‘GT working hard on improving catching & fielding’
STUTTGART: Paula Badosa battled past Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 to set up a match with friend and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka at the Porsche Grand Prix.
Shnaider fended off four match points before former No. 2 Badosa took her fifth opportunity at the clay-court tournament on Monday.
Badosa’s 10 double faults allowed Shnaider eight break point opportunities. The 20-year-old Russian was unable to take any of them on the center court in Stuttgart.
Sabalenka has finished runner-up on her last three appearances in Stuttgart, losing the final to former No.1 Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and current No.1 Iga Swiatek in 2022 and 2023.
Sachia Vickery of the United States defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 7-6 (2), 7-5 and will next face compatriot Coco Gauff, the world No. 3. Veronika Kudermetova of Russia outlasted Barbora Krejcíková 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 for a second-round meeting with No. 4 Elena Rybakina.
Kudermetova was a break down in the deciding set but fought back and took her first match point to prevail after 3 hours, 6 minutes — one of the longest ever matches in Stuttgart.
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Titans’ batter B Sai Sudharsan has expressed confidence that his side is working hard on improving their catching and ground fielding, having dropped 12 catches in six IPL matches so far.
Gujarat Titans, who snapped Rajasthan Royals’ unbeaten run with a threewicket win in a narrow chase, will return to action here on Wednesday with a clash against Delhi Capitals.
The IPL 2022 winners did manage to get over the line in a tense finish against Rajasthan but their task would have been much easier had Matthew Wade held on to a chance to dismiss Riyan Parag early in his innings. Parag was given a reprieve by the Australian wicketkeeper-batter when he was on six. The Royals batter went on to make 76 off 48 balls with five sixes and three fours.
“Every fielder who is fielding, he wants to take a catch. He wants to contribute in any such way possible. But even after the last game, we are a team which practice a lot, we field a lot actually, we field every day,” Sudharsan told the media here on Tuesday.
“It didn’t change like after the last game — we didn’t try and field more or do all those kinds of things. It’s just (about) being aware and being ready for the fight.” Gujarat Titans have dropped at least one catch in every match so far this IPL but the contest against Rajasthan was the second instance wherein they spilled three.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans had dropped three catches including a tough chance against Punjab Kings, who came from the brink to pip them by three wickets here at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
“That (is something) we have definitely had a conversation that whatever happens, just be for the fight and give your 100 per cent in the field,” Sudharsan added. Sudharsan revealed that wicketkeeperbatter Wriddhiman Saha and overseas star David Miller are fit to play against Delhi Capitals.
The left-handed batter declined the suggestion that Gujarat Titans’ batters are getting off to slow starts, while also leaving it late to finish off against Rajasthan Royals.
“(The) situation asked us to be deeper there. (The) situation asked us, to me, (to) the game deeper.”