The Telegraph Two of the surprise packages of this clay-court season have been British – initially Dan Evans, who made a deep run in Monte Carlo, and more lately Cameron Norrie, who played his second final in three weeks on Sunday. Unfortunately, Norrie wasn’t able to land a maiden ATP title in Lyon. But then he was up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been the dominant force of 2021 outside the slams, and now stands at No 1 in the table of most rankings points gained since January 1. Nevertheless, it had been a hugely creditable effort for Norrie to go this far, especially when you consider that he took out top seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday, and then trounced big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in Saturday’s semi-final, losing only two games in the process. Norrie has come to clay late in his career, but it feels like this is developing into his favourite surface. He has one of the heaviest left-handed forehands in the game, loaded with top-spin, and uses it like a miniature version of Rafael Nadal. The result has been a tally of 14 wins and only four losses since he began his European clay-court swing in Barcelona. So while the French Open, which starts next Sunday, has traditionally been a graveyard of British hopes, there are reasons to hope that this year’s event could deliver some more positive results. Norrie’s previous final in Estoril had been a nervewracking affair which he eventually lost on a deciding-set tie-break to the more experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Sunday was more straightforward for Tsitsipas, who needed only 69 minutes to hammer home a 6-3, 6-3 victory. It was Tsitsipas’ second title of the clay-court sequence, after he won Monte Carlo in mid-April, taking out Evans in the semi-final along the way. He has become a serious contender to upset the establishment – specifically Nadal and Novak Djokovic – at Roland Garros over the next few weeks. “I felt in good shape from the beginning of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I am proud of today’s match, I knew it would be a difficult one against Cameron, who has been showing great tennis this week. He has been winning against good players and showing what the left hand can do on clay. “It was not an easy match today. I had to handle the nerves and I am proud of my performance and the way I stayed focused towards my goal.” On this year’s results, meanwhile, both Evans and Norrie stand among the world’s 20 most successful men. Evans is at No 16 and Norrie No 14. The next challenge for them both is to convert that ATP Tour form into a deep run at a major.<doc-sep>A disappointed Correa said he hopes to be back on the field in a day or two. HOUSTON — There’s bad news for the Astros on Opening Day -- even before the first pitch is thrown. Shortstop Carlos Correa is not in the lineup for this afternoon’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays because of a stiff neck, according to Astros.com. “Hopefully, in the next day or two, I’m back on the field,” an obviously disappointed Correa told the Astros’ Brian McTaggert. Correa missed the team’s last two Spring Training games because of his neck problems. “We don’t think it’s a long-term serious issue,” Astros manager AJ Hinch told MLB.com reporter Richard Justice earlier this week. “But I don’t love the fact that we’ve had to scratch him a couple of days and he’s heading into the season having not played for a few days. But it’s the cards we are dealt.” Aledmys Diaz is starting in place of Correa. Photos: Carlos Correa in action 1/28 2/28 3/28 4/28 5/28 6/28 7/28 8/28 9/28 10/28 11/28 12/28 13/28 14/28 15/28 16/28 17/28 18/28 19/28 20/28 21/28 22/28 23/28 24/28 25/28 26/28 27/28 28/28 1 / 28 Photos | History shines at Astros Hall of Fame 1/25 2/25 3/25 4/25 5/25 6/25 7/25 8/25 9/25 10/25 11/25 12/25 13/25 14/25 15/25 16/25 17/25 18/25 19/25 20/25 21/25 22/25 23/25 24/25 25/25 1 / 25<doc-sep>Ahead of Opening Day 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays have revealed their starters for the fist game of the year. Juan Toribio and Brian McTaggart revealed their projected Tampa Bay Rays opening day lineup vs. the Houston Astros’s Justin Verlander in an article for MLB.com as follows: Projected Lineup 1) RF Austin Meadows 2) LF Tommy Pham 3) 1B Ji-Man Choi 4) 3B Yandy Diaz 5) DH Brandon Lowe 6) 2B Joey Wendle 7) CF Kevin Kiermaier 8) C Mike Zunino 9) SS Willy Adames Loading up on left-handed hitters makes sense when facing the right-handed Astros ace, and the Rays are going all out in that regard. This lineup puts almost every lefty on the active roster in the lineup, while leaving a bench of righties Avisail Garcia, Guillermo Heredia, Daniel Robertson, and lefty backup catcher Michael Perez. Interestingly, the Rays appear ready to put righty Yandy Diaz in the 4 hole