Page 681 - Sports

Spain's Muguruza cruises into second round of Australian Open

Garbine Muguruza advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday after beating Zheng Saisai in straight sets.

Nishikori advances to second round after Majchrzak retires

Japan's Kei Nishikori advanced to the second round of the Australian Open after Polish wild card Kamil Majchrzak retired due to cramping during Tuesday's match.

2019 World Cup Cricket is going to be a tough contest: Jonathan Trott

Former England batsman Jonathan Trott is keeping his cards close to his chest on predicting the winner of the upcoming edition of the World Cup to be played in his home country.

I feel very good but these tournaments are very long: Verdasco

Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco, 26, who reached the second round of the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament on Monday after beating Serbia'S Miomir Kecmanovic, admitted that he feels great but warned that these type of tournaments are very long.

Serena Williams, Karolina Pliskova advance to second round of Australian Open

Serena Williams of the United States and the Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova dismissed their respective opponents on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Australian Open.

Adelaide ODI: Marsh's ton helps Aussies post 298 runs

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh played a blistering knock of 131 runs to help his side set a solid target of 299 runs for India in the second ODI here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.Opting to bat first, Australia did not get to the best of starts as they lost their skipper Aaron Finch (6) in the seventh over of the match. Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a full-length delivery and scattered Finch's stumps to give India an early breakthrough.Soon after, another Australian opener Alex Carey (18) walked back to the pavilion when he failed to tackle a bouncer from Mohammed Shami. Carey tried to hook the delivery but ended up giving a simple catch to Shikhar Dhawan at mid-wicket.Providing stability to the crumbling Australian batting order, batsmen Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh stitched a 56-run partnership.Just when Australia seemed to be on top of the situation, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja aimed directly for the stumps and succeeded in dismissing Khawaja at a score .

2nd ODI: Marsh ton powers Australia to 298/9 vs India

Australia rode on a laborious century from Shaun Marsh in energy sapping conditions to post a competitive 298/9 against India in the second One-day International (ODI) at the Adelaide Oval here on Tuesday.

Teary-eyed Constantine resigns after India's Asian Cup exit

With tears in his eyes, Stephen Constantine stepped down as the Indian football team's coach, the group stage Asian Cup exit turning out to be one bitter pill that he found too hard to swallow. India's promising start to the continental showpiece ended in a heartbreak when they conceded a 90th minute penalty for Bahrain to eke out a 1-0 win in their final group engagements here Monday night. And his "cycle" was finished. "I'm stepping down after this game. I've been here for four years, my objective from day one was to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. I've done that and I'm exceptionally proud of the players for everything they have given," Constantine said. "I think my cycle has finished. I did what I was asked to and a little bit more and after four years, I think it's time to leave," the Anglo-Cypriot added. This was Constantine's second stint with the Indian side after having been at the helm between 2002 and 2005. He returned to the hot seat after taking over the reins for a second

Marsh fires Australia to 298/9

Shaun Marsh smashed his seventh hundred before India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced a brilliant spell in the death overs to limit Australia to 298-9 in the second ODI here on Tuesday. At the Adelaide Oval, Marsh arrived at the crease at 26-2 and scored 131 runs, inclusive of 11 fours and three sixes, adding 94 runs off 65 balls runs with Glenn Maxwell (48 off 37 balls). This was after Australia won the toss and opted to bat in searing heat. The hosts were unchanged from the previous game, while India brought in debutant Mohammed Siraj in place of Khaleel Ahmed. Bhuvneshwar (4-45) and Mohammed Shami (3-58) exerted themselves on proceedings with the new ball, and didn't let the Australian openers get away quickly. Kumar bowled Aaron Finch (6) through the gate in the seventh over, in a near-similar replay of his dismissal in the first ODI. At the other end, Alex Carey (18) looked set once again before getting out two overs later, a top-edge off Shami's quick bouncer caught at midwicket

Atalanta reach last 8 of Coppa Italia with 2-0 win over Cagliari

Striker Duvan Zapata scored one goal for Atalanta and assisted in the second as the visitors beat Cagliari 2-0 to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2018-2019 Coppa Italia.

