PRAGUE (REUTERS) - Russia claimed their fifth Billie Jean King Cup title on Saturday (Nov 6) after Daria Kasatkina and Liudmila Samsonova handed them an unbeatable 2-0 lead over Switzerland. After Kasatkina had romped to a 6-2 6-4 win over Jil Teichmann, Samsonova held her nerve despite being a late replacement for the injured Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to defeat Belinda Bencic 3-6 6-3 6-4 and secure Russia their first title since 2008 in the women’s team competition. Samsonova raised her arms in victory and was embraced by her team mates, while American great Billie Jean King watched on from the stands. “It is unbelievable. It was an incredible fight,” an emotional Samsonova said on court. After losing the opening set, world No. 40 Samsonova found her rhythm to level the match at one-set all. The Russian saved one break point midway through the third set with an ace en route to taking a 4-2 lead. Bencic, seeking to give Switzerland a first title, never got another chance to break serve again as Samsonova sealed the win. Russia were competing in Prague as the Russian Tennis Federation due to doping sanctions that prevent them using their country’s flag and anthem.
MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Max Verstappen dominated practice at the Mexico Grand Prix on Friday (Nov 5), ending the session over a half a second ahead of world champion and title rival Lewis Hamilton. The Dutch Red Bull driver, who has a 12-point lead over Hamilton in the championship with five races left, clocked a blistering 1min 17.301sec. That was 0.424sec ahead of Valtteri Bottas and 0.509sec faster than Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, racing in front of his home fans at the spectacular Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, was fourth at 0.570sec behind his teammate. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, 1.017sec back from two-time Mexico GP winner Verstappen, filled out the top five. “It was a solid session for us,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports. “Both drivers are starting to find a setup that they’re liking, the short runs and long runs look reasonable. “I think Mercedes have still got a bit in the pocket so I don’t think we’ve seen their full potential, but focusing on ourselves it was a reasonable day.” Bottas had edged out Hamilton in the morning session in a best time of 1min 18.341sec, mastering the tricky, dusty conditions. More on this topic Related Story Formula One: I will win or lose the title in the right way, says Hamilton Related Story Motor racing: Verstappen calm on Covid-19 threat to F1 title but Hamilton wary Verstappen and Perez had been third and fourth fastest respectively at 0.123sec and 0.269sec. Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen in an Alfa Romeo, meanwhile, were put under investigation for not having followed the instructions of the race director to rejoin the track after coming off at the first turn. Both men escaped with a reprimand. Lance Stroll of Aston Martin and Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri will start from the back of the grid in Sunday’s race for taking too many engine parts after both also changed engines. More on this topic Related Story Formula One: 'Red Bull want me to win in Mexico,' says home star Perez Related Story Formula One: Title race stacking up in favour of Red Bull's Max Verstappen
MEXICO CITY (REUTERS) - Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday (Nov 4) he would win or lose "the right way" after fears that the Formula One title battle with Red Bull's Max Verstappen could be decided by a collision at the final race. The 36-year-old Mercedes driver is chasing a record eighth championship but is 12 points adrift of Dutch youngster Verstappen with five rounds remaining, including Sunday's in Mexico City. The two have collided twice already this season and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff recently raised the spectre of past clashes between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve. "If it was to come to the scenario of the last race in Abu Dhabi and they were to be racing each other for the title, whoever is in front is absolutely going to try to do the same as in the Senna-Prost years," the Austrian told the Daily Mail. "If you are racing for the championship and you see it fading away because the other guy is overtaking you, what tool have you got other than the one that makes sure he can't overtake? "We've seen it with Schumacher and Villeneuve, we saw it with Senna and Prost twice." Hamilton, whose team have won the last seven drivers' and constructors' crowns, made clear that was not how he went about his business. "We've never won a championship in that way. I have never won a championship in that way, and would never want to," the Briton told reporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. "I'm here to win in the right way, and that's through sheer skill and determination and hard work." More on this topic Related Story Formula One: 'Red Bull want me to win in Mexico,' says home star Perez Related Story Formula One: Title race stacking up in favour of Red Bull's Max Verstappen Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 100 career wins and 101 pole positions, said he would take defeat in the same way. "I always want to win it the right way," he said. "And if you're going to lose it, you lose it the right way also. With dignity and knowing that you've given it your all and you've done things the right way. "All you can do is give it your all and work as hard as you can with the team. If it doesn't work out, then you live to fight another day." More on this topic Related Story Motor racing: Hamilton hopes Mercedes avoid altitude sickness in Mexico Related Story Motor racing: Formula One says Miami GP set to be a sellout
