Azarenka upsets Kerber, faces Muguruza in final

Monterrey (Mexico)

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Victoria Azarenka used her superior serving and punishing groundstrokes to upset top seed Angelique Kerber 6-4 4-6 6-1 and advance to Sunday’s final of the Monterrey Open against Garbine Muguruza. In a battle of former world number ones the momentum shifted in the Belarusian’s favour early in the third set when Kerber committed two double faults in a careless service game to hand Azarenka a 2-0 lead. 

Washington DC

Rooney sees red for first time in MLS

Wayne Rooney was sent off for the first time in Major League Soccer after the DC United forward made a poorly-timed lunging tackle on Los Angeles FC striker Diego Rossi on Saturday. Rooney, in his second season with DC United, lost control of the ball and lunged with both feet off the ground just as Rossi took a touch. Rooney’s studs landed hard on Rossi’s leg, just below the knee, scything down the Uruguayan. The referee initially produced a yellow card but following a check with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) he changed his decision and showed the former England international a straight red card. 

London

Sarri wants to retain Giroud at Chelsea

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri expects Olivier Giroud to stay at the club next season and said he believes the French striker wants to remain at Stamford Bridge. Giroud’s contract expires in June but Chelsea have an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months. When Sarri was asked whether he wanted to retain the Frenchman’s services, he said: “Yes, of course. I know the club have an option for another season, so I think he will remain. Do I get the impression he wants to stay? I think so.” 

Augusta (USA)

Hovland to make history for Norway at the Masters

It speaks to Viktor Hovland’s youth that his first vivid memory of watching the Masters was as recently as 2013, when Adam Scott became the first Australian to win a Green Jacket. Six years later, the 21-year-old Hovland will be a trailblazer for his country when he becomes the first player from Norway to compete at Augusta National. He will tee up on Thursday as part of a six-strong amateur contingent that also includes Ernie Els’ nephew South African Jovan Rebula, the British Amateur champion. Hovland earned a trip to this year’s Masters by winning the US Amateur championship in dominant fashion at Pebble Beach last year. Recalling golfing in Norway, he said: “You can’t play outside (in Norway) for a big chunk of the year (and until then) I would always take a hiatus during those months.” 

London

Vardy double lifts Leicester to 4-1 win

Striker Jamie Vardy scored twice to help Leicester City to a commanding 4-1 victory over relegated Huddersfield Town in the Premier League. It was a fourth win in a row for manager Brendan Rodgers who took charge of Leicester in February as Huddersfield missed the chance to move off the bottom of the standings for the first time since December. “We got off to a good start, getting the first goal of the game again, which is important,” Rodgers told reporters. — Agencies

Mumbai

Rakesh Kumar is Haryana Steelers’ coach for PKL-VII 

Haryana Steelers announced Rakesh Kumar, one of India’s most decorated Kabaddi players, as the franchise’s head coach ahead of the seventh season of Pro Kabaddi League. Kumar replaces Rambir Singh Khokhar, who was with the team since its entry into the league two seasons ago. Having made his senior India debut in 2003, the 36-year old Rakesh from Nizampur had an illustrious career, winning two World Cup golds and three Asian Games titles with the national team.

Karachi

Sarfraz’s remarks cast doubts on Amir’s WC berth

Mohammad Amir’s World Cup selection was thrown into uncertainty after captain Sarfraz Ahmed expressed concerns over the experienced left-arm pacer’s inability to take wickets in the ODIs. “When your main strike bowler is not taking wickets regularly obviously it causes concern to the captain,” Sarfraz said. In 14 ODIs since the Champions Trophy final in London in 2017, when he produced a match-winning spell of 3/16, Amir has not taken more than one wicket in a match. The 26-year-old has gone without a wicket in nine of these matches. The selectors are due to announce Pakistan’s World Cup squad on April 18 and sources say they are likely to announce 17 to 18 players to go to England on April 23. 

Bhubaneswar

Chennaiyin seal semis spot with win over NE United

Chennaiyin FC rallied from a goal down to beat NorthEast United FC 2-1 in the fourth quarterfinal match of the Super Cup football tournament. Rowllin Borges put NorthEast in front just nine minutes into the match. But Mailson Alves equalised in the 33rd minute before Anirudh Thapa made it 2-1 for Chennaiyin with a solo goal in the 40th minute. The victory sets up Chennaiyin for a semifinal clash against ATK on April 10.

Yokohama

Sathiyan books World Cup berth 

G Sathiyan booked a berth at the World Cup after finishing sixth in the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup in the 5-8th positions matches. Sathiyan could not produce his best against 17-year-old Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei, who notched up an 11-4 11-8 11-8 14-12 win over the Indian to finish fifth. Despite the defeat in the classification matches, Sathiyan sealed a spot at the World Cup, to be held in Chengdu in China from October 18 to 20.

New Delhi

CoA meeting: Playoff venues on agenda

Finalising the venues for the IPL playoffs along with a decision to float fresh tenders for various sponsorships and services will be on the agenda at the Committee of Administrators meeting here on Monday. As per the agenda of the meeting, it is learnt that Chennai and Hyderabad are in the reckoning for hosting the playoff and eliminator matches while the final will be played in Mumbai. — Agencies