Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 2 February 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start off with tennis: World number one Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam by earning his maiden Australian Open title. The 22-year-old Spaniard came from a set down to beat ten-time champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia and secure his seventh major title. Thirty-eight-year-old Djokovic was bidding for his 25th Grand Slam title. Alcaraz says chasing the calendar Grand Slam is a major challenge, but one that excites him:

# Rugby: Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says the lack of decision-making and clinical finishing were the biggest disappointments in their performance in the Singapore Sevens at the weekend. The Blitzboks lost to France in the semifinals and then to New Zealand in the third-place playoff to finish fourth. Snyman says there are several areas where they did not meet their usual high standards, which they will look to rectify in Perth:

# Netball: South Africa defeated England 65-50 in the third and final Test in Johannesburg to seal a hard-fought 2–1 series victory. After losing the first Test, the Roses levelled the series on Saturday with a 61-49 win to set up yesterday’s decider. The two countries are in the same six-team pool for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Proteas coach Jenny van Dyk says her players put on a clinical performance:

# Golf: South Africa’s MJ Viljoen claimed a dramatic playoff victory in the SDC Open at the Zebula Golf Estate in Limpopo. The 30-year-old birdied the 72nd hole to force a play-off with countryman Deon Germishuys, before birdieing the first extra hole to win his fourth Sunshine Tour title. South Africa’s Jean Hugo and Frenchman Maxence Giboudot shared third place. Viljoen was delighted he managed to get over the line:

# And cricket: Pakistan will play in the T20 World Cup after previously threatening a full boycott, but will not take on tournament co-hosts India in Colombo next Sunday. Political tensions have meant Pakistan and India have not faced each other outside the men’s major tournaments since 2013. Bangladesh has already withdrawn from the tournament, citing safety fears over travelling to India. The International Cricket Council says Pakistan’s position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event.

Stay tuned for more news………….