Swiatek storms into US Open 3rd round

Swiatek storms into US Open 3rd round
Poland's Iga Swiatek hits a return to Ena Shibahara of Japan during their women's singles second round tennis match on day four of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 30 August 2024
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Swiatek storms into US Open 3rd round

Swiatek storms into US Open 3rd round

NEW YORK: A mental reset helped world number one Iga Swiatek charge into the third round of the US Open on Thursday with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of 217th-ranked Ena Shibahara.

Swiatek had looked shaky at times in her first-round victory over lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova, but the Polish star, aiming to add a second US Open title to her stash of four French Opens, dominated Japan’s Shibahara, who was in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time.

She needed just 65 minutes to advance to play either 25th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Elisabetta Cocciaretto for a place in the last 16.

She won the first seven games before Shibahara held serve to make it 1-1 in the second set, holding her nerve to save three break points in a 13-minute game that would be the only game she won.

Swiatek said the turnaround wasn’t a matter of changing her game.

“I kind of have the tools, but sometimes it’s just hard to use them,” Swiatek said. “I couldn’t really focus well on my first-round match, and I wanted to improve that.

“I gave myself time and acceptance that it may not be perfect, but step by step I can have better focus and have better mindset. Today it was for sure a little bit better.”

Swiatek said she had used her off-day practice to “get my rhythm.”

“I felt like I can play in a much more solid way, and I was making for sure better decisions,” she said.

Swiatek has won five titles this year to take her career total to 22. In addition to another French Open triumph she won at Rome and Madrid and on the hard courts of Indian Wells and Doha.

Despite her sustained success in recent years, the 23-year-old said sky-high expectations can still sometimes affect her adversely on court.

“Usually I don’t feel well on court when I have too big expectations ... because of that I make wrong decisions on court,” she said.

“So I just try to kind of reset and to remember that I don’t have to play perfect tennis all the time.”


Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi

Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi
Updated 07 October 2024
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Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi

Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi
  • Boston beat Denver 130-104 in the second of the preseason NBA Games at Etihad Arena on Sunday night

ABU DHABI: Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is not shying away from declaring his MVP ambitions but says his personal goals will never come at the expense of the team’s success.

The Celtics wrapped up their preseason trip in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with a second victory in three days over the Denver Nuggets, routing the 2022-2023 champions 130-104 at Etihad Arena.

Boston went a league-best 64-18 en route to the 2023-2024 NBA title, but the one team they were unable to beat all season were the Denver Nuggets.

The tables were turned during the two preseason games they had in the UAE capital though, where Boston outplayed their opponents, particularly with a 42-16 run against Denver in the third quarter.

The Celtics stuck to their starting lineup from Friday’s game — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kornet, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday.

However, the Nuggets swapped Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon with Julian Strawther and Vlatko Cancar, who joined Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun and Jamal Murray on the floor on Sunday.

Newly-acquired guard Russell Westbrook, who made his debut for the Nuggets on Friday, did not participate in the game, nor did Porter Jr. and Gordon.

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Brown scored a game-high 21 points for the Celtics, with five other players on the squad hitting double digits, including 17 points from Tatum.

Tatum, whose three-point shooting let him down during the playoffs last season, says he has been working on his shooting form and feels he has made progress ahead of the start of the new campaign.

The 26-year-old power forward shot 43 percent from beyond the arc on Sunday and had a 43 field-goal percentage.

Discussing his MVP ambitions for next season, which tips off on Oct. 22, Tatum said: “Everybody should have individual goals and we’re all mature enough and know what it’s like to have team success that nothing gets in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish and be as special and great as we were last year and even better this year.”

The Celtics are trying to become the first team to successfully defend their NBA crown since the Golden State Warriors went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

“Whether the guys want to make All-Defensive Team or All-Star or being MVP, you should be able to want to go after that. That means that you’re having a hell of a year, that means that you’re dominating, that means that you’re being the best version of yourself, which we want everybody to be,” continued Tatum.

“So not chasing MVP in spite of, costing us games or anything like that, but if I’m in that conversation, that means we’re one of the best teams, that means I’m playing the right way and everybody on the team is having success and we’re going in the right path.”

Three-time MVP Jokic top-scored for the Nuggets on Sunday with 20 points in 18 minutes, 30 seconds of play, but the team’s second unit and further combinations off the bench struggled to keep up with the Celtics after halftime.

“That third quarter was a far cry of who we need to be,” admitted Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “I don’t get caught up in the losses in preseason, I get caught up in getting better and that’s the most disappointing thing about tonight.”


