Tennis
Italy reach last eight in Davis Cup Finals, wins for Russia and Britain
Favourites Russia Tennis Federation opened their Davis Cup Finals campaign with a resounding victory over Ecuador, Britain began with a win against France and Italy eased into the quarter-finals with a win over Colombia on Saturday.
But 28-time champions Australia are facing almost certain elimination despite beating Hungary 2-1.
Novak Djokovic’s Serbia were beaten 2-1 by Germany in Group F as the world number one lost a thrilling doubles decider, meaning they must wait until Sunday’s final round-robin matches before knowing whether or not they progress.
The Russians beat Ecuador 3-0 in Madrid to move level with holders Spain whom they face on Sunday to decide who will emerge as winners of Group A.
World number five Andrey Rublev beat Roberto Quiroz 6-3 4-6 6-1 before U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev crushed world number 149 Emilio Gomez for the loss of two games.
Rublev then teamed up with Aslan Karatsev to beat Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo in three sets.
taly, who beat the U.S. in their opening Group E tie, won both their singles matches against Colombia in Turin with victories for Lorenzo Sonego and Jannik Sinner.
Britain were given a fast start against France in Group C with Dan Evans beating Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-4.
Cameron Norrie then defeated Arthur Rinderknech 6-2 7-6(8) after coming back from 1-4 down in an absorbing tiebreak.
France won the doubles as Rinderknech, a late replacement for Pierre-Hugues Herbert, joined Nicolas Mahut to beat Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-1 6-4 — a win that could prove vital for France who had beaten the Czech Republic.
Britain play the Czechs on Sunday with top spot at stake.
Djokovic was made to work overtime in Serbia’s clash with Germany in Innsbruck where fans are not permitted.
After team mate Filip Krajinovic lost 7-6(4) 6-4 to Dominik Koepfer, Djokovic levelled the tie with a comfortable win against Jan-Lennard Struff.
Djokovic returned to court to partner Nikola Cacic but Serbia’s hopes of progressing as group winners were dashed as the Serbian pair lost 7-6 3-6 7-6 to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz despite being a break ahead in the decider.
Serbia, who beat Austria 3-0 in their opening Group F tie, must now wait until Germany’s clash with Austria on Sunday to learn their fate although they are well placed to progress as one of the best runners-up.
Eighteen teams are competing in six round-robin groups across three cities for places in the last eight which begin on Monday. Six group winners and the two best runners-up advance.
The ties in Innsbruck are being played behind closed doors due to Austria’s reintroduction of a COVID-19 lockdown while those in Madrid and Turin have less-than-capacity attendances.
AUSTRALIA ON THE BRINK
Australia beat Hungary 2-1 in Turin but finished their Group D campaign with a 2-4 record having lost 3-0 loss to Croatia in their opening match on Thursday.
Australia went 1-0 down against Hungary when Zsombor Piros, ranked 282nd in the world, claimed the biggest win of his career by beating John Millman 4-6 6-4 6-3.
Lleyton Hewitt’s Australia finally claimed their first victory of the tournament when Alex de Minaur came through a three-hour match to beat Marton Fucsovics 7-5 2-6 7-6(2).
The doubles pairing of Alex Bolt and John Peers sealed the tie when they beat the Hungarian duo 6-3 6-7(11) 6-3. Hungary face Croatia on Sunday.
In Madrid, Kazakhstan beat Sweden 2-1 in Group B with their doubles pairing of Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov sealing victory after Swede Elias Ymer and Kazakh Alexander Bublik won their singles rubbers.
Sweden remain top of the group, having beaten Canada 3-0 but Kazakhstan can win it with a victory over Canada on Sunday.
-Reuters
Naomi Osaka has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette after four years together across two stints, the 26-year-old announced late on Friday.
The former world number one won two of her four Grand Slam titles under the guidance of the Belgian, but is currently 75th in the rankings having returned to the tour nine months ago after a lengthy maternity break.
“Four years, two slams and a whole lot of memories,” Osaka wrote in an Instagram post.
“Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best.”
Of the 16 tournaments Osaka has played this season, she has made the quarter-finals in only two – Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch – and the Japanese player has also failed to go past the second round in each of the four Grand Slams
-Reuters
Five players from the United States are ranked in the Women’s Tennis Association’s top 15 for the first time in two decades, the USTA said on Monday.
World number two Coco Gauff led the American charge followed by sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula and Danielle Collins, who climbed two spots to ninth on the list amid a remarkable farewell season.
Madison Keys was ranked 14th while Emma Navarro hopped two spots to a career-high 15th after reaching her first major quarter-final at Wimbledon.
The last time five American women featured in the top 15 was May 24, 2004, when Lindsay Davenport was fourth in the world
-Reuters
Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and Australian soccer player Mary Fowler are among nine athletes to get a Barbie doll in their likeness as toy maker Mattel seeks to shine a light on women sports role models ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Mattel unveiled the dolls on Wednesday, each with their bespoke accessories. Fowler’s wears gloves and holds a football while Williams’ doll, dressed in an all white tennis dress and visor as well as wearing earrings, comes with a miniature racket.
The former world number one said she hoped to motivate young girls into sports with the doll.
“I literally can’t imagine my life without sports and without the game,” Williams said in a video, in which she held the doll.
“I want other young girls to have that invaluable experience of playing a sport and what it teaches you and what you learn and what you take from it, not just that moment (but) for the rest of your life… I think it’s so important for girls to be in sports.”
Other sports figures to have a doll in their likeness include French boxer Estelle Mossely, Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda, Spanish doctor and paratriathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez, Italian former swimmer Federica Pellegrini, Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair as well as Mexican and Brazilian gymnasts, Alexa Moreno and Rebeca Andrade.
The dolls, unveiled as Barbie turns 65 this year, “(recognise) the impact of sport in fostering self-confidence and ambition among the next generation”, Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Mattel’s Global Head of Dolls, said.
“By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality,” she said in a statement.
-Reuters
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