shot 50 percent from the field and 11 of 21 (52.4 percent) from beyond the arc while holding Minnesota to just 34.9 percent from the floor and 15 of 51 (29.4 percent) from 3-point range.

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 28 points, scoring 20 in the first half. After going 5-for-6 in the first half on 3-point tries, Randle didn’t attempt a shot from beyond the arc in the second half.

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards wound up with 18 points and nine rebounds. He attempted just one shot, a miss, while playing seven minutes in the fourth quarter.


Omar Marmoush scores stunning goal as Kevin De Bruyne says goodbye to Man City

Omar Marmoush scores stunning goal as Kevin De Bruyne says goodbye to Man City
Updated 21 May 2025
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Omar Marmoush scores stunning goal as Kevin De Bruyne says goodbye to Man City

Omar Marmoush scores stunning goal as Kevin De Bruyne says goodbye to Man City
  • The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left Champions League qualification in their own hands
  • De Bruyne was fighting back tears as he addressed the crowd after the match and watched a video montage of tributes from club greats on the stadium’s big screen

MANCHESTER, England: Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike upstaged Kevin De Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell.

Marmoush let fly from around 30 yards (meters) to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Tuesday.

The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left Champions League qualification in their own hands heading into the last round of the season.

“It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened (this season) will be really nice,” the City manager said.

De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before leaving the club as a free agent at the end of the season.

After a trophy-laden 10 years, the Belgium international was greeted with a huge banner declaring him “King Kev” and given a standing ovation when he was substituted off in the second half.

But it was Marmoush’s goal after 14 minutes that lit up the match as his dipping shot clipped the post before crashing into the top corner.

It was the type of goal that De Bruyne would have been proud of in a career that has seen him score numerous spectacular strikes of his own.

De Bruyne missed a glorious chance to cap his farewell with a goal when missing an open net from close range — shooting against the bar.

“Terrible, terrible,” De Bruyne said of his miss. “There’s no excuses. My son is going to be very tough on me today.”

Bernardo Silva doubled City’s lead in the 38th and substitute Nico Gonzalez added a third in the 89th. Deniel Jebbison pulled one back for Bournemouth in added time in a game that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

The win saw City bounce back from its FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday. It also means City needs a point in its final game against Fulham on Sunday to all but guarantee Champions League soccer next season, given its superior goal difference to top-five rivals Chelsea and Aston Villa.

After ending the season trophyless for the first time in eight years, City can at least secure the consolation of a place in European club soccer’s top competition.

The loss, however, ended Bournemouth’s slim hopes of qualifying for Europe.

De Bruyne tribute

De Bruyne was fighting back tears as he addressed the crowd after the match and watched a video montage of tributes from club greats on the stadium’s big screen.

He was given a guard of honor by his teammates as he walked to the middle of the field with his wife and three children.

City said it would erect a statue in his honor outside the stadium.

“It means I will always be part of this club,” De Bruyne said. “Whenever I come back with family and friends, I will be able to see myself so I will always be here.”

City also unveiled a mosaic of De Bruyne at the club’s academy and named a road on its campus after him.

The 33-year-old De Bruyne was part of a period of unprecedented success for City, which saw it win 16 major trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

He waved to the crowd and City fans serenaded him as he left the field in the second half before embracing Guardiola on the touchline.

“There are players that are unique,” Guardiola said. “In 10 years there are a lot of games, a lot of titles, a lot of moments. Today summarized how much love was there (for him).”

He is the latest City great to have a mural made in his honor, joining Yaya Toure, Joe Hart, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan.

Rodri returns

Rodri returned to action eight months after having surgery on an ACL injury that ruled him out for the majority of the season.

The Ballon d’Or winner came on as a second-half substitute to make his first appearance since being injured against Arsenal on Sept. 22.

His return means he is likely to be available for the Club World Cup in the United States in June and July.

Palace party

There was no hangover for Crystal Palace after Saturday’s FA Cup victory over City.

Eddie Nketiah scored twice in a 4-2 win against Wolves.

Just days after Palace’s win at Wembley secured their first major trophy, the team kept the party going in front of its home fans at Selhurst Park.

Wolves went ahead through Emmanuel Agbadou, but two goals from Nketiah in the space of five minutes in the first half put the home side in front.

Eberechi Eze — who scored the winning goal in the final — was on target again late on.


