The National Times

'Not really a match': Murray in final after Kyrgios 'racism' meltdown

Andy Murray said it was "not really a match" and "not much fun" after Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios was penalised a game following another on-court meltdown in their Stuttgart semi-final on Saturday.

At 16, Pierson breaks Le Mans age record

Josh Pierson took to the track two hours into the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday to become the youngest driver in race history at 16 years and 118 days.

Vermeulen omitted as world champions South Africa name squad

Veteran forward Duane Vermeulen suffered double disappointment on Saturday as he was omitted from Springboks 2022 squad just minutes after his Ulster team lost a URC semi-final.

Former Masters champion Reed joins Saudi-backed rebel series

Former Masters champion Patrick Reed has become the latest big-name player to join the Saudi-backed rebel LIV Golf series, organisers announced on Saturday.

'Not really a match': Murray into final after Kyrgios meltdown

Andy Murray said it was "not really a match" and "not much fun" after Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios was penalised a game following another on-court meltdown in their Stuttgart semi-final on Saturday.

Badminton world number one Axelsen into Indonesia Masters final

Badminton world number one Viktor Axelsen ousted Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting on Saturday to advance to the final of the Indonesia Masters.

Zadran brings Afghanistan T20 victory after thrilling run chase

Najibullah Zadran slammed a six off the second ball of the final over to give Afghanistan a six-wicket win against Zimbabwe on Saturday after a thrilling run chase in the first of three Twenty20 internationals.

Master of poles Leclerc denies Perez in Baku qualifying

Charles Leclerc lived up to his status as the master of poles this season when pulling a flying lap out of the bag in qualifying Saturday for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Murray into Stuttgart final after new Kyrgios meltdown

Nick Kyrgios was penalised a game early in the second set as the volatile Australian went down 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to Andy Murray in the Stuttgart semi-finals on Saturday.

Roglic soars to Dauphine lead after Alpine slog

Primoz Roglic seized the overall lead of cycling's Criterium du Dauphine after finishing second, 13sec behind to Carlos Verona in a gruelling Alpine slog on Saturday.

Fassbender among starters as 90th Le Mans sets off

Irish actor Michael Fassbender and eight-time world rally champion Sebastien Ogier were among the drivers of the 62 cars which set off on Saturday at the start of the 90th edition of the Le Mans 24 hours race.

Toni Nadal tips Rafa to play Wimbledon

Toni Nadal said on Saturday nephew Rafael looks on track to play Wimbledon as treatment continues on the world number four's foot problem.

Bayern poised to sign next Ajax star in Gravenberch

Bayern Munich are set to sign a second player from Ajax this summer with Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch reportedly poised to sign a five-year deal.

Raza stars as Zimbabwe score 159-8 in T20 against Afghanistan

Middle-order batsman Sikandar Raza top scored with 45 as Zimbabwe posted 159-8 against Afghanistan on Saturday in the first of three Twenty20 internationals at Harare Sports Club.

Perez has Verstappen's measure in Baku final practice

Sergio Perez outshone his world champion teammate Max Verstappen again in third and final practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday.

Springbok prop Van der Merwe joins Brive

South Africa tight-head prop Marcel van der Merwe has joined Brive on a two-year deal from London Irish, the French Top 14 club announced on Saturday.

Monaco's Tchouameni joins Real Madrid on a six-year deal

France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has joined Real Madrid from Monaco, both clubs announced on Saturday.

Mitchell, Blundell hit tons as New Zealand turn screw on England

Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell hit centuries as New Zealand turned the screw on England to reach 412-5 at lunch on the second day of the second Test at Trent Bridge.

Froome out of Dauphine through illness

Former Tour de France winner Chris Froome pulled out of the penultimate stage of the Criterium du Dauphin due to illness, his Israel Premier Tech team said on Saturday.

Bumpy Baku gives drivers a headache as 'porpoising' resurfaces

Baku's bumpy street circuit, venue for Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, has left drivers shaken from all the bouncing they are subjected to in this season's radically redesigned cars.

Blues narrowly beat Brumbies to book Super Rugby Pacific home final

Attacking brilliance from Beauden Barrett carried the Auckland Blues to a desperate 20-19 semi-final win over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday, setting up an all-New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific decider against the Canterbury Crusaders.

Ferreira scores four as USA thrash Grenada in Nations League

Jesus Ferreira shook off early frustration to score four goals as the United States launched their CONCACAF Nations League title defence with a 5-0 rout of Grenada on Friday.

Curry masterpiece as Warriors square NBA Finals with Celtics win

Stephen Curry produced a dazzling 43-point display as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Boston Celtics 107-97 to level the NBA Finals series at 2-2 on Friday.

McIlroy charges but Clark clings to Canadian Open lead

Rory McIlroy charged into contention but American Wyndham Clark fired a level par 70 to maintain a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the US PGA Tour's Canadian Open.

Aussie rookie Kyriacou leads ShopRite LPGA Classic

Stephanie Kyriacou, buoyed by some advice from Hall-of-Famer Karrie Webb, fired a six-under-par 65 on Friday to grab the first-round lead at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Indefinite suspension of fights in Mexican bullring

A judge on Friday ordered an indefinite suspension of bullfighting in the world's largest bullring in Mexico City, pending the finalization of a lawsuit against the controversial, centuries-old practice.

Mbappe salvages draw for France in Austria

Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score a late equaliser as France settled for a 1-1 draw with Austria in their Nations League encounter in Vienna on Friday.

Azam, Haq, Nawaz star in Pakistan's 10th series win over West Indies

Skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq hit steady half centuries before spinner Mohammad Nawaz recorded his best figures as Pakistan beat the West Indies by 120 runs in the second day-night international in Multan on Friday.

Former US Open champion DeChambeau joins Saudi-backed rebel series

Former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has become the latest star to sign up to the rebel LIV Golf series, the organisers announced on Friday.

NFL Commanders fine Del Rio for Floyd-Capitol remarks

The NFL's Washington Commanders fined defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio $100,000 on Friday for comments this week comparing the 2021 US Capitol insurrection to 2020 protests following George Floyd's death.

Ecuador still in World Cup as FIFA rejects Chile complaint

Ecuador kept their place in the Qatar World Cup after football governing body FIFA on Friday closed an inquiry sought by non-qualifying Chile into the eligibility of a key player.

New Zealand take command against England in second Test

Daryl Mitchell led the New Zealand charge as the tourists powered to 318-4 against England by close of play on the first day of the second Test on Friday.

Tiger joins LeBron, Jordan on sport billionaire list: Forbes

Tiger Woods, a 15-time major golf champion, has joined NBA icons Michael Jordan and LeBron James as athletes with a net worth of $1 billion, Forbes magazine reported Friday.

Murray to face Kyrgios after stunning Tsitsipas

Andy Murray upset top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Friday for a place in the Stuttgart semi-finals as the former world number one claimed his first top five win since 2016.

Leclerc sets Baku pace and hopes Ferrari problems are in the past

Charles Leclerc planted his Ferrari clear of in-form Sergio Perez at the top of the times in practice Friday for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and hoped his team have ironed out the problems that surfaced in Monaco.

Bale warns of 'crazy' demands on players

Gareth Bale has warned "crazy" demands will have serious consequences for players as he dismissed talk that he will be joining Spanish club Getafe after leaving Real Madrid.

Murray stuns Tsitsipas for first top five win since 2016