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>TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 24: Russell Martin #55 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from behind home plate on Players Weekend during MLB game action against the Philadelphia Phillies at Rogers Centre on August 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) The Toronto Blue Jays traded catcher Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, severing links to the lineup that twice went to the ALCS. On Oct. 12, 2015, in a preview of the baseball postseason, Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the core of the Toronto Blue Jays roster. Dubbing them “The New Jacks,” the six players shown on the cover, with manager John Gibbons in the center, marked a return to prominence of the Blue Jays franchise. That era, which contained so much promise in 2015, ended on Friday when the Jays traded catcher Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers, SS Ronny Brito and RHP Andrew Sopko. Martin was the last of those six players still left with the team. Edwin Encarnacion is now in Seattle, Troy Tulowitzki signed with the New York Yankees, David Price is leading Boston to World Series titles, Josh Donaldson is an Atlanta Brave, while Jose Bautista remains a free agent after spending last year with the Mets and Phillies. Even Gibbons is gone, let go after the 2018 season and replaced by Charlie Montoyo. Martin was one of the last links to that 2015 team that won the franchise’s first division title in 22 years. The Blue Jays led the majors that year in runs scored before falling in the ALCS to the Kansas City Royals. The following season, with the lineup virtually intact, they returned to the ALCS only to lose once again to the Cleveland Indians. The Blue Jays of the past two seasons, however, barely resembled that team. They’ve finished fourth in the AL East each year, managing to win 76 and 73 games, respectively. As the wins have gone away, so have the fans. The Blue Jays led the AL in attendance in both 2016 and 2017, drawing more than three million through the gate at Rogers Centre. Last year, however, attendance fell to 2.3 million, the largest drop in the majors. In November, agent Scott Boras charged the team with having “Blue Flu” for not investing in star players. Martin, a native of Montreal, returned to Canada to sign with the Jays in 2015. He played 447 games in Toronto over four seasons, hitting 66 home runs and driving in 211. But as the Blue Jays focus on developing their young talent, players like the 35-year-old Martin are no longer part of the team’s plans. Rookie Danny Jansen is poised to be the everyday catcher in 2019. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., 25, has taken over at shortstop. And Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the No. 1 prospect in baseball, is expected to make his debut at third base in April. Team CEO Mark Shapiro says they’re optimistic about their long-term progress, but insists fans have to be patient as these young players develop. “I don’t think you can cheat the process,” Shapiro said at the Winter Meetings last month. “Player development…is not linear. You hope that it goes gradually up, but it’s going to have ups and downs. And so you’ve got to be patient.” The players on that SI cover, their wide smiles reflecting the optimism that surrounded that team, are now all gone. All Blue Jays fans are left with now are thoughts of what could have been for that team, and the hope that the new generation will return Toronto to that level of greatness.<doc-sep>Blue Jays fan favourite Russell Martin, born and raised in Canada, said farewell to Toronto in a heartfelt Instagram message after Friday’s trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers: “I want to thank the Blue Jays organization from top to bottom for the opportunity to play in my home country for the last 4 years. It was truly an amazing ride! I’ll miss this great team and staff. I am now looking forward to being back with the Dodgers where it all began for me. I would like to extend a very special thanks to the Toronto fans that followed me every step of the way. I am truly grateful for your continued support.” The 35-year-old catcher has had quite a career, which will continue with the franchise where it all began in 2002: Nine trips to the post-season, including two with the Blue Jays in 2015 and 2016. Four appearances in the MLB all-star game. Caught 10 innings in the 2008 mid-season showcase. What do you think? Half of the first French-Canadian battery in major league history with Eric Gagne as a Dodger in 2006. Starred for Canada at the 2009 World Baseball Classic in Toronto. One of a record three New York Yankees to hit a grand slam in a 22-9 rout of the Oakland A’s in 2011. One of just 11 catchers in MLB history to record 11,000 career putouts. Acted as manager for his final game as a Blue Jay. Proud Canadian Russell Martin posted his Blue Jays farewell message on Instagram in both official languages. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Read more about:<doc-sep>
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 18: Russell Martin #55 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning during MLB game action against the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre on June 18, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) Full details, figures, and quotes that have recently surfaced regarding the impactful trade that sent catcher Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for two prospects. Updated Financial Terms According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, who was on a conference call with Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins shortly after the trade was announced, the Jays will be sending $16.4 million to the Dodgers to cover the majority of his $20 million salary in 2019. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic and Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com confirmed the dollar amount. Therefore, the Dodgers will be responsible for $3.6 million of Martin’s remaining salary. Previously, Nicholson-Smith had estimated that the Blue Jays would be on the hook for between $16 million and $18 million. Earlier in the offseason, it had been suggested by numerous insiders that the Jays were open about being willing to eat a substantial portion of Martin’s 2019 salary. Ross Atkins: “Discussions were ongoing” Before the deal with the Dodgers came together, Ross Atkins had “ongoing discussions” with several teams before ultimately trading Martin to Los Angeles, per Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. TSN’s Scott Mitchell also notes that Atkins kept “Martin informed throughout the trade process”. Mitchell also says that Atkins spoke highly of Martin, calling him “one of the toughest individuals he’s ever watched play the game”. Martin: “I am truly grateful” In a message posted on his official Twitter page (in both English and French), Martin spoke to Blue Jays fans and staff saying that he would “like to extend a very special thanks to the Toronto fans that followed [him] every step of the way”. Excited about once again joining the Dodgers, the team that originally drafted him in 2002, Martin said he is “looking forward to being back with the Dodgers where it all began”.