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>The Odell Beckham Jr. catch remains at the top, since it resulted in a touchdown, but this one-handed snag by Jaguars receiver Keelan Cole from today’s game against the Patriots is outrageous. Advertisement Cole only needed to grasp the nose of the ball to complete a 22-yard reception over Pats corner Eric Rowe. Color commentator Tony Romo was practically tumescent: Rowe had no clue which side the ball was coming from. Here’s another view: Cole once again toasted Rowe at the end of the drive, as he caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bortles to give the Jaguars a 14-0 lead. The WR ran into the tunnel and tossed the football into the elated, very sweaty Jacksonville crowd.<doc-sep>Keelan Cole made one of the most ridiculous catches you'll ever see. It's Week 2, but Jaguars wide receiver Keelan Cole may have already secured what could be the best catch of the NFL season. In the first quarter against the Patriots on Sunday, Cole made an absurd one-handed catch over Logan Ryan. The young wideout faded his route towards the numbers, when quarterback Blake Bortles's pass soared into view. Cole used his right hand to reach into the air, then clung onto the ball, running a few more yards before tumbling to the ground for a 22-yard gain. Cole never used his left hand to secure the pass. Cole would cap off the drive by snagging his first touchdown of the year, hauling in a 24-yard pass from Bortles to give the Jaguars a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Cole beat Ryan again, sprinting into the tunnel beyond the end zone in celebration. It was quite the start for both Jacksonville and Cole.<doc-sep>Keelan Cole had himself an Odell Beckham Jr. moment on Sunday. During the first quarter of the Jaguars’ Week 2 game against the Patriots, Blake Bortles’ pass was slightly behind Cole down the Patriots sideline. It didn’t matter, though, because Cole turned into a superhuman and made the catch with one hand. Seriously, how? KEELAN COLE ARE YOU SERIOUS? pic.twitter.com/cdVUCQorA4 — SB Nation (@SBNation) September 16, 2018 But keep an eye on Cole after that catch. He appeared to turn and give Patriots coach Bill Belichick a staredown. KEELAN COLE WITH THE STAREDOWN AT BELICHICK AFTER THIS AMAZING CATCH #JAGUARS pic.twitter.com/vQcVMIWuLZ — marhsim (@marhsim) September 16, 2018 As if the moment wasn’t already epic enough, Cole would finish up the drive with a touchdown reception.<doc-sep>
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Keelan Cole made one of the best catches you will ever see in the first quarter of their game against the New England Patriots. Cole was able to leap over the Patriots’ defensive back and bring the pass in with one hand. Cole’s catch resembled Odell Beckham’s famous catch on Sunday Night Football from his rookie year. This Keelan Cole catch might be one of the best ever @NFLpic.twitter.com/A1TMZcvuTK — SB Nation (@SBNation) September 16, 2018 Making big plays isn’t anything new to Cole. He was second in the NFL last year with 17.8 yards per completion. Some players just have a knack for those, and Cole appears to be one of them. Cole caught 7 of 8 targets for a game-high 116 yards, including a couple of key third-down conversions. He also caught a 24-yard touchdown in the first half to help give Jacksonville a 21-3 lead at halftime. Doug Farrar caught up with Cole after the game and he said he just did what he was supposed to do on the play. “Really, all I was supposed to do was to run straight,” he said. “Blake was just going to throw the ball, and I was just going to catch it. It sounds real simple, but that’s what it was. That’s one of my strengths—my speed, and then getting open. It’s something we used on that play—[quarterback] Blake [Bortles] threw the ball, and I made a play. That’s all it really was. Tried to make a catch on my one-on-one, and took advantage of it.” Unlike in the AFC Championship game earlier this year, the Jaguars didn’t let up in the second half. This time, they got the win — and it was in small part to Cole helping create big plays for the Jags.