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Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer lead boxing Hall of Fame class

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International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Ricky Hatton looks on at parade-goers during the Boxing Hall of Fame Parade of Champions in Canastota, N.Y., on Sunday, June 9, 2024. (John Haeger/Standard-Speaker via AP)

Ricky Hatton laughed his way through his Hall of Fame induction speech, marveling at the places boxing took him and the thousands of his fans that would always follow.

“I had some wars, didn’t I?” Hatton said Sunday. “When I think back at the Kostya Tszyu fight, Floyd Mayweather fight, Manny Pacquiao fight and my toughest fight, my divorce.”

Michael Moorer took a more serious tone with a plea for safer conditions for boxers during and after their careers.

READ: Laila Ali on gender-breaking ballot for boxing Hall of Fame

Hatton and Moorer, both champions in two weight classes, were the headline names when the International Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2024 was inducted during a ceremony at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Moorer won the light heavyweight title in just his 12th pro fight and later moved up to become the first southpaw heavyweight champion. Noting the size of present-day heavyweights who sometimes weigh more than 250 pounds, with former champion Tyson Fury fighting above 270, Moorer called for the advent of a super heavyweight division.

Moorer, who went 52-4-1 with 40 knockouts, said he has undergone 28 surgeries and been left without the ability to smell or taste. He said it was imperative for boxing’s sanctioning bodies, managers and promoters to prioritize the welfare of fighters.

Michael Moorer 2024 boxing hall of fame

International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Michael Moorer waves to parade goers during the Boxing Hall of Fame Parade of Champions Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Canastota, N.Y. (John Haeger/Standard-Speaker via AP)

“The toll on a fighter’s body persists long after they hang up their gloves,” Moorer said. “I am just one of the many retired fighters who have been left to deal with a long list of injuries without any meaningful insurance assistance.”

Ivan Calderon and Diego Corrales, who died in 2007 two years after rallying in a memorable 10th round to beat Jose Luis Castillo in boxing’s “Fight of the Year,” were the other headline fighters in the class that will be enshrined in the hall’s museum in Canastota, New York.

Calderon, a two-division champion from Puerto Rico who still works with fighters from there, noted the presence of the heads of three boxing organizations, who were also Latin American.

READ: Ricky Hatton calls for help for former boxers

“So they’re here like a family and I’d like them to keep on working like a family for all these boxers,” Calderon said. “That’s what we need. We need a family. All together we can do a lot of things.”

Women’s champions Jane Couch of Britain — who fought to allow women to box at home — and Ana Maria Torres of Mexico were elected from the women’s modern category. Luis Angel Firpo in the old-timer category and Theresa Kibby in the women’s trailblazer category were the other fighters in the class.

Trainer Kenny Adams, Jackie Kallen — the first female manager inducted — longtime publicist Fred Sternburg, broadcaster Nick Charles and journalist Wallace Matthews rounded out the 13-member class. Matthews noted his preference for boxing over other sports he covered because of what fighters endure.

“There is a code among boxers. We will fight until we can’t fight anymore and there’s no other sport where that happens,” Matthews said. “There ain’t no timeout, there ain’t no tapping out, there’s no relief pitcher, you’re not skating off the ice for a shift change. That’s it. Once you’re in there, you’re on the ship, you’re taking the ride until the very end.”

It was quite a ride for Hatton, the Manchester, England, product who upset Tszyu in 2005 to rise to the top of the junior welterweight division and would lose high-profile welterweight fights in Las Vegas against Mayweather and Pacquiao. He recalled the thousands of his fans who flew from Europe for those weeks — saying there so many that the MGM Grand once ran out of beer — just the way they supported him at home.

Now they can see Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) hang in the Hall of Fame, where he said he became emotional when he saw that his plaque will hang two away from Roberto Duran, the fighter who was his hero.

“I always said my fan base was my greatest-ever achievement,” Hatton said, “so it’s been great to spend the weekend with the fans.”

Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Zverev to win first French Open title

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Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning his men’s singles final match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fifteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 9, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)

Carlos Alcaraz fought back to defeat Alexander Zverev in a five-set French Open final on Sunday and become the youngest man to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces.

The 21-year-old battled cramps to recover from 2-1 down in sets and win a gripping contest 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 after four hours and 19 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“Something that I dreamt about, being in this position, since I was started playing tennis, since I was five, six years old. So it’s a great, great feeling,” said Alcaraz.

READ: Carlos Alcaraz embraces ‘suffering’ to reach French Open final

Alcaraz adds the Roland Garros crown to the Wimbledon title he won against Novak Djokovic last year and the 2022 US Open.

