Renewed scrutiny for Semenya as she chases double gold

CASTER SEMENYA is making a bold bid for double gold in the women’s 800m and 1500m but her only guarantee at the World Athletics Championship in London is further scrutiny of the gender controversy that has dogged her career.

The powerful, 26-year-old South African is runaway favourite for the 800m, where she seeks a third world title to add to Olympic gold from Rio de Janeiro last year, and is taking on the 1500m for the first time at a major international meeting.

All of this, though, will come under a cloud of controversy at the Aug 4-13 championships as many feel high testosterone levels give her an unfair advantage. JAPAN'S Kei Nishikori (pix), trying to end an 18-month ATP title drought, hopes returning to the scene of his most recent outdoor crown will provide a pre-US Open spark.

The 27-year-old Rio Olympic bronze medallist opens with a secondround match today at the ATP Citi Open in his first match on the Washington hardcourts since beating John Isner in the 2015 final for his 10th career ATP crown.

“I don’t want to think about it too much, but I know this is a tournament I’ve won before. I do have good memories on center court,” Nishikori said yesterday.

“I think there’s an advantage for past champions. I”m happy to play in a place I”ve won

Anticipating a storm, Semenya this month granted a rare interview to South Africa’s SuperSport TV channel, expressing her frustration at continually having her gender questioned.

“I don’t understand when you say I have an advantage because I am a woman,” she said.

“When I pee, I pee like a woman. I don’t understand when you say I’m a man or I have a deep voice. I know I’m a female so there’s no question for me.

“I have to find a way to deflect (the questioning of her gender), so instead of allowing it to all be negative, I turn it into a positive. My family’s support system is fantastic.” – Reuters before.”

Ninth-ranked Nishikori was the 2014 US Open runnerup, becoming the first Asian man in a Grand Slam final, and reached the semifinals last year at Flushing Meadows.

But he hasn't won a title since taking his fourth consecutive Memphis Open crown in February 2016, dropping six finals since then – last year at Miami, Barcelona, Canada and the Swiss Indoors and this year at Brisbane and Buenos Aires.

“I’m always looking to win,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed not to be winning some tournaments. If I keep playing well, I’ll be winning some. The chance will come if I keep working hard.”