Chelsea’s hopes of maintaining interest in a woeful season always looked slender after losing last week in the Bernabeu and Rodrygo put them out of their misery with two second-half goals to confirm Real’s superiority with a 4-0 aggregate win. Tennis-Swiatek fit for Stuttgart defence after rib injury Iga Swiatek said she has recovered from a rib injury and is ready to defend her Stuttgart Open title, though the world number one concedes she may be a bit rusty following a month-long absence.
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Soccer-Chelsea’s U.S. owners suffer debut season flop despite huge outlay
Chelsea’s American owners saw their last hope of any glory in their first season crumble on Tuesday when the club they bought in a deal worth 4.25 billion pounds ($5.28 billion) last year were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid. Marooned in the unfamiliar bottom half of the Premier League, Chelsea are at risk of their worst domestic league finish in nearly 30 years and they also fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup and League Cup.
Tennis-Swiatek fit for Stuttgart defence after rib injury
Iga Swiatek said she has recovered from a rib injury and is ready to defend her Stuttgart Open title, though the world number one concedes she may be a bit rusty following a month-long absence. The Pole, who is also gearing up for the start of her French Open title defence next month, withdrew ahead of the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers due to the injury she sustained during her run to the Indian Wells semis last month.
Olympics-Russia’s men’s basketball team banned from Olympic pre-qualification
Russia will remain banned from international basketball with its men’s national team not being allowed to participate in this year’s Pre-Olympic Qualification Tournaments, FIBA’s Executive Committee announced on Tuesday. Russia who were 12th at the previous FIBA Men’s World Cup in 2019, last qualified for the Olympics in 2012, winning bronze medal with a line-up that included former NBA player Andrei Kirilenko.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ bid to end their 56-year Stanley Cup drought got off to a woeful start on Tuesday as the Tampa Bay Lightning rolled to a 7-3 win in the opener of their best-of-seven first round series. The Lightning have reached the Stanley Cup finals for the last three seasons, hoisting the trophy twice, and they showed the Maple Leafs how its done with a Game One master class that oozed poise and discipline.
Soccer-Rodrygo double eases Real Madrid into semi-finals
Holders Real Madrid breezed past Chelsea into the semi-finals of the Champions League with Rodrygo’s double securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to set up a likely mouth-watering clash with Manchester City. Chelsea’s hopes of maintaining interest in a woeful season always looked slender after losing last week in the Bernabeu and Rodrygo put them out of their misery with two second-half goals to confirm Real’s superiority with a 4-0 aggregate win.
Soccer-Russia says talks with UEFA about reinstatement are tough -agencies
Russia is talking to European soccer’s governing body UEFA about lifting a ban imposed after the after the invasion of Ukraine but the negotiations are tough, domestic news agencies cited a top Russian Football Union (RFU) official as saying on Tuesday. Both UEFA and world football’s governing body FIFA decided in February 2022 that all Russian teams – national or club sides – would be suspended from participation in their competitions following the invasion.
Golf-Kupcho expecting different challenge in Chevron defence
American Jennifer Kupcho is expecting a very different challenge as she defends her first major title away from the familiar surrounds of last year’s triumph, with the Chevron Championship kicking off the women’s major calendar at a new Texas venue after more than 50 years in its former Palm Springs home. Kupcho had yet to clinch a LPGA Tour title before her victory last year, when she held on through a nervy back nine to win by two shots.
Soccer-Giroud sends Milan into semis despite late Napoli rally
AC Milan reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since they won the trophy 16 years ago thanks to a first-half goal from Olivier Giroud at Napoli that secured a 1-1 draw and 2-1 aggregate win despite a barrage of pressure on Tuesday. Napoli battled until the end but could not break down the resilient Milan defence until striker Victor Osimhen equalised three minutes into stoppage time with a bullet header but it was too late as the referee ended the match seconds later.
For Japan’s ageing soccer players, 80 is the new 50
Mutsuhiko Nomura’s soccer career has spanned 18 World Cups, or 70 years, to be exact. Now the silver-maned former Japanese national team player is a member of the brand new over-80 division of Tokyo’s “Soccer For Life” (SFL) league, which played its first match this month.