He will head to the Australian Open next year with the chance to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

Fourth seed Zverev, who settled a court case in Germany two days ago over domestic abuse allegations, is still waiting for a maiden major title.

He had also lost his only previous Slam final in five sets, when he blew a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open.

Zverev had high hopes of finally getting over the line — he has also lost six Slam semi-finals — but Alcaraz was too strong in the key moments as he levelled their head-to-head record at 5-5.

“It’s been amazing. The atmosphere, the support has been amazing,” said the 27-year-old.

Alcaraz said before the final he wanted to join the list of men’s players from his country, including his idol Rafael Nadal, to win the Roland Garros title, and he celebrated becoming the eighth Spanish champion by falling to the clay with his head in his hands in disbelief.

“Congratulations Carlos for this immense victory! Wonderful! Very happy for your successes! Vamos,” tweeted Nadal.

Zverev’s nervy start

Zverev endured a miserable start, double-faulting on the first two points of the match en route to being broken in the opening game.

But Alcaraz was not immune to the nerves of a maiden French Open final, framing a regulation forehand into the stands and then also double-faulting as he gifted the break straight back.

The Spaniard did not take too long to find his groove, though, breaking to love in the fifth game on his way to pocketing the opener.

READ: Zverev beats Ruud to set up French Open final with Carlos Alcaraz

The youngster had to save three break points to hold in a 10-minute first game of the second set, but slipped 3-2 behind when he failed to stave off two more break points as another forehand sailed into the crowd.

Suddenly Zverev had a spring in his step and Alcaraz was reduced to scrambling at the back of the court, falling a double-break down with a double-fault.

Zverev wrapped up an ultimately one-sided second set with a hold to love.

The German made it three successive love holds with two more early in the third set, before Alcaraz celebrated coming out of a tricky service game unscathed with a fist pump as he edged 3-2 ahead, despite having been largely on the back foot.

Serving into an increasingly strong breeze, Zverev was caught out by an Alcaraz return that crept over the net and the Spaniard went on to grab a break to love.

But he could not serve out the set as a rasping Zverev passing shot secured a break back.

That failure to take control of the match seemed to temporarily break Alcaraz’s spirit, as he ended up losing five games on the spin to concede the set.

Crucial line call saves Alcaraz

Alcaraz would not go down without a fight, though, breaking for a 2-0 advantage in the fourth with a magnificent curling winner on the run.

Just seconds before, Zverev had been angrily disputing a line call which was clearly correct, drawing jeers from the crowd.

The German was rattled and his serve started to desert him, with Alcaraz racing through the fourth set to force a decider despite having to take a medical time-out to have treatment for apparent cramp at 4-1.

Zverev had won 10 of his previous 11 five-setters at Roland Garros but handed Alcaraz a break on a platter in the third game of the fifth.

Alcaraz stuttered himself, falling 0-40 down in the next game.

He appeared to have double-faulted on the second break point, but the chair umpire overruled the line judge’s call of out, despite Zverev’s angry protests, before Hawkeye replays showed it was out.

Alcaraz went on to hold and it proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.

Zverev fell a double-break down in game seven as Alcaraz delighted the fans with an outrageous flicked winner before crushing a forehand onto the line.

He wrapped up a historic victory with a booming forehand that Zverev could not get back.

UP finds needed push from previous Finals defeats

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FILE–UP Fighting Maroons’ CJ Cansino . –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Losing only a few members from its core, University of the Philippines (UP) still looks like the formidable crew that fought in the last three championship series of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

But the Fighting Maroons had only reached the throne once in those Finals appearances after folding to Ateneo two years ago and against La Salle in Season 86.

“Coming short the last two seasons—that’s where we are coming from. We’re not gonna lie about that,” assistant coach Christian Luanzon said on Sunday after UP ousted Far Eastern University with an 89-77 victory in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup knockout semifinals.

The Maroons, also the defending champions of this preseason tilt, have been dominating the competition made up of squads from both UAAP and NCAA and are currently in an eight-game winning streak.

‘Everyday grind’

Guard CJ Cansino and former Most Valuable Player big man Malick Diouf exhausted their playing years while Luis Pablo and Cyril Gonzales transferred, but UP still has the services of mainstays such as JD Cagulangan, Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and reigning Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez as well as a bunch of recruits.

But from its experience in those last two seasons, UP is not getting complacent with how it is playing so far especially with last season’s tormentor La Salle meeting them once again in the Finals.

