TENNIS
Taiwanese advance in Dubai
Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and partner Giuliana Olmos of Mexico on Monday eased through the first round of the women’s doubles at the Dubai Open to set up a round-of-16 match against Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri. Seventh seeds Chan and Olmos beat Magda Linette of Poland and Romania’s Monica Niculescu 1-6, 6-2, 10-4, while Wu and Eikeri downed Russia’s Anastasia Potapova and Vera Zvonareva 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 10-6. Top seeds Hsieh Su-wei and and Belgian partner Elise Mertens, fresh off their history-making Australian Open victory last month, earned a bye to the round of 16, where they are to play Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
SOCCER
Ito sues accusers
Japan international player Junya Ito is suing two women who accused him of sexual assault for ￥200 million (US$1.33 million) in damages, his lawyer said. The 30-year-old winger, who plays for French club Stade de Reims, is under investigation by Japanese police over the alleged incident in Osaka last year. He denies any wrongdoing. Ito’s lawyer, Hirotaro Kato, told reporters on Monday, that is “extremely important to restore his honor as soon as possible, as a period of a player’s career is limited.” Local media reports said Ito’s physical trainer has also been accused. A report about the accusations against Ito was published in a Japanese magazine while he was at the Asian Cup in Qatar last month. He left the Japan squad before their quarter-final against Iran.
SOCCER
Roy Hodgson steps down
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson on Monday stepped down less than a year into his second stint at the Premier League club, with Oliver Glasner appointed as his replacement. The former Liverpool and England boss guided Palace to safety last season, but results this term have not met expectations with the South London club 16th in the table. Former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Glasner has signed a deal to become Palace boss until the end of the 2025-2026 season. Hodgson’s decision follows back-to-back losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea. The 3-1 loss to Chelsea at Selhurst Park marked the 76-year-old’s 200th match in charge of Palace.
OLYMPICS
Rider escapes punishment
Australian equestrian Shane Rose on Monday escaped punishment for wearing a “mankini” during a showjumping competition, allowing him to resume preparations for this summer’s Paris Olympics. The three-time Olympic medalist slipped into the fluorescent orange outfit — popularized in the movie Borat — during an event at Wallaby Hill near Sydney earlier this month where riders were encouraged to wear fancy dress. It sparked a complaint to Equestrian Australia, but the governing body opted not to sanction the 50-year-old after a groundswell of public support for the rider. He told the Sydney Morning Herald that he was happy he could again focus on his Olympic preparations. “It’s a great relief to get it to happen and prepare for Paris as best I can,” said Rose, who also posted an offer of free mankinis on his Facebook page.
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday poured in 35 points as the Thunder grabbed a bounce-back 118-108 victory in Portland to push their NBA-best record to 37-8. The Thunder, surprised by the short-handed Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, fended off a late surge from the Trail Blazers to snap their four-game winning streak. Jalen Williams scored 24 points and Isaiah Joe added 16 off the bench. Center Isaiah Hartenstein, back after a five-game absence with a calf injury, added 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a big block. The Western Conference leaders were under pressure late as Portland, trailing by 15 heading
The Golden State Warriors on Wednesday withstood Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 52-point outburst to beat the Western Conference leading Thunder 116-109. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half as Golden State erased a double-digit deficit and pulled away late for the victory. “We just stayed solid,” said Curry, who entered the contest mired in a shooting slump and had just four points on one basket in the first half. “Just all-around effort.” The Thunder, fueled by 31 first-half points from Gilgeous-Alexander, led by as many as 14 in the
Ousmane Dembele on Wednesday scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. PSG were at risk of elimination after a disappointing league stage, with three losses and a draw, but were utterly dominant against an outclassed Stuttgart side as they confirmed their place in the playoffs. With six minutes gone, Bradley Barcola headed PSG in front after Desire Doue stood a cross up at the back post following a corner. Stuttgart probed for an equalizer, but PSG hit on the counterattack, Dembele tapping a Barcola pass into an
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