Rallying-Ogier, Tanak take Sardinia battle of champions into final day
FILE PHOTO: Rallying - World Rally Championship - Safari Rally Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya - June 23, 2022 - French Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Benjamin Veillas in action during side-by-side super special racing stage at Kasarani. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File photo
Sebastien Ogier will be determined to avoid more Rally Italy heartache when he and Ott Tanak, who seized victory by a whisker last year, again duel in Sunday's final stages in Sardinia.
Toyota's eight-times world champion ended Saturday's penultimate leg 11.1 seconds clear of his Hyundai rival with four stages and a total of 77.7km remaining before the finish of the Olbia-based event.
Last year the Frenchman had a 17.1-second lead at the same point but ended up losing by 0.2 seconds to the Estonian 2019 champion after a puncture in the final stage -- the joint closest finish in world rally championship history.
Ogier started Saturday with a 2.1-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux but the Hyundai driver rolled out on the day's fifth of six stages over rocky and dusty roads in the north of the Mediterranean island.
"It's been a long day," said Ogier, who won three of the stages. "The afternoon was rough. But I'm happy so far. Good race management."
Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera moved up to third but 55.5 seconds off the lead, with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans fourth and Sami Pajari fifth -- four Toyotas in the top five.
Hyundai's world champion Thierry Neuville retired on Friday after hitting an earth bank and was 26th overall after returning on Saturday.
Evans led Rovanpera by 30 points going into the season's sixth round, with Ogier third and Tanak fourth. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Springboks centre Andre Esterhuizen embraces hybrid role among the forwards
Rugby Union - South Africa v Barbarian FC - DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - June 28, 2025 South Africa's Jesse Kriel lifts the trophy with teammates to celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Esa Alexander Innovative South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus called centre-turned-flanker Andre Esterhuizen a 'hybrid player' on June 28 after a 54-7 victory over the Barbarians in wet and cold Cape Town. When replacement back Andre Esterhuizen came on early in the second half of the non-cap exhibition match for the world champions, it was as a loose forward. PHOTO: REUTERS CAPE TOWN – The age of the hybrid rugby player may be nearer than many think as world champions South Africa continue to innovate, having intentionally used centre Andre Esterhuizen as a flanker in the 54-7 win over the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28. Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has spoken at length in the past about developing players for multiple positions, and used Deon Fourie in both the front and back row of the scrum in their Rugby World Cup win in France in 2023. However, playing a back in the forwards, not due to injury but as a plan that has been months in the making, could usher in a new era for South Africa as Erasmus seeks new ways to keep the four-time World Cup winners at the top of the global game. He floated the idea to Esterhuizen at the start of 2025 and it is something they have been working on since. 'I was actually waiting for the conversation to happen, it has been brought up in the past,' Esterhuizen, 31, told reporters. 'As I get older, you learn how you can slot in everywhere, how you can get yourself into the team more constantly. 