NFL-‘My heart is still in it’: Hamlin to return to football activities
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said on Tuesday that he will return to National Football League (NFL) activities, after he suffered cardiac arrest during a game last season and needed his heart restarted on the field. Hamlin collapsed during a Jan. 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals moments after making a tackle and received life-saving CPR on the field as the frightening scene unfolded in front of a packed stadium and national television audience.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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Cricket-Captain Azam hits unbeaten century as Pakistan down New Zealand
Athletics-Record-holder Kipchoge headlines stacked Boston Marathon field
Tennis-Kazakhstan through to BJK Cup finals, wins also for France and U.S.
Soccer-Rudan issues plea to supporters as Western Sydney book finals berth
Women’s World Cup trophy gets quick, guarded visit in Haiti
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Mohd Siraj reports corrupt approach to BCCI ACU
Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Mohammed Siraj has reported a corrupt approach to BCCIs Anti Corruption Unit ACU from an unknown man who wanted inside news about his team after losing a lot of money in a previous IPL game.The India pacer got a call and promptly reported the matter to ACU officials.It wasnt a bookie who approached Siraj.
Sports
PTI |New Delhi |India
Updated:19-04-2023 10:27IST | Created:19-04-2023 10:25IST
Image Credit: ANI
Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Mohammed Siraj has reported a ”corrupt approach” to BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) from an unknown man who wanted inside news about his team after losing a lot of money in a previous IPL game.
The India pacer got a call and promptly reported the matter to ACU officials.
”It wasn’t a bookie who approached Siraj. It is a driver from Hyderabad who is addicted to betting on matches. He had lost huge money and approached Siraj for inside information. ”Siraj reported the approach immediately. The law enforcement authorities have nabbed the man. More details are being awaited,” a senior BCCI source privy to development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Since S Sreesanth, Ankit Chavan and Ajit Chandila were arrested on spot fixing charges along with former CSK team principal Gurunath Meiyappan, the BCCI had beefed up its ACU work.
Each team has a dedicated ACU official who stays in the same hotel and is there at the ground monitoring all the movements.
Also there is mandatory ACU workshop for players on dos and don’ts and if any player fails to report corrupt approach, then there are sanctions in place.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan was suspended in 2021 as he didn’t report a corrupt approach during his IPL stint in the previous season.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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NZ shows interest in hosting 2034 Commonwealth Games
“New Zealand has a proud record of hosting world-class international events like Cricket World Cups, Rugby World Cups, World Masters Games, mega sailing regattas and this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup,” Grant Robertson said.
Sports
Devdiscourse News Desk |Wellington |New Zealand
Updated:19-04-2023 11:10IST | Created:19-04-2023 10:15IST
Image Credit: Wikipedia
The Government is welcoming interest by the New Zealand Olympic Committee in hosting the 2034 Commonwealth Games.
“New Zealand has a proud record of hosting world-class international events like Cricket World Cups, Rugby World Cups, World Masters Games, mega sailing regattas and this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup,” Grant Robertson said.
“A recent change to the Commonwealth Games hosting model including options to propose nationwide, regional, or co-host models now makes a potential bid for the games more attractive for New Zealand as a whole.
“It’s early days for this process, and at this stage all that has been agreed is an indication of interest from New Zealand. Further work needs to be done to understand New Zealand’s position before considering whether to make a formal bid for the 2034 games, but I am excited at the prospect and potential for us to host it here.
“Last year’s Commonwealth Games really highlighted for me how important the event is for our sportspeople to get a chance to compete at a multi-discipline international event, outside of the Olympics. Kiwis really got behind our athletes and it was a fantastic event both in Birmingham but also for people back here watching and supporting our team,” Grant Robertson said.
The Minister has consulted the National Party about the process for indicating interest in hosting the 2034 Games.
“I am pleased we have cross-party support for this approach. The next steps will be for the New Zealand Olympic Committee to assess support for a New Zealand bid, along with consideration of the country’s capability to host the event,” Grant Robertson said.
