Basilashvili wins Qatar Open after beating Bautista Agut
Doha, March 14: Nikoloz Basilashvili downed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the final of the Qatar Open for his fourth ATP title. The Georgian earned the first two break points at 3-2 in the second set, and he took his chance before going on to close out the match in 90 minutes. Basilashvili had only won two matches from his previous 16 going into the tournament, but he saved a match point to defeat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. “I had zero expectations, for sure, to win (the) tournament,” said Basilashvili, who has now won his last four finals. Bautista Agut ended Andrey Rublev’s title defense in the semifinals. “Hopefully I come back next year and try to get the title again,” the 13th-ranked Spanish player said. (AP)
Muguruza claims Dubai Championship after long wait
Dubai, March 14: Garbiñe Muguruza ended her almost two-year wait for a title with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win against Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the Dubai Championships. “It means a lot,” the ninth-seeded Muguruza said, “it’s never easy to win.” In her third attempt at a title this season, the former No. 1 hit seven aces and saved seven of the nine break points she faced to beat Czech doubles specialist Krejcikova. It’s the 27-year-old Spanish player’s first title since winning in Monterrey in April 2019. Muguruza lost the Qatar Open final last week to Petra Kvitova and the Yarra Valley Classic final last month to Ash Barty. Overall, it’s Muguruza’s eighth career singles title, including two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017. Krejcikova’s only previous singles final was a 2017 loss to Kiki Bertens in Nuremberg, Germany. (AP)
Wilder quits relegation-headed Sheffield United FC
Sheffield, March 14: Sheffield United started preparing for life outside the Premier League by announcing the departure of manager Chris Wilder with the team in last place and headed for relegation. Wilder had been manager of his boyhood club for nearly five years, leading the Blades from the third division to the Premier League. They had been challenging for European spots last season, but they’ve won just four games in the current campaign. The decision for Wilder to leave was made “following discussions” and agreed to by mutual consent, the club said. “We are confident that all Blades fans around the world will join us in thanking Chris for his hard work, commitment and expertise in driving the club,” the team said in a statement. (AP)
Boxing legend Marvelous Marvin Hagler passes away at 66
Washington, March 14: One of the great middleweights in boxing history, Hagler died Saturday at the age of 66. Hagler fought on boxing’s biggest stages against its biggest names, as he, Leonard, Hearns and Roberto Duran dominated the middleweight classes during a golden time for boxing in the 1980s. Quiet with a brooding public persona, Hagler fought 67 times over 14 years as a pro out of Brockton, Massachusetts, finishing 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts. Hagler was born in Newark, New Jersey, and moved with his family to Brockton in the late 1960s. He was discovered as an amateur by the Petronelli brothers, Goody and Pat, who ran a gym in Brockton and would go on to train Hagler for his entire pro career. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1983. (AP)
AICF to organise Punjab Int’l GM in Jalandhar
Jalandhar, March 14: The All-India Chess Federation (AICF) will organise the inagural edition of the Punjab International Grandmasters tournament in Jalandhar later this year. The Senior National Chess Championship will be held in Kanpur from April 13 to 20, informed AICF president Sanjay Kapoor. The AICF president also disclosed that 1,500 aspiring coaches were currently being trained by 14 Grandmasters and 14 International masters. “Our aim is to create employment for thousands of chess coaches, who will in turn teach and develop lacs of players. We are looking at creating an intellectual force in Modern India, the kind of which has never been seen before anywhere,” Kapoor said. (PTI)
Medvedev to play unseeded Herbert in Open 13 final
Marseille, March 14: Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev will bid for his 10th career title when he meets unseeded Pierre-Hugues Herbert in an unusual-looking Open 13 final. Sunday’s decider pits two-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev against a player who owns all four majors in doubles but has never won a singles title, and is ranked 93rd. Medvedev, who climbs to No. 2 in the rankings next week, led 6-4, 3-0 against qualifier Matthew Ebden when the Australian retired through an unspecified injury on Saturday. When he climbs to No. 2 on Monday, Medvedev will be the first player outside the Big Four of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to do so since Nadal in July 2005. (AP)