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MMONDAYONDAY 6 18 MARMARCHCH 20192019 SPPORTSORTS CHENNAI Dominic Thiem clinches Indian Wells Masters Denies Federer a record sixth title in the championship IndianIndian Wells,W Mar 18 (AFP): up to the ball, stayed calm, made succumbing on a fourth in the sec- the shot.’ Thiem sealed the match ond game as Federer raced to a 3-0 DominicDomin Thiem denied after two hours and two minutes lead. Federer led 4-1 before Thiem Thiem, ranked eighth RogerRoger Federer a record when Federer’s backhand found clawed a break back, but Federer sixthsixth Indian Wells title, the net and will now return to a responded with another hard-won in the world, had fallen beatingbeat the Swiss great career-high ranking of fourth in break for a 5-3 lead and captured 3-6,3-6 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday the world, bumping Federer down the set with a service winner. in two prior Masters to claim his fi rst ATP to fi fth. It was the second year in a Coming into the contest Federer MastersMa 1000 crown. row that Federer was denied in the had won 20 straight fi nals when fi nals, But he rallied TheT 25-year-old Aus- Indian Wells fi nal. claiming the opening set. But trian,tri ranked eighth in In 2018 he missed out on three Thiem was not about to go quietly, for a third career win thethe world, had fallen championship points as he fell to saving break points for a 2-1 lead in two prior Masters Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the second and breaking for a 3-1 over Federer in fi ve fi nals,na both in Madrid. in the title match. Federer, fresh lead as the Swiss suddenly couldn’t But he rallied for a third off a remarkable 100th career title put a fi rst serve in. careercaree win over Federer in Dubai, remains tied with Novak ‘I think that was a really impor- meetings, his fi rst in fi veve meetings, his fi rst Djokovic for the most Indian Wells tant fi ve minutes in the match,’ overover thet Swiss on hard victories with fi ve. Thiem claimed Federer said. ‘It was crucial.’ A hold over the Swiss on hard courts.courts. his 12th career title as he noted at love put Thiem up 4-1 and on the ‘It feelsfeels just unreal what at the trophy ceremony when he way to forcing the third set. Federer courts happenedhappened in this 10 days,’ acknowledged Federer. said it wasn’t a defeat that would ThiemThiem said.said ‘I came from a re- ‘I think it’s not my right to con- fester. ‘I had my chances. I was in ally bad formfor in all categories, gratulate you, you have 88 more the points,’ he said. victory over Wimbledon champion and now I’mI’m the champion of In- titles than me,’ Thiem told Federer ‘That’s why I’m not too disap- Angelique Kerber. Andreescu, 18, dian Wells. ItIt feels not real at all,’ as he accepted the trophy, calling pointed. I feel like he had to come shook off fatigue to topple the added Thiem,Thiem the fi rst Austrian it a privilege to play against the up with the goods ... (I) just came eighth-ranked German, who hasn’t to win a mastersmast 1000 title since 37-year-old superstar. up against somebody who was on won a title since she beat Serena ThomasThomas MusterMuste at Miami in 1997. Williams in last year’s DDominicominic TThiemhiem ‘It’s tough against Roger, Rafa the day a bit better when it really ThiemThiem earnedearne the crucial break (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic),’ Thiem mattered.’ Wimbledon final for in tthehe 11th11th gamega of the fi nal set, her third Grand Slam said. ‘Because you have to beat not CanadianCanadian teen Andreescu connecting on two sharply angled only the player but somehow also crown. Ranked 60th passing winnerswinner off of Federer drop the great aura they all have, all topples Kerber coming into the tour- shotsshots to give himselfh a break point these titles they have won. So you Canadian sensation Bianca nament, Andreescu whichwhich hehe convconvertede with a stinging have to play somehow double-good Andreescu became the fi rst wild will rise to 24th in forehandforehand winwinner.n to beat them.’ card to win the WTA title at the world with ‘He‘He stayedstayed coolc under pressure Thiem was under attack early, Indian Wells on SundaySunday her fi rst WTA there,’there,’ FedererFederer said. ‘When he got saving three break points before with a gritty 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 title. Asia, we are back, says Chhetri MMessiessi hhat-trickat-trick