(With Inputs from New Zealand Government Press Release)
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Been losing too many wickets in powerplay, middle-order still work in progress: Lara
Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Brian Lara feels losing wickets in the powerplay has been a problem for them in the ongoing IPL and they need someone in the middle-order to bat deep and finish off games for the side.Losing wickets always sets you back.
Sports
PTI |Hyderabad |India
Updated:19-04-2023 10:10IST | Created:19-04-2023 10:08IST
Image Credit: ANI
Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Brian Lara feels losing wickets in the powerplay has been a problem for them in the ongoing IPL and they need someone in the middle-order to bat deep and finish off games for the side.
”Losing wickets always sets you back. The couple of victories we had, we had an opener batting through. Doesn’t matter how deep you bat, you want to make sure the right batters are getting the opportunity to score runs and we didn’t take that opportunity in this match,” Lara said at the post-match press conference.
SRH slumped to their third loss in five games when Mumbai Indians defeated them by 14 runs here on Tuesday.
Chasing 193, SRH were bowled out for 178 in 19.5 overs. Lara said SRH’s middle-order is still a work in progress. ”It’s (middle-order) a work in progress. We need to have guys who are thinking to take the game till the end. There are some great examples in IPL, (Rahul) Tewatia, (David) Miller. We do need that sort of person to understand how to calculate, who are the bowlers still to come and plan properly. We have been working on that a lot but we weren’t the better team today. We have to accept that.
”We seemed to be losing too many wickets in the powerplay throughout the five games we have played. That means you are always trying to play catch-up, trying to consolidate the situation to get better. We will have to improve in that area,” the West Indies legend said.
Lara said SRH were always in the game but lost too many wickets to get a grip on the chase.
”We felt that we are always in the game. I think the pitch was 175-180 pitch. It spun and was a little bit slow off the deck. To get 190 was a decent score from Mumbai. We sort of tried to stay in the game throughout but we lost wickets consistently through our chase. It slowed us down,” the 53-year-old said.
”Both Mumbai Indians and us were coming off back-to-back victories, so we knew they were picking up some momentum and I felt that today, they played better cricket and came out on top.” Meanwhile, MI left-handed batter Tilak Varma, who made a quick 37 off 17 balls, said he is open to batting at any position for the sake of the team. ”I am always comfortable playing in any situation. I have developed my game according to the needs of situations. I am confident and told the management that I can bat anywhere in any situation,” he said.
Elaborating his game plan against SRH, he said, ”The wicket was turning a bit for the spinners so I was just thing about the situation and what the team needs. I didn’t want to take on the spinners so I waited for the fast bowlers.”
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Australia announce squad for ICC WTC final against India
Australia announce 17-man squad for the World Test Championship 2021-23 Final and the first two Ashes Tests. Pat Cummins will return to captain the squad after leaving the tour of India early and sitting out the third and fourth Tests to be with his sick mother in Australia.
Sports
ANI |India
Updated:19-04-2023 09:30IST | Created:19-04-2023 09:30IST
Image Credit: ANI
David Warner has been included in Australia’s 17-player touring party for the ICC World Test Championship final against India at The Oval and the opening two Ashes Tests. Warner remains in the frame to be selected for the World Test Championship final that starts on June 7 after recovering from an elbow injury sustained during the Test series in India in February.
Pat Cummins will return to captain the squad after leaving the tour of India early and sitting out the third and fourth Tests to be with his sick mother in Australia. The 17 players selected in the touring party will be available for selection in the WTC final against India and the opening two Ashes Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
Selectors will evaluate the makeup of the squad after the second Ashes Test with the option to make changes for the remaining matches against England at Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval. A 15-player squad for the ICC World Test Championship is final and will be named on May 28.
Warner will have an opportunity to turn around a recent record that includes one century in 32 Test innings going back to the start of 2021, while the opener averaged 9.5 on the last Ashes tour in 2019. Usman Khawaja is included in the squad and expected to take one of the opener positions, while Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are other options to partner the veteran at the top of the order.
