Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Maria Sharapova determined to prove point on Grand Slam return

- Agencies sportsdek@hindustant­imes.com

Sevilla came within a whisker of going out on away goals.

Celtic went through 8-4 on aggregate despite losing 4-3 to Astana in the second leg of their play-off in Kazakhstan as a second-half wobble gave their hosts hope of pulling off a miraculous recovery.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had won 5-0 in the first leg in Glasgow and a super Scott Sinclair strike in the 34th minute should have killed the tie.

Greek champions Olympiakos are also back in the group stage following a 1-0 victory away to Croatian champions Rijeka that took them through 3-1 on aggregate.

German internatio­nal Marko Marin scored the only goal on the night.

Maribor of Slovenia also progressed, beating Hapoel BeerSheva 1-0 with a Mitja Viler strike as they won the tie on away goals. The draw for the group stage will be held in Monaco on Thursday.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova makes her first Grand Slam appearance next week since serving a 15-month doping suspension, bringing renewed passion and resolve to the US Open.

“When it comes to tennis, good or bad -- there’s really only one thing that I know for certain -I’ve missed it,” Sharapova wrote on the Players’ Tribune website.

“Though these last two years have been tougher -- so much tougher -- than I ever could have anticipate­d... my passion for the game has never wavered.

 ??  ?? Jose Callejon scored Napoli’s first goal of the returnleg tie.
Jose Callejon scored Napoli’s first goal of the returnleg tie.

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