Prajnesh in Ningbo Challenger final
New Delhi: Indian Davis Cupper Prajnesh Gunneswaran earned himself a chance to win his second Challenger level title of the season by reaching the summit clash of the Ningbo Challenger in China even as Divij Sharan bowed out of the European Open after semifinal defeat with partner Artem Sitak. Left-handed Prajnesh was dominating in his 6-2, 6-2 win over Serbia's fifth seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the semifinal, which lasted just 64 minutes. Prajnesh, who had won the Kunming Challenger in April this year, next faces third seed Thomas Fabbiano from Italy. Meanwhile in Antwerp, Sharan and Sitak too played an intense match but lost 5-7, 6-7(3) in the semifinal to Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in one hour and 28 minutes.
Eves A squad announced for T20 series
Mumbai: The BCCI on Saturday announced a 15-member India Women 'A' team, mostly made up of senior side players, for the T20 series against Australia 'A' to be played here from Monday. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the India Women 'A' side while Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy. The All-India Women's Selection Committee picked up the squad in view of the ICC Women's World T20 to be held in West Indies from November 9 so that the senior team players can prepare for the marquee event. The three-match T20 series will be played at BKC Mumbai on October 22, 24 and 26.
Roma fall at home to plucky SPAL
Rome: Targeting a fourth-straight league win Roma got more than they bargained for at home to SPAL in Serie A on Saturday as the visiting minnows ran out 2-0 winners. The hosts had beaten Frosinone, Empoli and above all city rivals Lazio and had been hoping to improve on their sixth place in Serie A by beating SPAL ahead of Tuesday's home Champions League game with CSKA Moscow. SPAL, who came a highly respectable 13th in Serie A following promotion last season, went ahead with a slickly-converted Andrea Petagna spot-kick on 38 minutes. A flashing header from Kevin Bonifazi finished off a corner on 56 minutes to make it 2-0 to the visitors for their fourth win in nine matches, losing their other five.
Gulbis stuns Isner to reach first final
Stockholm: Former top 10 player Ernests Gulbis reached his first final in four years on Saturday when he stunned top seed John Isner 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Stockholm semi-finals. The 30-year-old Latvian, ranked 145 and who came through qualifying, has never lost a final and will bid for a seventh title on Sunday against world number 16 Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 20-year-old Greek player reached his third final of 2018, beating Italian second seed Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2. "The key to the match was to stay patient," said Tsitsipas, who was runner-up to Rafael Nadal in the Barcelona and Toronto finals this season.
5-goal Jovic shows ‘class potential'
Frankfurt: Luka Jovic has been hailed as a "potential world-class striker" after the 20-year-old's five goals in Eintracht Frankfurt's 7-1 drubbing of Fortuna Dusseldorf. The Serbian striker needed just 55 minutes to score his Friday night haul, becoming the youngest player in Bundesliga history to achieve the feat. The Serbia international is also the first Frankfurt player to score five in one league match since Eintracht was founded in 1899. "You always have to be careful with superlatives, but for me, he has the potential to become a world-class striker," enthused Frankfurt coach Adi Huetter. Having also scored in each of his two previous league games, Jovic now has seven goals to make him the top scorer in the Bundesliga so far this season.
Ten-man Bayern end winless streak
Munich: Ten-man Bayern Munich ended their four-match winless steak on Saturday as Robert Lewandowski scored twice in a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg, a day after the club's hierarchy launched an extraordinary attack on the German media. After back-to-back league defeats, Bayern leapt from sixth to second in the Bundesliga behind Borussia Dortmund who routed Stuttgart 4-0 with Paco Alcacer claiming his seventh goal in four Bundesliga games. Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead when he tucked away Thiago Alcantara's dummied pass past Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels. The Polish striker latched on to William's misplaced back pass and dribbled around Casteels to poke his shot into an empty net to make it 2-0. James Rodriguez calmed any nerves in the Bayern ranks with a stunning shot inside the post 18 minutes from time.
Aditi drops to tied 49th in Shanghai
Shanghai: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok dropped three bogeys on the back nine to card three-over 75 to be placed tied 49th on the third day of the Buick LPGA golf here Saturday. Aditi, who was even par for two rounds, is now three-over 219 for 54 holes. She had two birdies and two bogeys on front nine and three more bogeys on back nine. Spaniard Carlota Ciganda (67), who started the third day four shots behind the leader, Sei Young Kim (71) caught up and the two shared the third round lead at 11-under 205. Four players, including Ariya Jutanugarn (71) were tied at third at 10-under 206.
