Coco Gauff claimed her 47th hard-court win in WTA-1000 matches with a straight-sets victory over Katie Boulter in the third round at the China Open.

The American now has the most wins on the surface before turning 21 and needed just 85 minutes to see off her opponent, prevailing 7-5 6-2 on Sunday.

Gauff looked set to sail through the first set after breaking Boulter’s serve in the sixth game and taking a 5-2 lead, but the Brit fought back to level the score.

Gauff, who served four of her five aces in the opening set, rallied to win the final two games, with Boulter failing to stop her from converting set point on the third time of asking.

Back in her groove, the world number three cruised through the second, which included three love games, to book a meeting with either Naomi Osaka or fellow American Katie Volynets in the next round. 

Data Debrief: Out on her own

Gauff's win over Clara Burel in the last round pulled her level with Caroline Wozniacki for the joint-most WTA-1000 match wins on hard court before the age of 21 since the format's introduction in 2009.

But she made light work of pushing herself top of that list as she stormed through, dropping her serve just once in the contest.

Gauff (100) has also become the second player to record 100+ break-point conversions at WTA-1000 events in 2024, along with Iga Swiatek (145), getting four out of a possible seven against Boulter.

Liam Delap scored twice as Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town claimed a confidence-boosting 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Villa looked set to forge another comeback win when Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins propelled them into the lead.

But Delap, who had opened the scoring in the eighth minute at Portman Road, had other ideas.

At the end of a rapid counter-attack, Delap brilliantly bamboozled Diego Carlos before firing a left-footed effort into the bottom-right corner in the 72nd minute.

It might have been a hat-trick for Delap if not for Emiliano Martinez, who had made a fantastic save in a one-v-one with Ipswich's forward in the first half.

Pau Torres preserved a point for Villa with a brilliant last-ditch block from Wes Burns, while both goalkeepers were also called into action – by Ross Barkley and Jack Taylor respectively – late on.

Data Debrief: Delap's double delight

Delap became the first Ipswich player to score a double in a Premier League match since Marcus Bent in March 2002 (v Newcastle United), and the youngest to do so in the competition for the Tractor Boys, at the age of 21 years and 234 days.

It was also his first career double in a league match.

At the opposite end, Watkins – who headed in from a Leon Bailey cross after teeing up Rogers' equaliser – continued his fine form in front of goal. The England striker has now scored and assisted in eight Premier League matches in his career, which is the joint-most of any player for Villa (matching Dwight Yorke and Gabriel Agbonlahor). 

Carlos Alcaraz is already eyeing up another major landmark, straight after registering his 200th ATP-Tour level win on Sunday.

The Spaniard beat Tallon Griekspoor at the China Open in straight sets, prevailing 6-1 6-2, to progress from the second-round tie.

Among the 29 players to have reached the top of the world rankings, Alcaraz is the second fastest to win 200 matches. He did so in his 252nd match, with only John McEnroe hitting the landmark sooner (245 matches).

Meanwhile, he is just the third player born in the 2000s to achieve that feat, after Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Alcaraz may have struggled to get back to his best since losing the Paris Olympics final to Novak Djokovic in August, but he looked at home on hard court once more in Beijing.

His win rate on the surface is 75.4%, and since the start of the 2020 season, he is one of only two players to hold two separate win rates of 75%+ on all three surfaces at ATP level, along with Djokovic.

Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this year, was proud to reach his latest achievement and said he is ready to start pushing to the next.

"I'm really happy about it - 200 wins is a great number," Alcaraz said after the match.

"But I am already looking for the third hundred. I just want to keep going, to keep rolling.

"I am looking forward to playing matches and to keep doing the things that I am doing."

Alcaraz will face seventh seed Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals in Beijing.

Girona's are now without a win in four LaLiga matches after Iago Aspas' late goal held them to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Girona, surprise third-place finishers last season, dominated possession in the early stages before taking the lead in the 38th minute when Yangel Herrera rose high to head in Daley Blind's cross.

