HOCKEY
Virus sidelines Islanders
The NHL on Saturday postponed the New York Islanders’ next two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak that hit the team. The Islanders said they potentially had eight unavailable players for yesterday’s road game against the New York Rangers. The NHL postponed the two games in consultation with the NHL Players Association and the Islanders’ medical personnel. The contest against the Rangers and a road game against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow would be rescheduled for later in the season, the NHL said. The Islanders are slated to host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The decision came after forward Casey Cizikas entered COVID-19 protocols on Saturday, which left the team with seven players in the protocol. Forward Josh Bailey was removed from protocol on Friday and was considered a game-time decision if yesterday’s contest had been played.
TENNIS
Serbia fall in shock defeat
Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic on Saturday lost a dramatic deciding tie-break in their doubles rubber as Serbia suffered a shock defeat by Germany in the Davis Cup Finals, while Daniil Medvedev helped the Russian Tennis Federation to an opening win. World No. 1 Djokovic had drawn Serbia level in their second group-stage tie by beating Jan-Lennard Struff after Filip Krajinovic’s loss to Dominik Koepfer. Germany would qualify for the quarter-finals from Group F if they beat Austria yesterday, which would leave Serbia waiting to see if they progress as one of the two best runners-up. The Russians, among the title favorites, made a perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador. Italy became the first team to reach the last eight, backing up their win over the US by seeing off Colombia to wrap up the top spot in Group E.
ALPINE SKIING
Mayer wins at Lake Louise
Austrian double Olympic gold medalist Matthias Mayer on Saturday won the opening downhill race of the men’s World Cup season ahead of compatriot Vincent Kriechmayr and Switzerland’s Beat Feuz. It was a dominating start to the speed season by the Austrians, who placed three skiers in the first five and six in the top 16 at the iconic resort in the Canadian Rockies, signaling another fierce battle for coveted Olympic spots. Competing a day after the first downhill race of the week was called off because of too much snow, Mayer posted a time of 1 minute, 47.74 seconds to secure his 11th World Cup win. The 31-year-old Mayer has finished on the podium in each of his past six World Cup downhill appearances, a run that began with his triumph in Bormio in December last year.
BASKETBALL
Suns extend win streak to 16
Devin Booker on Saturday scored 30 points and the Phoenix Suns led wire-to-wire to easily beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-107 and extend their NBA winning streak to 16 games. The Suns have the second-longest winning streak in franchise history as they survived a late comeback by Brooklyn. They are trying to equal the 2006-2007 team, which holds the record of 17 straight wins. Booker did most of his damage in the first and third quarters, shooting nine of 18 from the floor overall and nailing four three-pointers in 32 minutes of playing time.
A runner who stopped during a marathon in China to pose doing the splits and another who hoarded energy gels have been banned for two years, the local athletics association said yesterday. The incidents happened during Sunday’s marathon in Sichuan Province’s Chengdu and were widely shared online. Videos showed a female runner stopping suddenly and dropping to the ground in the splits position, holding up her arms in a heart shape as she apparently posed for a photograph. She “committed obstructive fouls during the race, affecting the safe participation of other runners,” the Sichuan Athletics Association said in a statement, which identified
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli yesterday vowed to “keep raising the bar” after winning the Japanese Grand Prix to become the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the championship standings. The 19-year-old Italian took advantage of a mid-race safety car to jump into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position, crossing the line ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Antonelli’s Suzuka victory came two weeks after the first grand prix win of his career in China, and sent him top of the championship standings after three races, nine points ahead of team-mate George Russell. Mercedes are struggling to
Teng Kai-wei, the only Taiwanese player on an opening-day roster in this year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) season, took his first win of the year with the Houston Astros in his season debut. Teng entered in relief in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, with the Astros trailing 5-0. He pitched 2-1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, as Houston scored 11 runs during his outing to snatch an 11-9 comeback victory. The win is the Astros’ first of the season and the third of Teng’s MLB career. “It’s my first time pitching for the Astros, so
Workers are hammering, cranes are swinging and seats are being bolted into place — but the clock is ticking. Mexico City’s famous Azteca stadium, reborn as Estadio Banorte, is in a frantic race to be ready for its grand reopening on Saturday. Drone footage showed crews installing seats and attaching the new stadium name to the facade, with cranes looming overhead 48 hours before the gates are due to open for a high-profile friendly between Mexico and Portugal. For residents, the breakneck pace of construction has done little to inspire confidence. “I know they are working practically seven days a week, 24 hours
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