The secret history of Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia
JEDDAH: As McLaren’s Oscar Piastri lifted the winner’s trophy on Sunday night, the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix marked a milestone that goes far beyond the checkered flag.
Saudi Arabia Sport News
Ostapenko on upward trajectory as clay season gains momentum
Jelena Ostapenko is starting to show shades of the form that saw her crowned French Open champion eight years ago with the Latvian knocking over the top two players in the world en route to winning the Stuttgart Open title on Monday. Ostapenko became the first woman to beat the world number one and number two in the same claycourt event since Serena Williams at Madrid in 2012 by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final and Iga Swiatek in the quarters. Her ninth tour-level title, and just her second on clay, lifted Ostapenko six places in the world rankings to 18th, marking her out as a dark horse ahead of Roland Garros, which begins on May 25. “Honestly, I didn’t tell anyone, but I felt confident since the first day. I had a strange feeling in a good way,” she told reporters in Stuttgart. “When I came here, I felt like something’s going to happen this week.
Pistons snap NBA playoff skid, vintage Leonard leads Clippers past Nuggets in Denver
LOS ANGELES: The Detroit Pistons snapped their record 15-game NBA playoff losing streak with a 100-94 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday to level their Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece.
The Pope with ‘two left feet’ who loved the ‘beautiful game’
VATICAN CITY: His predecessor loved Mozart, but Pope Francis’s passion was football — for him “the most beautiful game” and also a vehicle to educate and spread peace.
Duplantis and Biles win Laureus World Sports Awards
MADRID: Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis and American gymnast Simone Biles shared the top honors on Monday at the annual Laureus World Sport Awards ceremony in Madrid.
Al-Ittihad move closer to Saudi Pro League glory as Al-Hilal stumble again
Al-Ittihad took a big step toward the Saudi Pro League title on Monday, beating Ettifaq 3-2 to move six points clear at the top of the table ahead of Al-Hilal, who earlier drew 2-2 with Al-Shabab.
Al-Ittihad take advantage of Al-Hilal stumble to edge closer to Saudi title
Al-Ittihad moved six points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League after coming from behind to beat Al-Ittifaq 3-2 as title rivals Al-Hilal were held to a 2-2 draw by Al-Shabab on Monday.
Gill, Sudharsan help toppers Gujarat boss Kolkata in IPL
KOLKATA: Shubman Gill led from the front with his 55-ball 90 to help Gujarat Titans hammer holders Kolkata Knight Riders by 39 runs on Monday and consolidate their top spot in the IPL.Gujarat posted 198-3 after Sai Sudharsan, who hit 52, and Gill put on 114 runs for the first wicket to lay the foundations of the total at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.The bowlers then combined to restrict Kolkata to 159-8 with skipper Ajinkya Rahane playing a lone hand with 50 to register Gujarat’s sixth win in eight matches.Kolkata, who won their third title of the popular T20 tournament last year, slipped to their fifth defeat in eight matches.The batters set up victory for Gujarat with England’s Jos Buttler hitting an unbeaten 41 off 23 balls as he steered the team after the opening stand between the Sudharsan and Gill.“We never talk about that one of us has to stay until the end,” player-of-the-match Gill said on being asked about one of their top three staying through to the end in most of the matches.“We just talk about how we can score runs in these conditions and how to take the game deep.”Gill was watchful at the start but the left-handed Sudharsan hit a few boundaries to get Gujarat going after being invited to bat first.Gill took on Moeen Ali with a six and two fours in the second spell for the former England spinner and soon reached his third half-century of the season.The in-form Sudharsan raised his fifth 50-plus score in this edition as he went past 400 runs to nudge out Lucknow Super Giants batsman Nicholas Pooran (368) as the leading batsman.Buttler is third with 356 runs in his eight innings.Andre Russell handed Kolkata its first breakthrough as the pace bowler dismissed Sudharsan after his 36-ball knock but he came under