https://youtu.be/wUQaD6BsAQM

BACK TO FIVB Beach volleyball HEIDRICH & VERGE-DEPRE CLAIM FIRST WORLD TOUR GOLD AS TEAM PHOTO Joana Heidrich & Anouk Verge-Depre rejoice with the victory after the final Moscow, Russia, August 18, 2019 – Joana Heidrich & Anouk Verge-Depre are the new champions of the Moscow four-star event on the 2019 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. The 15th-seeded Swiss pair won the women’s final at the Luzhniki centre court to claim the gold, their first on the Tour as a pair so far. The 2016 Olympians also have two World Tour silver medals to their name. This was also Switzerland’s first women’s gold from such a high-level tournament since 2016. Heidrich also received an individual award for tournament’s best server. 17th-seeded Brazilians Taiana Lima & Talita Da Rocha Antunes had to settle for the silver, their first World Tour medal since they reunited for the 2019 season. They also won five gold, two silver and one bronze podium finishes in their first period together, 2013-2014. Interestingly, the team’s last medal was earned at the 2014 Moscow Grand Slam. Taiana Lina was honoured as the best defender of the tournament. The bronze medal went to 10th-seeded Americans Brooke Sweat & Kerri Walsh Jennings. This is the third bronze and overall fifth World Tour medal for them since three-time Olympic champion and four-time Olympic medallist Walsh and 2016 Olympian Sweat teamed up last October. Kerri Walsh received two individual awards in Moscow – for best blocker and for fair play. PHOTO The women’s podium at Moscow The first set of the gold medal match offered a fierce battle for every point. Heidrich & Verge-Depre were the first the open up a three-point gap at 16-13, but Taiana Lima & Talita fought back to level it at 18-18. The Swiss reacted with three in a row as Heidrich slammed the ball to close the set at 21-18. The Brazilians stormed into the second set on a 5-1 run. Heidrich & Verge-Depre stepped up their efforts trying to wipe out the deficit, but all they could do is get back within one point for a moment. The South American players stayed focused and built nicely to a 21-16 win to level the match. The deciding set started better for Taiana Lima & Talita, but the European duo quickly came back not only to catch up on the scoreboard, but also to establish total control on the court throughout the second half of the set and cruise to a 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-8) triumph. “It was a long week, we played a lot of games and we didn’t feel really fresh, but we were so happy to play in this final and we wanted to give everything we have. I think we did that. They played great too, but in the end we played a little bit better,” commented Joana Heidrich. “We just kept saying we need to stay calm, stay focused on the game and put any drop of energy that we still have into every single point. We kept believing and I think that was the key,” Anouk Verge-Depre added. “I just want to say ‘thank you’ to all the people who work with us. I think it’s very important. We had a rough start of the season, but there are a lot of people behind us, who are giving everything to make this possible.” In the first set of the bronze medal match, the lead swung back and forth. First, Sweat & Walsh Jennings ran off with a four-point advantage, then their opponents, 14th-seeded Germans Karla Borger & Julia Sude, caught up and went two ahead. In turn, the Americans regained control with a two-point lead before the Germans levelled it back at 19-19 to prompt an exciting ending. The two teams kept denying each other’s set points until Sude hammered the ball for a 26-24 close. Sweat & Walsh Jennings broke away with an 8-4 lead in the second set. Borger & Sude tried fighting back, but to no avail, as the Americans kept pace towards a 21-18 win. In the tie-breaker, Sweat & Walsh Jennings scored five in a row to turn a two-point deficit to an 8-5 advantage and never looked back – 2-1 (24-26, 21-18, 15-10). “It was an important victory for us,” said Walsh after the match. “We’ve played Karla and Julia three times this year and we’ve been successful all three now. We knew they were going to change something and come out aggressively, because we all want to go to Tokyo. For us it was important to finish third so we can pull away from the other Americans and we feel proud to have beat such a good team.” FOR VIDEO CONTINUE ON https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/heidrich--verge-depre-claim-first-world-tour?id=88078

