TENNIS
Svitolina wins first-leg match in Berlin
The non-WTA exhibition match on July 17 was forced to a temporary hard court at Berlin’s Tempelhof Hangar after rain washed out the scheduled final on grass courts. Elina Svitolina took advantage of this surface change, rallying from a set down for the victory over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-1, 10-5, ending the opening leg of the exhibition tournament as the first champion. Svitolina defeated Anastasija Sevatova of Latvia in the semifinal, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3. In an immediate rematch, the top-seeded Svitolina was next bested by Sevatova, 6-1, 6-1, in the second part of the exhibition. This was the second time in four days the two played against each other.
Svitolina opts out of U.S. Open
The world’s No. 5 ranked player Elina Svitolina announced on August 7 that she would not participate in the 2020 U.S. Open, citing COVID-19 concerns. She stated in a Twitter post: “Considering all the aspects, I have decided not to play the U.S. Open 2020. I want to thank the USTA, organizers and the WTA for giving the players a chance to play and the fans a chance to watch this great event. I understand and respect all the efforts they are putting to make it happen in a safe environment, but I still don’t feel comfortable to travel to the U.S. without putting my team and myself at high risk.”
Yastremska defends deleted blackface photos
Dayana Yastremska deleted photoshoot images she shared on social media which showed her partially in blackface. She vehemently claimed the photos were misunderstood and ultimately defended her decision on sharing them. The No. 25 ranked star said she “doesn’t consider it as blackface” and “had only good intentions.” The four deleted photos showed half of her body and face black. On July 9 here is what she tweeted about her last post: “Earlier today I posted pictures that I thought would spread a message of equality. It clearly did not and has been misunderstood. I have been warned about the negative impact, but I did not – and still don’t – consider it as blackface. I did not intend to caricature, but to share my feelings about the current situation: we should all be treated as equal. I am so disappointed that my message has been corrupted: these pictures divided people when they were meant to unite. That’s why I deleted them. I sincerely apologize to all the people I have offended. I truly had only good intentions.” Yastremska was the seventh seed at the Palermo 2020 tournament held in Palermo, Italy, on August 1-9. She defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 6-3, 6-4 and Oceane Dodin of France 6-2, 6-4, before losing to Camila Giorgi of Italy in the quarterfinal, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6.
HOCKEY
Four-time Cup winner Eddie Shack dies
Wikipedia
Eddie Shack of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1957-1975) in a photo from the 1960s.
Edward Steven Phillip Shack, born February 11, 1937, in Sudbury, Ontario, son of Ukrainian immigrants Lena and Bill Shack, passed away on July 25 in a Toronto hospital after battling cancer. Nicknamed “The Entertainer,” Shack was a colorful character on and off the ice. He carved out a 1,047 game career over 17 NHL seasons, winning four Stanley Cups while with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1960s. Shack totaled 239 goals, 226 assists for 465 points for six teams, including five 20-goal seasons, and scored the Cup-winning goal for Toronto in 1963. He accumulated 1,431 career penalty minutes, playing a wild game often beyond the edge of the rule book. He was known for his quick lip, large beak, bushy mustache and vivacious personality which he utilized to pitch products on television and in print while poking fun at himself. Shack struggled in school, and worked as a teenage butcher and truck driver before making the OHA team in Guelph in 1952. He posted a 104-point season in 1956-1957 in Guelph. He started in New York, was traded to Detroit, then shipped to Toronto, where he was reborn under coach Punch Imlach. He won four Stanley Cups in his first seven seasons as a Maple Leaf in Toronto, where he was an agitator on the ice and sold trash bags, razors, soft drinks and tires off the ice. Shack’s career took him to Boston, Los Angeles, Buffalo and Pittsburgh before he returned to Toronto for two final campaigns in 1973-1975. He was voted No. 68 on the Maple Leafs’ 2016 ranking of their top-100 players of all time.