LeBron and son Bronny James play together for the first time in a preseason game for the Lakers

LeBron and son Bronny James play together for the first time in a preseason game for the Lakers
Updated 07 October 2024
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LeBron and son Bronny James play together for the first time in a preseason game for the Lakers

LeBron and son Bronny James play together for the first time in a preseason game for the Lakers
  • LeBron and Bronny are the first father and son to play in any NBA game at the same time

PALM DESERT: LeBron James grew up without a father, and the top scorer in NBA history has often said he savors every moment and milestone he can experience with his own three children.
When he stepped onto a court Sunday night to play alongside his son, Bronny, for the Los Angeles Lakers, this moment was more than basketball history to him.
It was the realization of a family dream.
LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play in any NBA game together during the first half of the Lakers ‘ preseason contest against Phoenix, playing just over four minutes side-by-side in the second quarter.
“It’s pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family,” LeBron said. “It’s definitely a moment that I will never forget.”
The James family’s remarkable moment coincidentally happened on Bronny’s 20th birthday, and it felt like a celebration for the 39-year-old LeBron, who has spoken about his desire for this opportunity since Bronny was in high school.
Although LeBron knows they’ll get more chances to play together in the Lakers’ upcoming season, the first time on court together in uniform felt “not real” to the four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star.
“For a father, it means everything,” LeBron said. “For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have that influence on your son, be able to have moments with your son — and the ultimate, to be able to work with your son — that’s one of the greatest things that a father could ever hope for or wish for.”
Bronny James entered the preseason game as a substitute to begin the second quarter, joining his father on court at Acrisure Arena in the Coachella Valley. Bronny was told by coach JJ Redick before the game that he would be playing alongside LeBron, but the rookie maintained his usual cool demeanor both before and after the moment.
“I was pretty psyched for that,” Bronny said.
Although he’s much less vocal about the whole situation than LeBron, Bronny is still learning how to navigate an on-court relationship with his father, who has repeatedly insisted that his son can’t call him “Dad” on the court.
“I’m always thinking about, ‘That’s my dad!’, because that’s literally my dad,” Bronny said. “But when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate. That’s all.”
Their minutes together weren’t as smooth as they’ll be later in the season: Bronny committed two turnovers and LeBron made another in their first two minutes. Shortly after LeBron hit a 3-pointer moments later, LeBron got the ball to Bronny and set a screen for his son’s 3-point attempt, but Bronny missed.
“I was really hoping that wing 3 would have gone in,” Redick said with a smile. “That would have been a cool moment. But they’ll have a lot of moments together, I’m sure.”
Bronny came off for a substitute 4:09 into the second quarter, and LeBron came off 25 seconds later at the next dead ball. LeBron had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in 16 minutes during the first half, and he watched the Lakers’ second half from the bench alongside Anthony Davis.
Bronny played about nine minutes in the second half, but didn’t score in the Lakers’ 118-114 loss to the Suns.
“I just told him, ‘Keep getting better,’” LeBron said. “He’s young. He wants to continue to improve, and that’s what’s most important. So every time you get a moment out there, just continue to make winning plays. Continue to learn from his mistakes and make winning plays.”
LeBron James is beginning his record-tying 22nd season in the NBA, while LeBron James Jr. — known to all as Bronny — was the Lakers’ second-round draft pick this summer. After recovering from cardiac arrest over a year ago, Bronny played just one season at Southern California before entering the draft.
Redick had vowed that the pairing would only happen “in the flow of the game,” and wouldn’t be “gimmicky.”
“I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this, I really am,” Redick said. “It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to LeBron’s longevity, but also his competitive stamina that he’s able to still be doing this in Year 22. It speaks to the work that Bronny has put in to get to this point, and really just the fatherly care, and certainly the motherly care from Savannah as well. Bronny, he’s such a great kid and a pleasure to be around.”
The 6-foot-2 Bronny is expected to spend much of the upcoming season working on his game with the South Bay Lakers of the G League, but he will almost certainly get to play alongside his 6-foot-9 father in a real game early in the regular season.
The games that count begin Oct. 22 at home against Minnesota.
Although LeBron will turn 40 in late December, the top scorer in NBA history has shown no sign of slowing down with age. LeBron sat out of the Lakers’ preseason opener against Minnesota last Friday night, resting up after a full week of training camp following a busy summer. Bronny had two points on 1-for-6 shooting and three blocked shots while playing 16 minutes against the Timberwolves.
LeBron was early in his second NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he and his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, became parents for the first time in 2004. They had two more children — son Bryce and daughter Zhuri.
LeBron and Bronny have been preparing for the chance to play together ever since LeBron returned from a summer vacation after winning a gold medal with the US team at the Paris Olympics.
The father and son have scrimmaged together repeatedly during workouts at the Lakers’ training complex, both as teammates and opponents.
In the regular season, they’ll join a short list of fathers and sons who have shared a playing field in North American professional sports. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played together with the Seattle Mariners during parts of the 1990 and 1991 baseball seasons, while hockey great Gordie Howe played with sons Marty and Mark for the Houston Aeros in the WHA and the New England/Hartford Whalers in the WHA and NHL.