Despite squandering a 24-point lead, the Green Archers survived the late-game efforts of Letran, 91-87, in the other semifinal pairing to advance to the championship with sophomore forward Jonnel Policarpio’s 19 points.

“We know that it’s not going to be easy to [reach the top] but there’s a process to that and it starts with our everyday grind during practices and building our habits and chemistry,” Luanzon said.

“[We are honing] the culture that we want and the standard that not only coach [Goldwin Monteverde] wants but the standard that the players put on themselves as a team,” he added.

That standard can be seen through powerful forward Lopez, who delivered a 22-point performance from eight-of-12 field goals apart from seven rebounds. Graduating guard Cagulangan led his crew with 13 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals.

“This is our team so the standard that we uphold in practice and games should fully be translated inside the court, that’s the most important thing,” Luanzon said. INQ

Motivations may differ, but dream remains the same

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MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The perilous side of sustained excellence is that it tends to become monotonous for some.

But not to San Miguel Beer’s seasoned veterans, who have always found a way to make each run interesting.

For Chris Ross, there’s no more repulsive feeling than losing. The defensive ace, who has won 10 titles with the vaunted club, is raring to keep on winning until he has long forgotten that loss he suffered in the past.

“The thing that pushes me the most is that one championship we lost. It was a horrible feeling when we lost to Ginebra,” the Beermen skipper told the Inquirer.

“We had [Renaldo] Balkman. We lost to those guys (Gin Kings) in six. That feeling of losing was worse than the height of winning. It just felt bad.”

Ross was referring to the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup championship series with the Tim Cone-coached Gin Kings who were then backstopped by the well-loved Justin Brownlee.

That loss remains as the only stain in Ross’ trips to the championship stage—a record shared by Lassiter who has just as many titles.

Lassiter, however, has a slightly different drive. One that is steeped in pressure.

“If you really uncover the ‘why,’ I just understand that the expectations for both teams are a lot different. If you understand Meralco’s, this is their first time. So they are excited ‘cause they just made it [to the Finals this conference]. So their expectation, obviously, is to win,” he said.

“For us, every conference, our organization wants us to win a championship. So there’s pressure even from the beginning, when the conference starts, to get to that peak, to that top of the mountain.”

However different their motivations sound, there’s no denying that the goal is just the same: To deliver the franchise’s 30th championship.

San Miguel currently has a veritable chokehold of titles in the PBA, accounting for 29 crowns. Its closest pursuer is the Barangay Ginebra franchise which has 15—only a little over half of the Beermen’s collection.

The two will have their work cut out for them, however, after the Beermen suffered a setback in Game 3 of the ongoing Philippine Cup Finals, falling behind in the series after a 93-89 defeat on Sunday night. INQ

Meralco hopes to hold on to 2-1 lead this time around

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Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome shoots during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against the San Miguel Beermen.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Meralco is once again in familiar territory after preserving its lead in the end this time to take a 2-1 advantage over San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

What the Bolts don’t want to repeat after Sunday’s 93-89 victory, thanks to the clutch plays of Chris Newsome at Smart Araneta Coliseum, is for another golden opportunity to slip away.

“We’re definitely been here before,” Newsome after his three with 34.1 seconds left in the fourth brought Meralco to the lead. “But the results didn’t pan out the way we wanted to.”

The Bolts learned from the mistakes of their collapse in Game 2, when a four-point lead with 26 seconds left disappeared before ending up losing what looked like a sure win.

Now Meralco hopes to experience something it has never experienced before in a championship series—a commanding 3-1 lead which the Bolts can pull off on Wednesday at the same venue.

It’s the third time that Meralco took two of the first three games of the Finals, first in the 2016 Governors’ Cup and in the 2022 edition of the same conference, both against crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra.

And on both occasions, Meralco couldn’t sustain its hold on the driver seat, with Ginebra winning three straight in each of those title meetings.

‘Team of the decade’

Newsome, Cliff Hodge and current assistant coach Reynel Hugnatan have witnessed those past debacles. All of them are hoping to see the current makeup of the Bolts roster to author a different outcome, regardless of what happens moving forward.

“For those guys who were with us during those 2-1 leads and those lapses, those are actually the most vocal in our locker room,” said Newsome. “Those are the guys that have been through it. We had those heartbreaks, and we’re passing that knowledge now, and the things that we thought we could have done better during our 2-1 leads to capitalize on the situation and turn it into a 3-1 lead.