Celta responded well but initially struggled to test Paulo Gazzaniga in their search for an equaliser, with Girona offering little in terms of threat at the other end.

The hosts eventually found a way through in the 81st minute - Williot Swedberg laid the ball off to Aspas, who made no mistake with his composed finish. 

Girona sit 12th in the LaLiga table on nine points from eight games, while Celta moved to ninth place with 10 points ahead of the remaining weekend fixtures.

Data Debrief: Girona stumble again

Girona may have had fewer shots than their hosts (nine compared to Celta's 12), but they looked set to end their winless run despite that. In the first half, they had three big chances, of which they took one.

In the end, Celta's push for an equaliser paid off, with Aspas netting the winner with their first shot on target. They only had two overall, with the other coming just seconds before the final whistle. 

It was the Celta captain's fourth goal in LaLiga this campaign, and his 160th in the competition overall (365 appearances).

Bayern Munich offered a positive update on Harry Kane's status after the striker sustained an ankle injury against Bayer Leverkusen.

The England captain, who did not register a single shot during Saturday's 1-1 draw despite Bayern dominating, was injured in a collision late on at the Allianz Arena, where Aleksandar Pavlovic cancelled out Robert Andrich's earlier effort.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was hopeful Kane would be fit to feature against Aston Villa in the Champions League on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Bayern released a statement confirming tests run on Kane had revealed no significant damage, and that the 31-year-old would "continue to receive appropriate treatment", though they did not confirm whether the forward will be fit to face Villa.

Kane suffered the knock due to a robust challenge from Amine Adli.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Kane said: "Sometimes there have been red cards for something like that.

"I'm OK, but it's a bit sore. I think it's OK. It doesn't feel too bad at the moment. We'll assess that in the next few days, but I don't think I'll be out for long."

Villa will certainly be hoping Kane is absent as they prepare to host a European giant.

Kane has been directly involved in seven goals in six career appearances against them at Villa Park, scoring five goals and providing two assists.

Indeed, he has also scored the game-winning goal at Villa Park on two previous occasions, netting a 90th-minute winner in November 2014 (2-1) and both goals in a 2-0 victory there in March 2016 – both during his time at Tottenham.

Carlos Alcaraz won an ATP Tour-level match for the 200th time as he defeated Tallon Griekspoor at the China Open.

World number three Alcaraz prevailed 6-1 6-2 on Sunday to hit another milestone in his already stellar career.

The four-time grand slam champion needed less than an hour to progress from the second-round tie.

Alcaraz struck four aces, converted five of seven break points and did not offer up a single chance for Griekspoor, who he also beat to claim his 100th career win, to break back in a dominant display.

 

The Spaniard has not been at his best since reaching the final of the Paris Olympics, which he lost to Novak Djokovic, but delivered a statement win as he aims to round out the 2024 season on a high note.

He will face Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals.

Data Debrief: Double-centurion

While Alcaraz has been unable to hold down his world number one ranking his year, the 21-year-old has still enjoyed a remarkable season, winning two grand slams (the French Open and Wimbledon) and claiming an Olympic silver.

Among the 29 players to have reached the top of the world rankings, Alcaraz is the second fastest to win 200 matches. He has done so in his 252nd match, with only John McEnroe hitting the landmark sooner (245 matches).

It took Rafael Nadal 255 matches to reach the milestone, Novak Djokovic 274 (the same as Jannik Sinner) and Roger Federer needed 302 to get there.

Mikel Arteta is "so grateful" to Pep Guardiola, though the Arsenal manager claimed it is out of his hands if somebody else wishes to damage his relationship with Manchester City's boss.

Tempers flared in the 2-2 draw between the Premier League title rivals at the Etihad Stadium last week.

Ahead of this weekend's fixtures, Guardiola said City would go to "war" with Arsenal, who joined the reigning champions on 14 points after Saturday's games.

