02/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 2, 2025

28

SPORTS

Sabalenka survives Kostyuk test Belarusian world No. 1 battles past Ukrainian into Madrid Open semis

L AST YEAR’S runner-up Aryna Sabalenka survived a gritty Marta Kostyuk and an untimely rain interruption to complete a 7-6(7-4), 7-6(9-7) win over the Ukrainian and reach the Madrid Open semifinals for a fourth time yesterday. The top-seeded Sabalenka needed 84 minutes to take the opening set before securing the win in cold, breezy conditions. Kostyuk saved a match point and broke to take the second set into a tiebreak. At 5-4 in the breaker, it started to rain and play was halted briefly to close the roof of the Manolo Santana stadium. Upon resumption of play, Sabalenka saved three set points and eked out the win, her third over her rival in as many meetings. “Honestly, that was a battle and conditions were incredibly tough. It wasn’t about tennis, it was about the way you handled your emotions,” said the Belarusian world No. 1, who hit 48 unforced errors. “I think I did really well and I’m super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation.” Sabalenka next takes on another Ukrainian in the form of Elina Svitolina, who extended her winning streak to 11 consecutive matches with a swift 6-2, 6 1 rout of Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in

just 52 minutes. A champion in Rouen last week, Svitolina is undefeated on clay this

against Keys to 4-0 and reach a third consecutive Madrid semifinal. On court in the Arantxa Sanchez stadium, Gauff saved two set points while receiving at 4-5 before seizing a one-set lead after 63 minutes of

6-2 win against the American in the quarterfinals. The second seed will next square off with Coco Gauff, who beat 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva for the third time in as many meetings, 7-5, 6-1.

season and is the first Ukrainian woman to reach the semifinals in Madrid.

Searching for her first title of the season, the second-seeded Swiatek recovered from a poor opening set to improve her clean record on clay

The 30-year-old has won her last 22 consecutive sets on the red dirt.

Svitolina has a three-year-old daughter, is running a foundation that has taken over the responsibilities of the Ukrainian national tennis team both financially and from a managerial side, and is on an incredible run that will see her re-enter the top 15 in the rankings. “I have a lot on my plate, but I draw energy and motivation from my people,” said the former world number three. “When I go back to Ukraine, I just get so much energy from all the people that are right now over there having a tough time. I’m just trying to keep it up and bring some wins for Ukraine.” Earlier in the day, Iga Swiatek kept her Madrid Open title defence alive, as she avenged her Australian Open defeat to Madison Keys with a 0-6, 6-3,

play against Andreeva. Gauff cruised in the second set

to dismiss the seventh-seeded Russian and reach her first semifinal of the year. “I think I played really well and stayed composed, even when facing those set points,” the fourth-seeded American said. – AFP Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk (not pictured) yesterday. – REUTERSPIC participants. After Scheffler, the next three highest-ranked golfers in the field are Koreans Sungjae Im (No. 20), Byeong Hun An (No. 37) and Tom Kim (No. 38). Even before CJ’s involvement, K.H. Lee (2021, 2022), S.H. Kim (2019) and Sangmoon Bae (2013) all won the event. “I think a lot of the Korean players are more accurate than a lot of certain players,” Tom Kim said. “And I think when you can hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. “The greens are always really good here – so once that putter gets hot, you’ll make a ton of birdies, and that’s what you have to do out here. “When you consider all the top Korean players, we’re pretty decent ball strikers. I think that’s why our guys have had success.” – Field Level Media 75 and leaving himself with too much to do heading into the weekend. He picked up his game but the damage had been done as he finished eight shots behind McIlroy for a share of 14th place. Rahm was second in the Saudi backed breakaway circuit’s season opening event in Riyadh and has finished in the top 10 in all six tournaments, which have a field of 54 players. “While I like having top 10s and I like being a good player week-in and week-out, winning obviously is what matters more,” he said. “I would gladly give up some of those top 10s for more wins.” – AFP

Scheffler eyes first Byron Nelson title

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER had a good reason for skipping the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in 2024: the birth of his first child. Scheffler seemingly has won everywhere on the PGA Tour since his breakthrough in 2022, but only once in his home state of Texas and not at the Byron Nelson. He makes his return to the tournament – where he’s the overwhelming favourite to finally land his first title of 2025 – on today in McKinney, Texas. The tournament has bounced around a few courses in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex and made its latest home at TPC Craig Ranch in 2021. Scheffler grew up in Dallas, and the tournament’s namesake Nelson was raised in Fort Worth. “This event obviously means a lot

to me with it being Mr. Nelson’s tournament and being my hometown,” Scheffler said. TPC Craig Ranch, a par-71, 7,569 yard layout, will undergo a renovation after the tournament. For now, players are noticing a higher level of difficulty in part because the fairways have been overseeded with rye. “I think this golf course, the knock on it would be that it was a little bit too easy the last two years,” Scheffler said. “There wasn’t a ton of rough, and the fairways were too generous. “So having the overseeded rough and bringing in some of the fairways, I think brings a challenge to the course.” The CJ Group, a South Korean conglomerate, became a title sponsor last year, and the tournament has drawn a deep contingent of Korean

1

MEDIA SALES - Specialist

Job Description • Building and sustaining strong working relationship with advertising agencies and clients. • New business development and business retention. • Conceptualise, plan and execute creative and innovative marketing campaigns to enhance brand visibility and engagement. • Create, develop and continuously improve marketing material, presentations and proposals that showcase our products/services effectively. Requirements • SPM level with at least two years of experience. • Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or other related fields. • Fresh graduates are encouraged to apply, training will be provided. • Good communication, presentation, problem-solving and organisational skills. • Passionate in client servicing. • Possess own transport and willing to travel. • Able to start work immediately. Office based in

Rahm out to break 2025 win drought FORMER world No. 1 Jon Rahm said yesterday he had not done himself “any favours” in his winless start to the season ahead of LIV Golf’s South Korea debut. DeChambeau, who played alongside eventual winner Rory McIlroy in the final group at Augusta. “Sometimes you also need a little bit of luck in your favour, not that I haven’t been lucky.

Petaling Jaya (Five-day week)

The Spaniard has endured an indifferent 2025 by his own lofty standards, admitting “small mistakes” had cost him. He failed to mount a serious challenge at last month’s Masters and he vowed to clean up his game in South Korea with the second major of the year, the US PGA Championship, only two weeks away. “I’m just not doing everything I need to do right,” Rahm said ahead of LIV Golf Korea, which will also feature US Open champion Bryson

MEDIA SALES - Representative/Agent (Freelance)

2

“I just haven’t done myself any favours on the golf course, I would say it like that,” added Rahm. The two-time major winner will tee off in today’s first round at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon alongside the in-form Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who won his third LIV tournament of the season in Mexico last weekend. The 2023 Augusta champion had a frustrating time at this year’s Masters, starting poorly with a 3-over

Requirement • Minimum one year sales experience in classified ad, print and digital advertising. •Those without sales experience but with media advertising knowledge may also apply. • Attractive commission package and incentives. • Able to start immediately. • Central, Northern, Southern, East Coast and Sabah/Sarawak.

Send in your CV with your photo via email to : thesun.hr2@gmail.com