Sports News Roundup: ATP roundup: Daniil Medvedev headlines day of sweeps at Vienna; NBA roundup: Mavs spoil Victor Wembanyama's debut and more
Overall, Medvedev won 28 of 31 first-service points while collecting 16 winners against just three unforced errors. NBA roundup: Mavs spoil Victor Wembanyama's debut Luka Doncic produced a triple-double to help the Dallas Mavericks spoil Victor Wembanyama's NBA debut with a 126-119 victory over the host San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
ATP roundup: Daniil Medvedev headlines day of sweeps at Vienna
Top-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev beat Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-2 in a first-round match to capture one of Wednesday's six sweeps at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Fils held a 3-2 lead in the first set, but Medvedev dominated the rest of the way. Overall, Medvedev won 28 of 31 first-service points while collecting 16 winners against just three unforced errors.
NBA roundup: Mavs spoil Victor Wembanyama's debut
Luka Doncic produced a triple-double to help the Dallas Mavericks spoil Victor Wembanyama's NBA debut with a 126-119 victory over the host San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The contest was one of 12 on the night, with all 24 teams making their season debuts.
Top cycling teams explore creating new competitive league -sources
A number of major European cycling teams have been exploring plans to create a new competitive league in a move that could reshape the sport's landscape and allocate more funding for participants, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. External investors could help finance the project, two of the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. The venture could amalgamate new and existing races, one of the people said.
Baseball-Rangers face Diamondbacks in unexpected World Series matchup
The 2023 World Series will pit two gritty wild-card teams that have proved deadly on the road against each other when the Texas Rangers play host to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Game One on Friday. Home field advantage may not mean much to the Rangers, who lost three home games but won four at Minute Maid Park in dispatching the defending champion Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.
Motor racing-Formula One statistics for the Mexican Grand Prix
Formula One statistics for Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix at Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, round 19 of the 22-race season. Lap distance: 4.304km. Total distance: 305.354km (71 laps)
Soccer-Bayern's Neuer prepares for imminent Bundesliga return with eye on Euros
There is more at stake for Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer when he makes his possible return to action in the Bundesliga on Saturday against Darmstadt 98 almost a year after injury. The 37-year-old, who broke his leg during a skiing holiday after Germany's World Cup first-round exit in December and required surgery, has been working hard on his return with intensive training sessions.
Rugby-Springbok hooker Mbonambi cleared to play in World Cup final
South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has been cleared to play in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final, World Rugby said on Thursday, after insufficient evidence was found that he used discriminatory language towards England flanker Tom Curry. Mbonambi, the only specialist hooker in the Springbok squad as they prepare to face New Zealand in Paris, was investigated after Curry made the allegation during the first half of last weekend's semi-final, which South Africa won 16-15.
Rugby-Springboks start with Pollard, go 7-1 on the bench
Handre Pollard, who kicked South Africa to an emphatic victory in the last Rugby World Cup final, will start again in this year’s decider with another controversial 7-1 split among the forwards and backs on the Springbok bench for Saturday's decider against New Zealand. Pollard, who scored 22 points when South Africa beat England 32-12 in the 2019 final in Japan, replaces Manie Libbok at flyhalf while Faf de Klerk comes in at scrumhalf in two changes from the line-up that started last Saturday’s narrow 16-15 semi-final success over England.
Games-Pan Am headliners bid Games a golden goodbye
The curtain came down on two of the Pan American Games' showcase sports on Wednesday while the event's biggest names, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade and Canadian swimmer Maggie MacNeil, bid a golden goodbye. Andrade, perhaps the most intriguing and charismatic gymnast after Simone Biles, provided the Games with some badly needed glitz, scooping up four medals including a second gold on Wednesday with a victory on the balance beam ahead of team mate Flavia Saraiva.
Baseball-Astros manager Baker retiring - report
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, one of the most successful and beloved figures in Major League Baseball, has informed the team that he plans to retire, USA Today Sports reported on Wednesday. The 74-year-old broke into the majors in 1968 as a teenager with the Atlanta Braves. The All-Star outfielder won a World Series with the 1981 Dodgers.