Konta, Murray advance to Open semis
Johanna Konta became the first British woman to make a Grand Slam semifinal in 33 years, defeating Chinese qualifier Shuai Zhang 6-4, 6-1 in a quarterfinal match at the Australian Open on Wednesday in Melbourne.
Her semifinal opponent will be seventh-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany, a 6-3, 7-5 winner vs. 14th-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, a two-time Australian Open singles champ.
“It will be my first match against Angelique, she’s top 10, she’s an incredibly decorated and successful competitor and player,” Konta said. “I’m really just hoping to go out there and bring to the court what I can, try my best and see how it goes.”
In men’s singles quarterfinals Wednesday, second-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland topped eighth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3. Murray, a finalist in Melbourne last year, is aiming for his first Australian Open title. He won the U.S. Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013.
Murray prevailed in a 3-hour, 20-minute battle to make his sixth semifinal in Australia.
Murray’s semifinal opponent will be 13th-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada, who beat 23rd-seeded Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Giants player had high level of CTE
Former New York Giants safety Tyler Sash, who died in September at age 27 from an accidental overdose of pain medication, had a high level of CTE.
The New York Times reported the findings from researchers at Boston University after Sash’s family donated his brain to be studied for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Times reported that “representatives from Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation notified the Sash family that CTE had been diagnosed in Tyler’s brain and that the disease, which can only be confirmed only posthumously, had advanced to a stage rarely seen in someone his age.”
The CTE scale rates severity from 0 to 4 and Sash had progressed to Stage 2, according to the Times report, and that is about the same stage Junior Seau was at when he committed suicide at age 43.
Sash played only two years in the NFL, with 23 regular-season appearances and four in the postseason. He appeared in 37 games at the University of Iowa.
Super Bowl officials named
Clete Blakeman was named the referee for the seven-man officiating crew assigned to work Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., the NFL announced Wednesday.
Blakeman, who is in his eighth season as an NFL game official, worked the NFC divisional playoff game earlier this month between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers that included a controversial re-flip of the coin toss before overtime.
Joining Blakeman on the crew are Jeff Rice (umpire), Wayne Mackie (head linesman), Rusty Baynes (line judge), Boris Cheek (field judge), Scott Edwards (side judge) and Keith Ferguson (back judge).
The replay official is Charles Stewart and the replay assistant is Jimmy Oldham.
Bruins assign Pastrnak to AHL
The Boston Bruins sent forward David Pastrnak to Providence of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.
Pastrnak heads to the minor leagues during the NHL All-Star Game break after playing in 18 games for the Bruins so far this season. The team’s 2014 first-round NHL Draft pick has five goals, four assists and 10 penalty minutes in the NHL.
Earlier this season, Pastrnak played in two games for Providence and had one point. The 19-year-old has 15 career goals and 21 assists in 64 games for the Bruins.