Sports thread: Everything sport related here.

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
Full story in the posted link with FOUR-TEEN photos

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning the women's singles quarterfinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

ROME, May 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Zheng Qinwen claimed a straight-sets victory over top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the WTA Italian Open on Wednesday, reaching the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the third time in her career.

The two players had met six times previously, with Sabalenka winning on each occasion. This match marked their first encounter on clay.

In the opening set, both players held serve through the first three games, with Sabalenka leading 2-1. In the fourth game, Zheng saved two break points to hold, and then won four consecutive points in the fifth game to score a crucial break. Over the next four games, both players held serve, leaving Zheng ahead 5-4. In the 10th game, Zheng fired down two aces and took the set 6-4.

In the second set, Zheng carried her momentum forward, breaking serve in the first game and then reeling off four straight points to take the second game. The following four games saw both players hold, with Zheng maintaining a 4-2 lead. Sabalenka saved four break points in the seventh game to narrow the gap, but Zheng stayed strong, holding serve and then breaking again to close out the match 6-3, reaching the semifinals in Rome for the first time.

"Finally, I broke through! I've always known I have the ability to beat anyone, and I'm really happy that I truly did it today," said Zheng after the match.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women's singles quarterfinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Aryna Sabalenka serves during the women's singles quarterfinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women's singles quarterfinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning the women's singles quarterfinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Zheng Qinwen (R) shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka after the women's singles quarterfinal match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Hu Jinqiu (C) of Zhejiang Lions celebrates with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Wang Bo (front L), head coach of Zhejiang Lions, celebrates with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) -- After defeating the Beijing Ducks 125-118 in Game 6 to win the best-of-seven finals 4-2 on Tuesday, the Zhejiang Lions claimed their first-ever Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title in the club's 20-year history.

At the Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing came back home after a thrilling victory in Game 5 and tried to force the series to tie-breaker. The home team started the game with high intensity of defense with neck-to-neck contention.

In a collision for rebound, Zhejiang's star Hu Jinqiu, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2024-2025 CBA regular season, fell down and even vomited on the court. As Hu left for the locker room, Beijing took an upper hand to finish the first quarter 36-29.

Before Hu returned to the game in the second quarter, James Nunnally of Zhejiang stood out from the bench to provide extra energy in addition to his teammate Barry Brown, helping the away team lead 69-57 ahead of the halftime.

Full game story in the posted link above

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Players of Zhejiang Lions celebrate after the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Sun Minghui (L) of Zhejiang Lions celebrates with teammate Hu Jinqiu after claiming the champion of 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Barry Brown (C) of Zhejiang Lions celebrates after the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Barry Brown (R) of Zhejiang Lions dribbles the ball during the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Barry Brown (C) of Zhejiang Lions goes for a lay-up during the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Zachary Nutall (R) of Beijing Ducks defends Barry Brown of Zhejiang Lions during the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)
 
Top