Ominous Serena, Zverev make Open statements

A focused Serena Williams sent an ominous Australian Open warning with a 49-minute first-round demolition Tuesday as young gun Alexander Zverev comfortably began his tilt at a maiden Grand Slam title. The American giant is bidding to match Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam crowns on her first return to Melbourne Park since winning in 2017 while eight weeks pregnant. Now 37, she kept a low profile in the lead-up to the opening major of the year and came out of the blocks flying against fellow mum Tatjana Maria, pummelling her German opponent 6-0, 6-2. Sporting a striking jade green jumpsuit and fine mesh stockings on Rod Laver Arena, the 16th seed wasted no time in getting out of the blistering Melbourne heat and said it was good to be back. "The last time I was here I was pregnant and playing at the same time which is insane," she said. "It's weird walking back on -- by myself this time -- it feels good. I have so many memories from last time I was here." Bidding for an eighth .

Indian boxing's 1st CWG gold-medallist Ali Qamar named women's chief coach

Mohammed Ali Qamar, the man who won India's first Commonwealth Games gold medal in boxing, has taken over as chief coach for the country's women pugilists, becoming the youngest ever to get the top job. Ali Qamar, who turns 38 in a couple of months' time, was appointed to the position on Monday night, replacing veteran Shiv Singh. Ali Qamar has been an assistant coach in the national camp for more than a year. In addition, the Arjuna awardee has helmed the Railways Sports Promotion Board's women's team for more than three years. "It has come as a bit of surprise to me, I got to know only last night and I am thankful to the Boxing Federation of India for considering me worthy enough for the position," Ali Qamar, whose history-making CWG gold came in the 2002 Manchester edition in the light flyweight category, told PTI in an interview. The diminutive Kolkata native will be working alongside Italian coach Raffaele Bergamasco and will have seven assistant coaches in his team, including ...

PSL 2019: AB de Villiers set to play in Pakistan

Former South African skipper AB de Villiers has confirmed that he would be playing for his side Lahore Qalandars in their back to back clashes at the city's Gaddafi Stadium in the upcoming Pakistan Super league (PSL).Qalandars are slated to take on defending champions Islamabad United on March 9 and Multan Sultans on the following day. Apart from these two matches, de Villiers will be available for their opening clash of the tournament against Islamabad United as well, which will be played in Dubai."I am delighted to confirm that I will represent Lahore Qalandars in front of our home crowds on 9 and 10 March, during the PSL 2019," PSL official website quoted De Villiers, as saying. "I look forward to revisiting the Gaddafi Stadium and aim to play my part in helping Lahore Qalandars achieve something they have been aspiring for since the inception of this tournament in 2016."The right-hand batsman had last visited Lahore in October 2017 where South Africa played Test matches and five ..

Jos Buttler sees 'huge opportunity' in World Cup for England

English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler believes that with England hosting this year's cricket World Cup, it is a huge opportunity for them. He, however, cautioned the team against getting too far considering how things change quickly in cricket."It is a huge opportunity and we all want to play a part in an exciting time for English cricket. It's a huge year, but for us, it's a case of focusing on the here and now because we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We're aware of how quickly things can change in cricket and you can come unstuck," ICC quoted Buttler, as saying.The 2019 Ashes series will also be hosted by England in August, this year to which the right-hand batsman said that they need to world really hard to have a good end result."We're all in a very fortunate position to potentially play a part in a huge period of time for England cricket. They're all very romantic ideas but the end product comes from hard work in the years before that and from doing some good .

Indian football coach resigns post Asian Cup debacle

Indian football coach Stephen Constantine has resigned from the post following India's ouster from the ongoing AFC Asian Cup.A draw against Bahrain in the final Group match would have led India to the knock out stage of the tournament for the first time, but a last-minute goal by the opposition kicked the national side out of the competition.Soon after the defeat, the Indian coach said that his objective was to qualify for the Asian Cup, which he achieved, and now it's time to move on. He also thanked the players and Indian football federation for all the support during his tenure."I have been here for four years. My objective from day one was to qualify for the Asian Cup and we have done that. I think my cycle is finished. I did what I was asked. It is time for me to move on," goal.com quoted Constantine, as saying."I am exceptionally proud of the players for everything that they have given. I thank the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kushal Das, Praful Patel and Abhishek Yadav