'You have to adapt as a player. I said I'd like to try it and I'm looking forward to what it can be. It will help me as a player and obviously, it can help the team as well. Hopefully, we see more of it in the future.' Erasmus has long championed having players versatile enough to feature in several positions and believes it is an important factor in winning a World Cup. Not least because, in the Springboks' case, it allows more forwards among replacements to replenish their powerhouse pack and apply pressure on opponents for the full 80 minutes. Erasmus previously used loose forward Kwagga Smith as cover on the wing, and says Esterhuizen's emergence as a forward option is simply the reverse of that plan. 'I don't know if you can call him (Esterhuizen) a hybrid, but he is a backline player who can now also play in the forwards,' he said. 'If we get injuries, a guy like Andre just gives us an option, because he's been training with both the forwards and the backs.' Former Springboks flanker Erasmus, who played key coaching roles in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs of South Africa, is a master innovator. He is best known for changing the traditional five forwards-three backs split on the substitutes' bench, choosing six-two and even seven-one combinations instead. On the pitch, debutant flanker Vincent Tshituka scored two tries as the world champions were comfortable winners on June 28. Hooker Malcolm Marx, winger Cheslin Kolbe, prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, lock Lood de Jager and centre Damian de Allende were the other try scorers for the Springboks. Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted two of the three first-half tries before his replacement, Manie Libbok, added the extra points to all five second-half scores. Fullback Melvyn Jaminet claimed the lone try for the Barbarians and converted it in a non-cap exhibition match at Cape Town Stadium. South Africa begin their international season with the first of two Tests against Italy in Pretoria on July 5. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tennis-List of Wimbledon women's singles champions
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 27, 2024 General view as Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov warms up on the hill inside Wimbledon REUTERS/Paul Childs/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 13, 2024 Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova celebrates with the trophy after winning her final against Italy's Jasmine Paolini REUTERS/Paul Childs/File Photo LONDON - List of Wimbledon women's singles champions: 2024 Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) beat Jasmine Paolini (Italy) 6-2 2-6 6-4 2023 Marketa Vondrousova (Czech Republic) beat Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) 6-4 6-4 2022 Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) beat Jabeur (Tunisia) 3-6 6-2 6-2 2021 Ash Barty (Australia) beat Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 2020 Tournament cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2019 Simona Halep (Romania) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-2 6-2 2018 Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-3 6-3 2017 Garbine Muguruza (Spain) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-5 6-0 2016 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Kerber (Germany) 7-5 6-3 2015 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Muguruza (Spain) 6-4 6-4 2014 Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 6-3 6-0 2013 Marion Bartoli (France) beat Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-1 6-4 2012 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-1 5-7 6-2 2011 Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3 6-4 2010 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 6-3 6-2 2009 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-6(3) 6-2 2008 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 7-5 6-4 2007 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Bartoli (France) 6-4 6-1 2006 Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat Justine Henin (Belgium) 2-6 6-3 6-4 2005 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 4-6 7-6(4)9-7 2004 Sharapova (Russia) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-1 