Sport news in brief
‘Golden Slam’ hopes dashed as Djokovic beaten by Zverev
World No 1 Novak Djokovic has been beaten by Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the men’s singles tennis event at the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic, representing Serbia, was looking to add to his singles bronze medal from Beijing 2008 and move a step closer to the “Golden Slam” – achieved by winning all four grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in one calendar year.
Djokovic was on course for a guarantee of his first Olympic silver medal at least, leading Zverev by a set and a break in the Ariake Tennis Park. But the 24-year-old German broke back at once to tie the second set at 3-3, beginning a run of eight straight games that took him to a 1-6 6-3 6-1 victory. Djokovic later lost in the mixed doubles semi-finals alongside partner Nina Stojanovic, the pair coming up short against the Russian Olympic Committee’s Aslan Karatsev and Elena Vesnina.
World No 6 Zverev, whose most notable achievements so far are a World Tour Finals trophy in 2018 and US Open runner-up finish in 2020, will face Karen Khachanov of the ROC in the men’s singles final. Djokovic, meanwhile, will take on Pablo Carreno Busta in the bronze-medal match, after the Spaniard was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Khachanov in the semi-finals.
White hat-trick in vain as Team GB go down to Matildas
Ellen White’s hat-trick was not enough as Great Britain were beaten 4-3 after extra-time by Australia to end their Olympic dream in the quarter-finals of the women’s football at Tokyo 2020. Sam Kerr dramatically sent the tie into extra-time with a late leveller and further goals from Mary Fowler and the Chelsea star put the Matildas ahead following a missed penalty from Caroline Weir. White’s late third could not change the outcome.
Team GB started well but faded as Alanna Kennedy snatched the lead 10 minutes before the break. But a superb second-half reaction saw White equalise with a looping header, and a second – her fifth of the tournament – followed nine minutes later to flip the game completely. But Australia refused to give up, with Kerr exposing poor defending by expertly adjusting her body to deliver a crisp finish in the 89th minute to deny Hege Riise’s side. Australia will now face Sweden, who beat Japan 3-1, in the semi-finals in Yokohama on Monday.
The other quarter-finals both needed penalties before the USA and Canada progressed to the last four. In their repeat of the 2019 World Cup final, the USA again got the better of the Netherlands, goals from Kristie Mewiss and Lynn Williams,
either side of a double from Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema, leaving the sides locked at 2-2 in normal time. After the extra 30 minutes produced no further score, it was the Americans who won 4-2 on spot kicks. The earlier kick-off finished goalless after two hours, before Canada went through with a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over Brazil.
GB women one win away from Olympic rugby sevens final
Great Britain’s women will play France today for a place in the Tokyo Olympics sevens final. A 21-12 victory over the United States put them into the semi-finals, which means they have at least matched their performance at the Rio Games five years ago.
It was a dominant display that saw Jasmine Joyce score the opening try after just 38 seconds. Holly Aitchison converted, and then added the extras to an Abbie Brown touchdown as Britain built a 14-point interval lead. Joyce’s second try early in the second half, again converted by Aitchison, gave the United States a mountain to climb, and it proved too much despite late tries by Kristi Kirshe and Naya Tapper.
Fiji and New Zealand will contest the other last-four encounter after the former knocked out defending Olympic champions Australia 14-12. France overcame China to secure a semi-final spot, but the odds favour a Great Britain versus New Zealand final. If that happens, it would be a repeat of their pool game earlier in the tournament that New Zealand won 26-21 after trailing by 21 points.
Mercedes duo Bottas and Hamilton set pace in second practice
Lewis Hamilton trailed teammate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes headed the time charts in second practice for tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished fastest in the opening action of the weekend at a sun-cooked Hungaroring. But the Silver Arrows responded in the second