Sachin fails but Mumbai in control
Lahli (Haryana): The hype was around Sachin Tendulkar before young Mohit Sharma cashed in on the moment with an all-round effort, which, however, could not prevent Mumbai from having their nose slightly ahead at the end of the first day of their much-anticipated Ranji Trophy opener against Haryana here on Sunday. At stumps, Mumbai were 100 four four, having bowled out Haryana for a paltry 134 after skipper Zaheer Khan opted to field. Mumbai trailed by 34 runs with three full days to go. The retiring Tendulkar gave the inhabitant of this village a sudden sense of anti-climax as he failed to let his bat do the talking after being bowled for a mere five runs by the 25-year-old Mohit, in what is being seen as the biggest of all matches in Ranji’s opening fixtures. (PTI)
Serena downs Li in WTA C’ship final
Istanbul: Serena Williams successfully defended her WTA Championships title on Sunday, beating Li Na, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, to finish 2013 with a 78th victory and 11th title of the year. The 32-year-old world number one had admitted to feeling physically exhausted before, during and after a fraught semifinal with Jelena Jankovic on Saturday and at 3-3 in the second set on Sunday, she looked in danger of a surprise defeat. “But I had to keep going, I hung in there, and it’s amazing to win this,” said Williams. Li, the first Chinese player to make the final of the end of season showpiece and about to become the highest-ranked Asian woman at number three in the world, punished a moderate Williams serve and broke twice to take the first set. The second set was a fierce battle, before Williams swept the third after Li’s game departed her. (AFP)
Del Potro beats Federer in Basel
BASEL: Juan Martin del Potro denied Roger Federer his hometown Swiss Indoors title for the second straight year, winning the final 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4 on Sunday. The top-seeded Argentine clinched the title when Federer could not return a forcing forehand. ”It’s always a pleasure playing against you,” del Potro told Federer during the trophy ceremony. ”I know you are the hero here and for me a big inspiration, too.” Federer had hoped the raucous support at Basel, where he is a five-time champion, could help revive his difficult season. He’s won just one title in the past 14 months. ”I was lifting my level and in the end I wasn’t playing too badly,” Federer said in German, praising del Potro for ”a great tournament again.” The sixth-ranked Swiss edged closer to securing his place in the eight-man lineup at the ATP World Tour Finals in London starting on November 4 and will likely confirm his London place at the Paris Masters next week, where he is seeded fifth. Meanwhile, Mikhail Youzhny claimed his 10th career title by beating top-seeded David Ferrer 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday to win the Valencia Open in Spain. (AP)
Top-three teams win in Bundesliga
Berlin: Bayern overpowered Berlin to secure a 3-2 comeback win, while Dortmund defeated rivals Schalke 3-1 and Leverkusen’s Emre Can snatched a late win against Augsburg in the 10th round of the Bundesliga. Bayern had to come from behind against resilient visitors from Berlin. The hosts recovered from an early setback as substitutes Mario Mandzukic and Mario Goetze helped with three goals within 54 minutes to give their side the win on Saturday night. Elsewhere, Hoffenheim crushed Hannover 4-1 thanks to a brace from Roberto Firminio. Wolfsburg earned their fifth win with goals by Maximilian Arnold, Ivica Olica and Ivan Perisic against Werder Bremen. Mainz’s Shinji Okazaki secured his side a 2-0 triumph over Braunschweig single-handedly. (IANS)
Kapur finishes tied 16th in KL
Kuala Lumpur: Shiv Kapur failed to nail any of the birdie putts that came his way but the Indian golfer still managed to turn in an even par 72 that saw him finish tied 16th place at the CIMB Classic here on Sunday. Other Indians in fray, Gaganjeet Bhullar (73) and Anirban Lahiri (68) finished tied 33rd and 35th. At the top, the tussle between Americans – Ryan Moore and Gary Woodland stayed unresolved and the duo will return on Monday morning for a sudden-death play-off to determine the champion. Both were tied on 14-under 274 in a weather-hit final round on Sunday. (PTI)