Marquez seizes historic pole at Thailand Motogp

BURIRAM: Championship leader Marc Marquez made history as he became the first rider to climb out of Q1 and claim pole position at the inaugural Thailand Motogp on Saturday.

The Spaniard had to fight his way through the first qualifying session after a crash in practice, but in Q2 he stormed to a time of l:30.088 for his 50th pole.

It underlined the superb form of the Honda rider, who holds a 72-point lead over Andrea Dovizioso with five races remaining as he closes on a fifth world title.

NISHIKORI THROUGH TO JAPAN OPEN FINAL

TOKYO: Kei Nishikori defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6(2), 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Saturday, setting up a final against Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev.

The Japanese world No 12 was made to battle during a tough first set as Gasquet saved three break points to take Nishikori to a tie-break. The Frenchman had won five tie-breaks already this week in Tokyo but couldn’t find the magic formula this time as Nishikori saved his best for the tie-break.

DEL POTRO REACHES BEIJING FINAL

BEIJING: Juan Martin del Potro has gone straight into Sunday’s final of the China Open after Italy’s Fabio Fognini pulled out of their semi-final. Organisers confirmed that Fognini, who was chasing a fourth title of the season, was out injured.

The Argentine will face unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili who beat Briton Kyle Edmund 7-6(6) 6-4 in the other semi-final.

SEVASTOVA TO TAKE ON WOZNIACKI IN FINAL

BEIJING: Anastasija Sevastova defeated US Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-4 in the China Open semi-finals on Saturday and will take on Caroline Wozniacki in Sunday’s title clash.

In the other semi-final, Australian Open champion Wozniacki converted five out of eight break point opportunities to thump local hope Wang Qiang 6-1, 6-3 and reach her first hardcourt final since Melbourne.