Kerber sails through at Hong Kong Open

HONG KONG - Top seed Angelique Kerber Tuesday sailed through the first round of the Hong Kong Open with a straight sets 6-4, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari. The reigning Australian and US Open champion beat the Greek player, ranked 97th in the world, in an hour 21 minutes. The 28-year-old German, who is currently in the top spot in the Road to Singapore rankings, will face American Louisa Chirico in the second round. In other first round matches, defending champion Jelena Jankovic eased through American Samantha Crawford 6-3, 6-1. Danish Caroline Wozniacki, former world number one, beat China's Zheng Saisai 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the second round. But former US Open champion, Australia's Samantha Stosur, crashed out in the first round in a 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Nao Hibino of Japan.–AFP

 

 

Pain forces Zhang out of Tianjin Open

BEIJING - Asian number one Zhang Shuai crashed out of the Tianjin Open Tuesday. Zhang withdrew from her match against unseeded compatriot Peng Shuai without hitting a ball. "I have some pain in the waist and knee," she said. "It's the second time I've had to pull out of the Tianjin Open because of injury in three years, which is very disappointing." The home soil loss is Zhang's second in a week after she was defeated in the quarter-finals of Beijing's China Open. In another Tianjin upset, the US' Shelby Rogers, ranked 66, dispatched Russia's third-seeded world number 19 Elena Vesnina 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 in a tight match. Puerto Rico's Monica Puig saw off Japan's Kurumi Nara in a swift two-set victory. USA's Alison Riske beat Timea Babos of Hungary 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to secure a second-round berth.–AFP

 

 

Leishman to partner Scott at World Cup

SYDNEY - Australian Adam Scott Tuesday picked Marc Leishman to partner him at next month's World Cup in Melbourne after world No1 Jason Day pulled out with a back injury. Leishman, ranked 53 in the world, last won an event in December at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. "I'm extremely excited about playing in the World Cup of Golf with Adam. I can't wait to represent my country back home in Australia," Leishman said. "Also, my best to Jason for a quick recovery." Ten-time PGA Tour winner Day was planning on returning home to play in the November 23-27 event at the Kingston Heath course for the first time since he and world No6 Scott won the event in 2013. But he tore a ligament in his back towards the end of the 2016 PGA Tour season and has been advised to rest until next year.–AFP

 

 

 

England drop Rooney for Slovenia qualifier

LJUBLJANA - England's captain and all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney has been dropped to the bench for the World Cup qualifier away to Slovenia oTuesday, interim manager Gareth Southgate said. Manchester United star Rooney dropped back to play as a deep-lying midfielder in England's 2-0 win over Malta but was booed by the home support during a lacklustre display. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will lead the side as England look to maintain their perfect start to qualifying, with Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier starting instead of Rooney. "It's very straight forward," Southgate told reporters. "We have looked at the way Slovenia play and I knew the profile of the midfield I wanted to play in this game. In no way is it a reflection of Wayne's performance on Saturday," he added.–AFP

 

 

 

LAHORE: Players of Govt College for Women Baghbanpura pose for a photo after defeating Kinnaird College 3-1 to win the Lums Women's Hockey League match.