SUNDAY-APRIL 18, 2021 Sport 05 Billie Jean King Cup: British captain Anne Harry Kane at the double Keothavong has praised newcomer Jodie Burrage as Gylfi Sigurdsson brace Great Britain's Billie Jean "She's bounced into the team and she's got a big personality. Jodie in many ways is a breath of fresh air King Cup captain Anne because she's very likeable, she gets on with it. Keothavong says the arrival of "There are no difficulties there; she does everything that's been asked of her and she's improved a lot so not enough for Toffees Jodie Burrage into the squad has she deserves her place on this team." been like a "breath of fresh air". Harry Kane emphatically The draw leaves Everton in goal before the break but that sec- Heather Watson and Katie punished two defensive errors eighth, six points outside the ond goal eluded them as Loris de- Boulter were selected as the sin- before suffering an ankle injury as fourth and final Champions nied James and Richarlison, be- gles players for their play-off Tottenham and Everton played League spot, while Spurs remain fore Ben Godfrey fired wide after against Mexico at the National out a thrilling 2-2 draw which did a point and place ahead in sev- James' brilliantly free-kick reached Tennis Centre where victory little for either sides' European enth. him unmarked at the back post. would give Britain another shot ambitions. With victory imperative for The Toffees started the sec- at reaching the elite finals week in After an uneventful opening Everton and Spurs' respective ond half brightly, but it was Spurs 2022. 27 minutes at Goodison Park, challenges for European football, who fashioned the early openings, Burrage, 21, has been show- Michael Keane's costly defensive a coy and cautious first 25 min- with Heung-Min Son thwarted by ing impressive form since last header set up Kane to ruthlessly utes unfolded at Goodison, with a fine smothering save from the summer when she partnered volley Spurs into the lead, but Richarlison drawing Lloris into a returning Jordan Pickford before former world No 1 Andy Murray Everton hit back inside four min- decent save with 22 minutes on Toby Alderweireld glanced a head- in the Battle of the Brits event utes when Gylfi Sigurdsson con- the clock. But the deadlock was er against the post from a corner. held at the NTC. verted a penalty after Sergio unlocked by a defensive mistake Everton had a second goal cor- She is currently No 241 in the Reguilon had fouled James Rod- and clinical finishing from one of rectly chalked off for offside when world and chasing her career-high riguez in the area. the Premier League's most lethal Richarlison converted after latch- singles ranking of No 233 after Everton were superior in ev- marksman. ing onto Allan's ball over the top, claiming the women's 25k ITF ti- ery department from there on and Seconds after throwing his but the Toffees did not have to tle in Dubai at the start of this took a deserved lead shortly after body in the way out Tanguy wait much longer to take a de- month. the hour when Sigurdsson haunt- Ndombele's shot from the edge of served lead. Her form left Keothavong ed his former club again with a the box, Everton defender Keane Minutes after entering the with little doubt that she can per- clinical finish from Seamus Cole- misjudged the Spurs midfielder's fray, substitute Seamus Coleman form on the big stage. man's cutback. But just as Spurs cross from the left and took his injected pace into the Everton at- "Her results speak for itself," had relinquished their first-half centre-back partner Holgate out tack, playing a one-two with Ri- Keothavong said. "She has just lead, the Toffees gifted Kane his of the crucial glancing touch on charlison in a slick move which won another Challenger in Dubai second six minutes later when a the ball. ended with Sigurdsson doubling a couple of weeks ago. She's im- defensive mix-up between Keane Keane's touch presented his tally with an exquisite first- proved a lot. and Mason Holgate ricocheted the Kane with the ball unmarked six time finish into the Spurs net. "I've been able to watch her in ball into the path of the England yards from goal, and the Spurs But Everton were architects the Battle of the Brits which al- international, and he rifled an un- striker took his tally for the sea- of their own downfall six minutes lows us time with the players. stoppable volley into the top cor- son to 20 goals for the fifth time later as Keane and Holgate