SPL champions-elect Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 3-2 in last away game of the season

SPL champions-elect Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 3-2 in last away game of the season
Updated 21 May 2025
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SPL champions-elect Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 3-2 in last away game of the season

SPL champions-elect Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 3-2 in last away game of the season
  • Moussa Diaby takes center stage with two memorable goals, the first of them in the opening minute, that put the Jeddah side in control
  • Al-Qadsiah tighten their grip on third place with a 3-1 win over Al-Orubah that moves them 4 points clear of Al-Nassr

RIYADH: In their first match since clinching the Saudi Pro League title last week, Al-Ittihad celebrated with a 3-2 win at Al-Shabab on Tuesday, their final away game of the season.

French winger Moussa Diaby took center stage, scoring two memorable goals that put the champions-elect in control, the first of which came in the opening minute. The former Aston Villa player, who arrived in Jeddah last summer, picked up possession on the right wing, cut inside the area and then, from a tight angle, fired an unstoppable shot into the opposite top corner.

His second, just after the half-hour mark, was delightful in its simplicity. Steven Bergwijn, still inside his own half, lifted the ball over the Riyadh defense to Diaby, who in turn lifted it over the goalkeeper, who was stranded outside his area.

Al-Shabab hit back in added time before the break through Yannick Carrasco, who controlled a Musab Al-Juwayr cross at the far post and fired home from close range.

Just before the hour mark, however, Bergwijn restored Al-Ittihad’s two-goal cushion. As the visitors streamed forward on the counter, N’Golo Kante fed the Dutchman on the left side, who produced another fine finish with a first-time shot.

That was not quite the end of the matter, though. Midway through the second half, Cristian Guanca made it 3-2, the Argentine heading home from close range after Daniel Podence hung a cross invitingly in the air.

Al-Shabab could not get another, however, and so Al-Ittihad recorded a sixth-successive win, which moved them nine points clear of second-place Al-Hilal, who travel to Al-Wehda on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Al-Qadsiah strengthened their grip on third place, and a spot in the AFC Champions League Two, with a 3-1 home victory over relegation battlers Al-Orubah. Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang contributed two late strikes that put him on 17 goals for the season. Julian Quinones delivered the opener, the Mexican marksman’s 20th league goal of the campaign.

Al-Qadsiah are now four points clear of fourth-place Al-Nassr, who will have a chance to close the gap when they play host to Al-Khaleej on Wednesday, after which there will be just one round of games left to play.


Nketiah and Eze on target on Palace party night

Nketiah and Eze on target on Palace party night
Updated 21 May 2025
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Nketiah and Eze on target on Palace party night

Nketiah and Eze on target on Palace party night
  • There was a carnival atmosphere at Selhurst Park
  • Palace’s FA Cup win means they will play in next season’s Europa League

LONDON: Eddie Nketiah scored twice on Crystal Palace’s party night as they celebrated their FA Cup triumph in style with a 4-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Palace’s last home game of the season came three days after they beat Manchester City at Wembley to claim the first major silverware in the south London club’s history and there were euphoric scenes as they hit back to take the three points.
The carnival atmosphere was interrupted briefly when Wolves took the lead through Emmanuel Agbadou’s 24th-minute header but Selhurst Park was really rocking when Nketiah struck twice in the space of five minutes before halftime.
Ben Chilwell’s free kick deflected off of Agbadou’s head to make it 3-1 in the 50th minute and the noise in the stadium barely diminished when Wolves reduced the deficit with a glancing header from Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Twelfth-placed Palace, who made six changes to the side that started against City, brought on Cup final goal hero Eberechi Eze in the 81st minute and he put the icing on the cake with a clinical angled finish after a jinking run.
Oliver Glasner’s side have 52 points, the highest total Palace have collected in the Premier League, and they will end a momentous season at champions Liverpool on Sunday.
After the historic events of Saturday it looked like Palace might be suffering an FA Cup hangover when Agbadou’s header from a corner just about crossed the line.
Nketiah came off the bench at Wembley and had been on the fringes at Palace but he was given a start and took full advantage to score his first league goals for three months.
Three minutes after Palace fell behind, former Arsenal forward Nketiah received a cut back from Romain Esse and fired a shot past Wolves keeper Dan Bentley who could gave done better.
Nketiah was at it again soon after, guiding in a low cross by Ismaila Sarr for his 50th senior career goal.
“We’re buzzing, we’re happy and it’s a massive day for us. Our manager was keen to keep it going and keep the celebrations going. Everyone was firing and we got the win,” Nketiah said.
“The unity between the fans and the players is amazing and it will be amazing to have European nights here.”
It was a memorable night for Palace’s long-serving defender Joel Ward who wore the captain’s armband in his last appearance for the club after a 13-year stint.
Palace’s FA Cup win means they will play in next season’s Europa League.