Blues Coach McDonald Lauds Barrett Display After ‘Harsh’ Criticism

Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
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Blues Coach McDonald Lauds Barrett Display After ‘Harsh’ Criticism

Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo

Auckland Blues coach Leon McDonald praised Beauden Barrett after the All Blacks playmaker overcame a week in which his form was questioned to lead his side to a 54-17 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

Barrett came under intense scrutiny after a disappointing performance in last week's loss to the Waikato Chiefs with McDonald calling the criticism "pretty harsh" after the Blues returned to winning ways.

"I thought his game was fantastic," said McDonald, Reuters reported.

"The sign of the champion that he is, he didn't flinch the whole week. I thought he was fantastic in the way he led our team, drove the strategy really well and he just got on with his business.

"I thought today he kicked really well. It wasn't easy conditions out there, it was quite greasy yet he still had the confidence to play which was really good to see as well."

Barrett played a part in several of his team's nine tries as the Blues put on a strong showing to claim a bonus point win, although the 31-year-old continued to struggle with his kicking from the tee with six misses from 10 attempts.

That mattered little as the Blues were utterly dominant in the second half and go into a bye week with McDonald upbeat as his team sit in fifth after seven rounds.

"We haven't been playing as well as we would like, so we had to turn the dial up in training and put some hard yards in just to make sure we finish this block on the right note and get the result that we needed," he said.

"I think the guys have earned a good rest and hopefully we can come back and take some of this momentum into the second half of the season because it's all to play for."



Shelton Tops Tiafoe on Sweltering Night in Washington

Ben Shelton of the United States returns a shot against Frances Tiafoe of the United States during the men's singles match on day 5 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ben Shelton of the United States returns a shot against Frances Tiafoe of the United States during the men's singles match on day 5 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Shelton Tops Tiafoe on Sweltering Night in Washington

Ben Shelton of the United States returns a shot against Frances Tiafoe of the United States during the men's singles match on day 5 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ben Shelton of the United States returns a shot against Frances Tiafoe of the United States during the men's singles match on day 5 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Ben Shelton beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(2) 6-4 in an electrifying match at the Washington Open on Friday to advance to the semifinals on a day marked by suffocating humidity in the nation's capital.

Shelton blasted an ace on match point to seal the win and avenge his five-set loss to Tiafoe at last year's US Open as the 22-year-old continues to make strides in his breakout season.

Hometown hero Tiafoe had the support of the energized crowd but lost momentum when he was unable to serve out the first set while up 6-5, leading to a tiebreak that Shelton dominated.

The second set hinged on a marathon game at 3-3, where Shelton pocketed a break thanks to a Tiafoe double fault.

Shelton rode his huge lefty serve from there to grab the win and set up a semi-final meeting with either top seed Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

"It was a tough one for sure but enjoyable nonetheless," Shelton told Tennis Channel.

"I love playing against Foe. Difficult guy to play against but playing him here in the US, especially being here in DC, it was packed, it was a great atmosphere. I couldn't be happier."

Earlier, tournament lucky loser Corentin Moutet stunned Russia's Daniil Medvedev 6-1 4-6 4-6 in a wild match interrupted by an hour-long delay due to the threat of thunderstorms.

Moutet, leading 5-4 in the final set when they returned to the court, was hobbled by leg cramps but completed the upset in a final game that featured three double faults by Medvedev and a frantic match point.

The Frenchman fell on his back in relief after securing the victory as Medvedev threw his racket and proceeded to take out his frustration on several water bottles, drawing boos from the crowd.

"That is a great way to finish the match," said world number 59 Moutet.

"I was with my coach when we were up 5-4 and I said okay, I have to win the next game because my body cannot handle too much more."

Moutet will face Australian seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who was a 6-4 6-4 winner over Brandon Nakashima.

On the women's side, Canadian Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu both overcame the stifling heat and their opponents to advance to the semifinals, setting up a potential rematch of the 2021 US Open final that was won by the Englishwoman.

For that to happen Raducanu, who beat Maria Sakkari in straight sets on Friday, will have to best Russian Anna Kalinskaya.

Fernandez takes on third seed Elena Rybakina in the semis of the ATP and WTA 500 event on Saturday.