“I mean, this is a series, we’re going up against San Miguel who’s the best team of the decade and they’re playoff ready. They’ve been through a lot of series so it’s gonna be tough to go up 3-1 against them, especially after this win by us. They’re gonna be hungry.

“Again, it’s up to our veterans to be vocal about it. But when it’s all said and done, it’s not about what you’re saying, it’s what you do. We can say anything about doing this and doing that but what matters is stepping onto that court and getting that job done,” he added.

Newsome posted 26 points, leading a starting crew that all scored in double-figures, including Raymond Almazan, who had 15 points before fouling out after laying a dud due to foul trouble in Game 2. INQ

NBA Finals 2024 Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, fends off Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during the second half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals 2024 on Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks dispute the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a best-of-seven NBA Finals series.

The Celtics, who finished with the best record this NBA season, hold the home-court advantage in the series against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, who are back in the Finals for the first time since 2011.

Boston reached the NBA Finals after sweeping Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference while the Mavericks disposed of Minnesota Timberwolves in five games over at the West.

Kings’ Montessori beats NU for Shakey’s Girls volleyball bronze

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Kings’ Montessori School during the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League against National University-Nazareth School.–Photo from SGVIL

MANILA, Philippines — Sisters Shekaina and Shahanna Lleses powered the Kings’ Montessori School past National University-Nazareth School, 25-18, 24-26, 25-23, 25-22, to bring home the bronze medal of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (GVIL) on Sunday at Adamson Gym.

Shekaina unleashed a game-high 28 points off 25 attacks and three aces, while her sister Shahanna backstopped her with 14 points to stun the UAAP runner-up in one hour and 57 minutes.

“It’s very heartwarming to see these kids [win against] top school NU. They worked hard for it and this bronze is the result of their hardships and sacrifices,” said KMS assistant coach Glenn Gomez, attributing their victory to head coach Onyok Getigan, who is in Japan for Farm Fresh’s training camp.

READ: UAAP rivals arrange KO semis in Shakey’s Girls volleyball

“This is for coach Onyok. This result is because of his knowledge and guidance. He even called us from Japan to talk to the players.”

Aiana Jumawan ran the plays as Justine Decena chipped in seven points, while Kriska Gindap and Mhyne Escote added six points each.

Kings’ Montessori fell to finalist Bacolod Tay Tung, 25-18, 25-14, 25-23, in the knockout semifinal on Thursday.

NUNS settled for fourth place for the second straight year with Diza Marie Verayo leading the team with 22 points off 19 attacks and three aces. Joseline Salazar contributed 12 points off eight attacks, two blocks, and a pair of aces, while Mardy Tayag added 11 points.

Meanwhile,  Far Eastern University-Diliman cruised past Arellano University, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19, for a fifth-place finish.

READ: New-look California Academy begins Shakey’s Girls title defense

Riane Alonzo led the Lady Baby Tamaraws with 11 points, while Shiela Pascual and Clarisses Loresco added 10 points each, combining for 18 of FEU-Diliman’s 38 attack points.

“I’m happy that they brought out their A game. They just needed a little more push and better communication inside the court,” said FEU coach Joanne Bunag.

Samantha Maranan was the lone bright spot for the Lady Braves with 15 points.

Shane Reterta poured in 27 points as Bethel Academy College overcame  Lyceum of the Philippines University, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20, for a seventh-place finish.

Reterta pounded 25 kills and had two aces. Trisha Porto added nine points while Andrea Dinglasan and Jerrize Armintia had combined 11 markers for the Bethelites, who had a good run in their first GVIL foray.

Philip Gancia and Charle Rutaquio posted 14 and 12 points, respectively, but weren’t enough to save the Junior Lady Pirates. 

Kouame, Abarrientos boost Strong Group’s Jones Cup roster

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FILE–Ange Kouame.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Ange Kouame and RJ Abarrientos bolstered the Strong Group-Philippines roster for the 43rd William Jones Cup set from July 13 to 21 in Taipei.

The local club team on Sunday announced its latest addition to its roster as Kouame is set to make his third appearance in the Jones Cup after playing for Ateneo in 2018 and reinforcing Rain or Shine last year.

“Ange has been like a son to our team owner, Boss Frank (Lao). Finally, I will get the chance to coach him, especially after our Dubai stint where he got sick and had to miss the tournament completely,” said Strong Group coach Charles Tiu.

READ: Strong Group taps ex-PBA import Chris McCullough for Jones Cup

“I know he’s improved a lot and has been healthy, so that’s a good sign. Whenever it comes to playing for the flag, Ange has always been willing.”

