Ukraine Tennis Federation (UTF) chief executive Evgeniy Zukin sees no issue with Ukrainian players refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents.
The Wimbledon crowd booed Victoria Azarenka when she did not shake Elina Svitolina's hand on Centre Court earlier this month.
It left Belarusian Azarenka bemused, as she was respecting the wishes of Ukraine's Svitolina.
While Zukin was disappointed to see that reaction from the crowd, he also stressed there are more important matters at play than players not shaking hands after a match.
Zukin told Stats Perform: "It's really hard to explain to everyone in a 10,000-seater court what’s going on, what kind of conflict is happening and how everything is connected.
"I was at that match and I didn’t like how the crowd reacted but it clearly shows they don't understand. But if they would like to know, they would know.
"Any kind of statement from the tournament or the WTA, you cannot be sure everybody understands or everybody gets the message – it's just a strange situation.
"We were living in a strange time of COVID but it's nothing compared to this. I don't see it as a big problem that not everyone understands what's going on.
"Whatever the player's position – you cannot make exceptions in this case, because we’re in a war with Russia and Belarus.
"We didn't start it and simply it's not going to be comprehended by the Ukrainian society if our players shook hands with their opponents.
"Some spectators may not like it but this is how things are. We have so many worse things going on than this no-handshake thing. We are spending too much time on things that don't matter too much."
Zukin and the UTF do not believe Russian or Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Indeed, heading towards the Paris Olympics next gear, Zukin believes Ukraine will boycott the competition should Belarusian and Russians be allowed to feature, even under a neutral banner.
"We don't think it's fair that during the war, Russians or Belarusians are accepted in any way or any kind to the Olympics," he said.
"We know they are funded by their state, they are not neutral. Any success by a Russian or Belarusian athlete will be used by Russian propaganda to show their superiority and we're absolutely against them taking part until the war is over.
"Maybe if the war is over before the Olympics, this position changes. But when people are dying every day, it's not normal. When you attack one of the countries in Europe and you're playing sports, it's normal?
"We have the same position on this: they shouldn't play while the war goes on. It's going to be the IOC's [International Olympic Committee] decision whether to allow them to compete then the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee will have its decision about participating or not at the Paris Olympics."
Asked if he would be disappointed for Ukrainian tennis players should the nation choose to boycott the Games, Zukin added: "It's going to be taken out of our hands and their hands as it's the Olympic Committee who endorses all of the applications.
"In case it makes a decision not to send a team, then it's impossible to send just tennis players. We completely respect this. Russia and Belarus are banned from all tennis team events, their membership from the ITF is suspended.
"The Olympics is a team competition so it would not be normal to let them compete there. Of course it's the NOC's decision but the chances are really low that Ukraine would participate if Russia and Belarus participate."
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is daring to dream about a return to Red Bull ahead of his Formula One comeback at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Ricciardo’s career looked to be all but over after he was dumped by McLaren following two underwhelming seasons with the British team.
But the popular 34-year-old has been handed a second chance, replacing Nyck de Vries at Red Bull’s junior team AlphaTauri for the concluding dozen rounds of the year, starting at the Hungaroring on Sunday.
Ricciardo impressed during a test at Silverstone for Red Bull last Tuesday, and given Sergio Perez’s torrid run of form – which has seen him fall 99 points adrift of team-mate Max Verstappen – AlphaTauri’s move to hire the Australian will fuel speculation that he could land a return to the team which carried him to seven of his eight victories.
And speaking at the world champions’ packed motorhome on Thursday, Ricciardo said: “The dream is a Red Bull seat, but there is no ‘this is what you need to do’ to achieve that.
“Given what has happened over the past few years and taking time off, I knew it would be hard to get back in at the top.
“Of course that was my wish, but you need to be realistic, and if I want to get back into Red Bull it will be a process, and this is the best path for me at the moment.
“You know what they are like here. They are not telling me to take it easy, they want me to show them what I have got, but there is no criteria.
“And in terms of expectations there are none. I want to be in the moment, enjoying it, and not thinking too far ahead.”
Ricciardo’s reputation in the sport is on the line following his poor period with McLaren which saw the British team move to cancel his contract.
Ricciardo failed to land a seat for the 2023 campaign and instead elected to return to Red Bull as a reserve driver.
But he might struggle to impress with a team rooted to the foot of the constructors’ table, taking just two points from the first 10 races.
However, Ricciardo added: “Over the past few years, I started falling into a trap where I believed the car does not suit me and you can be your own worst enemy. I know this car will have limitations but I will work with that.
“Getting this opportunity is a chance to make things better. That is why I am excited to get back behind the wheel and show my true self.
“I had enough time off to reset and also enjoy it again. Six months ago, I wasn’t at a place to jump at an opportunity like this but that has been the luxury of time.