BRUGES (AFP) - European road race champion Ellen van Dijk of the Netherlands claimed a second time-trial title at cycling's world championships on Monday (Sept 20) after finishing ahead of Marlen Reusser and Annemiek van Vleuten. The 34-year-old van Dijk was 10 seconds faster than Switzerland's Reusser, who was also runner-up in the Olympic event in July, and 24 sec ahead of her compatriot Van Vleuten, who won in Tokyo. Van Dijk went down the ramp over an hour before her key rivals and had a "quite horrible" nervous wait in the leader's hot seat. "I didn't expect to feel so emotional, but it has been so long (waiting) to get the world title back," said the champion, holding her hand to her heart and fighting back tears. "Marlen was so strong and was faster than me at first, but when she lost time near the end, I couldn't quite believe it, it's been a dream so long." Van Dijk last won the world title in 2013 in Florence and on Monday covered the 30.3km flat run through Flanders in 36min 05sec, at an average speed of 50.383km/h (31.3mph). In a field of 49 starters, Pakistan's Asma Jan was last across the line some 15 minutes adrift. The action continues Tuesday with the women's and men's junior time-trial events, also ending in Bruges.
TOKYO, Sep 20, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) contract rider and Honda factory team(1) (Repsol Honda Team) rider Toni Bou has won the 2021 FIM(2) Trial World Championship. He has clinched his 15th consecutive title by winning the final round in Portugal, held on September 18.Toni Bou (Portuguese GP)This year's Trial World Championship is contested over six rounds (nine trials). In the opening double-header round held in June, Bou finished 1st / 2nd. He then won the next round in France, marking his 120th career win in the competition. After the summer break, he was 1st / 3rd in Andorra, won the next round (again in France), and won both trials at the Spanish double-header. Going in to the final round at Portugal as championship favorite, Bou won the round giving him his 15th consecutive championship title.Since clinching his first world championship title in 2007 on HRC's Montesa COTA 4RT factory bike, Bou has increased his unparalleled consecutive championship titles to 15. He has also won his 14th consecutive X Trial World Championship, an indoor competition raced on artificially prepared sections, taking his total tally of championship titles to 29.Toni Bou | Repsol Honda Team"This year has been very special for me because at the beginning things were very complicated with the injury just a month before the start of the championship. In the end there will come a year when I will not be able to win - I've won for 15 consecutive years - but the fact that I got injured just before the start of the world championship made it special and I didn't want to lose a championship in this way. Once again we battled 100%, I tried to get into shape as the championship progressed and the fact that I had a very good work rate before I got injured also helped me to recover faster. I am very happy to be able to win another world championship. Once again, many thanks to the whole team.Today was also a very special day for everyone as it was Fujinami's last trial. It is very difficult to think of Team HRC without him. I wish him all the best for the future."Shinya Wakabayashi | Honda Racing Corporation President"I would like to congratulate Toni on winning his unprecedented 15th Trial World Championship title. The championship schedule has been severely affected in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To win under such circumstances requires maintaining peak level skills along with physical and mental strength, which Toni has done with flying colors, earning him the highest of praise. I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to the team who made his victory a reality, and our sponsors for their unwavering support of our motorsports activities. Last but not least by any means, I would like to thank Trial fans worldwide for their passionate support."(1) Factory team:Racing team managed by the bike manufacturer. For Honda, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) manages its factory teams.(2) FIM: Federation Internationale de MotocyclismeFor more information, visit https://global.honda/newsroom/news/2021/2210919eng.html. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
