Liu debuts at world junior championships
It was not the start Richmond teen skating star Alysa Liu had hoped to have.
An under-rotation on her first combination jump left Liu, 14, in fourth place in her debut at the junior world figure skating championships Friday in Tallinn, Estonia.
Liu, the two-time reigning U.S. senior champion, can rebound today in the free skate with her big jumps to win a medal.
“I was not happy or sad with my performance because I learned a lot from this short program,” Liu said via a U.S. Figure Skating official.
She landed a triple axel but then underrotated the triple toe loop in the combination to start the short program routine to “Don’t Rain on My Parade” by Barbara Streisand. But judges docked her almost a point in the grade of execution for the under rotation.
Russian Kamila Valiyeva won the short program with 74.92 points, followed by South Korean Haein Lee (70.08) and Russian Daria Usacheva (68.45). Liu scored 67.52 points, well off her best of 71.19 points from the Junior Grand Prix Final in December.
Valieva, 13, performed to “Girl on the Ball” inspired by Picasso’s painting. She landed a triple loop, double axel, triple lutz-triple toe and beautiful spins and steps that all merited a level four. Valieva had a personal best of 74.92 points to take a big lead heading into the free skate
Golf
HATTON, KANG LEAD AT PALMER INVITE >> Tyrrell Hatton and Sung Kang took the second-round lead while Rory McIlroy stayed in contention at a windswept Arnold Palmer Invitational in central Florida on Friday.
England’s Hatton by his own admission held his score together with smoke and mirrors on his inward nine but managed a 3-under-par 69 on the Bay Hill course in Orlando.
South Korean Kang tamed the whipping winds, racking up six birdies in a 68 that was bettered by only one player, Danny Lee, who shot 67.
At 7-under 137, Hatton and Kang lead New Zealander Lee by one shot, while 2018 champion McIlroy is two behind after a 73 marred by a double-bogey at the par-four eighth.
South Korea’s Im Sungjae, winner of last week’s Honda Classic, continued his stellar form with a 69 and joined McIlroy two back, along with American Harris English (70).
Recent world No. 1 Brooks Koepka (73) trails by eight shots, but a host of big names missed the cut, including Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose.
Another former No. 1, Jason Day, withdrew after four holes, citing a bad back.
WOODS TO MISS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP >> Tiger Woods is skipping The Players Championship next week because of lingering issues with his back.
His agent, Mark Steinberg, confirmed his status to ESPN via text message Friday afternoon.
“Back just not ready. Not concerning long term, just not ready,” Steinberg wrote.
The Players Championship begins Thursday.
Woods last played in the Genesis Invitational last month, finishing in 68th — and last — place as he struggled with back stiffness. Since then, the 44-yearold has passed on playing the WGC-Mexico Championship, the Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a tournament he won eight times.
His only other PGA Tour appearance in 2020 came in January at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he tied for ninth place.
Woods later tweeted that it wasn’t an easy decision.
“I have to listen to my body and properly rest when needed,” Woods said. “My back is simply just not ready for play next week. I’m sad to miss one of the best events of the season, OUR Championship.”
Tennis
DAVIS CUP CONTINUES WITHOUT FANS >> Italy’s Fabio Fognini said it was a “strange feeling” playing a Davis Cup tie with no fans, after helping his country into a 2-0 lead against South Korea on Friday.
The match in Cagliari, one of 12 qualifiers to decide which nations go to the Madrid finals in November, is being held in an empty stadium because of the coronavirus crisis that has hit Italy especially hard.
Fognini beat Lee Duckhee 6-0 6-3 before Gianluca Mager, making his debut, beat Nam Ji-Sung 6-3 7-5 — both matches played in front of team officials and some media.
“Conditions were strange,” Fognini told the Davis Cup website. “I guess I am the first in Italy to play a Davis Cup match in these conditions.
“It was not difficult to focus, but it was a bit strange to play in front of 100 people. But safety first and then sport.”
Japan were also playing their tie against Ecuador in an empty stadium in Miki because of the coronavirus spread, which has played havoc with sporting fixtures across the world.
Soccer
EXTENSION FOR D.C. UNITED’S BIRNBAUM >> D.C. United signed captain Steven Birnbaum to a threeyear contract extension Friday through 2023.
The 29-year-old defender has eight goals and three assists in 164 regular-season games. He has started every game the last two years, logging more minutes (6,092) than any other player in MLS.