Dimitrov sets up showdown with Goffin
LONDON: Grigor Dimitrov stood one win away from the biggest title of his career on Saturday after ending his Jack Sock jinx to reach the final of the season-ending ATP Finals at the 02 Arena.
The Bulgarian produced dazzling tennis to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 and set up a showdown with fellow debutant David Goffin. With Federer stunned earlier by Goffin, who Dimitrov thrashed in group play earlier in the week, the door had opened tantalisingly for the 26-year-old to go on and collect the biggest title of his career to date.
LONG WINS CHINA OPEN
FUZHOU: Olympic champion Chen Long delighted the home crowd as he defeated world number one Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 21-16, 14-21, 21-13 to win the China Open for a fourth time on Sunday. Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi beat Chinese qualifier Gao Fangjie in women’s section to win her first Superseries title of the year.
MANIK BANERJEE GETS LIFE TIME AWARD
NEW DELHI: Veteran journalist Manik Banerjee, also an acclaimed mountaineer, was presented with the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). Banerjee was presented the award in recognition of his achievements in mountaineering over a period of four decades.
TETE’S RECORD KNOCKOUT
LONDON: Zolani Tete took just 11 seconds to record the fastest knockout in world championship fight history in Belfast on Saturday night. The South African flattened countryman Siboniso Gonya with his first punch to retain his World Boxing Organisation bantamweight crown. It eclipsed the record held by WBO super-bantamweight champion Daniel Jimenez who stopped Harald Geier in 17 seconds in 1994.
PRASHANT, SIDHARTH ENTER MAIN DRAW
BANGALORE: India’s N Vijay Sundar Prashant and Sidharth Rawat claimed two out of four qualifying spots to enter the main round of the $100,000 Bengaluru Open, here on Sunday. While Vijay defeated Russian Shalva Dzhanashia of 6-3, 6-2, Sidharth overcame Timur Khabibulin of Kazakhistan 6-2, 7-6 (5) in their respective matches in the final round of the qualifiers. Frenchman Borna Gojo and Crotian Matej Sabanov were the other two qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Saketh Myneni, who has shown a return to form after a long injury layoff and lost in the semifinals last week, was pleased with his performance and will go into the event with an open mind. “It is good to be back and I need to keep working hard and play more tournaments,” he said.
UPSETS AT WOMEN’S YOUTH BOXING
GUWAHATI: The first day of the AIBA Women’s Youth Boxing Championships witnessed some upset results with fancied Waikai Shylah of New Zealand and England’s Chloe Watson crashing out of in the first round.