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Mitsubishi Corporation and ENEOS launch a Joint Venture for Last One Mile Delivery Business based at Gas Stations

TOKYO, Jan 5, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Corporation and ENEOS Corporation are pleased to announce our agreement to establish a joint-venture company (JV) aimed at optimizing delivery operations by leveraging gas stations (service stations/SS).The business shall take advantage of ENEOS's SS network, which spans more than 12,000 locations across Japan, to improve overland shipping throughout the country. With each SS functioning as both a last-mile distribution point and temporary storage facility, this new business promises to shorten the final legs of transport, which is from the final delivery point to the final destination. The analysis results(1) has already shown that using SS as distribution points can reduce the overall mileage of overland deliveries compared to direct delivery from large warehouses, which should also reduce the burden on drivers and delivery costs.Furthermore, the fact that SS tend to be already optimized to accommodate smooth inbound and outbound traffic makes them ideal logistics hubs. Using ENEOS's existing SS network should also help to minimize any additional costs associated with setting up the delivery points.In the delivery industry, the growth of online shopping has increased home deliveries, which has led to greater demand for more efficient last-mile services. Meeting that demand will require more final distribution point and flexible logistics frameworks. MC and ENEOS have been conducting trials that use some of ENEOS's SS as distribution points. We have now agreed to establish a JV with the aim of clarifying the business entities and accelerating the verification of commercialization, and we will conduct demonstration as a JV with shippers (including EC companies, delivery companies) and delivery partners at SS, with the aim of launching the business. A large-scale demonstration project is now in the works to assess the business's feasibility and scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2023, it shall concentrate on 100 SS located in Tokyo and its surrounding three prefectures, where high demand for home delivery is expected. The plan is to grow the business to cover between 500 and 1,000 SS by fiscal year 2025 and commence work in fiscal year 2026 to expand operations nationwide. Our joint venture also plans to develop a delivery solutions app, which shall leverage data and expertise gleaned through the trials in connection with delivery-management systems used by shippers to promote smooth last-mile operations. We are confident that successful rollout of this app should help to further ease the burden and raise efficiency throughout the industry. MC has made digital transformations (DX) a key objective in Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024. During that time, MC aims to enhance its cross-industry DX functions and parlay real-world DX projects into greater business value. By effectively combining analog and digital operations, MC hopes to develop a wide range of societal solutions, thereby growing industry at large and paving the way to more richly and regionally flavored future communities. One of the ENEOS Group's envisioned goals stated in its Long-Term Vision to 2040 is to create value by transforming our current business structure. ENEOS is working to create lifestyle support services and grow nationwide SS network into a platform that provides total services for all needs, according to the customer's stage of life. Through this delivery optimization business model using ENEOS's SS network, we are taking an important step towards raising the efficiency of last-mile deliveries, which will also contribute to promote a low-carbon society. (1) Analysis by HERE TechnologiesInquiry RecipientMitsubishi CorporationTelephone:+81-3-3210-2171Facsimile:+81-3-5252-7705 Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Golf: Woods in final group at PNC Championship on highly anticipated return

MIAMI (REUTERS) - Tiger Woods will go out in the final group when he makes his highly anticipated return to competition at this week's PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, according to a list of tee times published on Thursday (Dec 16). Woods, who sustained serious leg injuries in a February car crash, and his 12-year-old son Charlie will tee off at 12.18pm ET on Saturday (1.18am on Sunday, Singapore time) alongside good friend and world number six Justin Thomas, who is playing with his father Mike. The two-day event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is not a PGA Tour but rather a laid-back 36-hole tournament with a field comprised of 20 major champions and a member of their family. Woods, who has not competed since he and Charlie finished in a share of seventh place at the 2021 PNC Championship, announced last week that he would play in this year's edition. The 15-times major champion has said his game is nowhere near ready for the PGA Tour as he continues to work his way back from injuries suffered when he lost control of his car in Los Angeles in February. Woods, the greatest golfer of his generation whose tally of major titles trails only the 18 won by Jack Nicklaus, faced the possibility of having his leg amputated during a three-week hospital stay after the accident. The penultimate group will be comprised of women's world number one Nelly Korda, who is playing with her father, and twice major champion John Daly and his son. Among the others in the field are former Masters champions Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh, Tom Watson, Mark O'Meara and Bubba Watson. Swede Henrik Stenson, Zimbabwean Nick Price, Irishman Padraig Harrington and Americans Lee Trevino, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Tom Lehman, David Duval and Rich Beem head the other teams. More on this topic   Related Story Golf: Tiger Woods to make comeback from injury at PNC Championship   Related Story Golf: Tiger Woods rules out 'full-time' return to golf

