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>TCU will not have a spring football game this year because of injuries and limited depth, coach Gary Patterson told local reporters on Tuesday. Patterson said the Horned Frogs are practicing this spring with about half of the 85 scholarship players allowed, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The team had hoped to host a spring game (it was scheduled for Saturday), but a rash of injuries and limited roster numbers while the team awaits incoming freshmen and transfers who won't arrive until the summer have made it difficult. The Horned Frogs, who are coming off a 7-6 season including a win in the Cheez-It Bowl over Cal, were hit hard by injuries last season as well. Patterson said last November that 35 players missed four or more games in the 2018 season, according to the Dallas Morning News. TCU opens the 2019 season on Aug. 31, hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Amon G. Carter Stadium.<doc-sep>
Earlier this week, TCU Football revealed it would be forced to cancel its spring game this year, due to a rash of injuries that have ravished their numbers. That revelation was, of course, disappointing to Frog fans, as spring games have become some of the most fan-friendly events in college sports. Well, GP doesn’t want to disappoint his fans, so in lieu of a spring game, he is conceding something even more rare - opening up the final practice of spring to the public. TCU Football with a little April fun, we will finish the 2019 Spring Ball practices with #15 being a Open practice to the public! We will have some controlled good on good situations with the finishing of this final practice! Come join us! — Gary Patterson (@TCUCoachP) April 4, 2019 You heard @TCUCoachP! Spring practice #️⃣1️⃣5️⃣ is open to the public! Tomorrow ⏰ 5:00 PM The Carter ‍♂️ Gates 1 & 10 West Side Seating Photo or Video pic.twitter.com/xvemE4ELS2 — TCU Football (@TCUFootball) April 4, 2019 With construction ongoing at Amon G Carter, only the west side will be open to the public. The event is free to any and all comers, but TCU Football kindly requests (demands) that there be no photo or video taken (GP is notoriously paranoid about such things). Practice #15 will be held Friday, April 5th at 5:00pm at Amon G. Carter Stadium. This may be your one and only chance to see a TCU Football practice, so be sure to put it in your weekend plans!