Sports
Matsuyama targets Olympic title after Masters win
Newly minted Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama set his sights on Tokyo Olympics gold on Wednesday after returning to Japan clutching his victor's green jacket in triumph. Matsuyama spoke to reporters online from quarantine having returned to his home country the previous day, after becoming the first Japanese man to win… Read
Kashima Antlers fire Zago as coach; appoint Soma
Eight-time Japanese champions Kashima Antlers have fired head coach Antonio Carlos Zago, the club said on Wednesday. The Brazilian has been replaced by former Kashima full back Naoki Soma, after a disappointing start to the season in which Antlers won just twice in their first eight games. Kashima, who won… Read
Champions League semifinals: Madrid-Chelsea; PSG-Man City
Real Madrid secured its return to the Champions League semifinals after a two-season absence by holding Liverpool to a 0-0 draw Wednesday, protecting a 3-1 advantage from the first leg. Liverpool created chance after chance but Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could find no way past goalkeeper Thibaut… Read
Djokovic, Nadal off the mark in Monte Carlo
Novak Djokovic swept past promising Italian teenager Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-2 in Monte Carlo on Wednesday on the Serbian world number one's first appearance since claiming the Australian Open in February. And the man he is seeded to meet in the final, Rafael Nadal, encountered even less resistance in brushing… Read
Pacific teams get licenses to join Super Rugby next year
New Zealand Rugby issued licenses Wednesday for two Pacific island teams to join the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition from next year, in a major milestone for the long-awaited expansion. The two teams -- Fiji Drua and Moana Pasifika -- must still have their finances approved before they can participate,… Read
Medvedev out of Monte Carlo Masters after positive COVID-19 test
Second-ranked Daniil Medvedev withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday following a positive COVID-19 test. The ATP said Medvedev has been placed in isolation. His condition is being assessed by the tournament doctor and the ATP medical team. “It’s a big disappointment not to play in Monte Carlo," Medvedev… Read
PSG loses 1-0 to Bayern, but reaches Champions League semis on away goals
Paris Saint-Germain did just enough to knock defending champion Bayern Munich out of the Champions League and reach the semifinals for the second straight season, losing a tense match 1-0 on Tuesday to advance on away goals from the first leg of their quarterfinal. Bayern had to score twice after… Read
SA Rugby lobbying hard for fans in stadia during Lions tour
South Africa's economy is set to lose 6.6 billion rand ($453 million) if this year's British & Irish Lions tour goes ahead without fans, according to a study commissioned by SA Rugby, which admits it will "do anything" to get some supporters into stadia. The Lions are set to tour… Read
Spectacular volley earns Porto win but Chelsea advances to Champions League semis
A spectacular goal from a scissor kick by Mehdi Taremi wasn't enough to earn Porto a place in the Champions League semifinals as Chelsea advanced despite a 1-0 loss in the second leg of their quarterfinal on Tuesday. Chelsea went through 2-1 on aggregate and will play either Real Madrid… Read
Australia hopes to lure Masters champion Matsuyama Down Under
Australia hopes to lure Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama to its national PGA Championship in Queensland in December as part of plans to revive its golfing calendar after the 2020/21 season was impacted by COVID-19. Japan's Matsuyama became the first player from an Asian nation to win the Masters on Sunday… Read