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Football: City on a mission to return to Champions League final, says Gundogan

MANCHESTER (REUTERS) - Manchester City are determined to return to the Champions League final and will use their disappointment of losing last season's showpiece as motivation, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said on Tuesday (Nov 23). City reached their first ever Champions League final in May but lost 1-0 to Chelsea, with Gundogan collecting his second runners-up medal having been on the losing Borussia Dortmund side in 2013. Pep Guardiola's side can reach the last 16 of this season's competition on Wednesday when they welcome Paris St Germain in their Group A clash and Gundogan said he is itching to go all the way this time. "Having that game of the final last season still in our minds will give us some more motivation - even though it's not needed. Once you've been in the final you always want to go back," the German told a news conference. "I'll try my best to get to the final, whether it's this year or another. "It's about that will to go as far as possible and then that combination, of a little bit of luck and the right qualities and players. We can do it, that should be the target for us." PSG won their home match against City 2-0 in September. But Guardiola's side have won all their other games so far and top the group on nine points, one ahead of the French club, in their bid to secure a favourable draw in the next round. Former Barcelona boss Guardiola knows all too well the threat posed by PSG's Lionel Messi and said the Argentine forward was still unplayable at the age of 34. "It's so difficult. Sometimes when he has the ball, you don't know what to do - not even he knows," Guardiola said. "I'm so happy he's still playing and the level he plays and the quality." City forward Jack Grealish missed the weekend Premier League win over Everton but could feature on Wednesday, while Kevin de Bruyne is in self-isolation following a positive Covid-19 test.

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Tennis: Zverev ends Djokovic’s record bid to reach ATP Finals showpiece

TURIN, ITALY (AFP) - Alexander Zverev downed Novak Djokovic in a thrilling last-four clash to end the world number one's bid for a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title on Saturday (Nov 20) and set up a final against Daniil Medvedev. The German edged to a 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3 success in Turin and will face reigning champion Medvedev, who beat Casper Ruud in the other semi, for the trophy on Sunday. It was a disappointing end to a remarkable season for Djokovic, who fell one match short of becoming the first man to win a calendar Grand Slam since 1969 when he lost the US Open final to Medvedev. The 20-time major champion was hoping to draw level with Roger Federer on six season-ending championship titles this week in Italy. But Zverev, who also beat the 34-year-old in the Olympics semi-finals in Tokyo, proved to be a bridge too far for Djokovic again. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Medvedev serves up Ruud awakening in ATP Finals   Related Story Tennis: Compulsory vaccine rule by Australian Open casts doubt on Djokovic's title defence

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Tennis: Switzerland set up Billie Jean King Cup final with Russia

PRAGUE (REUTERS) - Belinda Bencic overwhelmed Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 6-2 on Friday (Nov 5) to help lead Switzerland into a Billie Jean King Cup final showdown with four-time champions Russia. Switzerland reached the final for the first time since 1998 after Jil Teichmann romped to a 6-0 6-3 victory over Storm Sanders before Bencic handed the Swiss an unbeatable 2-0 lead by dispatching Tomljanovic in front of American great Billie Jean King, who watched on from the stands. There was joyous scenes in the Russian camp too when Liudmila Samsonova teamed up with Veronika Kudermetova in the deciding doubles to help Russia beat the United States in the other semi-final. Bencic will be counted on to lead Switzerland's charge against favourites Russia. "It is quite incredible," Bencic said on reaching the final. "I don't think we really expected it. We had the toughest group. "We are so happy to be in the final. We cannot believe it yet." Under the tournament's new format, 12 teams were split into four groups of round-robin play and the group winners progressed to battle for the title. Switzerland, looking to raise the trophy for the first time, opted for world number 39 Teichmann to open their tie after her solid doubles display during the week. Teichmann breezed through the first set against Sanders, ranked 92 spots below her, before the Australian put up a challenge. But the left-handed Swiss regained control and smashed her seventh ace to secure the win. "My team told me just go out and fight with everything you have," she said. "I felt really good. I went for my shots, I played aggressive." In the earlier semi-final, Russia's Samsonova and Kudermetova defeated the American pair of Shelby Rogers and CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3 in the decisive match. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Russia beat US to reach Billie Jean King Cup final   Related Story Tennis: Osaka 'back' on tennis court two months after tearful exit Russia, bidding to win what was formerly-known as the Fed Cup for the fifth time, are competing in Prague as the Russian Tennis Federation team due to sanctions that prevent them using their country's flag and anthem due to doping scandals. Danielle Collins had earlier levelled the tie for 18-times winners United States with a 6-7(9) 7-6(2) 6-2 win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after world number 40 Samsonova, making her Billie Jean King Cup singles debut, had given the Russians the lead with a 1-6 6-4 6-3 victory over Sloane Stephens. "I was very positive before the match. I knew it's gonna be a very, very tough match against Sloane," she said, and later added after the tie that she would feel confident teaming again with Kudermetova if Saturday's final went to deciding doubles play.