“I have fallen in love with it again and I feel myself in an environment that provides me with a lot of nostalgia, so when the opportunity came along it was like, ‘let’s try it’.”
A collection of Frankie Dettori’s awards and riding gear has sold at auction for tens of thousands of pounds after the weighing room great had a clear-out.
The 52-year-old jockey, who plans to retire at the end of the year, put 126 items up for sale as he plans to “scale down” the family home in Newmarket, Suffolk.
Among them was Dettori’s trophy from his Oaks win aboard Soul Sister last month, which sold for £5,000 to a UK buyer at an online auction run by Cheffins in Cambridge, which concluded this week.
That could be his last win in a British Classic should he not win the St Leger at Doncaster in September.
Also sold were a pair of signed racing boots from a race in Saudi Arabia for £2,800, a signed racing saddle used by Dettori at Epsom for £1,400 and a set of the royal blue Godolphin silks which went for £4,600 to a buyer from Japan.
Dettori’s weighing scales, which were given to him by Steve Cauthen and which Dettori claims he has been “jumping on and off for over 30 years”, were sold for £550.
Speaking before the sale, Dettori said: “We’re scaling down and I’ve got so much stuff, we thought we might as well just auction it.
“I didn’t realise because they end up in drawers, in cupboards, in the cellar, I mean they’re all over the place.
“Now we’re clearing up a lot of stuff, we didn’t realise how much accumulated in so many years.”
He continued: “All my kids have branched out so it’s only myself and Catherine my wife left so we’re planning to rent the house, scale down and move towards London a bit.
“And I’d like to travel the world a bit.”
He said some of the proceeds of the auction will go to the charity Direct Aid For Africa (Dafa), and some will go to his five children, adding: “My daughter’s getting married next year but she hasn’t fixed a date yet.”
Harriet Lusty, deputy saleroom manager at Cheffins, said: “This auction brought buyers from the world over to Cheffins, with bidders online from Australia, Hong Kong, USA, Japan, the UK and throughout Europe.
“This really was a one-off opportunity for many of Frankie’s army of fans to buy a part of sporting history and own a piece of memorabilia from one of the greatest sports personalities worldwide.
“As Frankie is such a household name and easily the most famous person in the history of horse racing, we did expect to see a great deal of interest in this sale, however some of the prices achieved for the more important lots have been unprecedented.
“We were delighted to be able to assist the Dettori family in scaling down the numbers of trophies and memorabilia items kept at the house and would like to congratulate the lucky buyers who were successful during the sale.”
Savethelastdance is one of four runners for Aidan O’Brien in a field of eight declared for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.
The master of Ballydoyle has already won the fillies’ Classic on six occasions, a joint-record alongside Sir Michael Stoute.
O’Brien looks to have every chance of going out on his own this weekend, with 22-length Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance the likely favourite on her first start since finishing best of the rest behind Soul Sister in the Oaks at Epsom last month.
Her biggest threat could prove to be her stablemate Warm Heart, who completed a hat-trick in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Be Happy and Listed winner Library complete the quartet.
British hopes are carried by Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking, who was beaten a head by Warm Heart on her penultimate start at Newbury, but has almost four lengths to find with the same rival from their clash in the Ribblesdale just over four weeks ago.
Splitting the pair in second at the Royal meeting was the Joseph O’Brien-trained Lumiere Rock who adds further strength in depth to the Irish Oaks field.
Azazat, second in the Munster Oaks last time out for Dermot Weld, and Jim Bolger’s Irish 1,000 Guineas third Comhra are the other hopefuls.
Elina Svitolina is an inspiration to female tennis players and women around the globe, says Ukraine Tennis Federation (UTF) chief Evgeniy Zukin.
Svitolina reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon before going down to Marketa Vondrousova, beating world number one Iga Swiatek en route to matching her best performance at a grand slam.
The 28-year-old, who gave birth in October 2022, previously reached the last four at Wimbledon in 2019 and at the US Open in the same year.
Having progressed to the quarters at this year's French Open, Svitolina seems back to her best, and Zukin is thrilled to see it.
When asked if Svitolina was an inspiration to Ukrainian athletes as the country's war with Russia rages on, Zukin told Stats Perform: "Yes, of course.
"I think this is the biggest sporting result lately for Ukraine. Our Under-21 football team also did well, reached the semi-finals of the European Championships, but on the big stage, this is the biggest achievement of a Ukrainian athlete in my opinion – of course I'm a little biased on this.
"This is amazing – quarters in Paris, now semis in London, after giving birth, is an incredible achievement from any perspective."
Asked if Svitolina's return from her hiatus was proof women can come back from pregnancy and perform at a high level, Zukin said: "Exactly. Now we hear that [Caroline] Wozniacki is coming back, [Naomi] Osaka is coming back and this is good – just for women, not athletes.
