Djokovic makes a big statement in small arena
LONDON (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic might have needed a sat-nav to find his way to Court Two at Wimbledon but once he reached his outback destination it was all one-way traffic as he zoomed into round three with a 6-1 6-2 6-3 win over Horacio Zeballos on…
Tite backs under-fire Neymar, expects ‘beautiful’ Belgium clash
KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) – Brazil coach Tite has defended Neymar from criticism over his histrionics on the pitch and said he was just happy to have the team’s talisman playing “at his best” ahead of Friday’s quarter-final against Belgium.
Nadal passes tricky test against Kukushkin
LONDON (Reuters) – The scoreboard said 6-4 6-3 6-4 to Rafael Nadal but it was an uneasy two-and-a-half hours for the Spanish world number one as he labored past Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin into the Wimbledon third round on Thursday.
De Bruyne’s deployment could be critical for Belgium
KAZAN, Russia (Reuters) – If Kevin De Bruyne is having a quiet World Cup, as some pundits have suggested, it can only be because expectations surrounding the Belgium playmaker are so incredibly high.
Russia and Croatia look to emulate group stage mindset
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – Croatia and Russia did just about enough to emerge successful from their respective round of 16 matches but will need to replicate their group stage form and attacking mindset when they clash in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-fi…
Third seed Cilic stunned by Pella in second round
LONDON (Reuters) – Wimbledon 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic, a favorite to go far in the tournament again this year, suffered a shock 3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-5 defeat by Argentine Guido Pella in the second round on Thursday.
England’s Stones labels Colombia ‘dirtiest team’ he has faced
REPINO, Russia (Reuters) – England defender John Stones has described World Cup last 16 opponents Colombia as “probably the dirtiest team I have ever come up against” in the latest salvo in the bitter fall-out from England’s victory over the South Amer…
Wawrinka slump continues as he loses to Fabbiano
LONDON (Reuters) – Stan Wawrinka’s woeful run at recent Grand Slams continued on Thursday when the Swiss lost 7-6(7) 6-3 7-6(6) in the Wimbledon second round against Italian journeyman Thomas Fabbiano.
Former finalist Bouchard’s Wimbledon run ends in second round
LONDON (Reuters) – Eugenie Bouchard’s hopes of emulating her 2014 run to the final were hit for six by former professional cricket player Ashleigh Barty in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday.
Isner saves match points to reach third round
LONDON (Reuters) – John Isner almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory but survived to beat Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelman in a delayed second-round match at Wimbledon on Thursday.