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E-sports: New-look Evos SG retain MPL Singapore title

SINGAPORE - Despite going into the second season of the Mobile Legends Professional League Singapore (MPL SG) with a new-look roster and limited time to train, defending champions Evos SG emerged winners of the competition once again as they beat RSG SG 4-1 in the grand final on Sunday (Oct 17). It was a rematch of the MPL SG Season 1 grand final that took place in May as Evos SG found themselves up against RSG SG again, but just two of the players - Andrew "Potato" Lim and Akihiro "JPL" Furusawa - from that team remained. RSG SG got off to a winning start in the best-of-seven series at e-sports training facility The Gym, shortly after beating ALMGHTY 3-2 in the lower bracket final earlier on Sunday. But Evos SG bounced back to claim the second game and dominated the grand final, winning the remaining games to bag the winners' cheque of $30,000. Lim said: "It was definitely going to be a tough game (against RSG SG). Overall, they are a sturdy and strong team, and a competitor we have to look out for. "Based on regular season performance, they put up a strong fight, lost to just one team in the regular season. Facing them for grand final, we had to follow our plan and execute it perfectly." With less than six months between the two competitions, coach Daryl "Youngin" Ng said that sticking to their plan was key to making sure that the team was well prepared for the competition. He said: "In general we paced out correctly because of the limited time we had to train and we made use of the time well. Coming into preparations every week, we made sure we had proper plans, how we achieve that, how it would snowball from the regular season to the play-offs." For making it to the grand final of MPL Singapore Season 2, Evos SG and RSG SG both earned a spot at the game title's biggest tournament, the M3 World Championship which will take place in December. At the M2 World Championship in Singapore in January, Evos SG made it out of the group stages but were knocked out in the first day of the play-offs. Evos SG's team manager and business development lead Stefan "Soul" Chong, who took part in the M2 event, is hoping for a good performance. Referring to Myanmar's Burmese Ghouls - underdogs who finished second at M2 - Chong said: "I think we put up a good showing for a Singapore team. I hope we can replicate that, show up and shock everyone like Burmese Ghouls did." More on this topic   Related Story E-sports: Back in gaming seat for Chong as Evos SG win first MPL S'pore title   Related Story Me & My Career: E-sports pro game for corporate role

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Football: France’s Rabiot out of Nations League final with Covid-19

MILAN, ITALY (REUTERS) - France's midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been ruled out of Sunday's Nations League final against Spain after testing positive for Covid-19. Rabiot, who plays for Juventus, was isolating and did not travel to Milan from Turin with the squad. The rest of the French team underwent rapid tests and were all in the clear. "We had this news when we woke up this morning because we didn't get the test result until 8am," France coach Didier Deschamps told a news conference on Saturday (Oct 9). "The players learned about it before the departure from Turin by bus. It is a new thing in a health situation which is improving, it reminds us that the fear is still there," he said. Left-back Lucas Digne, who did not feature in the semi-final win over Belgium on Thursday has withdrawn from the squad and has returned to his club Everton to have a minor hamstring injury assessed. Rabiot will not be replaced in the group and Monaco's promising 21-year-old midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni could start in the clash at the San Siro. Tchouameni replaced Rabiot during the 3-2 victory against the Belgians at the Juventus Stadium and is the most obvious choice to partner Paul Pogba in the centre of midfield. The world champions had already been weakened in that area by the absence of N'Golo Kante, who had tested positive before the tournament. If France stick with the 3-4-3 formation that worked so well in the second half against Belgium, it will place special demands on Pogba in the centre of the field but Deschamps said he wouldn't have any extra defensive duties. "Rabiot is not going to be there but other players are able to replace Adrien. I am not going to increase Paul's defensive responsibility," said the France boss. "Yes, he plays more centrally for us than for his club, where he often plays on the left but Paul is a complete offensive midfielder who can make the difference but he is also able to perform well on recovery." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Belgium without Lukaku and Eden Hazard for Nations League playoff   Related Story Football: Hernandez fires comeback kings France into Nations League final