"It shows that you should give birth, you should come back to your previous business and it’s achievable and doable – this is the main message.
"It's really great, there cannot be a better message."
Zukin does not believe Svitolina should feel the pressure to win a slam, adding: "Nobody knows what's around the corner. Every athlete just wakes up every day and tries to be better than yesterday – this is the main thing.
"If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t happen, it's still an amazing career anyhow, an amazing achievement.
"One by one, day by day and then if it comes, it’s great. If it doesn't come, it's also great. There's no pressure at all in my opinion."
Zukin has known Svitolina since she was a child, and while he no longer has consistent contact with her, he says she is an inspirational figure off the court too.
"She's an independent professional, she has her own team and charity fund and agents and all her entourage is with her all the time," he said.
"I've known her since she was 11, when I was a tennis referee, refereeing tournaments where she played, and I know her older brother from when I was a player.
"She's a nice person and it's good that she tries to do something more than just tennis with her charity fund, with representing Ukraine on the world stage and delivering the messages that are really needed for Ukrainians right now.
"She's an incredible ambassador for Ukraine and Ukrainian tennis."
Amateur champion Christo Lamprecht outscored the professionals on the outward nine of his Open debut as he took an early lead on the first day.
The 6ft 8in South African, who qualified by winning the 128th Amateur Championship at Hillside just up the coast in Southport a month ago, reeled off three birdies in four holes from the third at Royal Liverpool to turn in a three-under 32.
That saw the 22-year-old overtake Matthew Jordan, a member at the Hoylake links, who had enjoyed a dream start having been given the honour of hitting the first shot at 6.35am.
Following a nervy opening hole, where he converted a 14-foot putt to save par after finding a greenside bunker, the 27-year-old DP World Tour pro – who has been a member at Royal Liverpool since the age of seven – birdied the next from 18 feet and was off and running in front of a supportive crowd which included family, friends and fellow members.
A brilliant three-wood from 256 yards at the par-five fifth just carried the greenside bunker and set up a 10-foot eagle chance and while he could not capitalise he settled for a second birdie which took him to two under.
Jordan reached the turn at two under as after bogeying the short sixth he sank a nine-footer at the 436-yard eighth but another dropped shot at the 11th, where he found himself up against the face of a bunker, opened the door for Lamprecht to charge through.
He was closely followed by 50-year-old 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink who was a shot behind after birdies at the fifth and seventh.
With the sun now out after a cloudy start, world number one Scottie Scheffler and playing partner Tommy Fleetwood both parred their opening hole.
But in the group behind Cameron Smith began the defence of the title he won at St Andrews with a birdie from 12 feet.
Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, straight off the back of Sunday’s Scottish Open win, was due out at 2.59pm with Masters champion and world number three Jon Rahm and England’s Justin Rose in the marquee group of the afternoon.
Jack Welsby insists St Helens are getting back to their best ahead of their “biggest game of the season” against Leigh in the Challenge Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
The Challenge Cup eluded the defending Super League champions for 13 years prior to their win in 2021, when they beat Castleford 26-12, and they are now bidding to reclaim the title.
St Helens have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks, but saw a two-match winning run end with a 14-12 defeat to Catalans Dragons last Thursday ahead of their clash with the in-form Leopards at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Full-back Welsby told the PA news agency: “It’s been a bit of a different year than we are used to.
“We had a really great start in Australia but then came back and struggled for a bit of form but in recent weeks we are looking more like ourselves.
“There is still ample amounts of confidence in the group and we are really ready to go this week. This is the biggest game of the season so far, this is the one that really matters and hopefully we can get it right.”
James Roby and Mark Percival will miss the clash after failing head injury assessments.
Welsby admits the absence of the duo will be a big one but it offers the opportunity for other players to make a name for themselves on the big stage.
He said: “You can play it down and say you can move on but the likes of Roby being out as your captain is a pretty big loss.
“Then Mark Percival who is probably the best centre in the competition for the last five years or so, they are two massive losses and two massive personalities in the dressing room so they are big boots to fill but we are more than confident with the players coming in.
“There’s lots of opportunities out there this weekend and lots of incentive and all the boys will be ready come Saturday.”
Welsby has scored eight tries so far this campaign but feels his performances can still improve.
He added: “I’ve been a bit hit and miss. Some games I’ve been at my best and some games I’ve not, I’m still learning and still have a lot to learn.
“Probably got a bit of a lesson with the way Sam Tomkins played at the weekend but I’m enjoying my rugby and just hope we hit a bit of form going into the back end of the season.”
Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan used home advantage to good effect to make a dream start to the 151st Open in Hoylake.
The 27-year-old, playing in the tournament for the second time after qualifying at nearby West Lancashire, delighted a huge local following by moving into the lead at two under early in his round.