ZURICH (REUTERS) - Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah finished off her golden year on a high when she won the 100 metres title in the season-ending Diamond League final in Zurich on Thursday (Sept 9). Thompson-Herah followed up her Olympic 100 and 200 metres double in Tokyo by coming within 0.05 seconds of Florence Griffith Joyner's 33-year-old 100 metres world record in a Diamond League meeting two weeks ago. Although she was unable to better the record in the season finale, Thompson-Herah took the title in a time of 10.65 seconds ahead of Briton Dina Asher-Smith. "I am very happy with my race," Thompson-Herah told reporters. "It's good to add a Diamond League trophy to my collection, it has been a long season so I was just happy to cross the line healthy." In the absence of Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, who announced last month he would not race again this season, American Fred Kerley, who finished second to the Italian in Tokyo, won the Diamond League men's 100 metres title with a time of 9.87 seconds. Canada's Andre De Grasse came home in second, running a personal best 9.89. He also finished runner-up in the 200 metres race which was won by American Kenny Bednarek. In the field, Russian Anzhelika Sidorova became only the third woman in pole vault history to clear five metres, with her height of 5.01 metres just short of the world record of 5.06 set in the same stadium by Yelena Isinbayeva in 2009. Sidorova's effort was a Diamond League record, second on the world outdoor all-time list and the best clearance outdoors since Isinbayeva's record was set 12 years ago. Mondo Duplantis attempted to better his own world record of 6.18m after winning the men's event with ease, but despite the fevered backing of the 20,000 crowd, the Swede failed to set a new mark. Norway's Karsten Warholm, the Olympic champion and world record holder, was a comfortable winner of the men’s 400 metres hurdles in a modest time of 47.35. The women’s title was taken by Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Namibian Christine Mboma won the women's 200 metres, claiming victory in an Under-20 world record time of 21.78 to suggest she can add to her silver medal in Tokyo. Mboma, who also won in Brussels last week, beat Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and world champion Asher-Smith into second and third respectively. British teenager Keely Hodgkinson won the women’s 800 metres title ahead of Kate Grace of the United States, while Kenyan Emmanuel Korir edged compatriot Ferguson Rotich in the men's race. Joint Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi claimed the high jump title after clearing 2.34m, proving one of the most popular athletes on the night as he stirred the crowd into a frenzy and celebrated his success with typical gusto. There were 25 final winners, with each champion collecting $30,000 - half the prize in 2019 - and automatic entry into next year's world championships in Eugene in the United States. More on this topic Related Story Athletics: Flo-Jo's world record? Maybe next year, says Thompson-Herah Related Story Athletics: Thompson-Herah, Duplantis shine in Paris Diamond League
NEW YORK (REUTERS) - German Alexander Zverev got his bid for a maiden major off to a smooth start by beating American Sam Querrey 6-4 7-5 6-2 in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday (Aug 31). Querrey kept the match close through the first two sets but was stymied by unforced errors as 2020 runner-up Zverev kept his game comparatively clean and fired off 25 winners. The world number four went in for the kill in the third set and with the fifth game secured a double-break lead with the momentum squarely in his favour, never facing a break point himself during the entire match. In a showdown between two 198cm power servers, Zverev's consistency proved critical and he won 90 per cent of his first-serve points compared to 70 per cent for Querrey, who fended off three match points in the seventh game but was nonetheless defeated in a brisk one hour and 40 minutes. Zverev, who was two points away from winning a year ago before Dominic Thiem rallied to victory, is among the younger cohort hoping to upset world number one Novak Djokovic's bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam. Zverev said Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and Russian Daniil Medvedev, who lost to Djokovic in the French and Australian Open finals respectively, were two of the potential challengers to the world number one, though he was quick to remind reporters of his own win over Djokovic in the Tokyo semi-finals, en route to Olympic gold. "I was the first person to beat him on a hard court or grass court this season, and I was also the only person to beat him at a very, very big event this year," he said. "I hope I can keep the level up and maybe even play better, because to beat Novak here is going to be an extremely difficult task." The win extended Zverev's unbeaten streak to 12, after he walked away with the Western & Southern Open title earlier this month. "I hope in two weeks' time I'll be on an 18-match winning streak," he told the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He faces Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain or Lucas Pouille of France in the second round. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Murray 'lost respect' for Tsitsipas over delay 'nonsense' at US Open Related Story Tennis: Osaka kicks off US Open title defence with straight sets win
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.
