Naomi Osaka rallies to beat Canada's Leylah Fernandez at Wuhan Open
Naomi Osaka dropped the first set before rallying to beat Leylah Fernandez 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the WTA's 1,000-level Wuhan Open.
Iga Swiatek Sport News
Sabalenka to defend Wuhan title after layoff but Zheng out
BEIJING: World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to defend her title at next week’s Wuhan Open following a brief injury layoff but local hero Zheng Qinwen is out. Sabalenka won her fourth Grand Slam crown in New York last month but missed this week’s China Open in Beijing with what she called a small injury. The 27-year-old from Belarus is expected to return to action for the WTA 1000 event in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where she is the reigning champion and a three-time winner. The main draw starts on Monday with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff — who plays the semifinals in Beijing on Saturday — also among the top seeds. In a blow to the tournament and home hopes, local favorite and Olympic champion Zheng pulled out on Friday having recently returned from elbow surgery. The Chinese world number nine, who considers Wuhan her hometown, retired from her last-32 match at the China Open on Monday. Zheng, runner-up to Sabalenka last year, said in a video: “Unfortunately my body has not returned to its best condition. “After discussing with doctors and my team, I regretfully and unfortunately withdrew from this year’s Wuhan Open. “I’m very grateful for the support from all tennis fans, especially those from my hometown.”
Jannik Sinner beats American teen Learner Tien to win China Open
Jannik Sinner won the China Open by beating American teenager Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 in Wednesday's final to continue his preparations for the Shanghai Masters.
Saudi jockey club launches scholarship program
RIYADH: A special program enabling employees of Asian Racing Federation member nations to attend the Asian Racing Conference in February has been launched by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.
Wayne Rooney has ‘no faith’ that Ruben Amorim can revive Manchester United
Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney says the club has lost its soul and has voiced concerns about manager Ruben Amorim’s ability to turn things around after a woeful start to the season. Amorim, who has overseen nine wins, 17 defeats and seven draws in his 33 league games in charge, has faced mounting pressure with United 14th in the Premier League with seven points from six matches. Speaking on his “The Wayne Rooney Show” podcast, on Monday, Rooney said: “I have tried my hand in management and it didn’t work out too well, I get it. “Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I’m sure he still has a massive future, but what’s going on at Man United, this is not Man United. “I honestly hope he can turn it round and he does. But if you’re saying to me, ‘do you believe he will?’, then, after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I’ve got no faith in it.” Minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, who holds roughly 29 percent of United and oversees football operations, has rolled out cost-saving measures including staff reductions, higher ticket prices and the scrapping of free lunches at staff canteens. And Rooney, who won five league titles during his time at United between 2004-2017, said there was more than just the performances on the pitch to be concerned about. “It’s everything about the club that needs fixing ...
Baseball United chief Kash Shaikh ‘proud’ as standouts join Arabia Wolves roster
DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, signed on Tuesday two familiar faces from Dubai to the Arabia Wolves roster for its inaugural season.
Iga Swiatek may skip mandatory tennis events due to packed schedule
World number two Iga Swiatek said the tennis season is too long and too intense and the smart option for her would be to cut back on her schedule for the sake of her health, even if that means skipping mandatory tournaments. The men’s and women’s circuits have faced criticism due to their 11-month seasons, and both the tours have come under fresh scrutiny during the “Asian swing” with five matches at the China Open unable to be completed on Monday due to injuries. Camila Osorio retired after she dropped the first set to Swiatek, while Lois Boisson, Zheng Qinwen, Lorenzo Musetti and Jakub Mensik were unable to complete their matches in Beijing. “I think people are more fatigued,” six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek told reporters. “Unfortunately, the Asian Swing is the hardest part because you feel like the season is going to finish soon, but you still need to push. “I don’t know yet how my career is going to look like in a couple years. Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory.
Iga Swiatek, fresh off tourney win in South Korea, wins 400th career match at China Open
Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek defeated Camila Osorio for her 400th career win and advanced to the fourth round at the China Open in Beijing on Monday.