New York – Austrian ninth seed Dominic Thiem reached his first US Open quarter-final on Sunday with a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) win over 2017 runner-up Kevin Anderson.

Thiem, the runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in June, will next face the world number one again after the defending champion defeated Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4.

Thiem will be playing in his fourth Slam quarter-final but first outside of the French Open where he was a semi-finalist in 2016 and 2017 before this year’s run to the championship match.

“It’s a dream coming true,” said Thiem, who had two match points against Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round last year but fell to the Argentine in five sets.

“I was really close last year, I couldn’t close it out,” said Thiem, who offered thanks to an appreciative Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd.

“Last year whole stadium was full of Argentinians. You guys were on my side so it was great.”

His progress to the last-eight in New York comes despite choosing to play European clay court events after Wimbledon before then losing his only summer hard court outing in Cincinnati to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

He said the roomy court in the new stadium worked to his advantage as he dealt with Anderson’s big serves.

“I could go far back on the return which helped me, it’s a little bit like on clay,” said Thiem, who called the victory “one of my best matches ever.”

Cape Town – South African sprint sensation Wayde van Niekerk says that he is “pain free” and back running as he continues to recover from a lengthy knee injury. 

READ: Wayde’s injury a ‘knucklehead’ moment

Van Niekerk, who stunned the world at the 2016 Rio Olympics by breaking Michael Johnson’s world record in the 400m, has been sidelined since October when he tore the meniscus and ACL in his right knee while playing a celebrity touch rugby match at Newlands ahead of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks. 

It was a freak injury, and one that has threatened to ruin Van Niekerk’s career. 

He is nowhere near a return to competition yet, but Van Niekerk took to Twitter on Thursday to provide an update on his condition and the signs were positive. 

“Back to the basics. Breakthrough – today was day 1 running again. Pain free and blessed,” Van Niekerk wrote. 

Back to the basics. Breakthrough – today was day 1 running again. Pain free and blessed. ???????? #QuietStorm #WaydeWasHere #OutOfReach #Pray1st #Adidas #DiscoveryVitality #AudiZA #RichardMille #TSystems pic.twitter.com/mXRtNrmg9l

— Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) August 30, 2018

Johannesburg – The Blue Bulls scrumhalf Andre Warner isn’t a man to mince his words. 

While his team came unstuck by their own doing at King’s Park on Saturday in their Currie Cup match, their next outing at Loftus Versfeld against neighbours, the Lions is one of utmost importance to him and his team-mates, according to supersport.com website. 

“We owe the Lions one so we are looking forward to Saturday being at home again. A short competition, only six rounds, so it is a big game for us, especially at home,” he said on Monday, underlining the importance of the game to his side after their blip against the Sharks. 

The Bulls aren’t too upset about their opening two fixtures, winning handsomely away from home in Bloemfontein before coming unstuck in Durban. But it is their own mistakes that cost them a chance in Durban as they had more than enough chances that were fluffed.

“Ja we had a good start in Bloem and our confidence was high against the Sharks. I think we did good stuff in the game, and if we took more opportunities. We had more opportunities to win the game, and that is a great positive for us. Today the guys got here and they were a bit down, but we sorted it out and we are positive again and we’re looking forward to the weekend,” he added.

“We reviewed it in the video and I think it was a combination of what we did in the week last week. We had a few handling errors in training and sometimes that creeps into the game. And sometimes you aren’t mentally in the right space. We made small mistakes and that cost us over the weekend.” 

Warner said he was looking forward to facing Springbok Ross Cronje this weekend. 

“It is a great opportunity always, every opportunity that you get to play is always great, especially against a guy like Ross. I respect him a lot, he had a good game against Griquas. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he added. 

And while he is the third scrumhalf of three young stars the Bulls have, Warner isn’t too disheartened by the fact that Ivan van Zyl and Embrose Papier have both become Springboks in recent times. 

“It’s a difficult question. We are a tight group of guys, and especially scrumhalves and we learn from each other. Me and Ivan have been playing against each other for years. Papier has also come into the mix, talented guys, I’m happy for them. It is tough for me but I am happy for them. I will always keep on fighting for an opportunity. It’s tough but I am happy for the guys. I know if I get the opportunity they will be happy for me.” 

Warner’s kicking game has been one of his strong points. And he hopes to use it well this weekend once again. 

“Ja always. It has always been part of the Bulls game plan. It comes down to execution. If you execute it and put it in the right areas, if it is contestable. We want our wings to get up in the air and we feel that even if it is not a 50-50 kick, we use it as a way to relieve pressure on us and put it on them. 