Having been given the honour of being first man to tee off at 6.35am he had a nervy opening hole after finding the rough and then a bunker and holing a 14-foot putt to save par.
But with the nerves settled, the DP World Tour professional recorded the tournament’s first birdie at the second hole, which he has always played as the 18th but has changed this week for an improved tournament layout, from 18 feet and he was off and running.
A brilliant three-wood from 256 yards at the par-five fifth just carried the greenside bunker and set up a 10-foot eagle chance and while he could not capitalise he settled for a second birdie which took him to two under and one ahead of playing partner Richie Ramsay, of Scotland, and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
Big names going out in the morning included defending champion Cameron Smith alongside Xander Schauffele and US Open winner Wyndham Clark, one group behind world number one Scottie Scheffler, home hope Tommy Fleetwood and Australian Adam Scott.
Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, straight off the back of Sunday’s Scottish Open win, was due out at 2.59pm with Masters champion and world number three Jon Rahm and England’s Justin Rose in the marquee group of the afternoon.
Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan had a nervy start to the 151st Open but managed to avoid an early mishap as play got under way at Hoylake in cloudy but calm conditions.
The DP World Tour professional, playing in his second championship, was given the honour of hitting the first shot at 6.35am and was welcomed onto the first tee by an appreciative crowd, many of whom were family, friends and fellow patrons of the club.
And although he pulled his drive into the left rough of the 444-yard hole – which he has always played as the 17th but is changed this week for an improved tournament layout – he was loudly cheered by the packed grandstand and departed the tee waving to spectators.
Having then hit into a greenside bunker, he splashed out to 12 feet and holed a par putt.
With his nerves settled, Jordan played the second hole much better, finding the fairway, hitting his approach to 17ft and holing to loud cheers as he took the early lead with the tournament’s first birdie of the day.
Big names going out in the morning included defending champion Cameron Smith alongside Xander Schauffele and US Open winner Wyndham Clark, one group behind world number one Scottie Scheffler, home hope Tommy Fleetwood and Australian Adam Scott.
Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, straight off the back of Sunday’s Scottish Open win, was due out at 2.59pm with Masters champion and world number three Jon Rahm and England’s Justin Rose in the marquee group of the afternoon.
Jonah Heim and Leody Tavares hit home runs as the Texas Rangers extended their winning streak to six games with Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over the slumping Tampa Bay Rays.
The American League West-leading Rangers completed a sweep of the three-game series and remained unbeaten since the All-Star break, while the reeling Rays dropped percentage points behind the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East lead with their fourth consecutive loss.
Tampa Bay entered July with the majors’ best record at 57-28 but has gone 3-11 for the month.
Tavares opened the scoring with a solo homer off Zach Littell in the third inning and added an RBI single in the seventh to stretch Texas’ lead to 2-0. Heim put the game out of reach an inning later with a three-run blast for his 14th homer of the season.
Rangers starter Jon Gray threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings before exiting with a bruised left shin, caused by a comebacker off the bat of All-Star Yandy Diaz. Brock Burke relieved Gray and tossed two shutout innings to receive the win.
Jose Siri finished 2 for 4 for Tampa Bay and accounted for the Rays’ lone run with a solo homer in the ninth.
Orioles avoid sweep from Dodgers, take AL East lead
The Baltimore Orioles inched ahead of the Rays in the AL East race ahead of Thursday’s visit to Tampa Bay by coming through with an 8-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers that prevented the National League West leaders from sweeping the three-game series.
Ramon Urias drove in three runs on a pair of doubles and Gunnar Henderson had a solo homer while scoring three times as Baltimore roughed up Dodgers starter Julio Urias and bounced back from a 10-3 loss on Tuesday.
Urias was tagged for a season-high eight runs on eight hits in five innings.
The Orioles also got two hits and an RBI from both Aaron Hicks and Jordan Westburg to gain some momentum entering a pivotal four-game series with the Rays that pits the teams with the AL’s two best records.
Max Muncy had a two-run homer for Los Angeles, his 22nd of the season, while Josh Outman added a solo shot in just the Dodgers’ second loss in 10 games.
Reds snap skid, cool Giants
Will Benson’s three-run homer propelled the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 win and ended the San Francisco Giants’ seven-game winning streak.
Graham Ashcraft pitched six-plus innings and Ian Gibault and Lucas Sims each worked one inning before Alexis Diaz struck out two in the ninth for his 27th save in 28 chances.
The Reds halted a season high-tying six-game skid despite being held to four hits.
Blake Sabol homered for the Giants, who dropped into a second-place tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.
Former Open champion Shane Lowry has expressed his determination to double his major tally and join the list of Irish winners at Royal Liverpool.
