Federer enters Stuttgart semis
Stuggart: Roger Federer edged closer to displacing Rafael Nadal at the top of the world rankings as he hammered Guido Pella 6-4, 6-4 on Friday at the Stuttgart Cup. The Swiss top seed needs to win one more match against either Australian fourth seed Nick Kyrgios or 2017 finalist Feliciano lopez to return to the No 1 spot for the second time this season. The quarter-final victory in 55 minutes, which ended on a backhand, featured two breaks of serve for the Swiss, who executed well in his second match in three months after skipping the clay season and last playing in March. Federer is aiming for a first title in Stuttgart after losing in the 2016 semis to Dominic Thiem and going out in an opening match a year ago to longtime friend Tommy Haas.
Jayaram enters quarters of US Open
Fullerton: Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open after defeating Brazil's Ygor Coelho in a thrilling three-game match in the World Tour Super 300 tournament here. Jayaram, who is on a comeback trail following a long injury lay-off, recovered from an opening game loss to see off Brazil's Ygor Coelho 19-21, 21-12, 21-16 in a 50-minute men's singles clash. The former World No 13 Indian, who had unfortunately pulled his hamstring at the Senior National Championship last year and had to skip many tournaments, will face Korea's Heo Kwang Hee in the next round.
Jayawardene snubs sl selectors
Colombo: Sri lankan cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene has rejected a request to provide consultancy services to the struggling national team, saying he has no "trust in the system". National selectors made a formal request on Thursday to hire several legends, including Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, to a special committee advising on how to return to winning ways. late last year, Jayawardene, 41, was appointed to a special panel to advise the then-sports minister on corrective measures. But on Thursday he said that his recommendations were ignored and that he did not want a repeat of the experience. "I dont have any trust in the system. If any one wants to buy time please don't use us!" he said on Twitter.
AITA backs Yuki
New delhi: Yuki Bhambri is aghast at being excluded from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) after preferring the US Open over Asian Games even as a red-faced All India Tennis Association (AITA) said they are trying to convince the Sports Ministry to reconsider its decision. AITA had exempted the country's top singles player considering that playing at the Grand Slams is crucial to secure ranking points, which would earn the Delhi player a direct entry into the Tokyo Olympics. "We have asked the government to reconsider the decision and include both Yuki and leander Paes in TOPS. We told them that Yuki needs to be in top-64 to earn direct qualification for Tokyo Olympics and that's why playing at the US Open is important, ," AITA secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee said. "They told us that when Yuki gets back to playing Davis Cup, his case would be re-examined," he added.