TENNIS
Taiwan’s Hsieh exits
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday exited at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Hsieh and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium were beaten 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 at King Saud University by the US’ Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in a match they had to win to advance to the semi-finals of the US$15,250,000 hardcourt event. Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US and Australia’s Ellen Perez defeated Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 6-3. In the singles on Wednesday, Zheng Qinwen of China defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-1 and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan beat Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
GOLF
Chien Pei-yun trails Kim
South Korea’s Kim A-lim on Wednesday shot a six-under-par 66 to gain a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Lotte Championship at Ewa Beach in Hawaii, while Taiwan’s Chien Pei-yun was in a five-way share of second. The other four players in second after carding five-under 67 at the Hoakalei Country Club were Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines, China’s Liu Ruixin, Polly Mack of Germany and France’s Perrine Delacour. Three other Taiwanese were further down the leaderboard: Hou Yu-sang was in a share of 21st after shooting a two-under 70, Min Lee was even-par with 72 for a share of 57th and in a share of 88th was Cheng Ssu-chia, who carded a 74.
FORMULA 1
Hamilton rumors denied
Lewis Hamilton is to drive for Ferrari next year, but rumors that the seven-time champion is exiting Mercedes before the end of this season reportedly were denied by Mercedes. Rumors of Hamilton making an immediate split with his current team arose after his poor showing last week in Brazil, where he placed 11th in the sprint on Saturday and 10th in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 after the racing that instead of driving in the final three events of the year, he “could happily go and take a holiday.” However, media reported on Wednesday that Mercedes confirmed that Hamilton would remain behind the wheel at Las Vegas on Nov. 24; in Lusail, Qatar on Dec. 1; and in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 8.
BOXING
Benn suspension lifted
Conor Benn said he was eager to return to the ring after his provisional suspension over two failed drugs tests in 2022 was lifted following a decision by the National Anti-Doping Panel. Benn had been scheduled to take on Chris Eubank Jr before the bout was called off when he returned a finding for trace amounts of fertility drug clomifene. The 28-year-old was cleared of intentional doping last year, but had a provisional suspension reimposed in May after successful appeals by British anti-doping authorities and the British Boxing Board of Control. However, the British authorities on Wednesday said they had received the panel’s decision and that Benn’s provisional suspension had been lifted. Benn, who has a 23-0 record, said on Instagram that he was ready to move forward. “As someone who is so passionate about boxing and an advocate for clean sport, I hope now I have been cleared it can be understood why I have maintained my innocence so strongly throughout,” he said.
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
HARD TO SAY GOODBYE: After Coco Gauff dispatched Belinda Bencic in the fourth round, she wrote ‘RIP TikTok USA’ and drew a broken heart on a television camera lens Defending champion Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while compatriot Chan Hao-ching on Saturday dominated her opponents in the second round, as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals. Third seeds Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia toppled Hungary’s Timea Babos and Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US 6-4, 6-3, hitting 24 winners and converting three of seven break points in 1 hour, 18 minutes at 1573 Arena. Although rivals at last year’s Australian Open — where Hsieh and Belgium’s Elise Mertens beat Ostapenko and Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-1, 7-5
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Coco Gauff’s dreams of a first women’s singles title in Melbourne were crushed in the quarter-finals by Paula Badosa. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev was ruffled by a stray feather in his men’s singles quarter-final, but he refocused to beat 12th seed Tommy Paul and reach the semi-finals. Third seeds Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 in 2 hours, 20 minutes to advance the semi-finals. Hsieh and Ostapenko converted eight of 14 break
RSS