Saudi Arabia’s great football experiment is paying off
MANCHESTER, England: The great Saudi Arabian football experiment is on full show at the Club World Cup.
UK Sport News
Barbora Krejcikova gets title defense off to stuttering start
LONDON: Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova survived a stiff examination from promising 20-year-old Filipino Alexandra Eala before finding her groove to triumph 3-6 6-2 6-1 on her return to Wimbledon’s Center Court on Tuesday. Czech Krejcikova, a shock winner as 31st seed last year and seeded 17th this time, came into the tournament short on form after a succession of injuries and initially had no answer to the confident, free-swinging Eala, who is the first woman from the Philippines to play at Wimbledon. Eala turned 20 in May and was making her first Wimbledon appearance but she immediately looked at home in the daunting surroundings of the sport’s most iconic court. Krejcikova forced the first break in the third game, however, Eala hit straight back, swinging her lefty forehand freely and throwing in a beautifully disguised drop shot. She then upped the ante, holding confidently and breaking again as her two-fisted backhand came to the fore and, from 2-1 down with a break against, Eala reeled off four games in a row. Krejcikova struggled to find any consistency and was not helped by five first-set double faults and very cautious shot choices. The champion just about held serve after six deuces but Eala was not to be denied and served out to take the first set. Krejcikova looked as if she had had a physical and mental reboot for the second set where she showed much more energy and found her serving range.
Saudi club Neom sign former France striker Lacazette
PARIS: Former France forward Alexandre Lacazette has signed for Saudi club Neom after the end of his contract at Lyon, the Pro League side announced on Tuesday.
Andreeva youngest woman left in Wimbledon women’s draw after nervy win over Sherif
LONDON: Wimbledon seventh seed Mirra Andreeva booked her place in the second round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Mayar Sherif following a nervy start on Tuesday, with the 18-year-old now the youngest woman standing at this year’s tournament.
Aldrich Potgieter, 20, wins Rocket Classic in five-hole playoff
DETROIT: As a grueling playoff unfolded in the Rocket Classic, South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter was determined to have enough pace on what became the final putt Sunday.
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a winner of 15 Triple Crown races, dies at 89
NEW YORK: D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Famer who became one of the most accomplished trainers in the history of horse racing and a face of the sport for decades, has died. He was 89.
New faces lead US women to familiar result: 4-0 win over Ireland
CINCINNATI: The US women’s national team’s depth was on display Sunday in Cincinnati when the squad’s backups dominated Ireland for a 4-0 victory in a friendly.
Reed wins four-man playoff to capture first LIV Golf title
WASHINGTON: Patrick Reed birdied the first extra hole to win a four-man playoff on Sunday and capture LIV Golf Dallas for his first victory in 41 starts in the Saudi-backed series. Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, led by as many as five strokes early in the final round, squandered his advantage, then won on only the third birdie of the day at the 18th hole at Maridoe Golf Club. “The biggest thing with relief is to finally win in my home state,” said Reed, who lives near Houston. “To finally get that done meant a lot.