While City drew 1-1 at Newcastle United, Arsenal clinched a 4-2 victory over Leicester City thanks to two stoppage-time goals.

After that match, though, Arteta was still asked about Guardiola.

"I've admired him since I was 10 years old," Arteta said on Saturday.

"I respect him profoundly. I'm so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me.

"If someone wants to damage the relationship, that's not in my hands.

"The feeling [of affection] is profound. [Guardiola] knows it, the staff know it because I still [speak] with them today, and with the board, the ownership – with everyone."

Arteta was a coach at City between 2016 and 2019, until he left to replace Unai Emery in charge of the Gunners.

Sri Lanka won by an innings and 154 runs in the second Test against New Zealand to complete a 2-0 series clean sweep.

The tourists fought hard on day four in Galle, but despite the efforts of Tom Blundell (60), Glenn Phillips (78) and Mitchell Santner (67), Sri Lanka got the job done in emphatic fashion.

Having been skittled all out for 88 in their first innings, chasing Sri Lanka's mammoth total of 602-5, New Zealand at least showed more fighting spirit on Sunday.

Sri Lanka simply had too much, though, with New Zealand bowled out for 360 when Santner's stand came to an end.

Debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris sent Santner packing, and he took a starring role with 6-170 across the Black Caps' second innings, while he had earlier dismissed Phillips and Blundell.

Prabath Jayasuriya (3-139) helped round things off, as Sri Lanka claimed their third straight Test victory.

Elsewhere, there was no play on day three of India's second Test against Bangladesh due to a wet outfield.

Data Debrief: Back-to-back against the Black Caps

Sri Lanka have clinched back-to-back Test victories against New Zealand since November 2012.

They have also now won five of their last six Tests at Galle International Stadium, with their only defeat in that span coming against Pakistan in 2023.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have now won just one of their last 11 Tests on the road (D3 L6), with that victory coming in Bangladesh last December.

Simone Inzaghi believes a hangover from Inter's derby defeat to Milan ultimately impacted his team's display against Udinese.

Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter held on for a nervy 3-2 win over Udinese on Saturday.

Davide Frattesi put Inter in front after 43 seconds but Christian Kabasele levelled in the 35th minute before Martinez scored either side of half-time, with Lorenzo Lucca setting up a grandstand finish.

The victory came six days on from reigning Serie A champions Inter losing 2-1 to their city rivals in dramatic fashion at San Serie.

"We came across a healthy team, who got 10 points and were undefeated at home," Inzaghi said.

"However, we always kept control of the match, it's a shame about the ending where you know there can always be a negative episode."

"The two goals are two goals that we should have avoided.

"Our opponents are very dangerous when they show up in the area. We should have done better as a team in both goals, Lucca flew towards our goal with a two-goal advantage, we will have to work better when not in possession.

"[But] it had been almost two years since we lost a derby and it had been two years since we prepared for a match with such difficulties because losing a derby is not like losing a normal match."

Inter did at least snap a run of three games without a win in all competitions, with Martinez grabbing his first Serie A goals since May in the process.

"In the derby he had a good game where he got used to exploiting the chances he had," Inzaghi said.

"[A scoring drought] happens, we were all waiting for his goals. The fact that he has returned to scoring is important for everyone."

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick took the blame following Saturday's shock 4-2 defeat at the hands of Osasuna.

Flick made a call to rest some of his key players and duly paid the price as Osasuna claimed their first LaLiga win over Barca since 2020.

The former Germany and Bayern Munich boss had been aiming to become only the second Barca coach, after Gerardo Martino, to win his first eight LaLiga matches in charge.

Yet Barca were firmly second best at Estadio El Sadar, with Bryan Zaragoza's double propelling Osasuna to a deserved victory, with the visitors only able to muster 0.68 expected goals (xG).

"You have to accept these defeats. We didn't play very well. I think it's my responsibility," Flick told Movistar Plus.

