LONDON: Briton Johanna Konta’s decision to appoint Thomas Hogstedt as her coach to replace Dimitri Zavialoff is a “weird choice” as the Swede can be difficult to work with, her former Fed Cup teammate Laura Robson has said. Hogstedt, who previously worked with Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka, […]
Sports
Kyrgios has been taking pot shots at Djokovic and other tennis players who have breached social distancing guidelines since the Adria Tour which resulted in four players contracting Covid-19. SYDNEY: Nick Kyrgios was once fined for a “lack of best efforts” at the Shanghai Masters but the mercurial Australian […]
NEW YORK: Serena Williams was sent spinning out of the Western and Southern Open by Maria Sakkari yesterday after the Greek rallied from a set down to beat the 23-times Grand Slam champion 5-7 7-6(5) 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals. Williams, 38, raced to a 5-2 in the opening set […]
MADRID: When Lionel Messi won an unprecedented sixth Ballon d’Or in December last year, the speculation had already begun over his career at Barcelona. The 33-year-old Argentine footballing genius was increasingly unable single-handedly to rescue his imploding club, as he had done so often in the past. Barcelona, despite lifting […]
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) Safawi Rasid could be the next Malaysian footballer to play in the European league, as he has received an offer from Portugal’s top-tier outfit Portimonense SC. JDT’s sporting director Martin Prest confirmed that the Southern Tigers received the offer from the Portuguese Primeira Liga […]
NEW YORK: The agent for Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt confirmed yesterday that the eight-time Olympic gold medallist has tested positive for the coronavirus. “The Covid test was positive, but Usain is not showing any symptoms,” Ricky Simms told American news channel CNN in an email. Simms’ statement confirms earlier […]
MILWAUKEE: Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year yesterday. Antetokounmpo received 75 first-place votes and 432 points in balloting performed by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Power forward Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers was second (200 points, 14 first-place […]
AMSTERDAM: Ajax Amsterdam defender Daley Blind will undergo further tests after his implanted heart defibrillator momentarily switched off in yesterday’s pre-season friendly against Hertha Berlin, manager Erik ten Hag said. The former Manchester United defender dropped to ground late in the game, which Ajax won 1-0 at the Johan Cruyff […]
MILAN: Spanish forward Pedro Rodriguez yesterday signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Roma after leaving Chelsea on a free transfer. The 33-year-old former World Cup winner becomes the Italian club’s first summer signing on a deal which runs until June 2023. “I am delighted to be here at […]
BERLIN: Germany coach Joachim Loew omitted Bayern Munich’s Champions League-winning players from his squad announced yesterday for upcoming Nations League games against Spain and Switzerland, giving them extra time to recover. Captain Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka were all left out for next month’s double-header, although […]