MOTORSPORTS
Max Verstappen takes pole
Runaway championship leader Max Verstappen yesterday took pole position for today’s Japanese Grand Prix as he attempts to clinch his second straight world title in Suzuka. The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in dry conditions with a time of 1 minute 29.304 seconds, just 0.010 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, his nearest championship rival. Carlos Sainz was third in the other Ferrari. Verstappen was handed a reprimand after an incident involving the Dutchman and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Norris was forced onto the grass to avoid hitting Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver muttering “unbelievable” over his team radio, but later apologizing. Verstappen can clinch the title today if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do. The Dutchman would also retain his crown if he wins and Leclerc is third or lower. “It was incredible to drive here again and of course very happy to be on pole, but just super happy to be back here,” said Verstappen, whose car lost a chunk of bodywork on his last lap after he ran wide on a section of the track. “I lost a bit of my duct on that last lap which is why I didn’t improve. Tomorrow [today] will be interesting with the weather.” Showers are forecast for today.
TENNIS
Frances Tiafoe reaches final
Frances Tiafoe yesterday battled past unseeded Kwon Soon-woo of South Korea in three sets to reach the Japan Open final, but the American said that it had not made pretty viewing. The fourth-seeded Tiafoe won 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 and faces compatriot Taylor Fritz in today’s final in Tokyo after Fritz beat Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3. “It was a weird match, but I’m happy to get through,” Tiafoe said. “I wasn’t expecting him [Kwon] to play like that. He played really fast and really aggressive. He was playing really well, obviously, but a win’s a win, and you take it,” the 24-year-old said. “It’s not always going to be pretty, it’s not always going to be the best stuff, but a win is what matters.”
SOCCER
Mbappe to earn US$128m
French superstar striker Kylian Mbappe is expected to earn a record US$128 million in annual earnings to top the list of the world’s highest-paid soccer players, Forbes magazine reported on Friday. The magazine said that Mbappe crossed the US$100 million milestone at age 23, while such legends as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were in their 30s and at the peak of their careers when crossing that money mark for the first time. Mbappe in May signed a three-year contract extension to remain with Ligue 1 side Paris-Saint Germain. Forbes reported that the deal would bring Mbappe about US$110 million for his salary and season share of a signing bonus, plus an estimated US$18 million in annual endorsement income from such companies as Nike, Dior, Hublot and Oakley. Mbappe was on the cover of the EA Sports FIFA video game, founded the production company Zebra Valley and is an investor in fantasy NFT platform Sorare. “He’s a global icon already,” Sorare cofounder Nicolas Julia told Forbes. “He wants to aid the world and show, also, that huge things can be built out of France.” PSG teammate Messi, 35, ranks second at US$120 million, with Manchester United’s Ronaldo, 37, third on US$100 million.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday pulled off a major upset in the DFB-Pokal by defeating defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-1 in their semi-final. The third-division team came from behind after Jonathan Tah gave the visitors a 17th-minute lead. Marius Worl replied three minutes later and Maximilian Groser scored Bielefeld’s second goal just before the break. The home team looked more likely to add to that tally as the Leverkusen players looked jaded. “I’m just proud of this team,” Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat said as most of the fans the small stadium sang around him. “No one will sleep in the city tonight.” Patrik Schick went
RSS