20 Friday, April 27, 2018 SPORTS Ostapenko takes winning step Nadal eases into on clay into Stuttgart quarters

BarcelonaBarcelona quarters orld number five survived anW almighty scare against outsider Malek Jaziri yesterday to edge into the Barcelona Open quarter-finals beating the Tunisian 7-5 3-6 7-6(8) following a nail-biting tiebreak. Top seed Rafa Nadal, who has won the tournament 10 times, also reached the last eight after dispatching compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1 Ostapenko Stuttgart in action 6-3 and claiming a record- Stuttgart, Germany especially in my country and extending 40th consecutive set oland Garros champion almost every match I played I on clay. Jelena Ostapenko was the favourite. Fellow Spaniard Pablo continuedR to build for her “At the beginning of this Carreno Busta beat Frenchman Paris title defence with a 6-3, year, it was a little bit tough, a Adrian Mannarino 6-2 4-6 7-6 6-0 win over Zarina Diyas lot of pressure but I think I got (8-6) in an another thrilling yesterday at the Stuttgart used to it; especially after the three-setter that had fans on the Grand Prix. Miami final (which she lost to Rafael Nadal court watching The Latvian was joined Sloane Stephens) I’m feeling the world number one turning in the quarter-finals at the much better.” their heads towards the action Porsche arena by fifth seed Pliskova hammered 15 aces unfolding on the adjacent Karolina Pliskova as the Czech as she beat Kudermetova in a Court One. beat Russian qualifier Veronika match that lasted just past the Carreno Busta is ranked 11th Kudermetova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. 90-minute mark. in the world to Mannarino’s Ostapenko, ranked fifth on Tournament debutant and 27th but after blitzing the first the WTA rankings, broke her third seed Elina Svitolina set he succumbed in the second 52nd Kazakh opponent five advanced as Czech qualifier and survived a match point Rafael Nadal in action times as she won in just 63 Marketa Vondrousova retired to take a delicately-poised minutes. trailing 2-6, 6-1, 3-2 in their tiebreak. while Kei Nishikori was forced force the tiebreak. Tunisian found the net to end “The early matches are tough third-round contest. Jaziri, ranked 88th in to retire during his match Dimitrov spurned two a match lasting two hours 49 but I think I played really well “I always need a few weeks the world, hit back against against Garcia-Lopez due to a match points in the tiebreak minutes. today and I’m just happy with to switch form to Dimitrov after surrendering wrist injury. and missed another chance to Klizan beat Spaniard the win,” Ostapenko said. the clay,” the winner, who was the first set to comfortably Jaziri took a few moments close out the match two points Feliciano Lopez 6-1 6-4 to The 20-year-old added that a quarter-finalist take the second and he looked out on the sidelines after later when his shot landed just reach the quarter-finals and said she is still adjusting to life in 2015, said. “I am just try to poised to cause the latest high- experiencing discomfort with wide. last year’s runner-up Dominic as a champion. east into it, it’s always difficult profile exit in Barcelona when his shoulder and consulted It was Jaziri’s turn to serve Thiem also made the last “I expected I could win a for me.” he went 4-2 up against the his coach and doctor before for the match at 8-7 but he eight, beating Jozef Kovalik Grand Slam but not at this American CoCo second seed in the third. continuing. sent a shot crashing wide under of Slovakia 7-6 6-2. Greek early age. Vandeweghe extended her Former world number one Bulgarian Dimitrov came little pressure. meanwhile “I just understood a couple unexpected run of clay form, had been sent back to level at 5-5 but was Dimitrov finally ended knocked out Spaniard Albert of months later. Of course beating defending champion packing from the tournament under pressure in the 12th Jaziri’s resistance on his Ramos Vinolas 6-4 7-5. there is more attention from Laura Siegemund of Germany the day before by Martin Klizan game, before holding on to fourth match point when the (Reuters) everyone. I got more popular 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. (AFP) Wenger fan Hamilton sees his future with Mercedes Baku through outside individuals about getting on with it. We suggestions that Hamilton’s orld champion Lewis saying positives and negatives, were planning to do it after the form could help him take a Hamilton paid tribute to but to stay true to your values last race, but we had a lot on. fifth title. ArseneW Wenger and pledged and continue to strive for what “I was not really around to “We’ve not had that many his future to Mercedes on you believe in I think has really meet. I had one day at the races so far, but I think he’s Thursday ahead of this been awesome. factory and then I was in China been as usual. He’s doing a very weekend’s potentially critical “Whilst the team has and then I was in the States. We good job. Obviously, Australia Azerbaijan Grand Prix. not always been the most will do it in the near future for was his weekend, but it ended The 33-year-old Briton successful, I really hope that he sure, but it’s not a rush thing.” up a bit different. praised the loyalty and values feels great about his time. I’ve It may be no more than a “Bahrain was ours and of the exit-bound Arsenal had the privilege of meeting coincidence but speculation China, I’m not sure whose it manager and swept aside him a couple of times. He over Hamilton’s future -– due was. I’m not looking at one guy doubts about his own future asked me to go and train with to the delays in him signing that close or closer than others. despite not yet signing a new the team, which I have not and announcing his new long- I guess he’s doing a good job contract. His current deal ends managed to do yet, but he was term commitment to the team otherwise he wouldn’t be as this year. always really welcoming and it –- has been accompanied by a successful as he’s been these “I have always had great was cool to meet ‘our team’s’ dip in form for the four-time last years. admiration for Arsene,” boss. world champion. “I hope to be number one Mechanics work on Lewis Hamilton’s car ahead of the Azerbaijan Gunners supporter Hamilton “I’ve supported Arsenal He has not won any of the challenger to whoever, but it’s Grand Prix told reporters. since I was five. I want to wish three season-opening races, a long year and at the moment “For anyone to have him all the best. I think his experiences he’s had.” “I’m fully committed to but current championship it’s looking good, but it doesn’t commitment to a team and the future is as bright as he wants Hamilton insisted it is only Mercedes,” he said. “I have leader and fellow-four-time mean anything, because it loyalty which he has shown it to be, so I hope he takes the a matter of time before he every plan to be with the team champion Sebastian Vettel of matters in the last three races, through all the ups and downs, positivity out of all the great re-commits to Mercedes. for the future so it is really Ferrari on Thursday dismissed not the first three races.”(AFP)