and in the starting line up. Diaz has not hit for much power in his professional baseball career, which is usually a skill you’d like to see in the middle of the order. However, Yandy has some massive strength and is certainly capable of putting many baseballs over outfield walls if he can elevate his launch angle a bit. Perhaps the Rays believe they can unlock that potential. One more fun note is the bottom third of the lineup. A 7-8-9 of KK, Zunino, Adames puts a speedy baserunner in front of a power hitter, while also putting a fast runner at the bottom of the lineup to act as a 2nd lead off when it turns back over to the top. Will this be what we see in the regular season? Defensively, there aren’t any real surprises here. Overall, this lineup looks like a lot of fun and should do damage to right handed pitchers, Verlander notwithstanding. One more day until real Rays baseball begins... *** Read More: Rays set 25 man roster for Opening Day *** UPDATE — A previous version of this article called this the official line up. It was only the starters who were official, not the batting order. We apologize for the confusion.<doc-sep>The Rays will avoid having to face Houston Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa during this afternoon’s opening-day game. Correa, who is experiencing neck stiffness, is out of the lineup. Astros manager A.J. Hinch described Correa’s status as “day-to-day," saying he expects him to play at some point during the four-game series at Tropicana Field. Correa was injured during a game against the New York Mets last week in West Palm Beach. He felt pain in his neck after landing on his left shoulder while diving in an attempt to tag the Mets’ Michael Conforto during a rundown. Hinch said the injury affects Correa’s hitting more than his fielding. Correa, the American League Rookie of the Year in 2015, was an All-Star in 2017, when the Astros won the World Series. Aledmys Diaz will start in his place.<doc-sep>
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Correa’s quest for a healthy season is derailed. After injuring his neck last week in West Palm Beach and getting scratched from Tuesday’s exhibition against the Pirates, Correa was not in the Astros’ opening day lineup against the Rays on Thursday. Correa arrived to Tropicana Field on Thursday afternoon under the assumption he would play. The shortstop took some swings in the batting cage and said his neck “didn’t feel quite right yet.” “We’re going to be day to day like we always say with these things,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We don’t think it’s an issue that’s going to take a long time but it’s at least going to take another day.” ON TEXAS SPORTS NATION: MLB 2019 - Houston Chronicle staff predictions Both Hinch and Correa were optimistic the 24-year-old infielder would play during this four-game series in Tampa and not require a stint on the injured list. Correa injured himself against the Mets last week in West Palm Beach, diving head over heels in a defensive rundown to tag Michael Conforto. Correa said Thursday he landed on his left shoulder, but the pain is only in his neck. Prior to the incident, Correa orchestrated a masterful offensive spring, showing noticeably more power and range with a swing he acknowledged was broken last season. “My back is 100 percent, I feel stronger and more flexible than I did in 2017,” Correa said. “I feel like my spring training was great. I got my timing down, got my rhythm down, my swing felt right again and I was able to swing and hit some balls hard. I’m very confident about that, very positive about that, but we just have to let this neck heal real quick.” Correa has not played more than 110 games since 2016. His All-Star season in 2017 was derailed by a torn thumb ligament. Last season, back problems plagued him throughout the second half. Despite the cloud cast by the week’s developments, Correa exuded optimism Thursday. He said he “is looking forward to playing 155 plus” and labeled his injury “nothing major.” “It’s not ideal,” Hinch said. “I don’t like losing Carlos Correa.” In Correa’s absence, Hinch placed newly acquired utilityman Aledmys Diaz at shortstop while Alex Bregman remained at third base. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: As season begins, the 2 most important factors for Astros in 2019 Houston plans to shift liberally during this series, Hinch said. Diaz provides more experience on the right side of second base than Bregman. Bregman’s presence playing in at third base against a bunt-happy Rays team also factored in. “I don’t think this is going to be a long-term issue,” Hinch added, speaking of Correa’s neck. “If I thought this was an IL and it was going to be 10 days or 14 days or 18 days, I’d reconfigure it.” THE DAILY PLAYBOOK: Find sports insights, detailed analysis and metrics delivered to your inbox daily.