6-4 2003 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 4-6 6-4 6-2 2002 Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-6(4) 6-3 2001 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Henin (Belgium) 6-1 3-6 6-0 2000 Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Davenport (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(3) 1999 Davenport (U.S.) beat Steffi Graf (Germany) 6-4 7-5 1998 Jana Novotna (Czech Republic) beat Nathalie Tauziat (France) 6-4 7-6(2) 1997 Martina Hingis (Switzerland) beat Novotna (Czech Republic) 2-6 6-3 6-3 1996 Graf (Germany) beat Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Spain) 6-3 7-5 1995 Graf (Germany) beat Sanchez Vicario (Spain) 4-6 6-1 7-5 1994 Conchita Martinez (Spain) beat Martina Navratilova (U.S.) 6-4 3-6 6-3 1993 Graf (Germany) beat Novotna (Czech Republic) 7-6(6) 1-6 6-4 1992 Graf (Germany) beat Monica Seles (Yugoslavia) 6-2 6-1 1991 Graf (Germany) beat Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina) 6-4 3-6 8-6 1990 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Zina Garrison (U.S.) 6-4 6-1 1989 Graf (Germany) beat Navratilova (U.S.) 6-2 6-7(1) 6-1 1988 Graf (Germany) beat Navratilova (U.S.) 5-7 6-2 6-1 1987 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Graf (Germany) 7-5 6-3 1986 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Hana Mandlikova (Czechoslovakia) 7-6(1) 6-3 1985 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Chris Evert Lloyd (U.S.) 4-6 6-3 6-2 1984 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Evert Lloyd (U.S.) 7-6(5) 6-2 1983 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Andrea Jaeger (U.S.) 6-0 6-3 1982 Navratilova (U.S.) beat Evert Lloyd (U.S.) 6-1 3-6 6-2 1981 Evert Lloyd (U.S.) beat Mandlikova (Czechoslovakia) 6-2 6-2 1980 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (Australia) beat Evert Lloyd (U.S.) 6-1 7-6(4) 1979 Navratilova (Czechoslovakia) beat Evert Lloyd (U.S.) 6-4 6-4 1978 Navratilova (Czechoslovakia) beat Evert Lloyd (U.S.) 2-6 6-4 7-5 1977 Virginia Wade (Britain) beat Betty Stove (Netherlands) 4-6 6-3 6-1 1976 Evert Lloyd (U.S.) beat Cawley (Australia) 6-3 4-6 8-6 1975 Billie Jean King (Moffitt) (U.S.) beat Cawley (Australia) 6-0 6-1 1974 Evert (U.S.) beat Olga Morozova (Soviet Union) 6-0 6-4 1973 King (U.S.) beat Evert (U.S.) 6-0 7-5 1972 King (U.S.) beat Cawley (Australia) 6-3 6-3 1971 Cawley (Australia) beat Margaret Court (Smith) (Australia) 6-4 6-1 1970 Court (Australia) beat King (U.S.) 14-12 11-9 1969 Ann Jones (Britain) beat King (U.S.) 3-6 6-3 6-2 1968 King (U.S.) beat Judy Tegart (Australia) 9-7 7-5 Pre-Open era: 1967 King (U.S.) beat Jones (Britain) 6-3 6-4 1966 King (U.S.) beat Maria Bueno (Brazil) 6-3 3-6 6-1 1965 Smith (Court) (Australia) beat Bueno (Brazil) 6-4 7-5 1964 Bueno (Brazil) beat Smith (Australia) 6-4 7-9 6-3 1963 Smith (Australia) beat Moffitt (King) (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 1962 Karen Susman (U.S.) beat Vera Sukova (Czechoslovakia)6-4 6-4 1961 Angela Mortimer (Britain) beat Christine Truman (Britain) 4-6 6-4 7-5 1960 Bueno (Brazil) beat Sandra Reynolds (South Africa) 8-6 6-0 1959 Bueno (Brazil) beat Darlene Hard (U.S.) 6-4 6-3 1958 Althea Gibson (U.S.) beat Mortimer (Britain) 8-6 6-2 1957 Gibson (U.S.) beat Hard (U.S.) 6-3 6-2 1956 Shirley Fry (U.S.) beat Angela Buxton (Britain) 6-3 6-1 1955 Louise Brough (U.S.) beat Beverly Fleitz (U.S.) 7-5 8-6 1954 Maureen Connolly (U.S.) beat Brough (U.S.) 6-2 7-5 1953 Connolly (U.S.) beat Doris Hart (U.S.) 8-6 7-5 1952 Connolly (U.S.) beat Brough (U.S.) 7-5 6-3 1951 Hart (U.S.) beat Fry (U.S.) 6-1 6-0 1950 Brough (U.S.) beat Margaret du Pont (Osborne) (U.S.) 6-1 3-6 6-1 1949 Brough (U.S.) beat Du Pont (U.S.) 10-8 1-6 10-8 1948 Brough (U.S.) beat Hart (U.S.) 6-3 8-6 1947 Osborne (U.S.) beat Hart (U.S.) 6-2 6-4 1946 Pauline Betz (U.S.) beat Brough (U.S.) 6-2 6-4 1940-45 No competition 1939 Alice Marble (U.S.) beat Kay Stammers (Britain) 6-2 6-0 1938 Helen Moody (Wills) (U.S.) beat Helen Jacobs (U.S.) 6-4 