Rory McIlroy won the Open the last time it was staged in Hoylake in 2014, while Fred Daly lifted the Claret Jug at the same venue in 1947 and Joe Carr claimed the Amateur Championship in 1953.
Lowry’s own Open triumph came on home soil at Royal Portrush in 2019 and the 36-year-old has been quietly rounding into form with top-20 finishes in his last three starts.
“I really struggled on the greens at the start of the year and then around the end of May I turned the corner and started to see a few going in again,” Lowry told the PA news agency.
“In the last few tournaments I’ve had days where I’ve felt really good on the greens. It’s not a nice place to be when you’re not holing any so it has been very encouraging.”
Lowry carded a closing 65 at Hoylake in 2014 to register his first top 10 in a major and contended in the 2021 US PGA Championshp and last year’s Masters.
“Since Portrush I feel like my major performances have been pretty good,” he added.
“I’ve given myself a couple of half chances here and there and I’ve had some nice finishes. I love the big weeks, it’s what I play the game for. It’s what gets me going and I get very excited going into major weeks.”
Is there anything new for 2023?
The 17th is a brand new par three which features an “infinity green” that offers views of the Dee Estuary, but which is protected by run-off areas and deep bunkers which could lead to some high scores. The creation of the hole has also allowed for a re-routing of the closing stretch to include two par fives over 600 yards and the 136-yard 17th.
Key tee times
0635 – Matthew Jordan, Richie Ramsay, Branden Grace.
0947 – Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott.
0958 – Cameron Smith, Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele.
1459 – Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose.
1616 – Hurly Long, Seungsu Han, Marco Penge.
Weather forecast
Mostly sunny with a small chance of the odd light morning shower. Dry with prolonged sunshine from midday. Moderate west to northwesterly winds with gusts of 15-20mph from late morning.
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley said sitting out the 2023 season is among his options after he failed to reach a long-term deal with the team.
The star running back and the Giants failed to reach a new contract on Monday, meaning Barkley will earn $10.1 million this season on a fully guaranteed one-year deal without the long-term security of a multi-year pact.
In an interview on a podcast that was recorded before Monday’s deadline, Barkley discussed the negotiations for players on a franchise tag to reach a new multi-year deal with terms. He used an expletive several times in noting a holdout would thumb his nose at the Giants and his teammates and show them his true value.
“Anybody who knows me knows that’s not something I want to do,” Barkley said. “But is it something that crossed my mind, I never thought I would ever do that. But now I’m at a point where it’s like, ‘Jesus, I might have to take it to this level. Am I prepared and willing to take it to the level. I don’t know. That’s something I gotta sit down. I gotta sit down and talk to my family. I gotta sit down and talk to my team, gotta really strategise about this. Can’t just go off emotions.”
Barkley totalled a career-high 1,312 rushing yards last season, the fourth-most in the NFL and the most by a Giants player since Tiki Barber’s 1,662 yards in 2006.
The two-time Pro Bowler has rushed for 4,249 yards and 29 touchdowns in 60 games with the Giants since he was the second overall pick out of Penn State in 2018.
After copping four gold medals in the singles age-group finals, Barbados added two more to their tally, as they won both the Boys’ and Girls’ doubles finals at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday.
Aidan Parris and Under-19 silver medallist Alex Stewart outlasted the Jamaican pair of Tobias Levy and Lukas Thomson in what was a strategic and tactical Boys’ showpiece, which could have gone either way. The Jamaicans won a closely contested opening set 11-9, but the Barbadian pair maintained their composure best for the next two sets which they won 11-5, 11-5 to secure the championship.
It was a similar situation on the Girls’ side of action, where the highly-rated Sumairaa Suleman, who won the Girls’ Under-19 final, partnered with Under-17 champion Eboni Atherley to defeat Jamaica’s Katherine Risden and Savannah Thomson and claim supremacy in the female category.
In fact, it was a first ever Girls’ championship doubles win for Barbados, and they claimed it in entertaining fashion. Though Suleman and Atherley won by two sets 11-9, 11-8, it was two closely contested affairs, which the Risden and Thomson could have prolonged, but they struggled to limit unforced errors throughout and that proved their undoing.
Meanwhile, the Jamaicans, who bounced back strongly from contrasting singles performances where they won one silver and two bronze medals, also challenged for the Mixed doubles title by way of Alex Chin and Under-17 girls silver medallist Sanjana Nallapati.
However, it was Guyana’s Under-19 pair of Nicolas Verwey and Kirsten Gomes, who won gold and silver in their respective age group finals, that came out victorious in a contest where the Jamaicans were again plagued by errors.
The Guyanese pair won 11-8, 11-7 to add a fourth gold to their tally. The defending overall champions have now won four gold, three silver and three bronze heading into the team competition, scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Las year's runners-up Barbados has six gold medals and a silver on their cards heading in, while the Jamaicans tally now stands at four silver and two bronze.