BALLYMENA (AFP) - Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn beat American Emma Talley on the second hole of a play-off to win the LPGA World Invitational title on Sunday (Aug 1). The pair had begun the day tied for the lead with Jennifer Kupcho and the same trio reached the 18th tee locked together on 16 under par, only for Kupcho to make a costly bogey after pulling her approach into the water. Both players made par on the first extra hole and another on the second was enough for Pajaree to secure her first LPGA Tour title after Talley missed the green. "I was nervous but actually surprised at how I handled my nervous there. To win here is a special memory," said Pajaree after a final round of 70. England's Daniel Gavins overturned a seven-shot deficit to claim his first European Tour title in the men's event which ran alongside the LPGA tournament. Gavins carded a bogey-free final round of 65 at Galgorm Castle to set the clubhouse target of 13 under par. Gavins was ranked 995th in the world at the end of 2020 and had never previously recorded a single top-10 finish on the European Tour. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Thai Jutanugarn sisters fire another 59 to claim LPGA team event Related Story Golf: Pajaree leads Thai charge in Evian first round as Korda struggles
LONDON (REUTERS) - Top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic became the first all-Croatian pair to capture a Grand Slam men's doubles title when they outclassed Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 7-6(5) 2-6 7-5 at Wimbledon on Saturday (July 10). On their second championship point, Mektic and Pavic made three unsuccessful attempts to smash the ball away for a winner before a running forehand long from the Spanish-Argentine duo handed the Croatians victory on a floodlit Centre Court. Twenty years after Goran Ivanisevic hoisted the Challenge Cup at the All England Club after winning the men's title in a rain-delayed Monday final, his compatriots claimed the doubles trophy at the grasscourt major. "That ball falling long in the last point was the best feeling of my life," Mektic, who was contesting his first major final with Pavic, said with a laugh. "The last three matches we played were the best of my life." An emotional Pavic, with his voice quivering, added: "This is something special. "We all grew up with Goran, it's been 20 years now since he won that Monday final, and this is the first time since Croatia is winning another trophy here. I know it's doubles but still it's Wimbledon. I am super happy." It was a third men's doubles title for Pavic, who had previously triumphed at 2018 Australian Open and 2020 US Open with different partners. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Third Wimbledon title for ‘magician’ Hsieh Su-wei as she and Mertens celebrate Related Story Tennis: Barty ends Australia's long wait for Wimbledon title
LONDON (AFP) - Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei won her third Wimbledon women’s doubles title on Saturday (July 10) when she and Belgian partner Elise Mertens defeated Russia’s Elena Vesnina and Veronika Kudermetova in the final. Hsieh and Mertens, the third seeds, saved two match points in the second set to win 3-6, 7-5, 9-7. “Some of her volleys, I can’t do. She’s a magician,” said Mertens, the world’s number one doubles player, of Hsieh. Hsieh won the 2013 title at Wimbledon with China’s Peng Shuai and the 2019 trophy alongside Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic. With Peng, she also claimed the French Open title in 2014. Mertens won the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open titles with Aryna Sabalenka. Vesnina and Kudermetova had reached the final by saving four match points to defeat top seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova and three more in the semi-final against Caroline Dolehide and Storm Sanders. “It’s not always easy to play in the final, and the opponent will fight super hard,” said 35-year-old Hsieh. “We all know it’s the last match so we will fight until the last point definitely.” More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Barty ends Australia's long wait for Wimbledon title Related Story Tennis: 'Not proud of my Wimbledon tears,' says Pliskova
LONDON (AFP) - Karolina Pliskova said she was "not proud" of her Centre Court tears after losing a rollercoaster Wimbledon final to Ashleigh Barty on Saturday (July 10). World number one Barty triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 to clinch her second Grand Slam title after the 2019 French Open. Pliskova has now lost both major finals in which she has appeared having been beaten in three sets by Angelique Kerber at the 2016 US Open. "It was not the plan to cry because I don't want to cry on the court. I feel like cry in the locker room, but not on the court," said the 29-year-old Czech after the tears fell at the on-court trophy ceremony. "Just like too many emotions. Of course, it's been three weeks since I was here in London, in the bubble. "So of course you're a bit tired. All the emotions, they just go. Yeah, not proud about that." Pliskova, a former world number one who had never previously got past the fourth round at Wimbledon before this year, endured a final of contrasting fortunes. She was 4-0 down in the first set, losing the first 14 points before she got on the board. She then broke Barty in the 12th game of the second set as the Australian served for the title before sweeping the tiebreaker. But all her good work was undone in the second game of the decider when she was broken again and Barty did not need a second invitation to go on to take the title. Pliskova had gone into the final having served 54 aces but it took the nerve-wracked Czech until the first game of the second set to move on to 55. She had also only been broken four times in her previous six matches. By the end of the final, she had given up serve a six further times. Karolina Pliskova Ladies' Final Post-Match Interview | Wimbledon 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Barty ends Australia's long wait for Wimbledon title "It was a horrible start. That's why I'm proud about how I found a way back in that match," she added. Pliskova also admitted she had flashbacks to the final of the Italian Open in Rome on the eve of Roland Garros when she was blitzed 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek in 45 minutes. "I was thinking about the final in Rome where I didn't make a game. I thought, No, this is not possible, this cannot happen again." Despite her disappointment, Pliskova believes that her previous indifference to Wimbledon can help her crack her Grand Slam drought. Her next chance is the US Open in New York which starts next month. Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Pliskova | Ladies' Final Highlights | Wimbledon 2021 Ashleigh Barty Wins Ladies' Singles Title | Wimbledon 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Barty excited for 'spine tingling' Olympics debut in Tokyo Related Story Tennis: Djokovic tames Shapovalov to reach Wimbledon final "It's not that I didn't like Wimbledon, but it was never my favourite place," she said. "I never played well here. I never felt so good here. But this time the feeling about this tournament changed, the feeling about the people. "I'm just going to try to be back stronger. Of course there's going to be a next chance. I think plenty of them. I'm not going to give up on that. So let's see what it's going to be."
MANCHESTER (REUTERS) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was named League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year on Monday (May 24) for leading his side to their third Premier League title in four years. City finished 12 points ahead of second-placed Manchester United and also won a fourth consecutive League Cup, beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Wembley in April. Guardiola's team take on Chelsea in the Champions League final on Saturday. The Spaniard has been awarded the honour for the second time, having previously been recognised during City's record-breaking 2017-18 campaign when they won the league title and became the first top-flight club to record 100 points. He pipped Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, Norwich City's Daniel Farke, Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes, West Ham United boss David Moyes, and Leicester City's Brendan Rodgers to the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy. "I am delighted to win this award for the second time, but an award like this is only possible if a manager is surrounded by top professionals," Guardiola said. "My players have been fantastic - their dedication and professionalism never waver, even in a season that has been the most challenging we have ever faced. And my staff are also deserving of the highest praise. "The award is dedicated and shared with them." Hayes became the first manager from the women's game to be among the top six contenders for the Manager of the Year Award. The Chelsea boss was named Women's Super League Manager of the Year after guiding the London club to consecutive league titles, a League Cup triumph and their first Champions League final, where they were beaten 4-0 by Barcelona. More on this topic Related Story Football: Man City's new generation lay foundation for golden era Related Story Football: Manchester City's record-breaking 2020-21 campaign
MADRID (AFP) - A 14-year-old boy died on Saturday (May 22) during celebrations of Atletico Madrid's La Liga title victory in the Spanish capital, emergency services told AFP. The incident happened as the teenager was in a van with friends. He is believed to have suffered a brain injury after hitting his head against the wall of an underground car park. Emergency services workers attempted to resuscitate the teenager for an hour. At the time of the accident, more than 2,000 Atletico supporters were celebrating their side's 11th league title win around Neptune Fountain. Atletico have traditionally celebrated victories in the monument but authorities had banned all public gatherings due to Covid-19 restrictions. "It's a little strange for a celebration... We've not been able to celebrate like usual, in the stadium, surrounded by all the fans," 22-year-old Atleti fan Pablo Diaz told AFP. "We will celebrate it with a bit of worry, by paying attention, with the mask on," he added. The club have organised a parade at 1800 local time (1600GMT) on Sunday in line with coronavirus regulations. More on this topic Related Story Football: Atletico Madrid crowned Spanish La Liga champions Related Story Five matches that won Atletico Madrid La Liga
BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Barcelona saw their hopes of winning La Liga extinguished as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Celta Vigo on Sunday (May 16). Barca were dominant in the first half and deservedly took the lead through Lionel Messi in the 27th minute, as the Argentine headed Sergio Busquet's precise cross past Ivan Villar to make it 30 league goals for the season. Celta equalised against the run of play 11 minutes later as Santi Mina fired in from the edge of the box following a pacey counter-attack. Defender Ronald Araujo went close with a header after the restart as Barca tried in vain to retake the lead. However, they found themselves up against it when Clement Lenglet was dismissed with six minutes to play. With just one minute of normal time left, Mina netted his second of the game to condemn the Catalans to at best a third-placed finish in Ronald Koeman's first season in charge. Barca are third on 76 points, four behind Real Madrid in second with one game remaining. More on this topic Related Story Football: Barcelona's shock defeat keeps La Liga title race wide open Related Story Football: Barcelona capable of winning every game left to win La Liga, says Koeman
MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi scored a brilliant volley but Barcelona's title hopes could be over, with a 3-3 draw away at Levante on Tuesday (May 11) giving Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid the chance to pull away at the top of La Liga. Another slip could prove decisive given Atletico will move four points clear of Barca with two games left if they can win away at Real Sociedad on Wednesday. Real Madrid will edge two points ahead of Ronald Koeman's side if they win away on Thursday at Granada. There are certainly no guarantees in what has been a frenetic and thrilling title race in recent weeks, with all of Spain's four contenders stumbling down the final stretch. But with only two games left now and potentially two teams to catch, Barcelona's chances of taking the title off Real Madrid this season would appear remote.
