Tag: Sportsmanship

Marc Polmans: Australian tennis player disqualified from Shanghai Masters for smashing ball at umpire’s head after losing match point

The official wasn’t seriously hurt after being hit on the nose and cheek, organisers say. Polmans, who approached to apologise, was disqualified on the spot, forfeiting prize money and ranking points.

Marc Polmans hit an umpire’s nose and cheek after hitting a ball in anger. Pic: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

A tennis player has been disqualified from his match after he hit a ball at the umpire, hitting the official in the face.

Marc Polmans, 26, had just failed to convert a match point during his qualifying match against Italian Stefano Napolitano at the Shanghai Masters.

Angry at hitting his shot into the net during his match, the Australian world number 140, who was born in South Africa, belted the ball in the general direction of the stands but instead hit British official Ben Anderson.

The umpire clutched his head and slumped to his right as Polmans approached the chair with his hand out, seemingly apologising.

Anderson, who was hit on the cheek and nose, appeared to have escaped serious injury, and a tournament spokesperson said he had returned to his hotel to rest.

Polmans was trying to reach the main draw of what would have been his first-ever appearance at a Masters 1000 event.

Novak Djokovic comforts the female line judge he hit with a ball

But he was disqualified on the spot, with world number 253 Napolitano getting into the main draw instead.

The Australian also loses any prize money and ranking points he picked up during the qualifying tournament, having won his first match against Alibek Kachmazov.

In 2017, Canadian player Denis Shapovalov hit a ball at an umpire during a Davis Cup clash with Great Britain.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/marc-polmans-australian-tennis-player-disqualified-from-shanghai-masters-for-smashing-ball-at-umpires-head-after-losing-match-point-12976074

 

Coco Gauff scores gutty win after climate protesters’ delay to reach US Open final

Protestors interrupted the U.S. Open.

But they couldn’t stop Coco Gauff and her inexorable march toward her first Grand Slam title.

The American teen phenomenon ground out a 6-4, 7-5 semifinal victory over Karolina Muchova on Thursday, a match delayed by almost 50 minutes due to a group of climate change protestors in the loge section of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Four people were removed and given trespass notices. One even glued his bare feet to the concrete floor, with security and law enforcement taking well over half an hour to figure out how to pry him away.

But on the court, Gauff’s feet were as fleet as ever. The 19-year-old chased down ball after ball from Muchova, that athletic defense contributing to 17 unforced errors in the first set by the 10th-seeded Czech. Gauff broke Muchova’s very first service game, ran out to a 5-1 first-set lead and held on.

The second set was more of a grind, whether because of Muchova finding her game or Gauff losing hers amid the lengthy delay. The last hour was world championship tennis and Gauff came out on top.

“Thank you guys so much. Some of those points it was so loud, I don’t know if my ears are going to be OK. But thank you guys, it was crazy,” Gauff said in an on-court TV interview. “I grew up watching this tournament; it means so much to me to be in the finals. But the job is not done. Hopefully you guys can back me on Saturday.”

Coco Gauff pumps her fist after winning a point during her U.S. Open semifinal victory over Karolina Muchova.
Getty Images

It was as grueling as a straight-set win can be. Asked what her plans were after the victory, she replied, “Press. Treatment. Watch some anime,” adding that she watched hours of “My Hero Academia” before the match.

Whatever she did worked.

Following a first-round loss at Wimbledon, Gauff added renowned Brad Gilbert to her coaching team.

The results have been immediate and impressive, going 16-1 since with tourney wins at D.C. and Cincinnati, beating Muchova in the latter final.

Coco Gauff smashes a backhand during her U.S. Open semifinal win.
Getty Images

Gauff did so again Thursday, moving into the final against the winner of the other semifinal between American Madison Keys and second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.

Early in the second set with Gauff leading 6-4, 1-0, play was interrupted for 49 minutes 45 seconds by a group of fans wearing “End Climate Change” shirts..

“We had environmental protestors up in the loge area. We had three, two were removed, quietly left,” tournament director Stacey Allaster told ESPN. “When security got there, they found one of the protestors had physically glued himself by his bare feet to the cement floor.

“There’s no doubt in a 24,000-seat stadium people get ideas. We know environmental protestors use the platform [of events like this]. Certainly security will be resuming — along with law enforcement — to see what we can do to prevent it in the future.”

Source: https://nypost.com/2023/09/07/coco-gauff-scores-gutty-win-after-protesters-delay-to-reach-us-open-final/

Spanish men’s team express solidarity with women after Luis Rubiales kiss

While expressing solidarity with their female counterparts, the men’s team added the women’s team has had their success ‘tarnished’ by the kissing row.

Luis Rubiales with Spain team members in 2022

The captains of the Spanish men’s team have expressed solidarity with the national women’s side after what they called “unacceptable behaviour” by FA chief Luis Rubiales.

Álvaro Morata, César Azpilicueta, Rodrigo Hernández and Marco Asensio issued a statement on behalf of the entire team, in which they said the World Cup-winning success of the women’s team had been “tarnished”.

Mr Rubiales has faced widespread criticism for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the final on 20 August.

In the statement, the captains say: “Once concentrated in Las Rozas, the national team players want to highlight several issues regarding the latest events that have damaged the image of Spanish football.

“First of all, we want to convey, once again, our pride and our most sincere congratulations to the women’s national team for the title of world champions in Sydney.

“A historical milestone full of meaning that will mark a before and after in Spanish women’s football, inspiring many women with a triumph of incalculable value.