Ryan Searle was left looking for a new hotel after dumping Peter Wright out of the Betfred World Matchplay.
The Englishman was only booked into his accommodation in Blackpool until Friday, but now needs to find somewhere to stay after beating world number two Wright 11-8 to set up a quarter-final with Wales’ Jonny Clayton that night.
Searle told Sky Sports: “I’m going to have to try to book a hotel now because I’m meant to be leaving on Friday. I have to try to find somewhere to stay.”
The first five legs went with the darts, but it was Searle who landed the first break to lead the twice world champion 4-2, and as an out-of-sorts Wright struggled to find his best form, it was an advantage he never relinquished.
He took four legs on the trot, culminating in a 107 checkout and although missed doubles cost him the next two and gave the Scot hope, he eventually saw out the win with a 112 finish to claim a place in the last eight for the first time.
Searle said: “That’s unbelievable, really. That was such a scrappy game compared to Monday. We both gave each other chances and in the end, I was lucky enough to take mine.
“I didn’t expect an easy game, obviously. He’s not been in the best form, but you never know when he’s going to just turn a switch and turn it around. It was quite nervy at the end there, but I’m just happy to get over the line.”
Clayton produced a finishing masterclass as he eased past Belgium’s former Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Clayton hit checkouts of 170, 156 and 126 as he surged from 4-4 to win four successive legs before eventually securing an 11-6 victory.
Speaking afterwards, he told Sky Sports: “I knew I had to play well here tonight. Thank God, my darts went good.
“Dimitri gave me a few chances and a few shots, but listen, the ton-pluses always look good and they always feel good, so I’m glad to get over that line.”
Luke Humphries will face Damon Heta in the quarter-finals after seeing off Dirk van Duijvenbode in sudden death.
The Dutchman raced into a 3-0 lead, but found himself level at 5-5 as both players scored heavily, but missed doubles.
Humphries had to scrap his way back once again and produced an 11-dart leg to reduce the deficit to 9-7, only for his opponent to produce a 10-darter in the next.
However, he held his nerve to level at 10-10 to set up a tense conclusion before going on to win 14-12 in a classic.
Heta had earlier secured his progression with an 11-1 demolition of Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan.
Dolan, who dispensed with reigning champion Michael van Gerwen in the previous round, was overwhelmed as the Australian, whose passage was secured with the help of a 150 checkout in the seventh leg, cruised to victory.
The 2023 Jamaica Basketball Showcase (JBS) is set to be bigger and better than the inaugural event in 2022. The event will be broadcast live on several SportsMax platforms and will be reaching a global audience, creating a great opportunity to showcase the best basketball talent in Jamaica and helping to revitalize the sport in the country.
That was the overarching theme expressed at the launch of the 2023 JBS that place on Tuesday, July 19, at Express Fitness at the Constant Spring Golf Club in Kingston. The event was attended by representatives from SportsMax, the Jamaica Basketball Association, and Express Fitness as well as players from the participating teams.
The 2023 JBS is scheduled to take place from July 27-29, 2023, at the Donald Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology and is expected to be a major showcase for basketball talent in Jamaica. Six Under-20 teams including defending champions PHASE 1 Academy, Purple Power, Hoop Factory Blues, Camperdown Giants, Blue Mahoe Basketball and Caribbean Basketball Academy, will compete for JMD$300,000 in prize money. PHASE 1 will take on Purple Power in the opening match.
Paul Campbell, CEO of Sports Innovators Group (SIG), the event's organizer, said that the 2023 JBS promises to be "bigger and better" than the inaugural event in 2022." He added that the event is expected to "reignite some interest in basketball" in Jamaica.
Campbell cited the addition of SportsMax as a broadcast partner as a major reason for the event's growth. He said that SportsMax's reach will help to expose the JBS to a wider audience, both in Jamaica and around the world.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Matthews, CEO of SportsMax, said that the network is "excited" to be broadcasting the 2023 JBS." Matthews expressed the view that SportsMax is committed to "developing local and regional sports," and that the JBS is a "great opportunity" to do just that.
According to the broadcaster’s CEO, SportsMax, who have entered into a five-year agreement with SIG will be providing premium coverage of the JBS, including live broadcasts on the SportsMax channels and streaming on the Sportsmax app, on CEEN TV as well as the Sports Innovators Group website.
Paulton Gordon, President of the Jamaica Basketball Association, believes JBS is "a huge success" and that the association is "looking forward to an ongoing partnership" with Sports Innovators Group."
He said that the JBS has helped to "revitalize basketball in Jamaica," and that the association is "committed to working with Sports Innovators Group to make the JBS even bigger and better in the years to come."
