iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Barca has been charged with corruption by Spanish prosecutors for payments between 2001 and 2018 to the company of former refereeing chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, totalling around $7.8 million
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Dubai Duty Free Tennis: Two seeds crash out during engrossing afternoon
Romania's Sorana Cirstea sent 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil packing
Sorana Cirstea serves during her match against Beatriz Haddad Maia. — Photo by Shihab
Two seeds fell by the wayside during an intense afternoon session’s play at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday.
Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina defeated 10th seeded Veronika Kudermetova from Russia before Romania’s Sorana Cirstea sent 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil packing.
Both matches went the distance with Kalinina winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 early on Centre Court.
However, it was Cirstea vs Maia contest that had an appreciative audience spellbound through three hours and 29 minutes of entertaining rallies – a record for the longest match of the year.
Cirstea, who has never progressed past the third round in six Grand Slam appearances, fought back from being a set down to win 4-6, 7-6, 7-5.
“I’m very happy that I finished on the winning side today and I’ve proud of the way I fought,” said the Romanian.
“I didn’t plan to beat the record but I knew Maia was in great form and I knew coming in that she is a great fighter. I think this is what tennis is all about.
"Where all the work pays off. Sometimes it does not matter if it’s the first round or the final the joy is still the same.”
Seventeen of the world’s top 20 women’s players are competing in the 64-player WTA 100 Tour event, which culminates in the final on Saturday.
More news from Sports
The U.S. currently bars unvaccinated foreigners from entry into the country, a policy that is expected to be lifted when the government ends its Covid-19 emergency declarations on May 11
With the video assistant referee system (VAR) not operated in second-tier games, Mohamed Farouk had to use the phone of a crowd member during the match between Suez and Al Nasr
The WTA and ATP tours have barred players from Russia and its ally Belarus from competing under their national flags, but insist that individual athletes have a right to compete
Lahore will take on Multan Sultans in the final on Saturday in a repeat of last year's title match
The double world champion showed no ill effects of a stomach bug to top the timesheets
The Afghans take on Pakistan in a three-match T20 series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium
In a tricky chase, India was in trouble at 39-4 before Rahul stayed calm and put on key partnerships including an unbeaten 108-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, to achieve victory in 39.5 overs