FIBA WORLD CUP: FRANCE STUNS USA IN QUARTER- FINAL

Champions, United States stunned after a surprise 89-79 loss to France in the quarter-finals of the Basketball World Cup in China on Wednesday. The US had won the past two World Cups and not lost in 58 international games, a run stretching back to 2006

Team USA’s last loss with NBA players on its roster came against Greece in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships. The Americans rebounded to win gold at the Beijing Olympics two years later and also won the two Olympic tournaments that followed. They already had qualified for next year’s Summer Games in Tokyo.

Both teams gave up leads in the second half. France led by 10 early in the third quarter, but the Americans countered with a 31-14 run over the next 10 minutes to take a five-point lead. France then went on a 15-2 run to take a 82-76 lead with just more than two minutes left and closed out the Americans from there.

France will play Argentina in the semi-finals on Friday, with Spain taking on Australia in the other match.

This will be the first time the United States have failed to win a medal at the World Cup since 2002, when they finished sixth.

2019 FIBA WC: NIGERIA SECURE 2020 OLYMPICS' TICKET

D'Tigers of Nigeria have qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games after a win over China in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. 

Nigeria national men’s basketball team defeated 2019 FIBA World Cup hosts China 86-73 in their final classification match to secure Africa’s sole ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Sunday.

After two consecutive losses in Group B of the 2019 FIBA World Cup, both teams having seen their hopes of progressing in the tournament dashed in the First Round, there still was plenty at stake in the final Classification 17-32 Group M action with the prospect of automatic Olympic qualification dangling in front of them.

With two victories each, China and Nigeria were in pole position for direct Olympics entry in their respective regions of Asia and Africa.

D’Tigers in their first classification defeated Cote D’Ivoire 83-66, thrashed South Korea 108-66 in their last group game to qualify for the classification game before the win against China on Sunday. It was the third win for Alex Nwora’s men at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. 

CHELSEA TALKING TO POTENTIAL NEW SHIRT SPONSORS

Chelsea are actively talking to potential new shirt partners as they enter the final year of their deal with Yokohama Tyres, according to the Athletic.

The Blues’£200 million (US$46.4 million), five-year deal with the Japanese tyre company was the second biggest in the Premier League when it was signed in 2015, but it has since been matched or eclipsed by top six rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. Manchester United’s £53 million (US$65.3 million) a year contract with Chevrolet is the most lucrative in the top flight.

Chelsea and their current partner reportedly held discussions about renewing their deal beyond 2020 during the club’s pre-season tour to Japan, which featured a match in Yokohama against Kawasaki Frontale - a request the sponsor had apparently been asking for since the partnership started.

With the deal set to run out at the end of the season, Chelsea, apparently with Yokohama’s ‘knowledge and understanding’, have been testing the market. The Athletic report added that it has seen communication between the club and one unnamed company regarding the inventory.

As an established member of the Premier League’s elite, Chelsea remain an attractive commercial proposition. In 2016 they agreed a kit deal with Nike worth a reported UK£60 million a season over 15 years and their six-year, UK£50 million (US$64.4 million) Hyundai sleeve sponsorship signed in 2018 also places them amongst the league’s highest commercial earners.

US Open: Bianca Andreescu Stuns Serena Williams

19-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open defeating the six-time champion 6-3 7-5 to celebrate a memorable main draw debut at Flushing Meadows as Williams suffered her fourth Grand Slam final defeat since the birth of her first child in September 2017.

Bianca denied the American a 24th major, Williams, 37, did not cope with the 19-year-old's quality in a 6-3 7-5 loss. 15th seed Andreescu, in the main draw for the first time, blew a double break in the second set before taking her third match point and falling to the ground in disbelief.

The teenager, who had lost in the first round of US Open qualifying last year, came into the final without a defeat in a completed match since March 2 and found the willpower to fire a forehand winner on her third championship point to cause a huge Grand Slam shock.

"This year has been a dream come true," Andreescu told the crowd.

"I am beyond grateful and truly blessed. I've worked really hard for this moment. To play on this stage against Serena - a true legend of the sport - is amazing.