Harris has been recalled to the squad along with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, while Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann were not retained from the squad that toured India. Lance Morris has been ruled out with injury. The World Test Championship final is the culmination of more than two years of consistent performance at the Test level by the team and the individuals involved, leading into an Ashes series which is always highly anticipated.
“The UK is a very different assignment from our most recent tour of India and some of the changes are based upon the conditions we are anticipating,” Australia chair of selectors George Bailey said. “Marcus, Josh and Mitch return to the squad and provide valuable depth and flexibility within their respective skill sets. We see value in revisiting the squad following the second Ashes Test given the short turnaround between the WTC final and the first Ashes Test, along with the length of the tour, ” added Bailey.
Australia plays India in the World Test Championship final at the Oval from June 7-11 before moving to the first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston from June 16-20. Australia’s World Test Championship Final and Ashes squad: Pat Cummins (C), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc and David Warner. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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NHL-Lightning strike to shock Leafs in Stanley Cup opener
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ bid to end their 56-year Stanley Cup drought got off to a woeful start on Tuesday as the Tampa Bay Lightning rolled to a 7-3 win in the opener of their best-of-seven first round series. The Lightning have reached the Stanley Cup finals for the last three seasons, hoisting the trophy twice, and they showed the Maple Leafs how its done with a Game One master class that oozed poise and discipline.
Sports
Reuters
Updated:19-04-2023 09:25IST | Created:19-04-2023 09:25IST
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ bid to end their 56-year Stanley Cup drought got off to a woeful start on Tuesday as the Tampa Bay Lightning rolled to a 7-3 win in the opener of their best-of-seven first round series.
The Lightning have reached the Stanley Cup finals for the last three seasons, hoisting the trophy twice, and they showed the Maple Leafs how its done with a Game One master class that oozed poise and discipline. “They’re experienced, they’ve gone through it many times, they understand how to play playoff hockey,” said Toronto captain John Tavares. “We have to just be aware that we have to be really disciplined.
“There’s a lot of emotion and a lot of momentum swings in playoff hockey.” The Maple Leafs’ listless and chaotic effort did not sit well with fans, who booed the home side off the ice at the end of each period and reserved the most venom for the final buzzer.
After finishing the regular season with the league’s fourth best record expectations were high entering the postseason that the Leafs would, at the very least, win a playoff series, something they have not managed for 19 years. But as the building emptied, the ice hockey mad city’s dreams of a first Cup since 1967 seemed as distant as ever.
It did not take long for all the positive energy swirling around Scotiabank Arena to turn flat, Tampa Bay’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scoring 78 seconds after the opening faceoff and Anthony Cirelli adding a second six minutes later. And the mood turned ugly when Nikita Kucherov scored with four seconds to play in the period to make it 3-0.
The Leafs worked their way back into the game on the back of the league’s second best powerplay, with Ryan O’Reilly and William Nylander scoring on the man-advantage early in the second frame to trim the Tampa Bay lead to 3-2. But the Lightning hit back with three powerplay goals of their own, one from Corey Perry and a pair from Brayden Point, to increase their lead to 6-2 going into the third.
Toronto’s comeback was short circuited when Michael Bunting was called for an illegal check, gifting Tampa Bay a five-minute powerplay that produced three goals. The teams traded goals in the third, Ross Colton counting for Tampa Bay and Calle Jarnkrok for Toronto.
“There’s a whole bunch of gamers in that room and this night we knew they would come out,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. Game Two is set for Thursday in Toronto.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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US to play CONCACAF Gold Cup in Chicago, St Louis, Charlotte
Sports
PTI |Miami
Updated:19-04-2023 09:22IST | Created:19-04-2023 09:22IST
The defending champion United States will play its CONCACAF Gold Cup opener against Jamaica at Chicago on June 24.
The Americans will meet Curaçao, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana or Sint Maarten four days later at St. Louis, then finish Group A against Nicaragua on July 2 at Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mexico opens Group B against Honduras on June 25 at Houston, plays Haiti four days later at Glendale, Arizona, and meets invited guest Qatar on July 2 at Santa Clara, California, the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Association Football said Tuesday.
