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Andreeva fights back to beat Potapova in Linz Open final  Top seed Mirra Andreeva overcame ​a first-set wobble to clinch her ‌second title of the year, ​beating local favourite ⁠Anastasia Potapova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to win the Linz Open on Sunday. ‌Russian Andreeva, who won the Adelaide International in ‌January, has now won ‌five ⁠WTA titles after breaking ⁠a claycourt title drought stretching back to 2024 ahead of next month’s ​French Open.Andreeva ‌made 14 unforced errors in the first set, twice as many as Potapova, who broke ‌Andreeva twice to build ​a 4-1 lead and secured the set when the ⁠world number 10’s forehand hit the net.But Andreeva, a former ‌French Open semifinalist, became more aggressive in the second set, getting two breaks in a row to go 3-2 up before sealing the ‌set with an ace.World number 97 ​Potapova, born in Russia and looking to win ⁠the Linz Open for the second ⁠time, continued to make unforced errors and 18-year-old ‌Andreeva served accurately to close out the win.Published on Apr 12, 2026  #Andreeva #fights #beat #Potapova #Linz #Open #final

Andreeva fights back to beat Potapova in Linz Open final

Top seed Mirra Andreeva overcame ​a first-set wobble to clinch her ‌second title of the year, ​beating local favourite ⁠Anastasia Potapova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to win the Linz Open on Sunday. ‌Russian Andreeva, who won the Adelaide International in ‌January, has now won ‌five ⁠WTA titles after breaking ⁠a claycourt title drought stretching back to 2024 ahead of next month’s ​French Open.

Andreeva ‌made 14 unforced errors in the first set, twice as many as Potapova, who broke ‌Andreeva twice to build ​a 4-1 lead and secured the set when the ⁠world number 10’s forehand hit the net.

But Andreeva, a former ‌French Open semifinalist, became more aggressive in the second set, getting two breaks in a row to go 3-2 up before sealing the ‌set with an ace.

World number 97 ​Potapova, born in Russia and looking to win ⁠the Linz Open for the second ⁠time, continued to make unforced errors and 18-year-old ‌Andreeva served accurately to close out the win.

Published on Apr 12, 2026

#Andreeva #fights #beat #Potapova #Linz #Open #final

Top seed Mirra Andreeva overcame ​a first-set wobble to clinch her ‌second title of the year, ​beating local favourite ⁠Anastasia Potapova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to win the Linz Open on Sunday. ‌Russian Andreeva, who won the Adelaide International in ‌January, has now won ‌five ⁠WTA titles after breaking ⁠a claycourt title drought stretching back to 2024 ahead of next month’s ​French Open.

Andreeva ‌made 14 unforced errors in the first set, twice as many as Potapova, who broke ‌Andreeva twice to build ​a 4-1 lead and secured the set when the ⁠world number 10’s forehand hit the net.

But Andreeva, a former ‌French Open semifinalist, became more aggressive in the second set, getting two breaks in a row to go 3-2 up before sealing the ‌set with an ace.

World number 97 ​Potapova, born in Russia and looking to win ⁠the Linz Open for the second ⁠time, continued to make unforced errors and 18-year-old ‌Andreeva served accurately to close out the win.

