Dan can’t court more success in clay of reckoning
Dan Evans’ bid for a second ATP Tour title was burst in the Grand Prix Hassan II semi-finals in Marrakech.
Roberto Carballes Baena dumped British tennis’ No.2 2- 6 6- 4 6-2 in two hours and 36 minutes on clay.
Evans’ sole ATP tour title came at the 2021 Murray River Open in Australia but the world No. 30 had raised hopes of a second win with his progress in Morocco.
The 32-year-old was also 52 places higher than his Spanish foe in the rankings.
Carballes Baena, who won his only previous ATP final in 2018 at Quito, will now face Alexandre Muller.
The Frenchman is into his maiden tour-level final after defeating Russian Pavel Kotov 7- 6 (3) 7-5.
Alan Soutar missed out on a clash with Peter Wright at the German Darts Grand Prix after being KO’d in the first round.
Lee Evans inflicted a 6-2 defeat on Soots in Munich but fellow Scot Cameron Menzies dumped out Daryl Gurney 6- 4 on his first Euro Tour appearance of the year. Sir Mo Farah finished seventh in the PortGentil 10km in Gabon as he stepped up preparations for what is expected to be his last London Marathon.
The 40-year- old crossed the line in 30 minutes and 41 seconds in a race ruled by Kenyan athletes, who occupied 10 of the first 12 places and were led home by Vincent Kipkemoi.
Farah, who has said this year is likely to be his last of competitive racing before retirement, has been training in Ethiopia ahead of London. David Sloan admits Caledonia Gladiators must start motoring on the road – after an 11-hour bus trip for their latest pit stop.
Gareth Murray’s men will look to keep rolling towards the British Basketball League play-offs in Plymouth today.
Beating Bristol Flyers in Glasgow on Friday moved Caledonia, who will miss centre Patrick Tape, back into the league’s top four.
American point guard Sloan said: “We need to win to solidify that fourth place.
“We’ve picked up three straight wins so I feel we’re in a good place right now. But we know we need to be better on the road.
“And coming top four was one of the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season when Gareth got us together.”
Scotland rugby star Stuart Hogg featured among the replacements after recovering from an ankle injury as Exeter marched on in Europe.
Hogg, who missed the final Six Nations clash with Italy last month, was thrown on in 62 minutes.
The Chiefs ended South African interest in the Champions Cup as they booked a semi-final place, beating the Stormers 42-17. Kyle Ryde stormed to the opening British Superbike Championship race win of the year after holding off Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes in a scrap at Silverstone.
The LAMI OMG Yamaha rider beat BeerMonster Ducati’s Bridewell by 0.436 seconds after a 22-lap battle.
Ryde said: “I was pushing because I just wanted to get to the front.”