TENNIS
Chans exit in France
Taiwanese sisters Latisha Chan and Chan Hao-ching yesterday crashed out at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in France, beaten 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 10-6 by Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan of China in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles. The Chans fell behind early in the first set to trail 0-3, but fought back, converting all three of their break-point opportunities. However, they were dominated in the second set and again fell behind early in the tiebreaker. The Chans defeated Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and partner Wang Xinyu of China 6-4, 5-7, 10-8 in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. The other semi-final was yet to be scheduled as of press time last night.
SOCCER
Iniesta to depart Kobe
Andres Iniesta, who won the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010, and four Champions League titles and nine La Liga championships with Barcelona, is leaving Japanese club Vissel Kobe. Iniesta brushed back tears yesterday as he announced he was leaving and indicated he planned to keep playing, but did not say where. Asked where he might play, he replied in Spanish: “I have to tell you the truth, I don’t know. I want to keep playing football. I feel like I am capable of still playing, but as this chapter closes, we’ll see what’s possible. I want to finish my career on the pitch playing, and this is what I’m hoping to do.” News reports suggested a stint in the Middle East, but with no details about clubs. After finishing his long tenure at Barcelona, Iniesta joined the Japanese club in 2018 on a three-year deal, and prolonged his stay with a two-year extension. News reports indicate his reason for leaving is because he wants more playing time. Iniesta just turned 39 and made the announcement at a club news conference in Kobe. His last game for the club is expected to be at home on July 1, a farewell to fans. Vissel Kobe are leading the J-League standings after 14 rounds.
BOXING
Alvarez seeks Bivol rematch
After his victory over Britain’s John Ryder earlier this month, undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Wednesday said that he wants another fight with Dmitry Bivol, who handed him a rare loss last year. The win over Ryder brought Alvarez’s record up to 59-2-2 in front of a home crowd in Guadalajara, Mexico. “That’s the idea, a rematch with Bivol,” Alvarez said on the sidelines of a real-estate conference. One of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, Alvarez said that he wanted the rematch to be at light heavyweight again. Russian Bivol, the WBA light heavyweight champion, told ESPN earlier this month he was more interested in moving down to super middleweight in a bid for Alvarez’s championship. Should Bivol refuse to meet the terms, Alvarez said “there are other fights out there,” mentioning twins Jermell and Jermall Charlo, and Mexican-American David Benavidez as potential challengers. Benavidez — whom Alvarez called “a great fighter” — has publicly called for a fight between the two. Talks for Alvarez’s next fight, set to take place in September to coincide with Mexico’s Independence Day, would begin next week. “Right now I’m resting, more than anything,” Alvarez said.
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
Hong Kong-based cricket team Hung See this weekend found success in their matches in Taiwan, even if none of the results went their way. Hung See played the Chairman’s XI on Saturday morning, the Daredevils that afternoon and PCCT yesterday, with all three home teams winning. The team for Chinese players at the Happy Valley-based Craigengower Cricket Club sends teams on tour to “spread the game of cricket.” This weekend was Hung See’s second trip to Taiwan after visiting Tainan in 2016. “The club has been traveling to all parts of the world since 1982 and the annual tradition continues [with the Taiwan
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
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