Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as Liverpool continue their march towards the Premier League title, while Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys lifted the Australian Open title.
THE LIVERPOOL JUGGERNAUT MARCHES ON
The two Manchester sides found some belated form in the English Premier League, with City beating Chelsea 3-1 and United taking a 1-0 win away from Fulham, to move to fourth and, um, 12th in the table. respectively. Liverpool continued what looks like an unstoppable surge to the title with a 4-1 win over Ipswich, while Arsenal kept their challenge alive – Liverpool are six points ahead with a game in hand – with a 1-0 win at Wolves.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth made a 5-0 statement against Nottingham Forest, while Ange Postecoglou will be checking his phone every few minutes for a WhatsApp from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy after another shambolic 2-1 defeat to Leicester. While Liverpool and Arsenal are clear at the top, four points separate the next five clubs on the table in the chase for Europe next season.
SINNER A SAINT, BUT SABALENKA ISN’T
We spoke in our weekend lookahead about the true behaviour of some of the world’s top tennis players and almost on cue, step forward women’s world No1 Aryna Sabalenka. She smashed her racket and stormed off court after losing the Australian Open final to Madison Keys in three sets, the world No19 winning her first Grand Slam.
Sabalenka later apologised for her temper tantrum, but if that’s how she acts in front of the camera, well, I said enough in the lookahead blog. In the men’s final, Jannick Sinner confirmed his status with a 6-3 7-6 6-3 win over Alexander Zverez.
Afterwards, the German told him in front of the Melbourne crown: “You are the best player in the world by far. You are just too good.” Sinner’s next opponent may be tougher. The Court of Sports for Arbitration will rule about a possible ban for two failed doping tests.
Taking this trophy home for a second time feels absolutely unreal!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ To my team and all of you who’ve cheered me on from every corner of the world – thank you! Huge respect to @AlexZverev for an incredible match 🤝🏻🤝🏻🤝🏻🇦🇺 @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/uWwH0PRxxg
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) January 26, 2025
BULLS AND SHARKS TASTE URC SUCCESS
While the Hollywoodbets Sharks exposed the weakness of Welsh rugby, by leaving Cardiff with a 42-22 win, the Stormers by contrast were reminded how strong the sport is in Ireland when they slumped to a 36-12 defeat at Leinster.
The other two South African franchises involved in the United Rugby Championship, the Lions and Bulls, contested a home derby in Johannesburg, which the Bulls won 37-22.
The upshot after the resumption of this 16-team United Rugby Championship is that Leinster are a perfect 10 wins from 10 games at the top of the table, with the Bulls in third and the Sharks fourth. The Stormers are 12th and the Lions 13th, and are separated by two points, but the Joburg-based side have a game in hand.
BLITZBOKS FADE AFTER FAST START
Two matches into the latest Rugby Sevens stopover in Perth, the dream was on. The Blitzboks, so impressive in winning their home event in Cape Town, had beaten the USA and a resurgent hosts Australia on Friday.
Then came Saturday, and the rollercoaster ride started started. Despite defeat to Argentina (19-17), they dispatched of Fiji (19-0) to set up a Cup semi-final match with hosts Australia, who they’d beaten in the Pool stage. Sunday came and the ride got bumpier.
They lost in the semi-final stage as the hosts won 17-12 in extra time, which meant the Blitzboks would take on Spain for the bronze medal. The Spaniards won that 14-7, leaving South Africa in fourth. Argentina ran rampant (41-5) in a one-sided final.
Not the result we hoped for against Spain, but the #Blitzboks will regroup and come back stronger - more here: https://t.co/rsSnNhTnoQ 💪
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) January 26, 2025
A massive thank you to everyone who supported us this weekend. Next stop: Vancouver 🇿🇦#PoweredByUnity #HSBCSVNS #HSBCSVNSPER pic.twitter.com/HC2RIamZjm
FOURIE BRILLIANT AS EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN WINS
It was a typically difficult card for the punters on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met day, but the main race was won by the favourite, Eight On Eighteen which delighted those on the racecourse at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and watching elsewhere.
Eight On Eighteen, from the powerful Justin Snaith yard – he saddled six of the 12 runners – came through on the inside rail under a masterful ride by champion jockey Ricard Fourie, to beat Hollywoodbets July hero Oriental Charm and the gutsy Montien.
Fourie, who rode five favourite, only had the one winner but he will take it with a win on a horse heavily supported from 7-2 to 18-10. Less than two lengths covered the first seven horses home, but the result was good for the punters with the quartet (predict first four) only paying R1928.
Congratulations EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN! 🎱
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) January 25, 2025
The @SnaithRacing trainee bagged the big one in 🇿🇦, the Cape Town Met, under jockey Richard Fourie 👏pic.twitter.com/43yliuxReq
LERENA’S RED MIST WILL BE COSTLY
Star jockey Gavin Lerena faces an inquiry after an incident at Turffontein on Sunday when he appeared to repeatedly whip colleague Jason Gates on the back, while riding Gimme A Storm inside the final 200m of the race. The footage is damning and needs to be scrutinised.
Social media and online reaction was largely supportive of the likeable and popular Lerena in terms of forgiving him to act in the heat of the moment given the pressure of his job. I disagree. Every job has pressure. The racetrack is his work office. If you physically assaulted a colleague at work, what would the consequences be? As unfortunate as it is, the sanction must match the action.
Leading South African rider Gavin Lerena releases statement after forcibly striking fellow jockey with his whip during a race at Turffontein yesterday. @SAHorseracing pic.twitter.com/bqyH0U3Lov
— Bruce Clark (@snowyclark) January 26, 2025
QUICK REWIND, ICYMI …
Ten of the 16 Nedbank Cup round of 32 games were played and there were no big upsets, although Golden Arrows lost to fellow PSL club Chippa United 2-1, while Richard Bay fell to Pirates. All of Chiefs, Sundowns, Gallants, Baroka and Polokwane City also progressed …
South Africa’s netballers lost their series 3-0 to Jamaica in Kingston, with the three different matches showing a scoreboard symmetry – 59-47, 55-47 and 58-47 …
We’re into the final week of round-robin action in the Betway SA20 and heading into Monday the Paarl Royals top the table from MI Cape Town, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Joburg Super Kings, Pretoria Capitals and Durban’s Super Giants, who aren’t exactly living up to their name.
A round up of the Sunday #NedbankCup results. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/uXm5jvqnni
— Nedbank Sport (@nedbanksport) January 26, 2025