Quarterfinals will be on July 8 at Arlington, Texas, and the following day at Cincinnati. The semifinals will be July 12 at San Diego and Las Vegas, though CONCACAF will not specify venues for each semifinal until after the group stage.
The championship will be at Inglewood, California, on July 16.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Probe finds evidence of match-fixing in Brazil’s top league
Sports
PTI |Saopaulo
Updated:19-04-2023 09:19IST | Created:19-04-2023 09:19IST
At least six games in Brazil’s top-flight soccer league last year are under investigation for match-fixing, prosecutors said Tuesday as part of their widening probe.
Authorities raided homes of businessmen and players in six Brazilian states and 16 cities. Nine players were being questioned, though prosecutors did not reveal their identities.
The investigation began in November focusing on three matches and has widened to 11 games, though some were in lower leagues, Goiás state prosecutor Fernando Cesconetto said in a press conference.
Investigators said players received offers between $10,000 and $20,000 to perform specific actions during matches, like receiving yellow cards and giving out corner kicks. Alleged criminals would profit on betting sites.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Kipchoge says leg injury foiled Boston Marathon attempt
The wind might be at his back.But Heartbreak Hill will still be there.The historic route from Hopkinton to Bostons Back Bay isnt going to change, and that was the biggest problem for the two-time Olympic gold medalist who set a world record on the flattest of the major marathon courses and broke 2 hours in a completely controlled environment.I cant win every time, he told reporters a day after his slowest marathon ever and just his third loss in a major race to go with 12 victories.I was feeling good.
Sports
PTI |Boston
Updated:19-04-2023 09:16IST | Created:19-04-2023 09:16IST
The rain might be gone if Eliud Kipchoge returns for another try at the Boston Marathon, as he said Tuesday he intends to do. The field might be thinner. The wind might be at his back.
But Heartbreak Hill will still be there.
The historic route from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay isn’t going to change, and that was the biggest problem for the two-time Olympic gold medalist who set a world record on the flattest of the major marathon courses and broke 2 hours in a completely controlled environment.
“I can’t win every time,” he told reporters a day after his slowest marathon ever and just his third loss in a major race to go with 12 victories.
“I was feeling good. And I think it’s just it’s a challenge. So let us discuss it as a challenge and move on,” he said. “You know, there is three things: Yesterday is a canceled check. Today is cash. And tomorrow is a promissory note. Let us forget about the canceled checks, let us talk of the cash and the promissory notes.” A day after finishing sixth in his Boston debut, Kipchoge said he had a problem with his left leg that prevented him from pushing the pace. He would not elaborate – “I’m not a doctor” – but allowed that it was his upper leg.
“I tried to do what was necessary but it wasn’t working. So I put my mind just trying to cope with the pace and just to finish,” he said. “A lot of thought was going on in my mind but I said, Hey, I can’t quit.’ I’ve been in this sport for a long (time). They say it’s important to win, but it’s great to participate and finish.” In one of the most-anticipated arrivals in the race’s recent history, Kipchoge came to Boston as a heavy favorite to add the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon to his already unprecedented resume.
But after leading a pack of about a dozen runners through the first 20 miles, he quickly dropped behind in the series of climbs that have come to be known as Heartbreak Hill. He finished in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 23 seconds – 3 1/2 minutes behind back-to-back winner Evans Chebet.
“In a marathon, anything can happen,” women’s winner Hellen Obiri said Monday.
The 38-year-old Kenyan was not made available after the race, issuing a statement through the Boston Athletic Association and on social media. But he sat for a special session with reporters following the usual day-after news conference with Chebet, Obiri and wheelchair winners Marcel Hug and Susannah Scaroni.
He began by saying he was sorry to those who were counting on him to win. Asked to explain why he felt it necessary to apologize, he said: “I promised that I would run a fruitful race. So I am sorry. Most of you were expecting me to win.” Kipchoge insisted the course was “no challenge at all,” because he had trained well for the hills. But his lack of experience with it may have been: His decision to run in front, instead of sheltering from the wind among the pack, was unusual; he also missed a water station right before he dropped out of the lead, something veteran Boston runners rarely do.
