Sports — International

Tennis: South African Kevin Anderson advances to US Open final

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — South Africa’s Kevin Anderson advanced to his first Grand Slam final on Friday by defeating Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Anderson, seeded 28th, will play for the $3.7 million (3.07 million euros) top prize Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium against the later winner between world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain and Argentina’s 24th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro. © Agence France-Presse

Football: Rooney looks to redeem himself against Spurs

by Jon West Agence France-Presse LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom (AFP) — Everton manager Ronald Koeman confirmed striker Wayne Rooney will play against Tottenham on Saturday despite a drink drive charge hanging over the striker. Rooney was arrested a week ago and has a court hearing on September 18th after being released on bail over the incident. The 31-year-old has scored twice in three Premier League games for Everton having rejoined his boyhood club from Manchester United in the summer. […]

Rafael Nadal discusses possible meeting with Federer in the U.S. Open semis

NEW YORK CITY, USA (Reuters) — Rafael Nadal raced into the United States Open semifinals on Wednesday (September 6) with a one hour 37 minute 6-1 6-2 6-2 win over Russian teenager Andrey Rublev. The lopsided victory cleared the path for a possible showdown with rival Roger Federer. Amazingly the two tennis greats have never played each other in Flushing Meadow. Federer plays 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro on Wednesday evening. It […]

Tennis: Injured Murray says likely to miss rest of season

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s Andy Murray said on Wednesday he is unlikely to play again this season due to a hip injury that forced him to pull out of the US Open. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in the upcoming events in Beijing and Shanghai, and most likely, the final two events to finish the season in Vienna and Paris due to my hip injury which has been bothering me the last […]

Football: Wood rescues US with Honduras draw

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AFP) — Hamburg striker Bobby Wood scored a late equalizer to salvage a crucial 1-1 draw for the United States in their World Cup qualifier with Honduras here Tuesday. Wood bundled in an 85th-minute leveller just 12 minutes after coming on as a substitute to rescue a point for the Americans in sweltering conditions at the Olimpico Metropolitano Stadium. The result means that Bruce Arena’s side still have automatic qualification in their own hands, […]

Tennis: Teen Rublev tries to deny Nadal semi-final at US Open

by Jim Slater Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Russian teen Andrey Rublev, inspired by other young stars of Russian parentage, is the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Andy Roddick in 2001 and on a collision course with his idol – Rafael Nadal. The 53rd-ranked 19-year-old dispatched Belgian ninth seed David Goffin 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 Monday to book a last-eight date Wednesday with 15-time Grand Slam champion and world number one Nadal. “I’m just going to […]

Tennis: All in the family as Vandeweghe makes Open last eight

by Jim Slater Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — When CoCo Vandeweghe says she’s trying to become the best athlete in her family as well as a US Open champion, it’s more impressive company than one might imagine. There’s her Olympic swimmer mother Tauna, the NBA trio of her uncle Kiki, grandpa Ernie and great-uncle Mel plus ex-beach volleyball pro uncle Bruk and aunt Heather, the US polo team captain. “My grandfather always said he was the […]

Football: Ozil comments laughable – Arsenal great Wright

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Arsenal great Ian Wright has branded Mesut Ozil’s complaints about the criticism he receives from former players “laughable” in view of his failure to sign a new contract. In a long Facebook post on Saturday, Ozil hit out at his critics in the media and told Arsenal’s former players to “stop talking and start supporting.” But with the 28-year-old Germany playmaker still to extend a contract that expires at the end of the […]

Football: S.Korea coach promises World Cup victory in Tashkent

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Under-fire coach Shin Tae-Yong has promised South Korea will “beef up their mental strength” and go all out for the victory against Uzbekistan Tuesday that would secure World Cup qualification for a ninth successive time. “We’ll return home with victory no matter what,” vowed Shin ahead of the final Asian zone Group A encounter in Tashkent. The Taeguk Warriors, with just one win in their last five qualifiers, could only manage a goalless […]

Tennis: Sharapova knocked out while Venus advances at US Open

  by Jim Slater Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Maria Sharapova’s Grand Slam return after a 15-month doping ban ended in defeat Sunday at the US Open but the former world number one considered it a major step in her comeback. Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova rallied to eliminate the five-time Grand Slam champion 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, booking a quarter-final against American Sloane Stephens, who ousted Germany’s […]

Motorcycling: Rossi breaks leg in training crash

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italian motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi broke his leg in a crash in training on Thursday to dash his hopes of a 10th world title this season. The 38-year-old will undergo surgery “as soon as possible”, his Yamaha team announced in a statement. Rossi was on board an endurance bike when the accident occurred. “Valentino Rossi was involved in an enduro accident during a training activity close to his hometown (of Urbino) […]

NBA: Celtics, Cavs seal Irving deal

By Ariel Romero | EBC Sports Correspondent  Kyrie Irving’s trade to the Boston Celtics from the Cleveland Cavaliers has been completed following a delay caused by concerns over an injury to Isaiah Thomas. A joint statement announced Wednesday said the trade agreed earlier this month would finally process, with the Celtics adding Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, a 2018 first round pick via Brooklyn and a 2020 2nd round draft pick via Miami. Irving, a four-time All-Star, stunned […]