sport

MELBOURNE: Germany's Alexander Zverev wasted a flurry of opportunities before securing a 7-6(5) 6-4 5-7 6-7(6) 6-1 win over unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy to book a place in the Australian Open third round on Thursday.The 21-year-old, seeded fourth at Melbourne Park, looked set for an easy outing after taking a two-set lead and with a flurry of break points in the third set. But he wasted four chances to break and then lost his serve to surrender the third set.The Frenchman, ranked 36, won the fourth set in a tiebreak after Zverev, who claimed the 2018 ATP Tour Finals after beating Roger Federer in the semis and then Novak Djokovic, wasted four more break point opportunities in the seventh game.Chardy ran out of steam in the final set as his errors mounted and Zverev cantered to victory in three hours and 46 minutes. He next plays local wildcard Alex Bolt, who stunned 29th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 2-6 6-4 4-6 7-6(8) 6-4.(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Ken Ferris) … [Read more...] about Wasteful Zverev reaches third round after five-set battle

SINGAPORE: Defending champion Sergio Garcia trailed on the opening day the SMBC Singapore Open on Thursday (Jan 17) as he tried to shake off a sinus infection and an upset stomach.Hung Chien-Yao of Taiwan grabbed the early lead with a five-under par 66 in the round which was halted by bad weather.The 26-year-old, who welcomed a baby daughter in November, is chasing his first victory on the Asian Tour.Miguel Tabuena, 24, of the Philippines was in second spot with a four-under par 67 after he missed a chance for the lead due to a bogey."My game's still pretty rusty," said Tabuena, who was tied with the Japanese duo of Yuta Ikeda, a multiple winner on home soil, and Yoshinori Fujimoto.England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, playing his first Singapore Open, signed for a 68, along with Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond and Nicholas Fung of Malaysia.Spanish and Ryder Cup star Garcia - the tournament's defending champion - was under the weather but managed to card a 69."I've had a little bit of a … [Read more...] about Golf: Unwell Garcia trails in Singapore Open first round

Sport Georgian wrestler Davit Modzmanashvili has been stripped of his London 2012 Olympic silver medal for doping violations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday. 17 Jan 2019 09:20PM (Updated: 17 Jan 2019 09:20PM) Bookmark REUTERS: Georgian wrestler Davit Modzmanashvili has been stripped of his London 2012 Olympic silver medal for doping violations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday.A re-analysis of Modzmanashvili's samples from the London Games resulted in a positive test for the banned substance oral turinabol, the IOC said in a statement.The 32-year-old has been ordered to return the silver medal he won in the men's freestyle wrestling 120kg event.Modzmanashvili can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport or an IOC disciplinary commission.The IOC is conducting additional doping analyses on the samples from athletes collected at the 2012 Games, using the latest scientific methods.The reanalysis will continue for the … [Read more...] about Georgian Modzmanashvili fails doping test from London 2012

Sport Six-times Paralympic champion David Weir will compete in the London Marathon wheelchair race for a 20th consecutive year in April, the organisers said on Thursday. 17 Jan 2019 09:07PM Bookmark REUTERS: Six-times Paralympic champion David Weir will compete in the London Marathon wheelchair race for a 20th consecutive year in April, the organisers said on Thursday.Weir, who has won the London event on eight occasions, made his first London Marathon appearance in 2000, when he finished fifth at the age of 19."Every year I say to myself that even if I only do one race, it has got to be the London Marathon. It is such a special event for me," the 39-year-old Briton said in a statement."It's amazing to be getting ready for my 20th race. It has been an incredible journey from my first London Marathon back in 2000 and I feel very proud that I have not missed a single race since that very first one," the reigning champion added.In the women's wheelchair race, Madison De Rozario … [Read more...] about Weir to enter London Marathon for 20th consecutive year

Sport The tide of opinion is turning against Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari in the wake of haphazard results, timid performances and baffling team selections less than three months after he succeeded Julen Lopetegui. 17 Jan 2019 08:44PM Bookmark REUTERS: The tide of opinion is turning against Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari in the wake of haphazard results, timid performances and baffling team selections less than three months after he succeeded Julen Lopetegui.The former Real Madrid and Argentina midfielder faces the stiffest test of his tenure on Saturday at third-placed Sevilla, who thrashed the European champions 3-0 in September, spelling the beginning of the end for Lopetegui.Sevilla are locked on 33 points with Real, who are fourth in the Liga standings and 10 points off leaders Barcelona, who host Leganes on Sunday.Second-placed Atletico Madrid, reeling from a Copa del Rey exit to Girona on Wednesday, visit basement club Huesca after Real's match on … [Read more...] about Visit of Sevilla could make or break Solari’s Real tenure