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Paes Completes Mixed Doubles Career Slam with French Open Win
Veteran Indian tennis star Leander Paes completed a ‘Career Slam’ in mixed doubles with Swiss partner Martina Hingis with a hard-fought win over compatriot Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig.
The unseeded Indo-Swiss pair eked out a 4-6 6-4 10-8 win over the second seeds in the summit clash that lasted one hour and 28 minutes.
42-year-old Paes had won Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles in 2015 with Hingis. It was 18th Grand Slam title for Paes and 10th in the mixed doubles. For 35-year-old Hingis, it was Grand Slam title number 22nd and fifth trophy in the mixed doubles.
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Serena Faces Muguruza in French Final
Serena Williams moved one victory from her second consecutive French Open trophy and 22nd Grand Slam title overall, beating Kiki Bertens 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the semifinals on Friday.
For the second match in a row, the No. 1-seeded Williams was hardly at her best, falling behind early and making 22 unforced errors in the first set alone. Williams needed to erase two set points for the 58th-ranked Bertens in the opener, but managed to get through it.
Waiting for her in the Final is Garbine Muguruza. The fourth-seeded Spaniard beat Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4. Muguruza has won just one of her four previous meetings with defending French Open champion Williams, but it should give hope for Saturday’s final, because it was on the clay of Roland Garros, in the second round in 2014.
Djokovic vs Murray in Paris’ Men’s Final
Novak Djokovic is back in the final of the French Open, earning another chance to win the only Grand Slam that has eluded him with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 semifinal victory against Dominic Thiem.
Novak Djokovic’s opponent in the final of the French Open will be Andy Murray, through to the championship match at the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time.
The No. 2-seeded Murray, who stalled in the semifinals three times previously, beat defending champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Injured Panyangara Out of India Series, Cremer Named Captain
Medium pacer Tinashe Panyangara has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series and three T20 internationals against India with a back injury, while Graeme Cremer returned to lead the side in both forms of the game.
The 30-year-old Panyangara will not be part of the three ODIs and three T20Is owing to a back injury. Taurai Muzarabani, who has played six ODIs and seven T20Is, was picked in Panyangara’s place.
Though he was sacked as captain, Hamilton Masakadza retained his place in both sides. Graeme Cremer, who missed the 2016 World T20 with injury, returned and will lead both squads of 18 men each.
The ODIs will be played from June 11 to 15 and the T20s will be played from June 18 to 22. All six matches will be played in Harare.
Bolt Could Lose Relay Gold After Team-mate Tests Positive
Usain Bolt’s 2008 Olympics’ 4x100 meters relay gold medal could be in jeopardy after team-mate Nesta Carter was identified as one of 32 athletes who failed a retrospective drugs test, the Jamaica Gleaner reported.
The Gleaner said a retest of Carter’s ‘A’ sample from the Beijing Games had found traces of the banned stimulant Methylexaneamine. The result of retests of Carter’s ‘B’ sample was not yet known, the Gleaner said citing “well-placed sources”.
Carter, 30, ran the first leg for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team in Beijing, which also included Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and superstar Bolt. If Carter is subjected to doping sanctions, it could mean Bolt stands to lose his relay gold. In previous doping cases where individual members of a medal-winning relay squad have tested positive, the whole team is stripped of their medal.
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