Atlanta Open: Top seed John Isner has continued his love affair with the Atlanta Open by powering his way into the final for the fourth time in five years on Saturday. The American was due to meet Israeli Dudi Sela on the hardcourt in Atlanta, after dominating on serve to beat compatriot Jack Sock 7-5 6-4 in the semi-final. The defending champion dropped only two points on first serve to wear down Sock, who became increasingly frustrated as the match progressed in searing heat, at one stage arguing with the umpire after a line call was reversed on replay. “It was not easy conditions at all in the heat,” Isner said. “I thought I played pretty well. Jack is a really good player. I wanted to win that match.”
Boxing: Billy Joe Saunders’ dream of becoming the first traveller to win a world title proved to be alive and well as he despatched Emanuele Blandamura to win the vacant European middleweight title. At just 24 years of age the 2008 Olympian has already established himself as the country’s best at domestic level, owning the British title. Topping the bill in Manchester after the heavyweight match between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora was scrapped, he made another significant step up, stopping his Italian opponent in the eighth round to claim the respected continental belt and move himself a step closer to a world title crack.
Cricket: Under-fire captain Alastair Cook at last found his form but fell for 95 as he and century-maker Gary Ballance put England in control at the end of the first day of the third test against India yesterday. Ballance was unbeaten on 104, which included 15 fours, and beleaguered captain Cook silenced his critics for now with a battling innings as England reached an imposing 247-2 at the close. Ian Bell (16) and Ballance safely negotiated the new ball to ensure both will resume today.
Tennis: Ukrainian teenager Elina Svitolina retained her Baku Cup title by defeating another former champion, Bojana Jovanovski, in straight sets in yesterday’s final. Svitolina made a blistering start to the contest, wrapping up a 6-1 first-set triumph in just 22 minutes. Things were less straightforward for the 19-year-old second seed after that, though, as fifth-seeded Jovanovski, the 22-year-old Serbian who won the Azerbaijan tournament in 2012, battled back, with 12 straight holds leading the pair into a tie-breaker. But Svitolina soon took a firm grip on proceedings again from there as she shot into a 4-0 lead before clinching the tie-breaker 7-2.