The Gilas naturalized center was supposed to play for Strong Group in the 2023 Dubai International Basketball Championship but his team-up with former NBA star Dwight Howard was derailed due to dengue.

Kouame played in France with Nationale Masculine 1 club UB Chartres Métropole, averaging 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 22 games.

“I’m really, really happy to represent the country again. It’s another opportunity for me to win this competition,” said the UAAP Season 84 MVP.

Meanwhile, Abarrientos, armed with his experience with his B.League team Shinshu Brave Warriors in Japan, teams up with Kiefer Ravena and Jordan Heading.

READ: Strong Group brings back Jordan Heading for Jones Cup

“RJ was one of our first options for the point guard spot, but we had to wait until he got clearance from Japan and his agent to play,” said Tiu. “I always like guards who can score, so we are excited to have him on the team. When the opportunity to play for the country arose, he immediately said yes!”

In his debut season with the Brave Warriors, Abarrientos averaged 7.8 points and 2.4 assists per game.

The Far Eastern University product won the 2022-23 Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year with the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis before taking his act to Japan.

“Of course, I’m very excited because it’s my first time on the team, and I’m eager to play with my kuyas and to represent our country again,” Abarrientos said. “I’m also thankful for the opportunity given to me by SGA. I can’t wait to join them and compete on the big stage.”

Chris McCullough and Caelan Tiongson are also part of Strong Group’s roster for the Jones Cup.

Chinese, Leyann Ramo seal Ironman 70.3 Subic glory

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Leyann Ramo.–Photo from Ironman

SUBIC – Chinese Peng Cheng Li and local standout Leyann Ramo delivered outstanding performances at the Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay, demonstrating remarkable speed, strength, and endurance in their victories here Sunday.

Li maintained a commanding lead throughout the race, finishing with an impressive time of 4:20:05. His dominant performance saw him outpace Great Britain’s Christopher Weeks by a substantial margin of 10 minutes in the challenging 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, and 21.1km run event.

Weeks finished in 4:30:18, while August Benedicto, a local favorite, secured third place in 4:34:21.

READ: Filipinos eye strong showing at Ironman, 70.3 races in Subic

Li’s performance was particularly notable during the closing run stage, where he dashed to the finish with an energy that belied the grueling nature of the half-triathlon race.

The Ironman Philippines and the IM 70.3 Subic drew over a thousand triathletes from 54 countries, underscoring the global appeal of the Ironman Group-organized event. The two races also offered qualifying slots for three World Championships, including the ongoing full-distance race featuring a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and 42.2km run.

Peng Cheng Li Ironman Subic

Peng Cheng Li.–Photo from Ironman

Li, who placed sixth in the full Ironman Australia last year, set a strong pace early in the swim leg with the fastest time of 28:38, establishing a two-minute lead over Weeks.

Transitioning to the bike leg, the 33-year-old multi-age group winner in 70.3 races extended his lead with a time of 2:21:38. He capped off his performance with a powerful finishing kick during the run, completing it in 1:23:58.

Li’s performance mirrored his winning effort at the Ironman 70.3 Korea in 2019, highlighting the consistent discipline he has maintained over the years.

Meanwhile, Ramo showcased impressive form despite fluctuating weather conditions, including intermittent sunshine and overcast skies. She set the pace with a swim time of 00:30:57, maintained her lead during the bike leg with a time of 02:45:42, and concluded strongly with a run time of 01:47:06, securing the women’s overall crown with a total time of 05:07:33.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” said Ramo, proudly representing Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.

READ: Svetlana Kovaleva top women’s Ironman PH bet

Winner of the Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa last year, the 31-year-old Tri SND Barracuda spearhead expressed heartfelt gratitude to her family, teammates and province for their unwavering support in her latest triumph.
Israel’s Hadar Shahar finished second with a time of 05:16:04, posting leg times of 00:32:38 (swim), 02:46:26 (bike), and 01:52:53 (run). Hong Kong’s Ruby Cheng claimed third place in 05:23:57, with respective times of 00:29:44, 02:49:23, and 01:58:32 in the swim, bike, and run segments.

Ramo also earned the age-group title in the 30-34 division ahead of Cheng while Shahar topped the 25-29 category, culminating a significant triathlon weekend that included the Underpants Run and the Choco Hero Ironkids.