Nicholas Lynch, CEO of Express Fitness, said that the company is "very much invested into developing sport through youth" and explained that the JBS is "an excellent opportunity" for Express Fitness to "continue that support."
Lynch also said that Express Fitness will be providing a number of resources to the JBS, including fitness training for the players and support for the event's marketing and promotion.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the biggest surprises in the NBA last season, and the team believes coach Mark Daigneault can help them take the next step.
Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti announced the team signed Daigneault to a multiyear extension on Wednesday.
Terms of the deal were not released.
The Thunder weren't expected to be particularly good in 2022-23 after finishing with the NBA's fourth-worst record in 2021-22, coupled with a foot injury suffered by No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren last summer forcing him to miss the entire season.
Daigneault, however, nearly directed Oklahoma City to a playoff berth, and he finished second in NBA Coach of the Year voting.
The Thunder went 40-42 in the regular season before beating the New Orleans Pelicans in a Play-In game. Oklahoma City's season ended with a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a second Play-In game.
Their 16-win improvement from the 2021-22 season was the second-biggest jump in the NBA behind the Sacramento Kings' 18-win increase.
Daigneault is entering his fourth season at the helm at Oklahoma City after serving as a Thunder assistant in 2019-20 - the last season the team made the playoffs. Prior to working on the Thunder bench, he spent five seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue, the team's G League affiliate.
Next order of business for Daigneault is a playoff berth and series win - something the Thunder haven't achieved since 2015-16, when they lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the Western Conference finals.
Tadej Pogacar conceded defeat to Jonas Vingegaard in the fight for yellow as Felix Gall beat Simon Yates to victory on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
While Gall and Yates fought out stage honours from the breakaway in Courchevel, the overall battle in this Tour was effectively decided on the mighty Col de la Loze at the end of the 166km stage from Saint-Gervais.
Having shown cracks in Tuesday’s time trial, Pogacar crumbled on this punishing 28km climb which peaks at 2,304 metres, losing the wheels with eight kilometres to the summit as the time gaps ballooned before the finish.
“I’m gone,” Pogacar told his team on the radio as he watched his rival ride away. “I’m dead.”
The Slovenian trailed Vingegaard by just 10 seconds on Monday’s rest day. When Vingegaard took 98 seconds out of the two-time Tour winner in Tuesday’s time trial it looked massive, but a day later the gap on the road was almost six minutes, the difference overall now seven-and-a-half minutes.
While Pogacar crossed the line taking a consoling arm around the shoulder from team-mate Marc Soler, the usually reserved Vingegaard allowed himself a more vigorous celebration with his team.
With only one mountain stage remaining, as long as the Dane makes it to Paris on Sunday, he will surely win his second consecutive Tour crown.
Having said he was surprised with his own performance on Tuesday, Vingegaard was shocked by the situation 24 hours later.
“Of course we are super, super happy,” he said. “It’s hard to describe. To have more than seven minutes is really incredible.
“Of course the Tour de France is not over. I’m sure Tadej will try something on the last three stages so we have to keep fighting. We’re not in Paris yet.”
Pogacar’s form coming into the Tour had been an open question given his lack of racing since breaking his wrist in April. For two weeks he kept the gap tantalisingly close, but the third week has proven too much.
“I don’t know (what happened),” said Pogacar, who played down a small crash early on the stage. “I tried to eat as much as possible but nothing goes to my legs, it stays in my stomach. I was really empty after three and a half hours, really empty at the bottom.
“If I didn’t have such great support I was thinking I would lose the podium but I was fighting with Marc and I’m grateful to my team-mates…
“I must say today was one of the worst days of my life on the bike but I had to keep fighting to the finish. I hope to recover now and then we can go for another stage on stage 20. I think it’s going to be a good stage if I have good legs.”
As soon as the 24-year-old radioed in his concession, team-mate Adam Yates was told to protect his third place overall and the Lancastrian put time into Carlos Rodriguez to solidify his podium spot, now 76 seconds up on the young Spaniard and three minutes behind Pogacar.
Up ahead, Gall attacked from the remains of a 34-strong breakaway. Simon Yates did his best to chase down the Austrian but could not quite bridge the gap and came in 30 seconds down, his second runner-up finish of the Tour after being beaten by twin brother Adam on stage one in Bilbao.
“I didn’t know the climb but I don’t know if I would change anything,” the Jayco-Alula rider said. “I was wary of the altitude so I tried to pace myself. I think I’ve done a good ride.
“Chapeau to Felix, that was a great ride but I’m pretty happy with my ride.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t win but that’s how it goes.”
Ann Duffield’s Catterick course specialist Quercus brought up a fourth success at the track with an all-the-way win under Joe Fanning in the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery Handicap.