"[With the changes] I tried to protect the players, because they have been playing a lot of minutes. But I didn't expect us to play like this.

"We made a lot of mistakes and Osasuna did well. Although in the second goal I think there was a foul at the start of the action, I'm not entirely sure because I haven't been able to see it yet, but that's what I've heard.

"To score four goals against us is too much, but I've told the team that we have to keep going. It's a busy schedule and we are on the right track."

Flick was referring to a challenge by Osasuna midfielder Lucas Torro, who stood on Pau Victor's foot, in the build-up to Zaragoza scoring their second goal in the 28th minute.

The goal was given as neither the referee nor the VAR saw an infringement.

"For me it is a clear foul," a visibly frustrated Pedri told Movistar Plus.

Pedri also shrugged off the suggestion Flick's changes were the cause of Barca's issues.

He added: "It's normal to make rotations, there are a lot of matches. It's no excuse. We had to go out with 11 players and the score at half-time penalised us.

"The first half we were not good. We didn't come out to the game well. In the second half we deserved a bit more, but goals came when we were at our best.

"We had to go for the game. We had to go for everything and on the counter-attack they hurt us." 

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi was delighted with the character of his side as they defeated Argentina 48-7 to win the Rugby Championship title on Saturday.

In a role reversal last week, the Pumas denied Kolisi’s team the chance to win the title with a game to spare, pipping them to the post in a thrilling 29-28 win.

But the Springboks channelled the frustration from that near miss into a crushing win against the same opponents, and a first title in the competition since 2019.

Kolisi said: “I am lost for words but it has been a journey and a half, after last week, the way we stood up today says a lot about our team.”

The Springboks captain was also full of praise for his opponents, stating they will only improve in the coming years and that both sides share similarities.

He told Sky Sports: “Argentina are a side you cannot look over, how hard they work and what they did to us last week - they are a proud nation, similar to South Africa, the way they use the ball like we do. They will only get better and better."

Kolisi also reserved special praise for lock and long-time friend Eben Etzebeth, who became the most capped Springbok of all-time.

"I want to say to my best friend Eben that I am so grateful to be on this journey with you," Kolisi said.

"We have been together since we were 18 and you've been a true friend and you have led us in so many ways, the way you play the game.

"I am so proud of you and pleased to be your friend. I can't wait to tell my grandkids I played with Eben Etzebeth. Cheers, my friend, I love you!"

Having brought up that milestone, Etzebeth stated his desire to continue with the national team for as long as possible.

He said: “Rugby is like a religion in our country, to play for the Boks is the ultimate. You cannot go any better than that and I don't want to, it's the best team.

"Hopefully I stay fit and the coaches keep picking me. I will try my best."

Pumas captain Julian Montoya, meanwhile, was upfront about his side’s poor performance.

Montoya said: “Credit to South Africa, we were not good enough, they were the better team today.

“Of course I am pleased with what we have done, but you are only as good as your last game, and we were not good enough today. We have to get better."

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui was pleased with his side’s character as they overcame a poor start to draw 1-1 away to Brentford.

Lopetegui’s side were coming off the back of a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in their last league game and a 5-1 EFL Cup thrashing at Liverpool in midweek.

Bryan Mbuemo’s goal a minute into the encounter could have spelled the worst for the Hammers, but they recovered well and got back on level terms early in the second half through midfielder Tomas Soucek.

Lopetegui now has something to build upon as his side face a vital match at home to Ipswich Town before the next international break, and their overall performance pleased the Spaniard.

He told BBC Sport: “We showed this [Brentford's record of scoring early] to the players and it's incredible we suffered. It's a bad picture to concede so early.

"We kept calm and I think we deserved to win the match in the second half, we showed character and commitment.

"We had three or four very clear situations to score a second goal but we didn't manage it and we take a point. I have to keep positive.

"We always have to work as a team or we are weaker - I think we did this in the second half."