Published on Apr 12, 2026

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Why Scottie Scheffler Is the Play on Sunday at The Masters | Deadspin.com <div id="section-1"> <p>After a wonderful opening two days at The Masters, it felt like Rory McIlroy was going to run away with <a href="https://deadspin.com/an-all-time-masters-finish-from-all-time-great-rory-mcilroy/" target="_blank">a second green jacket</a>; however, it wouldn’t be Augusta without a little drama. Rory was far less consistent on Saturday, with two more squares on his score card than the first two days combined.</p><p>Just one day ago, McIlroy broke the record for the largest lead ever after 36 holes at Augusta, and in just 18 holes, he finds himself tied with Cam Young. Rory’s no stranger to weekend struggles at Augusta, as during the 2011 Masters, he blew a 4-shot lead heading into Sunday, throwing an 80 on his card, to finish all the way down in a tie for 15th.</p><p>I’m not here to languish in Rory’s previous struggles; I’m actually here to talk about the best golfer on the planet, Scottie Scheffler. Through Friday, Scottie sat at even par after a tough Friday round where he finished +2. But that’s the thing with Scheffler, no matter how far back he may feel, he always gives himself a chance on Sunday.</p><p>Scottie started the weekend with a bogey-free 65, flying up 17 spots, putting him in a tie for 7th. In 2024, Scottie pulled off a 4-stroke final round comeback to win the Olympics and a 5-stroke come-from-behind victory at The Players Championship. He’s no stranger to massive comebacks, and he was playing out of his mind on Saturday.</p><p>There are some great golfers <a href="https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2026/04/11/scottie-scheffler-2026-masters-augusta-national-major-third-round-leaderboard-moving-day" target="_blank">ahead of Scheffler</a>, but when you can find +1000 odds on the best player on the planet when he’s in striking distance on Sunday, I think you have to take it. If Scottie can come out fast on Sunday and immediately put pressure on the guys at the top of the leaderboard, I really think he can pull off the massive upset.</p><p>Entering Saturday, Rory was a -250 favorite, and now finds himself at a much smaller +135 favorite. On the other hand, Scottie went from 60/1 to 10/1 in a single day, so the oddsmakers are at least getting concerned about a surging Scheffler.</p><p>Before the tournament started this week, I wrote that it’s <a href="https://deadspin.com/masters-betting-picks-2026-best-value-bets-beyond-scottie-scheffler/" target="_blank">never a bad bet to take Scottie</a> when he’s playing. I never bet on a guy who opens at 5/1 to win a tournament, but now that he’s in striking distance and 10/1, I think it’s worth taking a shot.</p> </div> #Scottie #Scheffler #Play #Sunday #Masters #Deadspin.com

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How Curtis Blaydes vs Josh Hokit Exceeded All Expectations at UFC 327 | Deadspin.com <div id="section-1"> <p>Expectations were not high for the heavyweight matchup between Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit at UFC 327. There were multiple reasons for that. No one can deny, however, that the two put on a 15-minute performance that blew people away.</p><p>Blaydes vs. Hokit was not the matchup a lot of people were excited about entering UFC 327. </p><p>It felt like a fight that was solely designed for Hokit to get another victory and move him, lightning fast, up the ranks of a <a href="https://deadspin.com/the-ufc-heavyweight-division-is-broken--and-ufc-vegas-113-proved-it/" target="_blank">lackluster heavyweight scene</a> in the UFC.</p><h2 id="josh-hokit" class=" uppercase break-words">Josh Hokit</h2><p>Hokit’s MMA career is still fairly young. He was a standout wrestler at Fresno State; in 2018, he became the college’s first All-American in the sport since 2003. But Hokit chose the football life, having also served as a tight end and fullback at Fresno State. Hokit went undrafted in 2020 but signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately for Hokit, he spent 2020-22 solely on the practice squad or futures contracts with the 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals.</p><p>But then Hokit made his way to MMA. He scored a pair of finishes with Bellator in 2023 and 2024 before three straight first-round finishes with the LFA in 2025. That set him up for a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he scored a second-round stoppage over Guilherme Uriel. Hokit then fought at UFC Vegas 111 and UFC 324, scoring first-round finishes over Max Gimenis and Denzel Freeman, respectively.</p><p>Hokit, however, has been a very big magnet of controversy. He delivers cringe-style promos and characters in a way that makes you think he belongs in WWE more than UFC. He dropped the N-word at UFC 324. He has called Britney Griner and former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama men. The UFC 324 promo, in particular, was lambasted by several outlets, and even <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dana-white-denounces-josh-hokit-172957379.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANrdCvw8OURgRHdY3zM7yx204IFvWbXRG8YTHY3qllqw0NyyMKufBXNSPIWZ3bQaf1ug4PQj4-xUQSzmVPEH9tNGmBBOOUuEDebO7tBWuebFf7cO7kPXQgTwnVYTUNUBvDmLw47yXwl1r8gy0xQdKeLSj9wvYfLaa7oNvj1Bk-xf" target="_blank">UFC CEO and President Dana White couldn’t defend it.</a></p><p>But White also knows eye-drawing attention when he sees it, and it seems he sees that with Hokit.</p><h2 id="curtis-blaydes" class=" uppercase break-words">Curtis Blaydes</h2><p>Blaydes, however, has also been subjected to a lot of criticism. A lot of it has been centered around feelings that Blaydes hasn’t been the most exciting fighter to watch. Blaydes was an NJCAA national wrestling champion, and he uses that wrestling as his base in MMA. The result is one of those fighting styles that focuses on takedowns and control on the ground that you don’t mind if you appreciate wrestling and grappling, or that you absolutely hate if you want to see heavyweights stand and bang.</p><p>White has also been a previous critic of Bladyes’ fight style and attitude.</p><p>Blaydes has also not performed in some of his bigger opportunities, from his KO loss to Derrick Lewis in 2021, to getting stopped by Sergei Pavlovich in 2023, and getting quickly finished by Tom Aspinall in their interim title fight in 2024. It’s given him a lot of “low Fight IQ” and “glass jaw” tags.</p><h2 id="the-fight" class=" uppercase break-words">The Fight</h2><p>The majority opinion was Hokit vs. Blaydes would go one of two ways: Hokit would finish Blaydes quickly or Blaydes would out-wrestle Hokit in a 15-minute snoozefest.</p><p>Instead, for 15 minutes, these two went <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/watch/mma/video/josh-hokit-defeats-curtis-blaydes-via-unanimous-decision" target="_blank">toe-for-toe and shot-for-shot</a>. It got sloppy at times, it wasn’t the neatest fight, but, my goodness, was it a back-and-forth brawl that was fun to watch.</p><p>Hokit looked like he’d get Blaydes out of there quickly. Then Blaydes finally was able to wrestle, and he started to trouble Hokit against the fence. Each man wobbled the other to points where it looked like the fight would get stopped, but it kept going. Each man looked like at one point or another they’d gas out, but both kept going.</p><p>Hokit got his hand raised in the end, but it was the kind of fight heavyweight has been needing.</p><p>With a murky championship picture and a slew of boring, losing, or undeserved fighters throughout the division, even in the rankings, Hokit and Blaydes put on a performance that is to be remembered. Depending how the rest of 2026 plays out, it might even be Fight of the Year.</p><p>White still doesn’t like Hokit’s persona, but no one can deny Hokit has earned his stripes. He even got booked against Lewis for the White House card because of this night!</p><p>Hats off to Hokit and Blaydes. Thanks for reminding us what heavyweight MMA can be.</p> </div> #Curtis #Blaydes #Josh #Hokit #Exceeded #Expectations #UFC #Deadspin.com