Racing off bottom weight, it was a canny bit of placing by Duffield, winning a 0-80 with the 56-rated six-year-old.
Only eight were declared and two of those ended up as non-runners and Fanning was happy to take up a prominent early position, and he was allowed an easy time on the front end.
Oso Rapido, winner of the race 12 months ago and the 100-30 favourite to repeat the trick, came with a late rattle but went down by a head.
“The track here suits him, quirky Quercus we call him, but he is actually really genuine, he just likes this track,” said Duffield.
“He did have the option of the five-furlong race on the card but over six he gets to go round the bend, which he loves.
“We’ll have a look in the book and see when we can come back here, there’s a chance he might be back next week under a penalty.
“They left him alone in front, which he loves, and Joe is obviously brilliant in front.”
Grant Tuer’s Bellarchi (4-1) needed seven attempts to open her account but the consistent filly finally managed it in the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Placed in all but one of her previous six outings, and that was in Listed company and York, She was certainly deserving of her success.
Another to make all, she was sent for home under Sam James fully two furlongs out and held off Willolarupi by a length.
Tuer said: “She deserved to win one and she’s been good from day one.
“I was actually a little bit disappointed she didn’t win on her debut at Thirsk.
“She’s straightforward, she jumps and runs, she’s got a great mind and she knows her job – a great horse for a syndicate (Nick Bradley).
“We’ve bumped into one or two along the way but the only moderate race she’s run was in the Marygate at York, when she probably should have finished fourth or fifth and to this day I don’t know why she ran so badly, but she pretty much has run to the same mark every other time.”
Fresh from his Group One-winning exploits in the July Cup on Shaquille, Rossa Ryan made the journey north and was rewarded with a double, both trained by Ralph Beckett.
Campaign Trail was sent off the 2-5 favourite in the Watch Racing TV Now Restricted Maiden Stakes and had little trouble in seeing off two rivals.
Diamond Vega (2-1 favourite) was made to a work a little harder in the Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap but ultimately ran out a cosy two-length winner.
Billy Garrity brought Slingsbytoo (10-1) with a wide late run to win the racingtv.com Handicap for Mick and David Easterby.
Though there has been no official word on the outcome of previous negotiations between horsemen and promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), both parties seem to have found common ground for the most parts, as live racing is set to return to Caymanas Park on Saturday by way of a six-race card.
This follows the cancellation of races on July 15 and 16, after the Patrick Smellie-led United Racehorse Trainers' Association of Jamaica (URTAJ) opted not to nominate as a show of their discontent to the promoting company’s offer of a $27-million purse increase.
Following a meeting on Monday, Smellie and a majority of his counterparts declared intentions to again withhold nominations, if SVREL doesn’t offer a more attractive purse increase, which all but signalled the possibility of another cancelled race day.
However, a meeting between representatives of the Howard Hamilton-led Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and the promoting company, also held on Monday, seemingly broke the deadlock.
The owners' group during that meeting, recommended that SVREL’s overpayment of taxes on $6.2 billion in sales initially reported, amounting to what should be approximately $41.7 million in rebates, be put to purse money for 2023, along with the $18 million Quarterly Incentive payments to owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms.
Additionally, TOBA suggested that a three per cent commission earned from inter-tote wagering on local racing, could also be allotted to purses and they also required a full disclosure of SVREL’s arrangement with BetMakers as it relates to fixed-odds betting, with a view that a percentage of those profits should also put to purses going forward.
While SVREL chairman Solomon Sharpe and members of his team had requested time to take those recommendations into consideration, the nomination of horses to allow for this weekend's short programme, implies that some inroads have been made.
But Smellie when contacted, pointed out that he is not aware of any changes where their demands for a more substantial increase is concerned. As such, he expressed strong disappointment with his colleagues who nominated horses.
“I don't know what changed. Nothing has changed between us and Supreme Ventures Racing, so I'm very disappointed in about 50 per cent of the trainers that nominated horses, I don't think they know where we are going. We were fighting for something for the benefit of all grooms, trainers, owners, and horsemen at Caymanas Park,” a vexed Smellie said.
“Never in the history of Caymanas Park we had so much people together, but I understand that there was some rumours going around that Howard Hamilton had said on national radio that people must nominate. So somebody started that rumour and got some weak knee trainers jumping and I guess they started to nominate. So, to say disappointed is an understatement,” he added.
Still, the URTAJ president took heart from the fact that his group and those it represents, achieved its objective in making a statement.
“We have observed the myopic thinking of the promoters and some of these trainers. So we are here, we are going to gather again and have a meeting shortly and see where we move from here because if they want to race for 3.5 percent increase then they can do so.
“I thank all the trainers and owners that stood up and fight the cause because those other four races could have been filled if these guys didn't stand up and fight for what they believe in,” Smellie argued.
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