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Football: Belgium without Lukaku and Eden Hazard for Nations League playoff

TURIN, ITALY (AFP) - Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard will miss Belgium's Nations League third-place playoff with Italy as they are not fully fit, coach Roberto Martinez said on Saturday (Oct 9). "They both got overloads in their muscles in different areas, and we didn't have the facilities in our camp to be able to work the way we like to work with our medical people, so we had to send them back to Belgium," Martinez told reporters. Hazard left the field with a quarter of an hour remaining in Belgium's 3-2 semi-final defeat to France on Thursday night, while Lukaku played the full match. The Chelsea forward even thought he had scored a late winner against France, only to see it ruled out for offside and then watch Theo Hernandez net late to send Les Bleus to Sunday's final against Spain at the San Siro in Milan. Belgium face European champions Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Sunday afternoon. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Hernandez fires comeback kings France into Nations League final   Related Story Football: Spain end Italy's unbeaten run to reach Nations League final

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Football: Hernandez fires comeback kings France into Nations League final

TURIN, ITALY (AFP) - Theo Hernandez shot France into a Nations League final with Spain on Thursday (Oct 7) with a last-gasp strike which earned Les Bleus a thrilling 3-2 win from two goals down against Belgium. AC Milan full-back Hernandez netted his first France goal in the 90th minute of his second international appearance after France had come back from 2-0 down at half-time at the Allianz Stadium in Turin through strikes from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe. Didier Deschamps’ side will face La Roja in Sunday’s final at the San Siro in Milan after an exciting encounter which Belgium thought they had won in the final minutes when Romelu Lukaku netted from Yannick Carrasco’s cross. However with the Red Devils players still celebrating, Lukaku’s first-time finish was ruled out for offside. And with the match looking like it was heading to extra-time, Hernandez collected the ball on the left before rifling home the winner. He had started the match alongside his brother Lucas Hernandez, making the pair the first two brothers to play for France since Herve and Patrick Revelli featured in a friendly against Romania in 1974. “Winning that match from where we were proves the strength of character of this team,” Deschamps told TF1 after the match. “Nobody thought it possible at half-time, and I understand that looking at the score, but they were here to not leave anything on the pitch and to play in the final.” Mbappe shows class The match had been fairly even for most of the opening period, although Hugo Lloris had to be at his best to stop Kevin De Bruyne’s close range finish in the fourth minute. Three minutes later Benjamin Pavard should have done better when he met Mbappe’s cross from the left with a volley that he sent straight at Thibaut Courtois. Mbappe, who became the youngest ever player to earn 50 caps for France, also fired too close to Courtois midway through the first half. Belgium’s opening goal came eight minutes before the break, Carrasco cutting inside Pavard and then drilling a low shot between Lloris and his near post. And three minutes later Lukaku, who flopped in the same stadium last week in a Chelsea shirt, doubled Belgium’s lead with his sixth goal in six games for his country. The 28-year-old did brilliantly to spin Lucas Hernandez while collecting De Bruyne’s pass down the right flank before charging into the box and slamming home a high shot that again beat Lloris at his near post. Left with a tough task to make the final France came out firing after the restart, and Mbappe was the key to drawing them level. First he burned Carrasco in the 58th minute before sending in a low cross that Antoine Griezmann couldn’t turn in. Then, four minutes later, he tricked his way past Youri Tielemans and passed to Benzema, who flashed home despite being surrounded by Belgium defenders. He then crashed home the spot-kick which set up an exciting finish after Tielemans’ clumsy foul on Griezmann was spotted following a VAR check. De Bruyne and Paul Pogba then both had shots well saved before frantic finale saw Lukaku score what he thought was the decisive goal and Pogba smash a free-kick against the bar. Hernandez then snatched a win which highlighted all the qualities which made the French world champions. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Spain end Italy's unbeaten run to reach Nations League final

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Tennis: Medvedev powers his way through to US Open final

