Sharapova wins her 1st WTA match in Russia in 13 years
Moscow: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova claimed her first WTA victory in her country in 13 years in the first round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam winner, beat Daria Gavrilova of Australia 6-0, 6-4 to make the second round on Monday. She will next face her compatriot Daria Kasatkina. Sharapova had only met Kasatkina once when she won in straight sets in Montreal in August, reports Xinhua news agency. Sharapova has rarely played the Russian tour events during her career, and when she has she’s never got past the quarterfinals. (IANS)
Argentina star Carlos Tevez set to retire this year
Buenos Aires: Former Argentina international forward Carlos Tevez has revealed that he plans to retire at the end of 2019, bringing an end to a professional career that has spanned almost two decades. The 34-year-old has struggled for form and fitness since rejoining his boyhood club Boca Juniors from Shanghai Shenhua last January and he admitted he now “struggles to keep pace” with his younger teammates, Xinhua news agency reported. “This is the last year of my (Boca) contract and I think it will also be my last year as a player,” the 34-year-old told Argentina’s TyC Sports. Tevez made only 20 league appearances for Boca in 2018, often as a substitute, and scored just six top-flight goals. The former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus forward is upbeat about working with Boca’s new head coach Gustavo Alfaro, having fallen out of favour under Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who left the club in December to join LA Galaxy. (IANS)
PSG inks contract with Argentine Leandro Paredes until 2023
Paris: Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes on Tuesday signed a contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for the next four-and-half seasons, the French football club announced. Paredes arrives at the Parc des Princes from Zenit St. Petersburg player, where he bagged 10 goals and 15 assists in 61 appearances with the current leader of the Russian Premier League, reports Efe news. “After my previous experiences in Italy and Russia, I now have this fantastic opportunity, not only to discover a new league, but above all one to wear one the most prestigious club jerseys in the world,” Paredes said. He is to play alongside compatriot Angel di Maria. (IANS)
Atletico Madrid fitness coach arrested for domestic violence
Madrid: The Spanish Guardia Civil on Tuesday confirmed they have arrested the fitness coach of Atletico Madrid on charges of domestic violence. The 60-year-old Oscar Ortega was detained late on Monday evening and taken to the Guardia Civil station in the town of Majadahonda, outside Madrid. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency. The Uruguayan coach has worked with Atletico first team coach Diego Simeone since 2006. He joined Atletico together with Simeone in late 2011, and is known for his tough training sessions. The club, which on Monday announced the loan signing of Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata on a 18-month deal, has so far not made any comment on Ortega’s arrest. (IANS)
Rayo beat Alaves to climb out of La Liga drop zone
Vitoria: Raul de Tomas’s goal early in the second half gave visiting Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 win over Alaves to lift the Madrid side out of the La Liga relegation zone. Rayo climb to 17th, with 23 points from 21 matches. Alaves remain in the fifth spot with 32 points, just one more than Getafe, reports Efe news. The stands at Vitoria’s Mendizorroza stadium here on Monday were sparsely populated at the start of the match as most of the nearly 14,000 ticket holders waited until the 5th minute of play to take their seats amid a protest over the start time of games on weeknights. The protesting spectators missed the first chance of the night, a strike in the 3rd minute by Rayo’s Alex Moreno that forced a save from Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. With a minute left in the first half, Borja Baston’s pass found Burgui in the Rayo area, but the Alaves midfielder hit the post and the opening 45 minutes ended at 0-0. Rayo made a furious start in the second half and the post thwarted Adri Embarba seconds before De Tomas smashed a header past Pachecho to put the visiting side ahead 1-0 in the 47th minute. a lead they maintained till the end of the match. (IANS)
Struggling Villarreal sack coach
Madrid: Spanish La Liga strugglers Villarreal have sacked coach Luis Garcia after less than two months in charge at the football club. Luis Garcia is the second coach to be sacked by Villarreal this season, and he leaves the club at second from bottom with just 18 points from 21 games in this campaign, reports Xinhua news agency. He replaced Javier Calleja, who was sacked on December 10, and was in charge for four draws and two defeats, with last Saturday seeing the club lose 0-3 in a derby against local rivals Valencia. (IANS)