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Angelique Kerber beats Karolina Pliskova to win US Open title

September 11, 2016

New York, Sep 11: Angelique Kerber won the US Open on Saturday, marking her rise to world number one with a gritty victory over Karolina Pliskova for her second Grand Slam title of the year.

Kerber

Germany's Kerber, the second seed, rallied from a break down in the third set to beat the hard-hitting 10th-seeded Czech 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

She added the US Open crown to the Australian Open title she claimed in January, breaking Pliskova at love to cap the triumph.

"Amazing to win a second Grand Slam in one year," Kerber said. "It's the best year of my career.

"It all started for me here in New York five years ago when I reached the semi-finals and now I am here with the trophy," she added. "It's incredible."

The 28-year-old left-hander, who beat Serena Williams in the final at Melbourne and lost to the US great in the Wimbledon final, will officially rise to world number one on Monday.

But she was assured of that spot when Pliskova toppled Williams in the semi-finals.

"To be number one and win Grand Slam titles was always my dream ever since I was a little girl," Kerber said. "It means so much."

Pliskova, who had never made it past the third round of a Grand Slam in 17 prior attempts, also beat Venus Williams en route to the title match, becoming just the fourth player to beat both Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam.

Pliskova was the first player to take a set off Kerber at Flushing Meadows.

Her powerful groundstrokes had Kerber on the run at times, but her 47 unforced errors were, finally, too much to overcome despite her 40 winners.

When Pliskova's final forehand sailed out, Kerber was launched on a joyous celebration, climbing into box where coach Torben Beltz was sitting then returning to the court where the tears flowed.

Kerber took advantage of Pliskova's big-match nerves -- evidenced by a couple of misses at the net -- to break in the opening game.

The quick advantage gave Kerber plenty of breathing room.

She was able to maintain it with authoritative play from the baseline, fending off three break points before cracking Pliskova's serve again when the Czech double-faulted to give her a set point.

Kerber seized her chance with a forehand down the line to pocket the first frame in 44 minutes, having committed just three unforced errors.

Having saved the first break point she faced in the second set, but unable to make inroads on Pliskova's serve, Kerber was beginning to look demoralized by the power shots coming her way.

Pliskova, gaining in confidence, grabbed her first break of the match for a 4-3 lead, lofting a lob over the dejected German.

Serving for the set three games later the Czech fired her fourth ace of the match out wide for set point.

Her rocket to the baseline on the next point left Kerber helpless and the match was level at two sets apiece.

"In the second set, I found some power," Pliskova said.

Faced with the challenge, Kerber admitted she was "a little negative" in the second set, but said she drew on the memory of her Australian Open triumph to will herself on, even after conceding the first break of the third set to fall behind 2-1.

Pliskova couldn't maintain the advantage. Two errors gave a break back to Kerber in the sixth game.

The German was back on top of her game with a hold for 4-3, running for a stinging forehand winner to the corner for game point that fully restored her morale.

"I was trying to stay in the moment," Kerber said. "Trying to play my game."

Even after her capitulation in the final game, Pliskova was looking forward to building on her breakthrough Slam performance.

"It was a great match tonight," Pliskova said. "I knew it was going to be difficult.

"Even though I couldn't get the win, I'm still happy with the way I played the last three weeks. Hopefully there will be many more finals to come.

"I found out I can play against the best players in the world on the big courts," Pliskova added. "Angie proved she is the number one, it was an honor to play her."

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News Network
March 12,2020

New Delhi, Mar 12: No foreign player will be available for this year's IPL till April 15 due to visa restrictions imposed by the government to contain the novel coronavirus threat, a top BCCI source told PTI on Thursday, casting fresh doubts on the fate of the event.

"The foreign players who play in the IPL come under the Business Visa category. As per the government's directive, they can't come till April 15," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The government issued fresh advisory with a ban on all existing foreign visas, except a few categories like diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in the wake of new positive cases of novel coronavirus in the country.

India has reported 60 positive cases in the outbreak which has led to over 4,000 deaths globally.

The fate of the IPL itself will be decided on March 14 at the event's Governing Council meeting in Mumbai. "All decisions will be taken by the GC in Mumbai," the source said.

Having the IPL, starting March 29, played in empty stadiums is an option being explored.

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Agencies
August 2,2020

New Delhi, Aug 2: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Sunday said the Women's IPL or the Challenger series, as it is better known, is "very much on", ending speculation about the parent body not having a plan for Harmanpreet Kaur and her team.

The men's IPL will be held between September 19 and November 8 or 10 (final date yet to be locked in) in the UAE due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in India. The women's IPL will also be fit in to the schedule, according to the BCCI chief.

"I can confirm to you that the women's IPL is very much on and we do have a plan in place for the national team also," Ganguly told PTI ahead of the IPL Governing Council meeting later on Sunday.

The BCCI president, who is awaiting a Supreme Court verdict on waiver of the cooling-off period to continue in the position, did not divulge details but another senior official privy to the development said that women's Challenger will be held during the last phase of IPL like last year.

"The women's Challenger series is likely to be held between November 1-10 and there could be a camp before that," the source said.

The former India captain also said that the centrally contracted women players will have a camp which has been delayed due to the prevailing situation in the country.

"We couldn't have exposed any of our cricketers -- be it male or female to health risk. It would have been dangerous," Ganguly said.

"The NCA also remained shut because of Covid-19. But we have a plan in place and we will have a camp for women, I can tell you that," he added.

The BCCI's cricket operations team is chalking up a schedule where Indian women are likely to have two full-fledged white-ball series against South Africa and the West Indies before playing the ODI World Cup in New Zealand. 

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News Network
April 24,2020

New Delhi, Apr 24: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday extended wishes to the "most prolific batsman of all time" Sachin Tendulkar on his 47th birthday.

ICC took to Twitter and wrote: "Happy birthday to Sachin Tendulkar, the most prolific batsman of all time! To celebrate, we will give you the opportunity to vote for his top ODI innings in a bracket challenge! Stay tuned to join the celebrations."

The Maharashtra-born player had an illustrious career in the game, creating several records.
Tendulkar made his debut in Test cricket on November 15, 1989. In the same year on December 18, he played his first ODI match.

The legendary cricketer has the most number of runs in the longest format of the game, amassing 15,921 runs. Along the way, Tendulkar scored 51 Test centuries, most by any player.

Things are no different in ODI cricket as Tendulkar atop the list of most runs in this format as well. He has accumulated 18,426 runs in ODI which includes 49 tons.

Tendulkar represented the country in six World Cups during his career that lasted for 24 years. He was the part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad.

This year, Master Blaster decided not to celebrate his birthday due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis in the country.

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