“We just need to play the situation, that is what we need to pride on. Coach Hayden Groepes, that is what he tells us every week, don’t go say you will kick every ball, you’ve still got to play the opportunity. If the opportunity is on to run, we will run it. But if the opportunity is to relieve pressure, it is our jobs as 9s and 10s to get us out of our half.” 

Against the Lions though, he believes his forwards need to take control and stop the Lions from getting their maul going. 

“I think to stay in the fight. They have a good set piece, we need to stop their set piece. Their scrum and they have good mauls. I think they score the most maul tries in Super Rugby. Marvin Orie is still playing and that is a big part of us. But our forwards will sort that out – Lood and coach Pote (Human) will sort that out. Just stay in the moment and if the opportunity arises, we have to take it, not like last weekend against the Sharks. 

“We are confident, not one guy in our team doubts himself. That is something that comes from coach Pote. He speaks every week about not playing with fear. Even with the weekend where there was a few mistakes, the guys will still go out there with no fear. No pressure on them and I feel that brings the best out of the player.” 

The Lions have had a significant advantage over the Bulls, beating them twice in Super Rugby this year.

Read the story on SuperSport

Wellington – As the All Blacks celebrated going to the top of the Rugby Championship table Sunday, they were also pondering a new-look line-up for their next match against Argentina.

READ: Bok ratings: Far too much ‘4/10’!

Argentina’s 32-19 victory over South Africa left the All Blacks the only unbeaten side in the competition after the first two rounds.

But having stuck to his best available players for the 38-13 and 40-12 back-to-back wins over Australia, which also saw New Zealand secure the Bledisloe Cup for a 16th-straight year, coach Steve Hansen said the time was right to test new combinations.

“Obviously, we’ve got people we have to develop and grow,” he said, with the Rugby Championship the start of a long-range preparation for the World Cup which is more than a year away.

“The Argentinian game is not a Bledisloe Cup game so it gives us an opportunity to muck around.

“Not to the point where we’re disrespectful to Argentina, more to the point of growing the talent we have.”

Shannon Frizell and Jackson Hemopo, who debuted against France in June, did not make the match-day 23 in either Test against the Wallabies, and either one could come in for consideration for the Argentina Test in Nelson on September 8.

Uncapped scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Luke Whitelock, Richie Mo’unga and Nehe Milner-Skudder are also in the squad and waiting their turn.

The experienced Dane Coles, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty and Rieko Ioane are on the injured list with some expected to return soon.

One-Test flyhalf Mo’unga had the distinction of outplaying Beauden Barrett as he guided the Crusaders to the Super Rugby crown this year.

But Hansen said Barrett’s “special” four-try performance against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday showed why the Hurricanes’ pivot is number one.

“I understand everyone getting excited about Richie Mo’unga because we’re excited about him. He’s an outstanding young man and an outstanding young player and he’s going to be great as the years go by,” Hansen said.

“But you can’t buy experience and you can’t buy moments in the middle and Beauden’s had those and we saw what happens when those click together.”

Barrett, who also served a long apprenticeship behind Dan Carter, was hailed by the All Blacks for his record-breaking effort against the Wallabies.

With his rapid acceleration and eye for a gap he became the first flyhalf to score four tries in a Test.

His match haul of 30 points, which also included five conversions, broke the previous record of 29 by a New Zealander against Australia set by Andrew Mehrtens in 1999.

Scrumhalf TJ Perenara believed that what set Barrett apart was “probably his top two inches” when steering the All Blacks around the park.

“Yes, he’s amazing with what he can do out on the field, but his top two inches and calmness he brings to everyone else is what makes him special,” Perenara said.

“There are always going to be people who try and knock people down. Sometimes when he does stuff on the field I just look at him in awe. But the work he puts in through the week enables him to do that sort of stuff.

“Baz (Barrett) couldn’t care less (about his critics). He knows his ability.”

Cape Town – Former South African Test fast bowler Morne Morkel emerged loud and proud after playing a key role in Surrey’s tight-six run victory over Lancashire in the County Championship Division One this week.

Morkel, who ended a lengthy international career earlier this year, has since become a star peformer for in English county cricket.

Wednesday’s telling haul of 6/57 epitomised his talent and form – and spearheaded the hosts to triumph in London.

“That’s one of the best games of cricket I’ve ever been involved in. It was nail-biting right to the end and we rolled the dice at the interval by opting to take the second new ball,” he said.

“We knew it would be easier to score off, but it was a gamble worth taking and it paid off. It was also great to be able to contribute with the bat in both our innings.”

He has played a key role in Surrey’s Vitality Blast campaign, too, building on several years of experienced gained in the Indian Premier League with the Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. The lanky right-armer has also represented the St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League.