Rafael Nadal has advanced to the French Open final for a 14th time where he will face Norway's Casper Ruud.
Nadal is one win away from a 22nd Grand Slam title. Photo: MILLEREAU PHILIPPE
Nadal's opponent, third seed Alexander Zverev was forced to retire hurt with an ankle injury while trailing the Spaniard 7-6(8) 6-6.
In an absorbing contest that lasted more than three hours before the abrupt ending, Zverev missed four set points during the first set tiebreak.
The German had been giving the 13-time Roland Garros champion a run for his money until he screamed out in agony after rolling his right ankle in the final point of the 12th game of the second set.
Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday is in pursuit of a men's record-extending 22nd Grand Slam crown.
"It was a super tough match. Over three hours and we didn't even finish the second set. Of course being in the final of Roland Garros is a dream without a doubt but at the same time that it finishes that way is tough. Seeing him cry like this is a tough moment," Nadal said.
The 23-year-old Ruud rallied from a set down to beat Croat Marin Cilic 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2 to reach his first Grand Slam final.
Ruud, the men's eighth seed, became the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
Reuters
Coll is runner-up at the El Gouna International
New Zealand's Paul Coll has been beaten in the El Gouna International final in Cairo in three sets by world no 4 Mostafa Asal.
In a mammoth 30-minute first game, Asal capitalised on some drives from Coll by chopping the ball in short.
El Gouna champion Mostafa Asal consoles Paul Coll. Photo: Supplied
Asal seemed content with the drawn out rallies which would ordinarily suit Coll.
World No 2 Coll's momentum was halted by the intelligent attacks of Asal who moved through to take the next game 11-9.
'The Raging Bull' showed no signs of slowing down and continued to create opportunities to put the ball into space.
The controlled and measured length of Asal was a constant threat and he motored through to earn himself five match balls. He only needed one and closed the game out 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 in 70 minutes to pick up his second PSA World Tour Platinum title.
Coll will play in the Mauritius Open starting next week.
Pulse secure home final
The Central Pulse have clinched a home Grand Final after defeating the defending champion Northern Mystics 58-40 in Auckland on Friday night.
The result sees the Pulse take out this season's minor premiership as top seed, powering into the Finals Series on a four-match winning streak.
The Central Pulse Photo: PHOTOSPORT
With a midcourt decimated by illness and sharpshooter Grace Nweke still out of action with an ankle injury, the Mystics were forced to call in reinforcements in the form of shooter Grace Namana and midcourter Ariana Cable-Dixon.
The Pulse recovered from their jittery start, finding their groove with better ball retention and top shooting from Aliyah Dunn.
As minor premiers, the Pulse earn rights to host the Grand Final at TSB Arena in Wellington at 4pm on Sunday 12 June.
The Northern Stars finish the season in second place, and will host the Elimination Final against Northern Mystics at Pulman Arena in Auckland at 7.15pm on Wednesday 8 June.
The winner of the Elimination Final goes on to face the Pulse in the 2022 title decider.
Macron calls for fans to be reimbursed
Ticket holders who were blocked from entering Paris's Stade de France for last Saturday's Champions League final by security personnel must be reimbursed "as fast as possible", French President Emmanuel Macron told local media on Friday.
On Friday, UEFA issued an apology to the fans who were affected by the events surrounding the final between eventual champions Real Madrid and Liverpool after ticket fraud and crowd trouble marred the showpiece event in Paris.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema Photo: © Action Plus
The match was delayed by more than 30 minutes after officers forcefully held back people trying to enter the Stade de France while riot police had also sprayed tear gas on fans, including women and children.
"I have a thought for the families who have been pushed around, who have not been able to access the seats they had paid for. This is why I hope that we can compensate them as soon as possible," Macron said in the interview.
"I have asked the government to clarify what happened, to determine the responsibilities and to explain them in detail to our compatriots, the British and the Spanish."
Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan on Friday reiterated a call for an investigation into last weekend's final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris, which was marred by crowd trouble.
Real Madrid on Friday also demanded answers from organisers.
Reuters
Lakers officially name Darvin Ham as head coach
The Los Angeles Lakers officially named Darvin Ham as the 28th head coach in franchise history on Friday.
Ham, 48, signed a multi-year contract. Terms were not disclosed. Previous reports said it was a four-year deal for the former Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach.
Ham has no prior head coaching experience but has been an NBA assistant coach the past 11 seasons, including two seasons (2011-13) with the Lakers.
He had been with the Bucks since 2018 and helped them win a championship in 2020-21.
The Lakers fired Frank Vogel on April 11 after three seasons with the team, guiding them to the NBA title in 2020.
Vogel finished 127-98 in Los Angeles, but the team went 33-49 this past season and missed the playoffs for the seventh time in nine seasons.
Ham takes over a talented roster that includes LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but the duo was slowed by multiple injuries for each last season.
James played in 56 of the Lakers' 82 games, while Davis played in 40.
- Field Level Media