Key Ukrainians on defense in NHL playoffs
Top minute-munchers in the first playoff round for the Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders were Ukrainian defensemen Cale Makar and Adam Pelech, respectively. Jamie Oleksiak tallied a game-winner for Dallas, and Brett Kulak continued his stalwart contribution on Montreal’s blue line. Jakob Chychrun was an important part of the Coyotes’ defense corps, and the Stars win when Taylor Fedun joins Oleksiak on the Dallas “D.” The St. Louis Blues have no hope of repeating as Stanley Cup champs without offense and defense from their most valuable rearguard, Colton Parayko. Throw in an injured Johnny Boychuk hoping to re-join Pelech on the ice with those upstart Islanders, and that totals eight Ukrainian defensemen vying for the most coveted trophy in professional sports as 16 NHL teams began the competition in Toronto and Edmonton.
A Calder Trophy finalist for the league’s top rookie award, Makar plays on Colorado’s top defense pairing, gets first-team power play minutes and has already impressed with his pinpoint passing from the blue line when not firing his laser shot from the point. Pelech took full advantage of the four-month layoff due to COVID-19 to get healthy and return to top defenseman status for coach Barry Trotz’ Islanders. Oleksiak has certainly capitalized on his return to Dallas, showing off some hidden offensive skills while hammering opposing forwards with his big frame and clearing the crease with timely zone coverage. Kulak joins captain Shea Weber as two irreplaceable Montreal defenders skating in front of netminder Carey Price.
Cancer claims Dale Hawerchuk
A tribute to Dale Hawerchuk posted by sportsnet.ca.
Hall of Famer and Ukrainian hockey legend Dale Hawerchuk passed away at age 57 after a protracted battle with stomach cancer. He was diagnosed in August 2019, underwent stomach surgery in January of this year, only to have the cancer return in June. He had taken a leave of absence from his head coaching position with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts last September. The Toronto native was the first over-all selection of the Winnipeg Jets in 1981 and proceeded to score 103 points as an 18-year-old, winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year. Hawerchuk scored 100-plus points in six of nine seasons with Winnipeg, netting career bests of 53 goals and 130 points in 1984-1985. In 1990 he was the centerpiece of a huge trade, sent to Buffalo with a first-round pick for three players and a first-round pick, which became Ukrainian Keith Tkachuk. Hawerchuk averaged 1.13 points per game in five seasons with Buffalo before making stops in St. Louis and Philadelphia. Hawerchuk finished with 518 goals and 891 assists in 16 NHL seasons, was a five-time All-Star and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001.
SOCCER
Shakhtar exits Europa League
Shakhtar Donetsk lost its UEFA Europa League semifinal match against Inter Milan 0-5 on August 17 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Inter Milan is set to play against Sevilla Spain on August 21 in Cologne, Germany, in the final. In the quarterfinal, Shakhtar won 4-1 against Basel (Switzerland) on August 11 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Junior Moraes (second minute), Taison (22nd minute), Alan Patrick (75th minute off a penalty kick) and Dodo (88th minute) scored for Shakhtar, and Basel’s Van Wolfswinkel responded with a goal in extra time (90+2 minutes).
BOXING
Lomachenko to fight Lopez in October
Lightweight WBO, WBA and WBC “franchise” champion Vasyl Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KO) of Ukraine and Teofimo Lopez (15-0, 12 KO) of the U.S.A., the IBF lightweight champion, have signed a contract for a fight on October 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight is to be broadcast by ESPN, and not on pay-per-view, potentially increasing the audience for a fight that will be held in an empty arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Postol steps into ring with Ramirez
Light welterweight (also known as super lightweight) Viktor Postol (31-2, 12 KO) is set to fight against Jose Carlos Ramirez (25-0, 17 KO) of the U.S.A. on August 29 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. On the line will be two world titles – the WBO (world super light) and WBC (world super light) belts – that are both held by Ramirez. The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds. Postol is seventh in the world lightweight rankings and fourth according to The Ring magazine rankings.
Derevyanchenko seeks WBC title
Middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KO) is scheduled to fight against Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KO) of the U.S.A. on September 26 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. The fight is set for 12 rounds. Charlo has held the title since April 2018.