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• Djokovic makes dominant start to Olympic gold medal bid

  Novak Djokovic began his latest Olympic gold medal bid with a statement victory over Australia's Matthew Ebden at Roland-Garros.

  The 24-time major winner took just 53 minutes to wrap up a comprehensive 6-0 6-1 rout on Court Philippe-Chatrier, to set up a potential second-round clash with Rafael Nadal.

  Djokovic won bronze on his Olympic debut in 2008, but missed out on a medal after finishing fourth in 2012 and 2020, while he was beaten in round one in Rio by eventual silver medallist Juan Martin del Potro eight years ago.

  However, there was no danger of a repeat of the latter this time around. The Serb took just 24 minutes to wrap up a dominant first set, in which he bageled his helpless opponent.

  Ebden remained in positive spirits despite his ordeal. At one stage, he offered his racquet to the crowd, who gave him a wonderful reception when he won his first game of the contest at the 11th attempt.

  Nevertheless, it only briefly delayed the inevitable, with Djokovic cruising to the finish line.

  Data Debrief: Dominant Djokovic soars into second round

  There was no messing around from the 24-time major winner on Saturday, as he was done and dusted in just under an hour at Roland-Garros.

  He converted six of his nine break-point opportunities, while winning 14 of 19 net points (74%).

  The identity of his second-round opponent is still to be decided, but we could well see a blockbuster clash with Nadal.

   

• Allen hundred sets up rematch between San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket final

  Aggresive New Zealand opener Finn Allen hit the third hundred of his T20 career to propel the San Francisco Unicorns to a win over the Texas Super Kings at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Friday to advance to the Major League Cricket final.

  The 25-year-old Allen put the Super Kings to the sword in Friday's Challenger to help his side make 200-6 off their 20 overs after being inserted by Super Kings skipper Faf du Plessis.

  Allen faced 53 balls and hit nine fours and five sixes on his way to 101 and was supported well by Australian wicket-keeper/batsman Josh Inglis who hit 37 off 25 balls including two fours and a six.

  Afghan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad snagged 3-27 from his four overs for the Super Kings.

  Then, despite unbeaten fifties from both Devon Conway and Joshua Tromp, TSK fell agonizingly short of a spot in the final, finishing 190-4 from their 20 overs.

  Conway led the way with 62* off 38 balls including four fours and two sixes while Tromp hit five fours and two sixes on his way to a 36-ball 56*.

  Captain du Plessis had earlier made 45 off 22 balls.

  Conway and Tromp got together at 90-4 in the 10^th over and tried their best with a 100-run partnership but the runs proved to be just enough for the Unicorns.

  The Unicorns will now square off with the Washington Freedom in Sunday’s final, also being played at the Grand Prairie Stadium.

  The pair met on Thursday in the qualifier where the Freedom chased down 146 in 15.3 overs to book their spot in the final.

   

   

• Postecoglou hails 'fantastic' youngster Moore after late Vissel Kobe winner

  Ange Postecoglou saluted "fantastic" Mikey Moore, after the teenager struck a late winner in Tottenham's J-League World Challenge clash with Vissel Kobe.

  The 16-year-old was the hero with his 88th-minute strike sealing a 3-2 victory at the Japan National Stadium in what was Spurs' first match in their preseason tour of the Far East.

  Academy graduate Moore became Tottenham's youngest Premier League player when, aged 16 years and 277 days, he made his senior debut against Manchester City in the penultimate game of last season.

  And Postecoglou insists the England youth international, who has scored 10 goals in 12 appearances at under-17 level, is deserving of his first-team opportunities.

  "Mikey has been fantastic since we brought him in," he told reporters during his post-match press conference. "He's earned his spot on the roster at the moment; he did at the end of last year.

  "He got a run with the first team because we could see in training that he was handling himself really well, and that's followed through into pre-season training.

  "He's been good in all the games; he probably should have had three tonight, but he did take his goal well by being in the right areas.

  "All we can do is keep allowing him to develop. We have to remember that, last year, he had some injuries, and he is only 16.

  "I think the future with a lot of our young guys looks pretty promising, but it's our responsibility to make sure they realise their potential and continue to work hard at their game."

  Spurs made it three wins from three during preseason, following their 5-1 and 2-0 victories over Hearts and Queens Park Rangers respectively.

  "I thought it was a good game," Postecoglou added. "The conditions did make it difficult for both teams, and we've had a hard week of training.

  "Credit to the boys. I thought we played some decent football, and they put in as much effort as they humanly could out there.

  "You want to provide some sort of entertainment for the supporters who made a great turnout tonight, not just Spurs supporters, but football supporters in general. It's always nice to give back in that way and, overall, I was pleased."