Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Soccer-Liverpool and Chelsea play out stalemate, Everton woes continue
Liverpool and Chelsea’s chances of a top-four finish suffered a blow as the pair played out a disappointing 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Saturday, while Everton’s relegation fears grew after a 2-0 loss at West Ham United. Only Southampton are below Everton – on goal difference alone – after the bottom side lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa, while West Ham’s win meant Bournemouth replaced them in the bottom three despite earning a point in their 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest .
Tennis-Swiatek wants winning mindset back after Australian Open exit
Iga Swiatek said she needed to reset and rediscover some of the fighting spirit she showed last year after the top seed crashed out of the Australian Open fourth round following a 6-4 6-4 defeat by Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Sunday. Reigning French Open and US Open winner Swiatek said the pressure had been building over the last two weeks and she had been going into matches hoping not to lose rather than wanting to win.
Tennis-Top seed Swiatek knocked out by Wimbledon champion Rybakina
World number one Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Australian Open on Sunday with a 6-4 6-4 defeat by Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Rod Laver Arena. Kazakhstan’s Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals of the season’s opening Grand Slam for the first time with an impressive display against the misfiring Pole.
Tennis-Djokovic backs up Murray’s concerns over ‘gruelling’ schedule
Novak Djokovic said on Saturday that Australian Open organizers should take player input into account when scheduling matches, adding that late night clashes are “gruelling” for players. Andy Murray slammed officials as his epic five-set win over Thanasi Kokkinakis finished after 4 am on Friday (1700 GMT on Thursday), well beyond the usual Grand Slam midnight madness.
Athletics-World Athletics proposes tighter rules for transgender women athletes
World Athletics on Saturday said it is consulting with member federations on a proposal that would impose more stringent testosterone limits on transgender women athletes competing in women’s track and field events. The governing body’s proposal stops short of calling for an outright ban on trans athletes and said it arrived at its “preferred option” after reviewing a number of new and existing scientific studies and observations from the field.
Athletics dynasty captain Sal Bando died at 78
Sal Bando, the captain of three straight Oakland Athletics world championship clubs during the 1970s, died Friday night in Wisconsin at 78 due to cancer, the A’s and Milwaukee Brewers both announced on Saturday. The four-time All-Star third baseman was the leader of the Athletics, who were World Series champions from 1972-74. He played 11 seasons with the franchise from 1966-76 — the first two in Kansas City — before finishing his career with five seasons for the Brewers.
Soccer-Yorke leaves coaching role with A-League outfit Macarthur
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has left his position as head coach of Macarthur FC after less than seven months in charge, the A-League outfit has announced. A statement posted on Macarthur’s official website said the club and Yorke, who was in his first role as a head coach and had been appointed in July, “have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately”.
Tennis-Ostapenko knocks out Gauff to reach Australian Open quarters
Jelena Ostapenko stunned Coco Gauff 7-5 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday after putting on a power-hitting clinic. Latvian Ostapenko has struggled to reach the heights of her French Open-winning days, but the 17th seed simply overpowered the American at Margaret Court Arena.
Soccer-Napoli ease to 2-0 win at Salernitana
Goals from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Victor Osimhen handed Napoli a 2-0 win over Salernitana 2-0 on Saturday as they took another step closer to ending their 33-year-wait to win the Serie A title. Napoli controlled much of the game and were never really threatened by Salernitana’s passive showing.
Rallying-Ogier heading for record ninth Monte Carlo win
France’s Sebastien Ogier was heading for a record ninth Monte Carlo Rally win after taking a 16-second lead over Toyota team mate Kalle Rovanpera into Sunday’s final four stages. The eight times world champion, now competing part-time, played it safe on the tricky mountain roads as reigning champion Rovanpera closed the gap from an overnight 36 seconds.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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