Aussie teen Myers smashes under-20 national record
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Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Hojgaard starts well at Belfry in Ryder Cup push
Rasmus Hojgaard has fired a three-under 69 in the first round of the British Masters, the Danish ace making a promising start to clinch an automatic place on Europe's team for the Ryder Cup. Hojgaard needs to finish in a two-way tie for 29th or better in the tournament being held at The Belfry to earn enough points to overtake Shane Lowry, who is clinging onto sixth place in the list of automatic qualifiers. Hojgaard is currently in a tie with five other players — including his twin brother, Nicolai — for 12th place, three shots off the lead shared by Marcel Siem, Li Haotong, Matthias Schwab and Thomas Aiken. The top six get into the European team automatically. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton are already guaranteed to be at next month's matches at Bethpage Black in New York, but Lowry isn't competing at The Belfry. Luke Donald will announce his six captain's picks to complete the 12-man team on September 1. One of those is expected to be Matt Fitzpatrick, who sat one shot off the lead on Thursday after seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 67. Among the Australian contingent at The Belfry, David Micheluzzi and Elvis Smylie led the way after one-under 71s, putting them in joint-22nd position. Jason Scrivener and Danny List were a shot further back on level par.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Really blessed': World Cup joy for new Wallaroos skip
Wallaroos stalwart Kaitlan Leaney feared the worst when she missed a text and a phone call for team coach Jo Yapp - but was soon left celebrating the "crazy" news that she's been chosen to lead Australia into battle at the Women's Rugby World Cup this weekend. At the last women's showpiece tournament three years ago, lock Leaney was proud to be part of the squad in New Zealand but never managed to battle her way into any of the starting squads. But this week, on the team's day off in Manchester before Saturday's tournament opener against Samoa, the 24-year-old, initially a bit concerned, was soon elated to be told she'll be the new co-captain alongside experienced flanker Emily Chancellor at the Salford Community Stadium. "It's pretty cool," admitted the forward from Coffs Harbour who'll become the 20th Wallaroos captain. "I actually had a missed call from Jo and then I had a text when I was out for coffee with a friend, and I was like, 'oh, crap, what's this about? Better give her a call back!' I didn't really know what to expect. "Then Jo told me she'd spoken to Chance and thought that it would be a good opportunity for me to learn off her and have this co-captaincy together. "It's crazy. This experience is a lot different to my first World Cup. I didn't play a game, so now having the captaincy next to my name, it's something I don't take for granted." That experience of missing out on playing in 2022 really was a spur. "It definitely motivated me to put my best foot forward and do whatever I can and leave no stone unturned and hopefully be in a jersey for the World Cup," said Leaney. "I'm blessed just to be here representing my country, let alone being able to lead." She's determined to help propel what shapes as potentially the strongest Australian women's team yet to play at a World Cup to a dominant start against Samoa, a match they're expected to win, before the key group matches against hosts and favourites England and then the United States. "Samoa is a very physical side, they want to play fast, they have that off-load game similar to New Zealand's," she said. "So we're definitely going to have to front up in the physicality aspect and look to play fast and be really connected in attack and defence." Yapp was quick to salute the new co-skipper. "She's been part of the leadership group for a while and with 'Pes' (Siokapesi Palu) still out injured, this was just the opportunity to make sure that we've got that leadership on the field all the time. "She's been outstanding as a leader on and off the field. She's got experience from playing overseas, and she leads the lineout really well alongside Mac [Leonard]. Seeing that growth in her on and off the field has been really impressive."
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Demon to play Aussie, Ajla lands Coco in US Open draw
Alex de Minaur doesn't enjoy facing fellow Australians in tournaments but the nation's big US Open hope will have to down fellow Sydneysider Chris O'Connell as he launches his latest quest for glory at Flushing Meadows. Yet while Thursday's brutal draw in New York did no favours for the 13-strong Australian contingent in the tournament that starts on Sunday, Ajla Tomljanovic will surely savour the prospect of another big night date on Arthur Ashe Stadium against home superstar and former champ Coco Gauff. De Minaur admits playing Australian friends is never fun, and out of 88 grand slam matches, he's only had to do so twice - both last year when he beat Jordan Thompson at the US Open a couple of months after defeating James Duckworth at Wimbledon. Both matches proved hard going and even though 'Demon' will again start overwhelming favourite against O'Connell, who had to withdraw from their recent Canadian Open clash with an abdominal injury, the No.8 seed will have full respect for the world No.79 who'd just beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas in Toronto. De Minaur's prospective route is full of pitfalls. He could meet Frenchman Hugo Gaston, who defeated him in the 2022 French Open and leads 2-0 in their head-to-head, in round two. Then it could be Tsitsipas, who holds an incredible 11-1 career advantage over him, in the third round, before a last-16 date with in-form ninth seed Karen Khachanov. If he fulfils his seeding, a quarter-final with Alexander Zverev could await and a potential semi-final with his nemesis, champion Jannik Sinner. Sinner, who opens up against Czech Vit Kopriva, could also be a horror second-round opponent for Australian No.2 Alexei Popyrin, who faces tough Finn Emil Ruusuvuori in round one. Alternatively, Popyrin may feel playing Sinner early is his best chance following the Italian's illness withdrawal during Monday's Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz. Other Aussie men on a hiding to nothing are Adam Walton, who's drawn flamboyant French left-hander, No.22 seed Ugo Humbert, and Rinky Hijikata, up against No.32 seed, Italian Luciano Darderi. On the other side of the draw, Alcaraz has a daunting outing against giant American Reilly Opelka while Novak Djokovic, still dreaming of that elusive record 25th slam, tackles Learner Tien, the teenage US left-hander who knocked out Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne. Tomljanovic looks sure to be playing on the main arena again against 2023 champion and French Open winner Gauff, the No.3 seed, just three years since the Aussie enjoyed her signature career triumph over Serena Williams, consigning the great American to defeat on Ashe in her last ever match. Kim Birrell faces another US contender, Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova, with the winner set to face Maya Joint should the rising Australian teenage star get past a yet-to-be-decided qualifier. Daria Kasatkina, the No.15 seed representing Australia for the first time in her 11th straight US Open, should prevail against Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse, but Caroline Garcia, in the second round, and Naomi Osaka, in the third, potentially lie in wait. Defending champ and No.1 seed Aryna Sabalenka will begin against Swiss Rebeka Masarova, while Wimbledon champ, No.2 seed Iga Swiatek, fresh from winning in Cincinnati, starts against Colombia's Emiliana Arango. Venus Williams is back at the age of 45 but faces an uphill task against No.11 seed Karolina Muchova, who's reached the semis the past two years. WHO THE AUSTRALIANS WILL FACE IN THE FRENCH OPEN (Prefix denotes seeding) WOMEN 15 Daria Kasatkina v Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROM) Kim Birrell v 8 Amanda Anisimova (USA) Ajla Tomljanovic v 3 Coco Gauff (USA) Maya Joint v Qualifier Talia Gibson v 28 Magdalena Frech (POL) MEN 8 Alex de Minaur v Chris O'Connell Alexei Popyrin v Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) Jordan Thompson v Corentin Moutet (FRA) Rinky Hijikata v 32 Luciano Darderi (ITA) Aleksandar Vukic v Jenson Brooksby (USA) Adam Walton v 22 Ugo Humbert (FRA) Tristan Schoolkate v Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