Arte Veloce wins Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse

Arte Veloce wins Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse
Updated 07 October 2024
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Arte Veloce wins Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse

Arte Veloce wins Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse
  • Arte Veloce dropped back from a good early position before overtaking all the other horses in a single straight stretch
  • It was Arte Veloce’s first major win

TOKYO: The 10th Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday was a thrilling event, with SASAKI Daisuke coming from behind on second-favorite Arte Veloce to clinch the victory.

In the 1,600-meter race for 2-year-olds, Arte Veloce dropped back from a good early position before overtaking all the other horses in a single straight stretch, beating the fourth favorite, Taisei Current and winning by one body length. It was Arte Veloce’s first major win.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, as well as other Arab ambassadors and officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry attended the event.

After handing the trophy to the winner, Ambassador Binzagr told Arab News Japan: “This is a beautiful occasion that brings people together. It’s amazing how cultural events are extremely important to emphasize our common values and love for sports, particularly regarding horses. It’s a fascination that can tie humanity and bring peace to the world.”

At a luncheon preceding the race, the Ambassador said: “I am honored to stand before you today to hand over the winning trophy, which bears the name of the Kingdom. On behalf of my country, I am proud to represent its Horse Racing Club at the prestigious Tokyo Racecourse.”

“Our union here reflects the extent of cooperation that ties our two countries together in the field of sports and the depth of our mutual partnership on many spheres of civilization and culture.”

Ambassador Binzagr said he was proud that Saudi Arabia hosted the Japan Cup yearly, which he described as “a special event.” He also highlighted the significance of the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, which serves as a precursor to the Japan Cup and is a testament to the growing international interest in horse racing.

“I invite all of you to visit us and be present at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in the capital Riyadh on the day of the Japan Cup, scheduled for February 7, 2025.”

AKITANI Misaki, the General Manager of Tokyo Racecourse, echoed Ambassador Binzagr’s words of unity: “(In) the world of horse racing – we have been, and we are and will be, united as one. The world of horse racing is the perfect vehicle to create common ground among us.”

Winning jockey Daisuke Sasaki was quoted by local media as saying: “I rode this horse because I believed in its strength. It had a great start, so I thought it would be a waste to pull it a little too hard, so I chose to pull it back a step and concentrate on keeping it under control. He’s best at around 1,600 meters, and I’m sure he’ll do well in the bigger races.”

Trainer SUGAI Shosuke added: “The horse was in the inside lane and ran the race as expected. Sasaki knew the horse well and made him hold back. He knew the inside of the track was bad, so I told him to put the horse in a good spot. He responded to that, and I think he did a great job.”

This article was originally published in Arab News Japan


Kevin Yu birdies 18th twice and wins Sanderson Farms in playoff for first PGA Tour title

Kevin Yu birdies 18th twice and wins Sanderson Farms in playoff for first PGA Tour title
Updated 07 October 2024
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Kevin Yu birdies 18th twice and wins Sanderson Farms in playoff for first PGA Tour title

Kevin Yu birdies 18th twice and wins Sanderson Farms in playoff for first PGA Tour title
  • Kevin Yu: I’ve been dreaming this moment since I was 5
  • Yu hit his winning putt, a victory that sends him to the Masters and the PGA Championship for the first time

JACKSON, Mississippi: Kevin Yu made a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole for a 5-under 67, and he birdied it again from 6 feet in a playoff to beat Beau Hossler and win the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.

Yu was nearly forgotten for most of a final round that appeared to be a duel between Hossler and Keith Mitchell until the 26-year-old from Taiwan made a birdie to tie them for the lead.

Hossler pulled his drive on the 18th in regulation behind a tree, had to pitch out and hit his third shot to 4 feet to save par. Mitchell had a 35-foot birdie putt to win it and it grazed the left edge of the cup. But he missed the 4-foot comebacker for par, shot 70 and missed the playoff.

Mitchell tied for third with former US Open champion Lucas Glover, who played the last six holes in 5-under par — including pitching in for eagle on the par-4 15th — for a 66.

Hossler again was left off the tee on the 18th in the playoff. Yu hit first and sent his approach to 6 feet right of the hole. Hossler had to punch below the trees, and it turned too much and went into a front bunker. He blasted out to 2 feet to secure par.

Yu hit his winning putt, a victory that sends him to the Masters and the PGA Championship for the first time. He also will start his season at Kapalua for The Sentry, a gathering of PGA Tour winners in 2024.