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Daniil Medvedev dominated Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-5 6-2 on Friday (Sept 10), reaching the US Open final courtesy of a dozen aces in just a little over two hours. The 2019 runner-up looked rock-solid at the start, firing off seven aces and never facing a break point in the first set, where he had just five unforced errors and broke Auger-Aliassime’s serve in straight points in the seventh game. Down a break in the next set, Medvedev looked like he might be in trouble but refused to give up as Auger-Aliassime twice failed to clinch on set point in the ninth game and Medvedev broke his serve. A double fault from Auger-Aliassime in the 11th game – one of 10 across the entire match – helped Medvedev to another break before the Russian ran away with the momentum into the third set, where he dropped just one first-serve point. The 1.98m-tall Russian displayed excellent court coverage with an agility uncharacteristic for his tall frame, firing off 37 winners compared to 17 from Auger-Aliassime across the entire match, with 25 unforced errors. “You never know where the match is going to go. Managed to save the set point... and the match turned around completely,” said Medvedev, after competing in his third straight US Open semi-final. “I don’t think I played my best today, but I’m really happy to be in the final Sunday.” It was the first Grand Slam semi-final for 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals earlier this year and has been hailed among the sport’s brightest young stars. The world number two continues his hunt for a maiden major title after losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final earlier this year. After picking up his fourth Masters 1000 title in Toronto last month, he dropped just one set through six rounds at Flushing Meadows and is looking to lift the trophy for the first time after losing in five sets to Rafa Nadal two years ago. “Last time was a crazy match,” said Medvedev. “If it’s going to be the same match on Sunday, I just hope I can win this time.” More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Ram and Salisbury pick up US Open men's doubles title   Related Story Tennis: Qualifier Emma Raducanu to face Leylah Fernandez in all-teen US Open women's final

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Golf: Europe win first point of final day of Solheim Cup

TOLEDO (REUTERS) - Team Europe rookie Leona Maguire beat Jennifer Kupcho five & four to pick up the first point of the final day to take the visitors to within four points of retaining the Solheim Cup at the Inverness Club in Toledo on Monday (Sept 6). The Irishwoman ended Kupcho's unbeaten record in this year's event and contributed more points to the European tally, adding to the 3-1/2 from Sunday's play, and taking Europe into a 10-7 lead. "I got off to a great start. I had some really nice putts and great to get the first point of the day. I haven't really looked at today's board. The goal was to get my point and that's all I can do," said Maguire. "I've given my absolute all this week. I couldn't have done anything more. I couldn't have asked for a better week and hopefully the girls can finish it off." Anna Nordqvist and Lexi Thompson teed off in the first singles pairing on the final day of the 17th Solheim Cup with Europe leading 9-7 and were level with two holes to play in one of several thrilling contests. The Americans narrowed the gap over Europe on Sunday, winning three of their foursomes matches in the morning session before late heroics from Mel Reid in the final fourball match helped the visitors take a two-point lead into the final day. This is the ninth time Europe have held the lead heading into the singles, going on to lift the cup four times. A victory will give them only their second Solheim Cup triumph on American soil, eight years on from their first. The Americans lead the overall series 10-6. More on this topic   Related Story Golf: Americans storm back into contention at Solheim Cup   Related Story Golf: Europe take early lead over US at the Solheim Cup

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Golf: Hurricane sees final round of PGA Northern Trust postponed to Monday

NEW YORK (AFP) - The US PGA Tour has postponed the final round of the Northern Trust tournament in suburban New York to Monday because of concerns caused by Hurricane Henri, officials said on Saturday (Aug 21). The Atlantic Ocean storm, which gained hurricane status on Saturday, is expected to make landfall on Long Island and has caused a storm warning in the area. That includes the Liberty National course in Jersey City, New Jersey, where the first US PGA FedEx Cup playoff event is being staged, with the fourth and final round originally set for Sunday. Due to the storm and related warnings, there will be no play Sunday and the final round will be staged on Monday, with tee times for the 75 players who made the cut beginning no earlier than 7.30am on Monday, according to a statement issued by the US PGA Tour. Canada's Corey Conners had the early clubhouse lead on 12-under par 201 for 54 holes after firing a nine-under par 62 on Saturday. The top 70 players in season points after the conclusion of the event will advance to the BMW Championship, which begins on Thursday at Baltimore, Maryland. More on this topic   Related Story Henri upgraded to hurricane as it threatens US coast

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Tennis: Pliskova upsets top seed Sabalenka to reach Montreal final

MONTREAL (AFP) - Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova rolled into the final of the WTA hardcourt tournament in Montreal on Saturday (Aug 14) with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over top seed Aryna Sabalenka. The win was a repeat for the fourth-seeded Czech, who defeated her Belarus rival in three sets two months ago in their All England Club semi-final. Pliskova will fight for the Montreal title against either American Jessica Pegula or Italy's Camila Giorgi, both of whom have beaten her this season. "It's an amazing feeling to be in another final," Pliskova said. "I was super-solid today "I did what I needed to win. I used my brain and played smart. She was missing a bit too much, I'm quite happy with the performance." Pliskova broke Sabalenka four times and saved two of the three break points she faced. She fired 10 aces for a total of 267 this season, putting her within touching distance of Sabalenka's tour-leading 270. Pliskova won her 39th match of the season, top of the table on the WTA. But even though the Czech has won 12 of her past 13 matches, she's seeking her first title of the season.