VIDEO BEACH VOLLEY SAMOILOVS & SMEDINS DEFEND MOSCOW TITLE PHOTO Aleksandrs Samoilovs & Janis Smedins triumph as Moscow champions again Moscow, Russia, August 18, 2019 – Aleksandrs Samoilovs & Janis Smedins defended their 2018 title of the Moscow four-star event on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. In the 2019 men’s final, the 18th-seeded Latvians once again defeated reigning Olympic champion Alison Cerutti, this time with his current partner Alvaro Morais Filho. Three-time Olympian Samoilovs and Olympic bronze medallist and two-time Olympian Smedins already have 12 gold (also including one from the 2013 Moscow Grand Slam), five silver and six bronze medals together on the World Tour. Second-seeded Brazilians Alison & Alvaro Filho settled for silver to improve their Tour record to two gold and two silver medals since they teamed up in April. Reigning Olympic champion and two-time Olympic medallist Alison won Moscow gold in 2011 and 2012 with Emanuel Rego, 2016 Moscow silver with Bruno Schmidt and 2018 Moscow silver with Andre Loyola Stein, while Alvaro Filho got 2013 Moscow bronze alongside Ricardo, which means that one or the other of this current tandem has been on the podium at six of the last nine FIVB events in the Russian capital. Without having to get out on the court on Sunday, sixth-seeded Germans Julius Thole & Clemens Wickler claimed the bronze. Their opponents, Brazil’s Gustavo Albrecht Carvalhaes & Saymon Barbosa Santos, forfeited the third place game because of Saymon’s shoulder injury. For the German pair, silver medallists from this summer’s World Championship in Hamburg, this is the second bronze medal on the World Tour. They also have one World Tour silver to their names. PHOTO The men’s podium at Moscow In what was to a great extend a remake of last year’s Moscow final, a couple of monster blocks gave Samoilovs & Smedins the break points they needed to take an early lead in the first set of the gold medal match. Towards the second half of the set, the Latvians pushed further to completely dominate on the court on the way to a 21-12 landslide. They continued their fantastic performance into the second set and quickly ran off with a 5-1 advantage. This time, Alison & Alvaro Filho did not give up so early and kept fighting for recovery, but Samoilovs & Smedins were unstoppable. They kept the pressure on and Samoilovs hammered the team’s last two points to shape up the 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) victory. “We’re feeling great! We finally won our first medal this season and it’s gold! It feels great! We really need these points towards Olympic qualification, but we also needed this for us. When you work hard at practice all winter every day three times a day and then you lose all the time, your confidence is going down and you forget how winning feels. Thanks to our manager and to our families, who really believe in us and push us forward! We still believe in our team! At this tournament we had some pretty good matches. The semifinal three-setter last night was the craziest one... That kind of games for sure give you confidence and we felt comfortable on the court today,” the Moscow champions commented after the awarding ceremony. “I also want to thank the Norwegians, Mol & Sorum, for not coming to this tournament, so we got a chance to get the gold,” Samoilovs finished with a joke. “It was a good final, but not for us. Latvia played really well. But we are very happy because we see evolution in our team. The team is getting better each tournament. This was our second final and our fourth final four in a row on the World Tour. We just want to say ‘thank you’ to Russia and to everybody who came here to support us,” Alison & Alvaro Filho said. “Now we are feeling very good. We didn’t win this ourselves since Saymon & Guto had to withdraw from the last game. We would prefer to have played this game, but anyway now we are happy with the bronze medal,” Germans Thole & Wickler pointed out. “Moscow was really good for us – a fifth (at last week’s European Championship) and a third place – and we can be really proud. Most of the time we played on a pretty high level and reaching the semis and winning bronze in the end feels really good. It is only our fourth medal on the World Tour. We are young at the game and we are hungry for more...” Continue on https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/samoilovs--smedins-defend-moscow-title?id=88079

2019 - CINCINNATI - UNITED STATES, OH Keys coronated in Cincy, returns to Top 10: 'I played some of my best tennis this week' Madison Keys, Cincinnati 2019 (Getty) No.16 seed Madison Keys rallied from deficits in both sets to claim the biggest title of her career to date at the Western & Southern Open. CINCINNATI, OH, USA - Madison Keys rallied from deficits in both sets to seal her second title of the season at the Western & Southern Open by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-5, 7-6(5). The No.16 seed trailed the two-time major champion 5-3 in both sets, but erased both deficits to ultimately hoist her first title in Ohio and second trophy of 2019, joining the title at the Volvo Car Open from April. "I think I just really focused in on obviously really important games and was able to make her play a lot of balls. Luckily, I figured out a way to level up the scoreline," Keys said after the match. "I think I served really well today, especially in certain pockets. I think when I was doing a good job at moving forward and kind of trying to neutralize some of her deep, heavy, spinny shots, I was able to get out in front in the point and play a little bit more offense. "It's obviously the biggest title I have ever won, and, I mean, it was a tough draw from the very start. I played some really, really great players from Round 1 until today. I definitely think I played some of my best tennis consistently this week." For video continue on https://www.wtatennis.com/news/keys-coronated-cincy-returns-top-10-i-played-some-my-best-tennis-week