“I’ve been dreaming this moment since I was 5,” Yu said. “This is the dream for all golfers, to win on the PGA Tour. I did it today. I’m thankful for my parents. Without them, I couldn’t have done that.”

Yu and Hossler, who shot a 68, finished at 23-under 265.

This was Hossler’s 200th start on the PGA Tour without ever winning — four of them as an amateur — and it was as close as any. He fell back with a pair of bogeys early on the back nine as he tried to keep pace with Mitchell, and he pulled into a share of the lead with a 20-foot birdie on the 17th hole.

But he never gave himself a good look on the 18th or in the playoff.

“Even though I didn’t have my best stuff on the back nine I grinded really hard,” Hossler said “Hit some really quality shots under the gun, and that’s all you can do. Obviously, Kevin played a beautiful hole in the playoff.”

Mitchell might have the most regrets in search of his first win in five years. He was two shots ahead with five to play when he failed to birdie the par-5 14th or the reachable par-4 15th. He still had a putt to win, and that’s where it all went wrong with a three-putt bogey.

“The first putt actually looked good off the face. Right when it missed, I kind of turned my head and didn’t watch the read on the way by,” Mitchell said. “I assumed it was breaking — guess it broke left. It was going to break right back up the hill.”

He played the 4-foot par putt inside the left edge and it stayed out to the left.

“I hate that I finished with a three-putt,” Mitchell said. “Felt like I grinded all the way to the end and gave the first putt a really good chance.”


Coco Gauff wins China Open final in straight sets; Sinner and Alcaraz advance in Shanghai

Coco Gauff wins China Open final in straight sets; Sinner and Alcaraz advance in Shanghai
Updated 07 October 2024
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Coco Gauff wins China Open final in straight sets; Sinner and Alcaraz advance in Shanghai

Coco Gauff wins China Open final in straight sets; Sinner and Alcaraz advance in Shanghai
  • At 20, the sixth-ranked US player became the youngest China Open champion in 14 years
  • Gauff’s win in Beijing improved her chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals featuring the eight top players for the third consecutive year

BEIJING: Coco Gauff won her second title this season with a lopsided 6-1, 6-3 victory over Karolina Muchova in the final of the China Open on Sunday.

At 20, the sixth-ranked US player became the youngest China Open champion in 14 years. She is also the second American champion in Beijing, following Serena Williams’ title runs in 2004 and 2013.

“Honestly, it means a lot when I saw that the last American woman to win this was Serena Williams,” Gauff said. “Anytime my name is mentioned in whatever sentence hers is, it’s a huge honor.”

It was Gauff’s eighth career title. She improved her record in tour finals to 8-1 and has now a 7-0 record in hard-court finals, a feat never achieved before in the Open Era.

“That’s pretty cool,” Gauff said. “I hope somebody else breaks it. I think records are meant to be broken, honestly.”

Gauff, who defended her Auckland title earlier this season, wasted no time and took the opening set in just 31 minutes. She dropped just five points on her first serve, hit 24 winners and broke Muchova five times.

Gauff’s win in Beijing improved her chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals featuring the eight top players for the third consecutive year. With her title, she will overtake Jessica Pegula to take the No. 5 spot ahead of the final WTA 1000 tournament of the season, the Wuhan Open starting Monday.

 

Shanghai Masters

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner overcame a one set deficit to rally to a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Shanghai Masters.

A night after winning his 250th career match with a straight-sets victory, the 23-year-old Italian faced a much sterner third-round examination against the No. 37-ranked Argentine under the roof inside Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena that hosted play due to rain.

Sinner will next play either No. 16-ranked Ben Shelton, who beat the Italian here last year, or Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain.

Etcheverry produced the shot of the night with a stunning drop volley to bring up set point in the first set tiebreak, which he converted to take the lead.

Sinner began to better find his range in the second and after trading breaks midway through the set, the Italian found another opportunity to level the match.

The momentum was all with Sinner in the third as he broke Etcheverry twice more to advance in 2 hours, 39 minutes under a retractable roof on the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. Due to heavy rain, play was restricted to the main court with all matches on outside courts postponed to Monday.

“It was a very tough match, physically (and) mentally, so I am very happy to get through this one,” said Sinner, who is chasing a seventh title this year.

Fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev also came from behind for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Matteo Arnaldi to book his fourth-round berth against either 12th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexandre Muller.

The 28-year-old Medvedev was forced to dig deep to level the match after the Italian took a tight first set.

In the deciding set, Medvedev’s experience and composure came to the fore as he clinched a vital break in the ninth game and held firm to close out the match in 2 hours, 44 minutes.

Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won the China Open on Wednesday for his fourth title of the year, defeated Chinese player Wu Yibing 7-6 (5), 6-3.