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Boulter relief at Beijing win after ‘tough months’

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Katie Boulter said she was happy to put “a tough couple of months” behind her by beating Hailey Baptiste in the China Open.

The British number two defeated the American 7-5 5-7 6-4 to progress to the second round in Beijing.

The 29-year-old was knocked out of the second round of Wimbledon by lucky loser Solana Sierra then lost in the first round of the US Open to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.

She let a double break lead slip in the final set against Baptiste but regrouped to serve out for victory.

“I’ve had a tough couple of months,” Boulter said.

“I’m really pleased with how I’m now putting myself out there and fighting for every point.

“She [Baptiste] was playing such disruptive tennis but I stayed mentally strong and found a way to get through it. I did well to get through that match.”

Boulter will now face a tough task against Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova.

She has had a mixed year but, after tweaking her serve, registered an impressive victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima to help Great Britain reach the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals.

She lost her next singles match 3-6 6-4 6-2 to world number seven Jessica Pegula as Britain were beaten 2-0 by the United States.

Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic confirmed he will play in October’s Shanghai Masters – his first appearance since his US Open semi-final defeat.

The Serb has repeatedly said he will slim down his calendar to protect his body in the final years of his career.

The 38-year-old reached the final in Shanghai last year but lost to Jannik Sinner, who was then the world number one.

Sinner and current world number one Carlos Alcaraz both return to ATP Tour action in Beijing and Tokyo respectively this week.

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Ulster without Baloucoune and longer-term absentees for Friday’s URC opener with Dragons

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ULSTER WILL BE without Rob Baloucoune and several longer-term absentees for Friday’s URC season opener at home to the Dragons at Affidea Stadium, Belfast.

Wing Baloucoune has been ruled out with an ankle injury, while fellow back-three operators Ethan McIlroy and Ben Moxham, as well as back row James McNabney and loosehead Eric O’Sullivan, all continue to recover from more severe knee injuries.

Scrum-half David Shanahan will also miss the game with a calf complaint, while back row Lorcan McLoughlin is unavailable with an injury to his elbow.

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Jacob Stockdale, who suffered an AC injury during Ireland’s summer Test against Georgia, was not listed on Ulster’s injury report ahead of Friday’s Round 1 meeting with last season’s bottom side.

South African number eight Juarno Augustus could make his debut after joining from Northampton Saints during the summer, while tighthead Rory McGuire could also feature for the first time since his arrival from Leinster.


Connacht’s Temi Lasisi faces a lengthy rebab following knee surgery. James Crombie / INPHO


James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Connacht, meanwhile, have a relatively clean bill of health ahead of their season opener at home to Italians Benetton at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday.

Loosehead Temi Lasisi faces a lengthy period on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained in a development fixture at The Sportsground on Friday. Lock Oisín Dowling will also undergo knee surgery this week but is expected to return as soon as December.

Connacht’s three Lions — Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen — began pre-season training last Monday following their involvement on the tour of Australia but will naturally miss the start of the season having played well into the summer.

New recruit Sam Gilbert, meanwhile, will link up with Stuart Lancaster’s squad upon the conclusion of Otago’s National Provincial Championship campaign in his native New Zealand.

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Blackburn should get win from abandoned game – Ismael

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Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael says that giving them three points from the abandoned Championship game against Ipswich Town would be the “fairest thing to do”.

Ismael’s side were 1-0 up courtesy of Todd Cantwell’s second-half penalty and the Tractor Boys were playing with 10 men after Jacob Greaves was sent off when heavy rain forced the match to be called off.

With the pitch waterlogged, referee Steve Martin took the players off the pitch after 80 minutes and a decision on whether the game will be replayed in full is still to be made by the EFL board.

A decision is likely to be made by the end of this week.

“We’ve got the right to want the three points because it’s the fair thing to do, especially when the opponent is down to 10,” Ismael said in an interview on the club’s YouTube channel.

“Eleven versus 11 is another situation. We were clearly at an advantage and the data shows that we were on the front foot since the red card.”

A match can only be postponed or abandoned with the approval of the referee, authorities, or by the order of the police.

If a Premier League or EFL game is abandoned after kick-off, but before 90 minutes has been played, the fixture will either be:

  • Counted as a completed match, with the points awarded based on the time of the abandonment

  • Replayed partially or in its entirety

  • The Premier League and EFL boards decide the outcome based on the score at time of the abandonment, the number of minutes played, and the cause of the abandonment, and whether the club or its supporters were at fault.

Ismael said that the decision to postpone the game was out of his hands.

“I never agreed to stop the game. I had no choice because the referee made clear his point that he had to abandon the game,” he added.

“The pitch was unplayable and he said sorry. I never agreed anything because the decision was already made so that is a clear point to make.”

In addition, Ismael said that the current rules are a “grey area” and could put football’s integrity in doubt.

“It’s a generic problem. It’s a deep problem. It’s a grey area and it’s put the integrity of football in danger because everyone can speculate on anything on any game or try to stop any game,” he added.

“Now there’s room for speculation and influence. It’s difficult to know what will be the outcome but everyone has to take the case very seriously because this case will set a precedent.”

In a statement the EFL said both clubs have until 16:00 BST on Wednesday to make any final representations to the league.

“Once in receipt of the submissions the matter will be discussed by the EFL board before the end of this week with the outcome to be discussed shortly thereafter,” the statement added.

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Fulton signs pro contract with Minnesota Timberwolves

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Irish basketball star CJ Fulton has signed a contract with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.

The development makes the Belfast native the first Irishman to make it to the NBA having cut his teeth primarily in the Irish basketball system.

Offaly-born Pat Burke signed with Orlando Magic in 2002 and would later play two seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Burke – who moved to Ohio as a child – built his career in Spain and Greece before heading to the NBA.

Susan Moran, also from Offaly, signed with the New York Liberty the same year Burke moved to Orlando and is thus far the only Irish-born woman to make it to the WNBA.

Fulton, son of former Irish international guard Adrian, spent two seasons playing college basketball for NCAA Division I side Charleston before entering the NBA draft.

Although the point guard wasn’t picked up during the draft selection, he represented the Timberwolves during the recent Summer League – an out-of-season competition used to find and develop new players.

The 23-year-old guard will likely be moved to the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s ‘reserve’ side who play in the NBA’s G-League.

The Timberwolves, led by star guard Anthony Edwards and French centre Rudy Gobert, possess one of the strongest rosters in the league having reached the Western Conference finals last season.

It is believed Fulton had already received offers from across Europe, including one from a top Spanish team, but chose to stay Stateside.

Fulton won a Super League with Belfast Star and before that an All-Ireland Schools titles with St Malachy’s before he left for America.

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