On his decision to run out front, he said: “This is sport, and we need to push. Sport is pushing yourself and actually enjoying it.” On his decision to continue despite the leg injury: “Marathon actually is life. Sport is life. Resilience is one of the recipes for success. If you are not resilient then you cannot go anywhere. So it’s good to be resilient. … That’s what’s required.” Although Kipchoge had said his goal was to win all six major marathons — New York, which he’s never run, and Boston are the only ones he’s missing — he has not decided whether to run New York in the fall. He also has spoken of going for a third Olympic title next summer, which would make it unlikely he will be back in Boston next spring.
“I will take time to sit with my team and see what’s on the table for me,” he said.
“But the main need now is to recover both mentally and physically.” Kipchoge set a world record in Berlin in 2018, breaking the old mark by 78 seconds — then lowered it to 2:01:09 on the same course last fall. In a tightly controlled exhibition in 2019, he became the first human to break 2 hours for the 26.2-mile (42-kilometer) distance, completing it in 1:59:40.
But Boston does not have pacesetters or a flat, wind-protected course, like the one chosen for the record attempt in Vienna; nor does it change the day or start time based on the weather — it was cold and rainy in Boston on Monday, and sunny and 10 degrees warmer on Tuesday. Even the roads can pose a challenge, as Scaroni learned when the bumpy pavement loosened one of her wheels, forcing her to come to a complete stop.
On Tuesday, she agreed to donate the hex wrench she used to tighten it to the BAA for its race museum.
“The fortunate part is I’ve learned over my long career now how to be better equipped,” said Scaroni, who carries a hex wrench and replacement tires in case she gets a flat. “I wish I had a pit crew.”(AP) AM AM AM
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Alcaraz cruises to opening victory at Barcelona Open
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz opened his title defense at the Barcelona Open with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over Nuno Borges.The top-seeded Spaniard, No. 2 in the world, converted five of his seven break opportunities to secure the win at the Rafa Nadal center court on Tuesday.Its always different to play here, its not just any other tournament for me, the 19-year-old Alcaraz said.
Sports
PTI |Barcelona
Updated:19-04-2023 09:12IST | Created:19-04-2023 09:12IST
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz opened his title defense at the Barcelona Open with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over Nuno Borges.
The top-seeded Spaniard, No. 2 in the world, converted five of his seven break opportunities to secure the win at the Rafa Nadal center court on Tuesday.
“It’s always different to play here, it’s not just any other tournament for me,” the 19-year-old Alcaraz said. “I’m at home, with the fans behind me. It’s always nice and special.” A two-time winner this year, Alcaraz is making his 2023 debut on the European clay-court tour. He had not competed since Miami in March, skipping Monte Carlo because of inflammation in his left hand and back pain.
“I feel great,” Alcaraz said. “Moving well, hitting the ball really well so I feel a lot of confidence playing here in Barcelona.” Alcaraz’s next opponent will be fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the 13th-seed who defeated Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2, 6-2.
Fifth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe lost 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland. The 40th-ranked Ruusuvuori rallied from 3-0 down in the final set.
Earlier, Casper Ruud reached the quarterfinals for a second straight year by beating Ben Shelton 6-2, 7-6 (1).
The third-seeded Norwegian lost to Shelton last year in Cincinnati, where the American was a relatively unknown college player ranked 229th in the world.
“I wanted my revenge,” Ruud said. “Different surface, different continent, different tournament … I felt like I had a little bit more time here to build the points on clay, which is normal.” The 20-year-old Shelton, who had his breakout tournament in Cincinnati, made his first appearances in clay-court tournaments this season and has reached No. 37 in the world. He was eliminated in the first round in Monte Carlo and in the second round in Estoril.
Ruud won his first title of the year in Estoril this month. He will next face 15th-seeded Francisco Cerúndolo or Francesco Passaro, who defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday.
Also, Diego Schwartzman defeated Wu Yibing 6-2, 6-2 to set up second-round matchup against fourth-seeded Jannik Sinner.
David Goffin beat Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-0, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-3. Qualifier Matteo Arnaldi defeated Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-4.
