Article by: Obriel Maposa (Sports Editor)
Naomi Osaka crowned US Open Champion
Naomi Osaka won her 3rd Grand Slam as she beat Azarenka this past weekend. Osaka labelled as the future of Tennis won her second US Open title in three years with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory. The 22-year-old Japanese star, already the highest-earning female athlete in the world, adds another £2.3million in prize money to her fortune while she becomes the first Asian player to win three major titles, surpassing Chinese trailblazer Li Na. Naomi turned around the match in which Azarenka had played relentless tennis in the first set but then faded away. Naomi has also been one of the most vocal athletes in the world on the Racism conversation and Black Lives Matter movement. “I just thought it would be very embarrassing to lose in under an hour so I just have to try and stop having a really bad attitude.” Naomi Osaka on how she turned the final around
Sundowns complete domestic Treble
The Brazilians completed a domestic treble as they won the Nedbank Cup on Saturday. Sundowns faced Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium having already been crowned Telkom Knockout & Absa PSL Champions. Pitso’s man scored in the 80th minute to avoid going beyond 90mins in a match that was mostly a cagey affair on a Saturday night in Gauteng. Gaston Sirino’s goal ensured Sundowns are domestic treble winners after they recently secured the PSL in dramatic fashion on the last day of the league.
Premier League Returns
The English Premier League returned this past weekend much to the delight of football fans across the globe. The best league in the world returned with an early kick-off London Derby between Fulham and Arsenal which saw the Gunners punish Fulham 3 nil on their return to top flight football. The 2019/20 Champions Liverpool also faced newly promoted Leeds United in a 7-goal thriller which saw the Champions win 4-3. Elsewhere Crystal Palace won 1 nil against Southampton, Everton’s new stars triumphed over Spurs 1-0. The opening round of fixtures conclude on Monday with Chelsea facing Brighton and Wolves visit Sheffield United.
Hamilton win overshadowed by crushes at Tuscan
GP Lewis Hamilton won the Tuscan GP amid big crashes and red flags. The Brit extended his lead on the drivers’ standings with 55 points. Only 12 drivers finished and there were three race starts in all, with Max Verstappen and Italian GP winner Pierre Gasly crashing out on the first lap around the epic Mugello circuit, while a scary pile-up following the post-Safety Car restart led to four more retirements and the first red flag. Hamilton is closing in on yet another F1 record as he is just one win short of Schumacher’s all-time record of 91. The Mercedes driver also continues to lead the Black Lives Movement in motorsport. The F1 champion wore T-shirt both before and after Sunday’s race; “We have to continue to raise awareness with it,” says Hamilton amid continued powerful anti-racism push.