“For this reason, we want to regret and express our solidarity with the players who have seen their success tarnished.

“We want to reject what we consider unacceptable behaviour on the part of Mr Rubiales, who has not lived up to the institution he represents.

“We place ourselves firmly and clearly on the side of the values ​​that sport represents. Spanish football must be an engine of respect, inspiration, inclusion and diversity and must set an example with its conduct both on and off the field.

“From today, we face a decisive concentration for the future of Spanish football on our way to qualify for Euro 2024 with two games against Georgia and Cyprus. We would like that, from now on, we could focus on sporting issues given the relevance of the challenges that lie ahead.”

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/spanish-mens-team-express-solidarity-with-women-after-luis-rubiales-kiss-12955101

“Dosti Bahar Rehni Chahiye”: Gautam Gambhir Bemused By India-Pakistan Players’ Camaraderie

Gautam Gambhir wasn’t happy seeing Indian and Pakistani players engaging in a friendly chatter during the Asia Cup clash on Saturday.

Indian and Pakistani players sharing a light moment© Twitter

India’s opening match of the Asia Cup 2023 against Pakistan couldn’t produce a result as rain played spoilsport, seeing the two teams share a point each. As downpour came heavy at the Pallekel International Stadium in Sri Lanka on Saturday, the Indian and Pakistani players were seen engaging in a friendly chat with each other. While friendship between players of different teams is natural, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir doesn’t want such camaraderie to be displayed between players during cricket matches.

In a chat on Star Sports during the mid-game show, Gambhir said that the Indian team is representing 140 crore people and shouldn’t be displaying acts of friendship inside the stadium. Such gestures should always remain outside.

“When you play on the field for your national team, you must leave the friendship outside the boundary ropes. Game face hona zaroori hai. Dosti bahaar rehni chahiye. There has to be an aggression in the eyes of both sets of players. You can be as friendly as you want after those six or seven hours of cricket. Those hours are very important, because you’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing a nation of over a billion,” Gambhir said. “These days you see players of rival teams patting each other on the back and exchanging fist bumps during a match. You would never see that a few years ago. Aap friendly match hi khel rahe ho.”

Gambhir, a cricketer-turned-politician, cited the example of his friendship with former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal.

“We’re very good friends. In fact, I gave him a bat and he gave me a bat too. I played one whole season with a bat Kamran had given me. We spoke for an hour recently,” Gambhir added.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2023/dosti-bahar-rehni-chahiye-gautam-gambhir-bemused-by-india-pakistan-players-camaradrie-4354713

Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales sparks controversy after kissing & grabbing World Cup winners including Barcelona star Jennifer Hermoso

Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has sparked controversy after kissing and grabbing players during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal presentation.

Spain’s women’s team secured their first global crown when seeing off England 1-0 during a showpiece event in Sydney, Australia.

Olga Carmona scored the only goal of the game, with Jennifer Hermoso able to miss a second-half penalty – which was saved by Mary Earps – without impacting the final outcome.

Wild celebrations were sparked at the final whistle, with La Roja able to get their hands on the most prestigious of trophies.

Rubiales was in attendance and formed part of the post-match formalities.

He was on hand to congratulate triumphant members of Jorge Vilda’s squad after they had received their winners’ medals from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

His behaviour has attracted unwelcome attention, though, when full focus should have been locked on those that helped to deliver a historic win on the field.

Rubiales was caught on camera grabbing Spanish stars, with Hermoso kissed on the lips at one stage.

Source: https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/spanish-fa-president-luis-rubiales-controversy-kissing-grabbing-world-cup-winners-barcelona-star-jennifer-hermoso/blt8298b2302f4ed436

Djokovic storms back to beat Alcaraz for Cincinnati title

Aug 20, 2023; Mason, OH, USA; Novak Djokovic (SRB) kisses the Rookwood Cup after the victory over Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) during the menÕs singles final of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Novak Djokovic overcame a match point and stifling heat to beat world number one Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4) and win the Cincinnati Open in a heart-pounding thriller on Sunday.

Djokovic collapsed on his back and ripped his shirt open after triumphing in the nearly four-hour contest to get revenge for his loss to the young Spaniard in last month’s Wimbledon final.

“So much to say and so little energy,” Djokovic said while collecting his third Cincinnati Open title.

“It has been a roller coaster and definitely one of the toughest and most exciting matches that I’ve ever been a part of in any tournament.

“It did feel like a Grand Slam final, even more than that, to be honest.”

The Serb was hobbled by the intense humidity in the tail end of the first set, barely moving when Alcaraz hit a backhand winner to grab the opener.

Alcaraz raced out to a 4-2 second-set lead and it appeared he might cruise to the finish line as his 36-year-old opponent looked cooked in the Ohio sun.

But Alcaraz would produce a poor service game while leading 4-3 that included four unforced errors to give life to the world number two.

In the second-set tiebreak Djokovic saved a championship point and went on to force a deciding set after winning a 25-shot rally.

During the break before the third set, a frustrated Alcaraz pounded his right hand against the plastic drinks container next to his chair, requiring a medical time out to tape his finger.

In the decider, Djokovic broke for a 5-3 lead but would then squander two match points in the next game.

The drama would continue when Djokovic missed an overhead for 5-5 and the players would ultimately arrive at another tiebreak, which Djokovic won on his fifth match point of the contest.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/djokovic-storms-back-beat-alcaraz-cincinnati-title-2023-08-21/

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