#Miami #Grand #Prix #Forecasted #weather #forces #earlier #start">Miami Grand Prix: Forecasted weather forces earlier start  Weather forecasts have forced an earlier start to Sunday’s Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.All week long, the incoming weather for Sunday was a major focus of discussion. With forecasts calling for thunderstorms and heavy rain late on Sunday afternoon, coinciding with the scheduled start time for the Miami Grand Prix, F1 officials and even the drivers themselves wondering if the schedule would be altered.This evening, that decision was made by race officials.In a statement released Saturday night, following the qualifying session, the start time for the Miami Grand Prix was pushed up three hours, to 1:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The statement cites the forecasts of “heavier rainstorms” close to the original start time, and notes that the decision was made to “ensure the maximum possible window to complete the Grand Prix in the best conditions and to [prioritize] the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff:”Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the current Drivers’ Championship leader, secured pole position for Sunday’s race. Four-time Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen will start alongside him on the front row.  #Miami #Grand #Prix #Forecasted #weather #forces #earlier #start

There was relief for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe in a week ​in which he met chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to discuss the ‌club’s future plans as it defeated Brighton & ​Hove Albion 3-1 in the Premier League ⁠at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The victory ends a run of five straight defeats in all competitions for Newcastle ‌and will ease the pressure on Howe, at the same time catapulting the side back ‌into the equation for European football next ‌season.

Goals ⁠from William Osula, Dan Burn against his ⁠former side and Harvey Barnes sealed three points against an in-form Brighton team that had won six and drawn one of ​its previous eight Premier ‌League fixtures.

Newcastle rode its luck at times with uncertain goalkeeping from Nick Pope and several misses from Brighton, not least Yankuba Minteh, who blazed over ‌from a few metres out at the ​back post with the score at 2-1.

READ | Brentford batters relegation-threatened West Ham United to boost Europe hopes

“It felt very good, in the changing room ⁠before the game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points ‌are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said.