Weeks began strongly with a swim time of 00:30:26, followed by a bike time of 02:22:41, and concluded the run in 01:33:27, finishing with a total time of 04:30:18. Benedicto, winner of the Ironman 70.3 Cebu in 2022, completed the swim in 00:34:26, the bike in 02:23:48, and the run in 01:32:49, finishing at 04:34:21.

The top three male finishers also ruled their respective age-group categories: Li claimed the 30-34 age group, Weeks secured the 35-39 trophy, and Benedicto won in the 40-44 division.

Benedicto also narrowly edged out Thai top triathlete Jaray Jearnai in both overall and age-group standings, with Jearnai finishing in 04:37:08 with leg times of 00:30:23 (swim), 02:26:56 (bike), and 01:35:16 (run).

Furthermore, the top 25 male triathletes from the ongoing full-distance race earned coveted spots in the Kona, Hawaii World Championship scheduled from Oct. 22-28. Additionally, the top 15 female athletes secured qualification for the IM World Championship in Nice, France, set for Sept. 24-28.

The IM 70.3 Subic Bay also offered 45 age-group qualifying slots for the Vinfast IM 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand, on Dec. 14-15, with 15 slots reserved specifically for female participants.

In relay competitions, Go for Gold Team I topped the men’s event in 04:05:20, beating Isabela Tri Club (04:10:02) and Go for Gold Team 2 (04:19:17), while Isabela Tri Club topped the mixed relay in 04:25:29, and the Isabela Tri Club Girls ruled the women’s side in 05:04:32.

Other division winners were Kenneth Bonda (4:45:49), and A.R. Toroganan (4:40:05) in 25-29.

Swiatek seals place among greats with ‘surreal’ 4th French Open

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Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates her victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini after their women’s singles final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fourteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 8, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel Dunand / AFP)

Iga Swiatek secured her place among tennis greats on Saturday as she joined an exclusive club of four-time women’s French Open champions with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Jasmine Paolini.

The 23-year-old from Poland became only the fourth woman to win four Roland Garros singles titles in the Open era, joining Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Justine Henin.

She is also the first player to claim three successive women’s titles in Paris since Henin in 2007. Monica Seles was the first to do so, triumphing from 1990-92.

READ: Iga Swiatek cruises to third straight French Open title

“I’m really proud of myself, because the expectations obviously have been pretty high from the outside. Pressure, as well,” said Swiatek.

“I’m a perfectionist, so there is always pressure behind me. But I think I’m fine with handling my own pressure.

“It’s when the pressure from the outside hits me, then it’s a little bit worse. But I managed it really well at this tournament.”

Swiatek’s latest coronation came as no surprise, but her run to the title was not without its hiccups — and tears.

She saved a match point against Naomi Osaka in the second round, later weeping in the gym as her emotions took over.

READ: Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff to reach French Open final

“I honestly thought that I’m going to be out of the tournament,” Swiatek recalled after her third-round win.

“Even though I felt something on court, it kind of hit me after. I was happy that I won, but I still felt like I was really on the edge. So, yeah, I just cried.”

From that point, nobody could get close to Swiatek, who conceded a mere 11 games from the fourth round onwards — the joint-fewest en route to winning a women’s major in the Open era.

Rare treble

The world number one also completed a Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros treble. The only other woman in history to do it in the same season is Serena Williams.

“This tournament has been pretty surreal with its beginning and with second round, and then I was able to get my game better and better every match,” said Swiatek.

Ominously for her rivals, the escape act against Osaka has filled the Pole with even greater resolve.

“For sure it gives me the feeling that I should always believe in myself, that I can find my tennis even if I’m in big trouble, you know and with this tennis, fight back,” said Swiatek. “It gives me confidence.”

At 23, she has won the same number of French Open titles as Rafael Nadal, the record 14-time men’s champion, had at the same age.

With the exception of her 2022 US Open victory, Swiatek’s success in Paris far exceeds her results at the other Grand Slams.

But as a former Wimbledon junior champion and a winner of six WTA 1000 hard-court events, it is surely only a matter of time until Swiatek hits upon the right formula to translate her clay form into more major titles on other surfaces.

It was after Nadal’s fourth Roland Garros that the Spaniard went on to lift his maiden Wimbledon trophy.

Swiatek, who said before the tournament it was “too early” to consider herself the ‘Queen of Clay’, again was reluctant to draw comparisons with her idol Nadal.

Swiatek has yet to make it past the quarter-finals of the main draw at Wimbledon, and is not setting any specific goals.

“I don’t expect a lot. The balls are different. Overall tennis is different on grass. I’ll just see and I’ll work hard to play better there,” she said.