MCKINNEY (REUTERS) - Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the final warm-up event ahead of next week's PGA Championship with knee discomfort, the world number one said on Monday (May 10). Johnson, whose Masters title defence ended in a missed cut last month, said his decision to sit out the May 13-16 AT&T Byron Nelson in McKinney, Texas, came after the knee discomfort he occasionally experiences returned. "After consultation with my team and trainers, I feel it is best that I remain at home and focus on my rehabilitation work," Johnson said in a statement. "I am not pleased about this situation, as I was really looking forward to playing this week." Johnson has competed twice on the PGA Tour since his unsuccessful Masters title defence, earning a share of 13th place at the following week's RBC Heritage followed by a tie for 48th at the Valspar Championship. The PGA Championship, which is the year's second major, is May 20-23 in Johnson's native South Carolina at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Top-ranked Dustin Johnson wins Masters for second Major title Related Story PGA Tour player blog: I'm playing the best golf I've ever played, says Dustin Johnson
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City were on the brink of clinching the Premier League title after a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday (May 1), while Chelsea maintained their hold on fourth place after beating Fulham by the same scoreline. Pep Guardiola's side moved 13 points clear at the top thanks to second-half goals from Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres at Selhurst Park. City will be crowned English champions for the third time in four seasons if second-placed Manchester United lose at home to Liverpool on Sunday. If United avoid defeat, City can seal the title with a victory against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium next Saturday. City, who surrendered the title to Liverpool last season, overcame a mediocre first half with two goals in 84 seconds. Aguero, making only his sixth league start of an injury-plagued season, broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when he ran onto Benjamin Mendy's long pass and slammed a half-volley into the roof of the net from 10 yards. It was only his fourth goal of what club record scorer Aguero has announced will be his final season with City. Spanish forward Torres gave a glimpse of his potential when he fired home from the edge of the area in the 59th minute. City's 11th successive away victory in the Premier League equalled the English top-flight record. They ere languishing in 14th place in late November but a blistering run since then has carried them to the brink of a third title in four seasons. 'Put it in the fridge' The treble chasers could also add the Champions League to that haul. On Tuesday, City will attempt to reach their first Champions League final when they defend a 2-1 lead in the semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. "We can start to think about it and put it in the fridge. The Premier League is already there, it is in our hands. We need one more victory," Guardiola said. "I'm absolutely delighted with that after the Champions League. We could not play with much rhythm. We struggled a little bit but in the second half we deserved it. "I will check on the Liverpool game. It's in our hands and now we will give everything to beat PSG." More on this topic Related Story Football: Aguero and Torres fire Man City to verge of EPL title with win over Palace Related Story Football: Havertz stars as Chelsea cement hold on fourth place Meanwhile, Kai Havertz's double saw Chelsea beat struggling Fulham in the west London derby as they warmed-up for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid with a convincing win. The German playmaker scored in each half at Stamford Bridge to lift Chelsea six points clear of fifth-placed West Ham in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top four finish. West Ham, who have a game in hand, play Burnley on Monday. Havertz, played in by Mason Mount's impressive through ball, opened the scoring in the 10th minute and he sealed victory with a fine finish shortly after half-time. "I didn't see many teams over-perform against Fulham, they give you a hard time and are difficult to play against," Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel told the BBC. Turning to Havertz, he added: "There are many reasons to maybe talk about why it is a difficult situation (for him in his first season in England) but in the end you are responsible for yourself and he is. "He must adapt as quick as possible. That is what he is doing and that is what we demand of him." More on this topic Related Story Football: Guardiola will watch Man United's Liverpool clash as title triumph looms Related Story Football: Neymar on target as PSG warm up for Man City with crucial victory Defeat left Fulham in the relegation zone and nine points shy of safety. The Cottagers will likely have to win their four remaining games if they are to stay up. "Do I believe we can win four games? Of course I do," said Fulham manager Scott Parker. "We have no alternative." Brighton, however, all but assured themselves of Premier League survival with a 2-0 win at home to Leeds. The south coast side broke a three-game goal drought when they took the lead through Pascal Gross's 14th minute penalty after Ezgjan Alioski brought down Danny Welbeck. Welbeck's excellent solo effort in the 79th minute secured victory and left the Seagulls 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Everton, pushing for European qualification, host Aston Villa in Saturday's final top-flight match.