“It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done, we deserve the win. They had a lot of chances. In the first half we ‌were better but second half they were better. I am ​glad we could keep three points.”

Newcastle climbs to 13th place with 45 points from 35 ⁠games, now five points behind seventh-placed Brighton.

“We are looking ⁠up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the ‌next three games,” Guimaraes said.

Newcastle travels to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, and has a home game ​against West Ham United remaining this season.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Premier #League #Relief #Howe #Newcastle #ends #losing #run #home #win #Brighton">Premier League 2025-26: Relief for Howe as Newcastle ends losing run with home win over Brighton  There was relief for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe in a week ​in which he met chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to discuss the ‌club’s future plans as it defeated Brighton & ​Hove Albion 3-1 in the Premier League ⁠at St James’ Park on Saturday.The victory ends a run of five straight defeats in all competitions for Newcastle ‌and will ease the pressure on Howe, at the same time catapulting the side back ‌into the equation for European football next ‌season.Goals ⁠from William Osula, Dan Burn against his ⁠former side and Harvey Barnes sealed three points against an in-form Brighton team that had won six and drawn one of ​its previous eight Premier ‌League fixtures.Newcastle rode its luck at times with uncertain goalkeeping from Nick Pope and several misses from Brighton, not least Yankuba Minteh, who blazed over ‌from a few metres out at the ​back post with the score at 2-1.READ | Brentford batters relegation-threatened West Ham United to boost Europe hopes“It felt very good, in the changing room ⁠before the game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points ‌are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said.“It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done, we deserve the win. They had a lot of chances. In the first half we ‌were better but second half they were better. I am ​glad we could keep three points.”Newcastle climbs to 13th place with 45 points from 35 ⁠games, now five points behind seventh-placed Brighton.“We are looking ⁠up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the ‌next three games,” Guimaraes said.Newcastle travels to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, and has a home game ​against West Ham United remaining this season.Published on May 02, 2026  #Premier #League #Relief #Howe #Newcastle #ends #losing #run #home #win #Brighton

Brentford batters relegation-threatened West Ham United to boost Europe hopes

“It felt very good, in the changing room ⁠before the game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points ‌are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said.

“It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done, we deserve the win. They had a lot of chances. In the first half we ‌were better but second half they were better. I am ​glad we could keep three points.”

Newcastle climbs to 13th place with 45 points from 35 ⁠games, now five points behind seventh-placed Brighton.

“We are looking ⁠up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the ‌next three games,” Guimaraes said.

Newcastle travels to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, and has a home game ​against West Ham United remaining this season.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Premier #League #Relief #Howe #Newcastle #ends #losing #run #home #win #Brighton">Premier League 2025-26: Relief for Howe as Newcastle ends losing run with home win over Brighton

There was relief for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe in a week ​in which he met chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to discuss the ‌club’s future plans as it defeated Brighton & ​Hove Albion 3-1 in the Premier League ⁠at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The victory ends a run of five straight defeats in all competitions for Newcastle ‌and will ease the pressure on Howe, at the same time catapulting the side back ‌into the equation for European football next ‌season.

Goals ⁠from William Osula, Dan Burn against his ⁠former side and Harvey Barnes sealed three points against an in-form Brighton team that had won six and drawn one of ​its previous eight Premier ‌League fixtures.

Newcastle rode its luck at times with uncertain goalkeeping from Nick Pope and several misses from Brighton, not least Yankuba Minteh, who blazed over ‌from a few metres out at the ​back post with the score at 2-1.

READ | Brentford batters relegation-threatened West Ham United to boost Europe hopes

“It felt very good, in the changing room ⁠before the game we knew today was important for us, chasing European football for next season. The points ‌are crucial, we keep dreaming and believing,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said.

“It was a tough game, Brighton are a good team. Today for everything we have done, we deserve the win. They had a lot of chances. In the first half we ‌were better but second half they were better. I am ​glad we could keep three points.”

Newcastle climbs to 13th place with 45 points from 35 ⁠games, now five points behind seventh-placed Brighton.

“We are looking ⁠up not down. We can still play European football next season, we must win the ‌next three games,” Guimaraes said.

Newcastle travels to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, and has a home game ​against West Ham United remaining this season.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Premier #League #Relief #Howe #Newcastle #ends #losing #run #home #win #Brighton

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