6-0 1937 Dorothy Round (Britain) beat Jadwiga Jedrzejowska (Poland) 6-2 2-6 7-5 1936 Jacobs (U.S.) beat Hilde Sperling (Germany) 6-2 4-6 7-5 1935 Moody (U.S.) beat Jacobs (U.S.) 6-3 3-6 7-5 1934 Round (Britain) beat Jacobs (U.S.) 6-2 5-7 6-3 1933 Moody (U.S.) beat Round (Britain) 6-4 6-8 6-3 1932 Moody (U.S.) beat Jacobs (U.S.) 6-3 6-1 1931 Cilly Aussem (Germany) beat Hilde Krahwinkel (Germany)6-2 7-5 1930 Moody (U.S.) beat Elizabeth Ryan (U.S.) 6-2 6-2 1929 Wills (Moody) (U.S.) beat Jacobs (U.S.) 6-1 6-2 1928 Wills (U.S.) beat Lili de Alvarez (Spain) 6-2 6-3 1927 Wills (U.S.) beat De Alvarez (Spain) 6-2 6-4 1926 Kathleen Godfree (Britain) beat De Alvarez (Spain) 6-2 4-6 6-3 1925 Suzanne Lenglen (France) beat Joan Fry (Britain) 6-2 6-0 1924 Kathleen McKane (Britain) beat Wills (U.S.) 4-6 6-4 6-4 1923 Lenglen (France) beat McKane (Britain) 6-2 6-2 1922 Lenglen (France) beat Molla Mallory (U.S.) 6-2 6-0 Before 1922 the women's singles was decided on a challenge-round system with the previous year's winner automatically qualifying for the final (British unless stated): 1921 Lenglen (France) beat Elizabeth Ryan (U.S) 6-2 6-0 1920 Lenglen (France) beat Dorothea Chambers 6-3 6-0 1919 Lenglen (France) beat Chambers 10-8 4-6 9-7 1915-18 No competition 1914 Chambers beat Ethel Larcombe 7-5 6-4 1913* Chambers beat Winifred McNair 6-0 6-4 1912* Larcombe beat Charlotte Sterry 6-3 6-1 1911 Chambers beat Dora Boothby 6-0 6-0 1910 Chambers beat Boothby 6-2 6-2 1909* Boothby beat Agnes Morton 6-4 4-6 8-6 1908* Sterry beat Morton 6-4 6-4 1907 May Sutton (U.S.) beat Chambers 6-1 6-4 1906 Dorothea Douglass beat Sutton 6-3 9-7 1905 Sutton beat Douglass 6-3 6-4 1904 Douglass beat Sterry 6-0 6-3 1903* Douglass beat Thomson (Larcombe) 4-6 6-4 6-2 1902 Muriel Robb beat Sterry 7-5 6-1 1901 Sterry beat Blanche Hillyard 6-2 6-2 1900 Hillyard beat Charlotte Cooper 4-6 6-4 6-4 1899 Hillyard beat Cooper 6-2 6-3 1898* Cooper beat Louisa Martin 6-4 6-4 1897 Hillyard beat Cooper 5-7 7-5 6-2 1896 Cooper beat Alice Pickering 6-2 6-3 1895* Cooper beat Helen Jackson 7-5 8-6 1894* Hillyard beat Edith Austin 6-1 6-1 1893 Lottie Dod beat Hillyard 6-8 6-1 6-4 1892 Dod beat Hillyard 6-1 6-1 1891* Dod beat Hillyard 6-2 6-1 1890* Lena Rice beat May Jacks 6-4 6-1 1889* Hillyard beat Rice 4-6 8-6 6-4 1888 Dod beat Hillyard 6-3 6-3 1887 Dod beat Hillyard (Bingley) 6-2 6-0 1886 Bingley beat Maud Watson 6-3 6-3 1885 Watson beat Bingley 6-1 7-5 1884 Watson beat Lillian Watson 6-8 6-3 6-3 * Denotes no challenge round. Winner of all-comers' final declared champion. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Austrian GP follows Miami in extending F1 contract to 2041
SPIELBERG, Austria - The Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring will stay on the calendar through 2041 after announcing on Sunday a contract extension that equals Miami as the longest in Formula One. The current deal, last extended two years ago, ran to 2030. The circuit in Spielberg is owned by the Austrian energy drinks company that owns Red Bull Racing, and has Dutch four times world champion Max Verstappen as their star driver, and Italy-based Racing Bulls. Miami agreed a 10-year extension to 2041 last month. Behind them, Bahrain has a deal to 2036, Melbourne to 2035, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to at least 2032. "Austria has long been an incredibly special race for Formula One so it's fantastic we have secured the long-term future of a Grand Prix so deeply rooted in the sport's history," said Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali. Verstappen has won a record five times in Spielberg, a 4.3km circuit known for its picturesque backdrop and undulating layout. The late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, whose son Mark is now at the helm, invested heavily in renovating the circuit. "I am delighted that Formula One will remain at the Red Bull Ring for many years to come. I am proud to continue my father's legacy," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