WTA tournament in New York: Darmstadt defeated Zhang Shuai Opening victory for Petkovic - Siegemund waits and loses 11 HOURS AGO Andrea Petkovic started with a clear victory in the tennis tournament in New York. The Darmstadt defeated the Chinese Zhang Shuai after 84-minute season with 6: 3, 6: 4. Laura Siegemund lost. PHOTO Andrea Petkovic Caught a good start to the tournament: Andrea Petkovic. imago images Fed Cup player Andrea Petkovic (Darmstadt) has reached the round of 16 at the WTA tournament in New York. The 31-year-old won at the dress rehearsal for the US Open from next week her kick-off match against the Chinese Zhang Shuai 6: 3, 6: 4. In the round of 16, the number 89 in the world rankings will now face Italian Camilla Giorgi, who defeated Russian Margarita Gasparjan 6: 3, 6: 2. The final round of preparations for the US Open, which begins on August 26 and runs until September 8, is endowed with $ 250,000. Laura Siegemund, meanwhile, got out of rhythm following a 6: 3 in the first set and lost the second round 0: 6 to opponent Mihaela Buzarnescu (Romania). The match had to be interrupted before the decision due to rain. After the long delay, it continued - with the next and decisive sentence loss of the Germans. Despite a power increase after a rain break before the decision set, she could not prevent the off. With 6: 3, 0: 6 and 4: 6 Siegemund had to give up. Continue on https://www.kicker.de/755879/artikel/auftaktsieg_fuer_petkovic_siegemund_wartet_und_verliert/tennis

Barca's last bid for Neymar, Luka Jovic waiting for the outcome? AUTHOR: VLADIMIR STOJANOVIĆ SOURCE: SPORTSKE.NET PHOTO Barça will try again, but it is hard to believe that PSG will agree. And then Florentino Perez takes the stage ... Barca's last bid for Neymar, Luka Jovic waiting for the outcome? Photo: EPA-EFE / IAN LANGSDON Barcelona has no money. According to sources close to the club, they spent 250 million on Grizman, De Jong, Net and Junior Firm; earned about 125 million euros. The money they would have to invest in Neymar is too big, especially since it is a question of what they can offer from the players. Namely, Rakitic is not interested, as well as Dembele who was injured, Umtiti was mentioned, but at least EUR 100 million is needed in cash for PSG to have money to replace. Barsa's offer is clear, a loan with a mandatory buyout next summer. PSG don't seem to agree, waiting for Real, who has the money but also a couple of players he wants to get rid of, like James Rodriguez and Isco. If Neymar arrives, the question is whether Jovic will stay, in which case he could really borrow, Milan appeared looking for Jovic or Marijan Diaz. Zidan intends to sell Marijan, but if he can't guarantee minutes to Jovic, the Serb is too valuable a boost to sit on the bench all season. We will see what will happen, it is only clear Real is waiting for Barca to be fired in order to complete the deadline in grand style. Continue on https://www.sportske.net/vest/transferi/barsina-poslednja-ponuda-za-nejmara-ishod-ceka-i-luka-jovic-385051.html

John McEnroe has made the top tennis player of all time. Who is the "Viking god" and "the biggest nightmare" of Radu Stroe World tennis legend John McEnroe (60) has made a ranking of the best tennis players of all time. John McEnroe made the top of the best players in the world, saying, according to Tennis World: "I'll answer with the top four: Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Novak Djokovic would be number five, but he stands up. In the top ten I would insist that Lew Hoad, who was the strongest of all, when in shape. And then there would be Bjorn Borg. At first, I envied him. He looked like a Viking god. He managed to beat me in that awesome Wimbledon final, 1980. Then we started spending time together and became friends . " McEnroe started by praising Roger Federer, who said: " Federer is the most complete player. When it is ambitious, no one can reach it, because it succeeds in winning shots from any angle. He invented tennis. " The winner of seven Grand Slam trophies also spoke about Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic: "The biggest nightmare for me, if I were an active player, would be to face Rafael Nadal at a time when he was at the height of his career. Also, Novak Djokovic is constantly improving his game ”. McEnroe will be the commentator and party analyst at the US Open. Continue on https://m.prosport.ro/alte-sporturi/tenis/john-mcenroe-a-realizat-topul-celor-mai-buni-tenismeni-din-toate-timpurile-cine-e-zeul-viking-si-cel-mai-mare-cosmar-18295295

Alarming situation for Eugenie Bouchard: For months he has not won a victory Photo: Instagram / Genie Bouchard Eugenie Bouchard is in an alarming situation, being in a deep crisis. The Canadian player has not won any matches in the last half year. The last victory dates from February, from the tournament in Dubai, when he defeated Vera Lapko in the first round. Since then, an incredible series of 11 defeats in a row has followed. This series was started by Simon Halep in Dubai and was continued by Kristen Flipkens, Nao Hibino, Lesia Tsurenko, Fiona Ferro, Tamara Zidansek, Tamara Korpatsch, Lauren Davis, Bianca Andreescu, Timea Babos and Kaia Kanepi. Based on these results, the Canadian player ranked 119th in the WTA standings. In 2014, Bouchard ranked 7th in the world and was considered the future star of women's tennis. Continue on http://m.ziare.com/tenis/situatie-alarmanta-pentru-eugenie-bouchard-de-cate-luni-nu-a-mai-obtinut-o-victorie-1574114