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said winning felt much better with fans in attendance after beating Tottenham 1-0 at Wembley to lift the League Cup for the fourth consecutive year in front of 8,000 supporters on Sunday (April 25). Aymeric Laporte's header eight minutes from time finally rewarded a dominant performance from City as they extended Spurs' 13-year wait to win a trophy. For the first time in 13 months, a football match in England had designated fans from both teams inside the stadium in one of a series of test events at the 90,000 capacity Wembley as coronavirus restrictions are eased. "It's not full, but it is much better," said Guardiola. "To celebrate with them is much better. "We played really well. We are incredibly happy to win the first title, four in a row in this competition, but especially because in the last 33 games, we won 30." Defeat by Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend means City cannot claim an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season. However, they remain on course for a treble with the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain to come on Wednesday before possibly sealing the Premier League title next weekend. Victory takes Guardiola's personal tally of major trophies to 25 across his spells in charge of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, seven of which have come in England. "I was in big clubs: Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here, that's why it is easier to do it," added the Catalan modestly. By contrast, Tottenham's long wait for just one goes on. Spurs could have no complaints, though, at the end of a chaotic week that saw them sack Jose Mourinho on Monday and, along with City and four other English clubs, pull out of a proposed European Super League amid fan fury. Son Heung-min was reduced to tears after full-time, but in caretaker boss Ryan Mason's second game in charge, Spurs were completely outclassed by a far superior side. "It's difficult to take for everyone associated with the football club," said former Tottenham midfielder Mason. "It hurts. I know that feeling and it is normal that they are hurting. This group of players care deeply about this football club. We tried, it wasn't enough today and it's tough to take." After a slight dip in form in recent weeks, City were back to their best as they pinned Tottenham back from the first whistle and should have won by a far more comfortable scoreline. MAD 4 IT!!!! MAN CITY 1-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | CARABAO CUP FINAL WINNERS | WNRH FULL-TIME SHOW Hugo Lloris's goal lived a charmed life, particularly during the first half. Raheem Sterling saw a goalbound effort blocked by Toby Alderweireld before Lloris made a stunning save from point-blank range to turn behind Phil Foden's shot. A Sterling dink over Lloris then spun just wide before Riyad Mahrez twice flashed powerful efforts inches off target. More on this topic Related Story Football: Man City close on Premier League title with 2-1 win at Villa Related Story Football: Chelsea end Man City’s quadruple quest to reach FA Cup final Despite Harry Kane's recovery from an ankle injury to start, Tottenham had offered nothing as an attacking threat until Giovani Lo Celso forced Zack Steffen into a fine save a minute into the second half. The majority of the chances continued to come at the other end, but the breakthrough came from an unlikely source as Laporte rose highest to head home Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick at the back post. Spurs' energies were spent after conceding as they failed to muster any response to try and take the game to extra-time. Mahrez had a second goal ruled out for offside in stoppage time. But one goal was enough to ensure City move level with Liverpool on a record eight League Cup triumphs, six of which have come in the last eight years. More on this topic Related Story Football: Guardiola says talk of Man City quadruple not realistic Related Story Football: Mourinho focused on Spurs' top-four battle, not League Cup final