MotoGP: Honda’s MotoGP leader Marc Marquez won for the fourth year in a row at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas last night while his bitter rival Valentino Rossi was one of several riders who crashed out. Spain’s Marquez was again in a race of his own at the Texan track, starting on pole position for the fourth successive year and pulling away after a brief tussle for the lead on the opening lap with Yamaha’s reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo finished second, 6.107 seconds behind his compatriot, with Italian Andrea Iannone third on a Ducati.
Snooker: Six-time champion Steve Davis failed to reach the World Championship as he lost 10-4 to Fergal O’Brien in the first round of qualifying in Sheffield. The 58-year-old, who has slipped to 100 in the world rankings, failed to make a half-century break at Ponds Forge. Davis’ last appearance at the Crucible showpiece came in 2010, when he produced a surprise run to the quarter-finals before being beaten by eventual champion Neil Robertson.
Boxing: Britain’s Anthony Joshua lived up to his billing as the new superstar of heavyweight boxing when he stopped Charles Martin in the second round with a demonstration of brutal power to claim the American’s world IBF title on Saturday night. Joshua became the first boxer in history to hold the Olympic super-heavyweight crown and a version of the world heavyweight title simultaneously with his stunning triumph at the O2 Arena.
Rugby Union: World Rugby have penned a 10-year deal with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to spark playing numbers and bring major events to the world’s most populous country. The deal between the world governing body and Alisports will see Alibaba’s new sports division broadcast exclusive rugby content, create online rugby stores and invest in World Rugby’s grassroots programme. No financial terms were revealed for the deal unveiled yesterday at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament.
Basketball, NBA: The Golden State Warriors’ quest to become a big part of NBA history remains alive – barely. Golden State, seeking to become the first team in league history to win 73 games during the regular season, was nearly denied the opportunity by the slumping, injury- depleted Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis, which had lost 11 of its past 14, led most of the final quarter before falling to the Warriors 100-99 on Saturday.
Golf: Jordan Spieth withstood heavy winds and even stiffer challenges to remain atop the Masters leaderboard, and will take a one-shot lead into yesterday’s final round as he bids to complete a successful defence of his Green Jacket. The 22-year-old Texan has now held the outright lead for a record seven consecutive rounds and if he can hold on for one more day will join Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only men to claim back-to-back Masters wins. Spieth, who began the third round with a one-shot advantage, ended it in the same position after a wild afternoon at a windswept Augusta National, carding a one-over 73 that featured two double-bogeys on the back nine.
Tennis: Sloane Stephens reached her third WTA final of the year when top-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany retired in the second set of their semi-final at the Volvo Car Open in South Carolina on Saturday due to a viral illness. Seventh seed Stephens had dominated the match played in blustery conditions on the green clay in Charleston, leading 6-1 3-0 when Australian Open champion Kerber waved an end to the match.