Ireland overcome Spain, enter maiden final
LONDON: Ireland won their second straight shoot-out to beat Spain on Saturday and advanced to an unexpected place in the final at the women’s hockey World Cup.
After a 1-1 draw with Spain, Ireland won the semi-final shootout 3-2, with Gillian Pinder scoring twice as the contest went to sudden death.
Ireland will now face Netherlands, who beat Australia 3-1 in shoot-out.
Ireland have been the surprise package of the tournament after going in as the second lowest-ranked team and then topping a group consisting hosts England and India.
MURRAY WITHDRAWS
WASHINGTON: Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray withdrew from the ATP Washington Open on Friday, citing fatigue after a 3 am finish that left him crying into a towel.
Murray, who returned in June from an 11-month layoff with a right hip injury, also withdrew from next week’s ATP Toronto Masters, citing the drain from three gruelling threeset wins over more than eight hours on the US capital hardcourts.
PETKOVIC IN SEMIS
WASHINGTON: Unseeded German Andrea Petkovic reached the Citi Open semi-finals for the second consecutive year, beating sixth seed Belinda Bencic 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(8) on Friday. The 2013 runner-up rallied from a set down to defeat second seed Sloane Stephens on Thursday, and continued her momentum at the Washington DC event.
The 30-year-old will next face the winner of the match between eighth seed Yulia Putintseva and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
SERENA PULLS OUT
MONTREAL: Former world No 1 Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s WTA tournament in Montreal citing “personal reasons,” organizers said on Saturday. With Serena’s withdrawal, Germany’s Tatjana Maria gains direct entry into the draw.
VENUS STUNNED
SANJOSE: Greece’s Maria Sakkari delivered one of the biggest upsets of her career at the WTA San Jose tournament on Friday, ousting former seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams in a straight sets shocker. Sakkari registered a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win over Venus, punching her ticket into semis.
ADITI MAKES CUT
LYTHAM ST ANNES, ENGLAND : Aditi Ashok continued to battle with links golf but at least managed to overcome one hurdle by making the cut at the Ricoh Women’s British Open for the first time in three attempts, here.
Aditi made the cut at Scottish Open, but finished way down at tied 59th spot. This week with two successive rounds of evenpar 72, she assured weekend action. At even-par for 36 holes, Aditi is now tied 41st.