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Tennis: Italian teen Sinner advances to ATP Washington final

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Italian Jannik Sinner, the ATP's top-ranked teen, advanced to the Citi Open final on Saturday (Aug 7) by ousting US 20-year-old wildcard Jenson Brooksby 7-6 (7/2), 6-1. World number 24 Sinner seeks his third ATP crown after Sofia last November and Melbourne in January. Sinner will play for the Washington hardcourt title on Sunday against the winner of a later semi-final between American Mackenzie McDonald and Japan's Kei Nishikori. At age 19, Sinner became the first Italian finalist in the event's 52-year history. He was the Italian in the Washington final four in a quarter-century. The 2020 French Open quarter-finalist was the only seed in the last four. Three unseeded players hadn't reached the Washington semis since a switch from clay in 1987. Brooksby, ranked 130th but set to crack the top 100 next week, was a runner-up in July at Newport in his first ATP final. Brooksby had not defeated a top-75 foe before this week but rolled over four such players without dropping a set in Washington until facing Sinner. Strong serves and tough rallies spiced the Next Gen showdown, Sinner netting a backhand volley in the 11th game to squander the first break chance, then denying Brooksby on three break points in the 12th game. Sinner took the last four points in the tie-breaker on an ace and service winner followed by wide and netted backhands from Brooksby. In the second set, Sinner broke in the fourth game and sixth games to claim the match in 90 minutes. Sinner won 83 per cent of points on his first serve and 70 per cent of those on his second serve. Sinner, who turns 20 a week from Monday, wants to be part of a new wave of young tennis stars. "I think tennis needs some new guys," he said this week. "I think they are coming slowly, slowly. We are many, many great young players, making a little bit of next generation as well. I think it's nice to see." More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Sherif becomes first Egyptian in WTA final, fired up by Olympics   Related Story Tennis: Osaka, Kenin, Swiatek withdraw from WTA Montreal event World number 67 Nishikori, playing his first ATP semi-final since April 2019 at Barcelona, could reach his first ATP final since January 2019 at Brisbane, where he won the most recent of his 12 career titles. Nishikori, 31, was the 2015 Washington champion and 2014 US Open runner-up. World number 107 McDonald, seeking his first ATP final at age 26, reached his only prior semi-final in 2019 at Delray Beach. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Federer withdraws from Cincinnati, adds to US Open doubts   Related Story Tennis: Murray, Korda given wildcards into ATP Cincinnati Masters

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Football: Man United beat Everton 4-0 in final pre-season friendly

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Manchester United beat Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday (Aug 7) in their final friendly before the start of the Premier League season. Goals in the first half hour by Mason Greenwood, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes put last season's league runners-up in the driving seat before Diogo Dalot completed the rout with a header in extra time. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed the stylish performance in front of 55,000 fans but warned the opening match against Leeds United next Saturday would be different. "It was about getting the minutes in, try to get the intensity, the work they've put in so far in pre-season has been good and we got rewarded with a few nice goals today. That was a positive," he said. "We did okay fitness wise but Leeds is a different kettle of fish with the way they play." Solskjaer said defender Maguire, who headed the second goal in the 15th minute, was "in good nick" after playing in the European Championship final with England last month. New signing Jadon Sancho is due to start training on Monday while centre-back Raphael Varane was isolating after a delay in securing a visa and had yet to take a medical before his move from Real Madrid. Forward Jesse Lingard missed the friendly after testing positive for Covid-19. "He feels okay, and hopefully it'll stay that way, but when you get the positive test you've got to isolate even if you're feeling well," said Solskjaer. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is also still recovering from the effects of the virus. "He's not felt as energised or sharp as he has done," said the manager. "So he's got a few days still to rest and then we'll check up on him." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Man United's Rashford to have shoulder operation and will miss season start   Related Story Football: Man United agree deal to sign Real centre back Varane

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