collid- ner. Everton could have snatched with an incredible first touch and ed, and the ball fell for Kane to all three points at the death but ruthless volley into the bottom. rifle his 164th Premier League goal Japan: substitute Josh King was thwart- Spurs' lead would last barely into the top corner to overtake Nadal World champion ed by Hugo Lloris before Richar- four minutes, though, with Robbie Fowler in the all-time scor- lison blazed the rebound over, Reguilon adjudged to have clipped ing charts. Before his late injury, beaten by Coleman's ban reduced but Olympics though a late ankle injury to Kane James heels in the area before the Kane nearly completed his hat- was of greater concern to Spurs Colombian could bring a cross trick but his glancing header could still with just nine days to go until the under control. Up stepped former clipped the outside of post, be- Rublev in he still misses Olympics Carabao Cup final. Spurs man Sigurdsson, sending fore Everton squandered their Harry Kane could be a doubt Lloris the wrong way with a clin- chance of snatching all three World 100 metres champion be cancelled for the Carabao Cup final next ical spot-kick as Everton main- points when King was denied by Monte Christian Coleman had his two- weekend after limping off towards tained their flawless penalty con- Lloris and Richarlison fired hope- year ban for breaching anti-dop- over the end of Tottenham's 2-2 draw version record this season. lessly over with an open goal at ing whereabouts rules reduced to with Everton. Everton laid siege to the Spurs his mercy. Carlo 18 months by the Court of Arbi- tration for Sport (CAS) on Fri- COVID quarter- day but will still be ineligible for the Tokyo Olympics. Coleman's ban, which was due fears finals to run until May 13 2022, will Toshihiro Nikai, the ruling Rafa Nadal suffered a shock now end on Nov. 14, meaning he Liberal Democratic Party’s num- quarter-final defeat by Russian will miss the July 23-Aug. 8 To- ber two, said on Thursday the Andrey Rublev at the Monte kyo Games but can return to com- Olympics must be cancelled Carlo Masters on Friday as he petition in time to defend his “without hesitation” if the virus was overpowered 6-2 4-6 6-2, world indoor and outdoor titles situation is too severe. only his sixth ever loss at the tour- next year. A year after their historic The sprinter had been given a nament he has won 11 times. postponement, the 2020 Olym- two-year suspension by an inde- The Spaniard was in danger pic Games remain beset by pan- pendent tribunal of track and of being thrashed when Rublev demic problems, with parts of the field's Athletics Integrity Unit torch relay forced behind closed led by a break in the second set, ruling and said the decision con- (AIU) in October last year. doors and public support consis- having dominated the opener, but firmed that athletes needed to take He appealed against his ban tently low. showed his trademark grit to bat- their whereabouts responsibilities in November. Organisers and Olympic offi- tle back. seriously. "Christian Coleman's appeal cials insist the Games will go Rublev was unrelenting, how- "No-notice out-of-competi- was partially upheld and he will ahead safely, but Nikai said all ever, and bludgeoned his way into tion testing is a fundamental pil- serve a reduced period of ineligi- options were on the table. a 5-1 lead in the second set after lar of the World Anti-Doping bility of 18 months as from May “We need to make a decision break the Nadal serve three times. Code and is only possible with 14 2020," CAS said in a statement depending on the situation at the Nadal held serve but the 23-year- strict enforcement of whereabouts on Friday. time,” he told TBS television net- old world number eight then fin- requirements," Brett Clothier, CAS said its Panel had deter- work. “We need to cancel it with- ished it off with a crushing fore- head of the AIU, said. mined Coleman had committed an out hesitation if they’re no longer hand winner. "It is not sufficient for ath- Mercedes ahead of Red Bull at anti-doping violation but found possible.” letes to be near their indicated lo- It was Rublev's first win his "degree of negligence to be Asked if he considered can- cation and to rely on being called against Nadal and the first time lower than that established in the cellation an option, Nikai said: by the doping control officer. The Imola, but are they favourites? The had managed to win a set. challenged decision".