Terms victory in ISL fi nal against FC Goa as ‘sweet one’ bblowslows aawayway BBetisetis Mumbai, Mar 18 (PTI): Madrid, Mar 18 An elated Bengaluru FC skipper (AFP): Sunil Chhetri termed his team’s maiden Indian Super League vic- EvEvenen thethe RealReal tory against FC Goa as a ‘sweet one’ Betis fans were ap- especially after his side had faltered plaudingplauding by the end in the summit clash last season as Lionel Messi scored another against Chennaiyin FC. spectacular hat-trick to fi re Bar- Courtesy Rahul Bheke’s cham- celona to a 4-1 victory on Sunday pionship-winning header in the and leave them with one hand on second extra time, Bengaluru the La Liga trophy. defeated FC Goa 1-0 in an edge of Messi’s treble, his second in a a seat thriller last night here to month in Seville, fourth of the win their maiden ISL title. Ben- season and 51st of his career, galuru had last year lost the fi nal moves Barca 10 pointspoints clear to Chennaiyin FC. ‘Last year after of Atletico Madrid with 10 the final, I said next year we’ll games left to play, a gap surely come back. Right from the ball too big to close. Luis Suarez, boy to Carles (Cuadrat, the coach), whose superb flick set up everyone wanted this. We wanted Messi’s second, scored his to win it (the title) badly. When own brilliant goal after a teams you lose the way we did last year, scintillating solo run but it’s sweet to win this one. Asia, we in thethe division.division. are back,’ Chhetri said at the post A simple finish from match media conference late Sun- Suarez’s exquisite assist day night. Now by winning the ISL, came between a free-kick Bengaluru FC will play in the AFC perfectly planted into the top Asian Cup next year. Chhetri also corner and a bendingbending lob that said it was ‘commendable’ that a grazed the crossbar and dropped player like Ferran Corominas, who got that security when Udanta and tory. This is the seventh goal done Despite the loss, the FC Goa head in. The Betis fans left at the Be- bagged the Golden Boot award, did I traced back. It is commendable by a set-piece and it shows how im- coach said he was -proud of his nito Villamarin, and most of them not get any chance against his team that a player like Coro (Corominas) portant set pieces are in the game,’ players. were, felt compelled to stand and applaud. This was supposed to be on all the three occasions when the did not get open chances against us Cuadrat said. ‘Till today, we were focused today it was ultimately reduced to a foot- one of the more awkward tests in two teams clashed. in three games,’ he said. Meanwhile, FC Goa coach Sergio only on this game (the fi nal). From note, in what became another night Barcelona’s run-in, which includes ‘The message from the coach was Asked where he would rate this Lobera termed Ahmed Jahouh be- tomorrow onwards, we will start all about his Argentinian partner. Atletico Madrid at home and fi fth- that we should try to attack but as win, Chhetri quipped, Number 2. ing sent off the fi eld after earning working towards the (upcoming) The only blot on the night was the placed Alaves away. soon as we lose the ball, we should The winning coach Carles Cuadrat a red card as the key moment of Super Cup. I said to my players in sight of Suarez limping off late on, fall back and defend and have num- said that the team was trying not the match. ‘The key moment was the dressing room that I am proud All the rest of their opponents although he was able to walk after currently sit 10th or lower. But re- bers (at the back). For players like to take the game to the penalties when were reduced to 10-men in of them and (what) they have done the fi nal whistle. Messi now has me, Miku and Udanta (Singh), it as then it can be anybody’s game. the fi rst half of extra time. It was in the season. I am thankful to gardless of the fi xtures, Barca seem 29 league goals this season, 39 in to be saving their best form for the was not easy because we are attack- ‘We were trying not to get into tie- a very tight game was going to be the players and they have been all competitions, and together with ing minded people,’ Chhetri said. ‘I breaker as it then becomes a lottery a matter of small details and the very professional. It is sad that we home straight, with Manchester Suarez’s 18 their joint-total of 47 is United to come in the Champions am happy we did it because Nishu a lot of times.

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