In this week's newsletter, Scotty discusses the US Open and America's Cup kicking off this week, the officiating shambles that took the spotlight off a subpar Warriors side, and Shane van Gisbergen's promotion to full-time NASCAR driver.
Sinner no saint at Flushing Meadows
The US Open begins this week and World number one Jannik Sinner will likely face a hostile New York crowd in the first round (Wednesday NZT on TVNZ+) when he takes on American Mackenzie McDonald.
Sinner, who last week was fined US$325,000 (NZ$521,209) for twice testing positive for the banned substance Clostebol, was cleared of any personal wrongdoing after tennis' integrity unit accepted the substance had entered his body without his knowledge.
Sinner’s legal team claimed the substance was found in a spray used by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, to treat a cut on his hand. In the process of massaging the tennis star, the substance had entered the body through "lesions on the skin".
The spray had been given to Naldi by Sinner’s trainer, Umberto Ferrara. Both men have now been sacked by Sinner.
There are lingering questions, not only about the alibi offered by Sinner's team, and the willingness of the International Tennis Integrity Agency to accept it, but the urgency with which the matter was dealt with, which sits in stark contrast to other cases concerning less high-profile players.
Tennis is a sport that needs super star rivalries at the top of its food chain. For so long the men's game has been dominated by the big three – Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – with a decent support cast to fill production. Now it feels as if there is a desperation to manufacture the next generation of top dogs. Sinner is one under consideration for the role.
Does that make him a protected species?
As the action gets underway at Flushing Meadows, the spotlight should be pointed on tennis' governing body as much as the blue court of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Lulu Sun has fallen short of a first WTA title in Mexico, defeated by Czech teen Linda Noskova in the final. Sun is set to climb into the Top 50 for the first time after the result. Her first match at the US Open, against Italian Lucia Bronzetti, will screen on Tuesday morning.
Catch all the action from the US Open LIVE and FREE on TVNZ+
Officiating shambles takes heat off sub-par Warriors
It was an emotional night at the re-named Shaun Johnson Stadium on Friday. The Warriors' last home game of the troubling on-field season was trucking plenty of sentimental freight for Johnson, who announced his decision to hang up the boots a fortnight ago. Unfortunately, it was the fans who once again carried the burden of disappointment.
During the week Warriors head coach Andrew Webster made it clear the team had plenty to play for, despite being out of the finals hunt. Unfortunately pride, and a desire to see three of the club's more productive servants off in style, were not motivation enough to see off a Bulldogs side that has clicked into grind and destroy mode ahead of the finals.
Webster is not one for excuses, though there are some low-hanging ones on offer. The Warriors have been beset by injuries this year, and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's admission this week that he had struggled to train for and play a utility role showed the club might have depth but not a ready-made plan B should things not go their way.
Still, in all of this, the biggest talking point has been the lack of in-game punishment for Bulldogs' captain Steven Crichton, whose reckless challenge on Tuivasa-Sheck was deemed only worthy of a penalty by both the referee and the Bunker officials. The hit ended Tuivasa-Sheck’s night, and season, while Crichton has been subsequently charged and handed a one-match suspension.
That brings us to another ready-made excuse from the Warriors diehards. Expect another apology from the NRL referee's boss today. That’ll make it the fourth this season.
White Ferns set for Dubai while ICC fights broadcasters
The White Ferns' preparations for the T20 World Cup have taken another twist this week after the ICC announced the tournament has been shifted from Bangladesh to Dubai. Bangladesh was deemed unsafe to host the tournament following deadly civil unrest which saw Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flee the nation and a temporary government installed by the country’s military.
The White Ferns team is expected to be announced in the coming days, and the pressure will be on Sophie Devine’s charges to get results. The recent tour to England was a disappointing one for the team, beaten in all eight matches. Coach Ben Sawyer and his selection team have made it clear they back the talent at their disposal, but those players will need to deliver at this tournament.
There is enough experience in the wider White Ferns squad to overcome any perceived challenges pertaining to resource and investment. Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr are first choice franchise players in the world leagues, who will be set upon delivering on reputation. Suzie Bates is the all-time T20 run scoring record holder, and the likes of Maddy Green, Lea Tahuhu, and Leigh Kasperek can each lean on outstanding performances over extended international careers.
There has been no rest for the squad since its return from the UK, a testament to the New Zealand system backing this team to go deep in the tournament. The team now has a touch more than three weeks to find the belief it so desperately needs.
Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup won’t be the only matter of interest for the ICC, which is also headquartered in Dubai. It was revealed last week that New Zealander Greg Barclay will not be seeking re-election as chairman. That has opened the door for India’s Jay Shah to take the reins.
It's believed Australia and England backed Shah for the job, effectively leaving Barclay with no hope of a final term. You feel for Barclay, who has, by any measure, been a decisive and diplomatic leader. It is no small feat to ascend to the top of the ICC ranks, and the decision to back Shah reeks of self-interest.
That in part may have something to do with the attempt by giant Indian Broadcaster to claw back up to 50% of the fee it paid for ICC events. Those broadcasting fees are distributed to the member nations, with India receiving 40%. While Australia and England have domestic broadcasting deals that more than hedge any movement on ICC fees, nations such as New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka rely heavily on disbursements.
It will be fascinating to see how the ICC navigates this prickly piece of business, and whether Barclay’s successor cares as much about those who don’t dine at cricket’s well-catered top table.
Dress rehearsal over, now the games begin
By the time Sidelines lands in your inbox this morning, we'll know the result of the America's Cup preliminary regatta in Barcelona. It has been one dominated by the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, who will now have the chance to further their own development while the challengers go to work.
It has been an intriguing regatta in many ways. The Kiwis' first race against Luna Rossa ended when the Italians lost their power. The French turned up to the start line and didn’t sail. The Brits fell off the foils in the start box, effectively ending the race. There were pre-regatta predictions that other teams would sandbag the series. It sounded like scuttlebutt at the time. It feels a little different now.
The rules of the series say teams must "participate" in the preliminary regatta. They do not force teams to race.
Welcome, once again, to the America’s Cup.
Last week, ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton said the team would take their time to fully develop all the elements on their boat, Taihoro. This, he said, is one of the major benefits of being the defender. While the other teams must turn up to the challenger series fully ready to race, his team can make all necessary adjustments right up to the finals series in October.
Regardless of the result overnight, or the various foibles of the other teams during the prelims, you can bet the real twists and turns of this event are still to come.
IN SHORT
Lydia Ko in Open Running
Lydia Ko began her final round at the Women's Open at St Andrew's overnight and Kiwis will wake up to a live leaderboard this morning. Ko has been incredibly consistent over the week in Scotland, and another Major Championship was well within reach when Sidelines went to the editor.
Van Gisbergen gets green light
Huge news for motorsport fans as Shane Van Gisbergen gets a full-time drive in NASCAR. The Kiwi SuperCars ace (80 career wins) has already taken the Xfinity series by storm but will now be behind the wheel in the real deal with Trackhouse Racing.
The Gizz will be driving the #88 car, and followers of NASCAR will note that is a number made famous by legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr, as he is known, was quick to offer his endorsement, saying the number "will have a good home there".
Another rugby assistant coach gone
Hot on the heels of Leon MacDonald's departure from the All Blacks, another international assistant coach has walked off the job. Irishman Felix Jones, who helped South Africa win back-to-back World Cups and who has been with England this year, has left his post with immediate effect. In an eerily similar case to that of MacDonald, sources say Jones did not agree with how the team was run.
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