Serena Williams begins Australian Open campaign with a bang

American tennis ace Serena Williams started her campaign at the ongoing Australian Open with a thumping win over Germany's Tatjana Maria here at the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.The 37-year-old thrashed her German counterpart 6-0, 6-2 in a one-sided clash that lasted 49 minutes.Showing some blistering skills on the court, the former world number one dropped just five points to start the first set. Smashing nine winning points, she registered a comfortable victory in the first set without dropping a game.Maria worked hard on the court but did not manage to break the Williams court. The German fancied her chances when she earned two points in the second set with the help of smashing aces.Williams, however, gave no further chances of recovery to Maria and crossed the finishing line with one last break of serve. She ended the match with 22 winning points and 11 unforced errors.In other matches of the day, world number four Naomi Osaka will kick-start her campaign in the tournament against ..

Adelaide ODI: India to bowl first against Aussies

Australia won the toss and asked India to bowl first in the second ODI of their ongoing three-match series here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.Following the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said he was looking to bat first, considering the conditions of the pitch.Talking about the team combinations, Kohli informed that pacer Mohammed Siraj has been included in the squad in place of Khaleel Ahmed."We would have batted. It looks a great wicket and it's very hot. We lost the first T20I earlier in the tour and bounced back quickly. It's good to put yourself under pressure. We have one change. Mohammed Siraj comes in and Khaleel Ahmed misses out," Kohli said.Australian captain Aaron Finch, on the other hand, kept the squad same as the first ODI and hoped to put a good performance in the match."Good opportunity to bat first again after a good performance in Sydney. We're unchanged," Finch said.Having lost the opening match of the series, India would look to up the ante as it is a do or die

I'd be okay if Australian Open match is my last: Murray

Former world number one Andy Murray, who faced a first-round ouster from the ongoing Australian Open, said that if the match was his last one, it was a brilliant way to finish.The comment came shortly after Murray revealed that the 2019 Australian Open could be his last tournament."If today was my last match, look, it was a brilliant way to finish. That's something that I'll probably take into consideration, as well. It was an amazing atmosphere. I literally gave everything that I had on the court, fought as best as I could, and performed a lot better than what I should have done without the amount I've been able to practice and train. I'd be okay with that being my last match," ATP quoted Murray, as saying.The British player had lost his opening match of the tournament 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 2-6 against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in a grueling contest. Talking about the match, he said that the atmosphere on the court was amazing."I was emotional at that moment. It was cool. I don't .

Serena opens bid for Slam history with crushing win

Serena Williams launched her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title with a straight sets mauling of Germany's Tatjana Maria in the Australian Open first round Tuesday. In an ominous warning to her rivals at Melbourne Park, the American took just 49 minutes to dismantle Maria 6-0, 6-2, justifying her status as bookies' favourite to claim an eighth Australian title. The 37-year-old won her 23rd major Down Under two years ago while eight weeks pregnant and is now attempting to match Margaret Court's mark of 24 singles Slams on the Australian's home soil. "The last time I was here I was pregnant and playing at the same time, so it's kind of weird walking back on by myself this time," she said. "I have so many good memories of the last time I was here. It was literally the best win of my career, so it's just good to get back." It was Serena's first outing on tour since her infamous meltdown at the umpire while losing the US Open final to Naomi Osaka in September. The centre court

Murray's agony: 'It's so sore I even hate walking the dogs'

Andy Murray has opened up about the personal agony of his battered right hip after losing an epic Australian Open five-setter, saying he can't even enjoy simple pleasures like walking his dogs. The Scot fought to the bitter end in what could prove his final match before losing a four-hour thriller to 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday night. He now faces a heart-wrenching dilemma -- having to decide over the next week whether to battle on through the pain for an emotional farewell at Wimbledon or undergo major surgery knowing it may mean he can never play tennis again. "I mean, I'll probably decide in the next week or so. But that's what I was saying the other day, that this might be my last match," the 31-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion told a news conference in the early hours of Tuesday morning. "If I go ahead with the operation and I don't recover well from it, then I don't play again," added the Scot who has won two Wimbledons, a US Open, the Davis Cup and two ...