Brentford manager Thomas Frank was content with a point despite again taking the lead early on, as he continues to deal with injuries in the squad.

“It’s a good point,” said Frank. “I'm always disappointed if we don't get three. We were the better team for 75 minutes.

"West Ham outpowered us for 15 minutes at the start of the second half. If you take into consideration that we have nine first team players out, we had nothing to shoot with.

"What I liked from my team was the mentality. We kept going forward."

Frank could not explain the reason for Brentford netting in the opening minute of three straight games, but he feels it speaks to one of the main principles of his side.

“I can't tell you [the secret]. It must be a world record, three games in a row under 40 seconds - it's unbelievable," he added.

"We had a plan again, it's a mindset of playing forward and trying to get on the game straight away. I'm very pleased with that."

Pep Guardiola was pleased with the performance of his midfielders in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, but knows he must find solutions in Rodri's absence.

Rodri ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last week and his unavailability proved costly last season, with City losing three of the four league matches in which he did not feature.

Of the 50 matches Rodri played in all competitions for City last term, Guardiola's side won 38 and only lost once, but they lost four of the nine games he missed.

Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic formed City's central pairing against Newcastle on Saturday and Guardiola believes he has the quality in his ranks to plug the gap.

"I know you are going to ask me all the time, but he [Rodri] is not there," said Guardiola, who was also without the injured Kevin De Bruyne at St James' Park.

"Kovacic, Bernardo [Silva], Rico did well, but I have to find solutions. I would love Rodri to be here.

"I see my team and recognise them perfectly. We had chances to score and in midfield we were strong. The issue was balls in behind.

"But sometimes it happens and you have to adapt. We had chances to score, but this is their stadium and they had chances to score, so I'm happy (with a point)."

City failed to score multiple goals in a Premier League match for the first time in 15 games.

Despite dropping points in the league for the second successive match, and having seen City also take the lead through Josko Gvardiol, Guardiola was content with a point against a much-improved Newcastle.

He said: "Sometimes it happens and you have to adapt. We had chances to score, but this is their stadium and they had chances to score, so I'm happy."

Australia coach Joe Schmidt is determined to build on a disappointing Rugby Championship after being "frustrated" by their 33-13 defeat to New Zealand.

The Wallabies made a strong start on Saturday but found themselves trailing at the break after a topsy-turvy first half, and failed to get a single point on the board in the second as the All Blacks stretched their lead.

It was their ninth consecutive loss to New Zealand, who also beat them 31-28 in round five, and they have now won only one of their last six Test matches, losing the other five after making an unbeaten start under Schmidt.

Australia finished last in the four-nation tournament, with Schmidt rueing some of their missed chances after they slumped in the second half.

"I thought we created a few things early but what we had a lot of frustration [about] in that first half was slow ball," said Schmidt on Stan Sport.

"We were digging the ball out from amongst bodies on our side and that was really frustrating because it broke our rhythm.

"We started really strongly, got that try and then missed a couple of chances. They connect so well back off the sideline a couple of times, running back laterally and then connecting up with square runners.

"But just talking to Scott Barrett there, we made them work for it, and we're going to keep working for ourselves and make sure opponents do have to work for anything they get, and we try to get a little bit more."

Australia's tour in November, which includes Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, the nations that contribute players to the Lions, is next up, and Schmidt is looking forward to their next challenge.

"It's a bit like when we come up against the All Blacks, you know it's going to be a really tough tour.

"But if we can keep building through that tour, then I think we put ourselves in a position of potentially being competitive next July [against the Lions]."

Meanwhile, New Zealand's victory was their first in Wellington since June 2018, ending a five-game winless run in the capital.

They made a slow start to the game before rallying to a dominant comeback win, but captain Scott Barrett was just happy to triumph in Wellington. 

"Really pleased to reverse the curse," All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett said.

"We didn't start too well, but I'm really pleased with how we finished: some grit in defence, and we held out the Aussies."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.