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14 Monday 4th August, 2008 Murray gets Ramprakash reaches breakthrough win, advances to final by Joe Kay ment - and pulled off its MASON, Ohio (AP) - biggest upset. He knocked Andy Murray pulled off a off Federer in three sets breakthrough victory Thursday, opening the 100th hundred mark Saturday, beating Ivo way for Nadal to move by Graham Hardcastle deliveries,” he said. “I’ve had Karlovic 6-4, 6-4 that sent ahead of the Swiss star. to wait, but I’m really really him to the finals of the Playing in his first Mark Ramprakash etched pleased. Quite a few people Cincinnati Masters. Masters series semifinal, his name into the history have been saying to me, when “I don’t think there’s Karlovic met his match. books as the 25th batsman to is it going to happen? a huge difference between Murray’s solid game pre- record 100 first-class hun- “After scoring the 99th, I a semifinal and a final, vented Karlovic from get- dreds, and the first since broke the bat I’ve been using but to win it would be ting comfortable. Karlovic Worcestershire’s Graeme for the last two years. I’ve huge,” Murray said. “I’m had 32 unforced errors to Hick 10 years ago. used five bats, and I’ve not going to have to play Murray’s nine. The 38-year-old right-han- played that well. against one of the best During his first four der reached his century after “If I’d had to retire on 99 players in the world to matches, Karlovic held tea on the final day of hundreds, I would have been a win it. I feel like I’m play- serve in 49 of 50 games, Surrey’s drawn Division One happy man – it’s not a bad ing well enough to do it.” the only failure coming relegation battle with place to be. At the end of the Murray will play against Federer. Murray Yorkshire at Headingley, the day, hundreds don’t grow on Novak Djokovic or Rafael broke him twice in the ground where he notched his trees.” Nadal, who has turned opening set. maiden hundred for Yorkshire, who declared this tournament into a Karlovic had only four Middlesex. overnight on 414 for nine with seismic event. By reach- aces during the match. He Ramprakash was only 19 a first-innings lead of 210, ing the semifinals, Nadal fought off seven break when, on July 20 1989, he made the perfect start to their will overtake Roger points in the opening pummelled a Yorkshire attack quest for a crucial win. Tim Federer as the world’s No. game of the second set featuring England bowlers Bresnan had Stewart Walters 1 player in the next few before Murray finally Paul Jarvis and Arnie caught at second slip with the weeks. broke for a 1-0 lead that Sidebottom. seventh ball of the innings. If Nadal wins the ATP gave him the upper hand. At Headingley he was con- But Ramprakash and open- Western & Southern It’s been an encourag- fronted by, among others, er Scott Newman, who made Financial Group Masters, ing summer for Murray, Tim Bresnan and former 129, shared a second- wicket he will move up to the top the top-ranked British England colleague partnership of 259, the high- spot in Monday’s rank- player at No. 9. At Darren Gough, reaching est for that wicket against ings. Given the way points Wimbledon, the 21-year- his landmark off 196 balls Yorkshire. accrue - the last 52 weeks old Scot reached a Grand with nine fours and one There was a brief worry are counted - he will sur- Slam quarter final for the six when he rocked back to that Ramprakash’s quest pass Federer no later than first time. He also reached cut left-arm spinner David could have been scuppered the Aug. 18 rankings. the semi finals last week Wainwright for four. by a heavy shower that Federer has been No. in Toronto before losing He became the second man forced an early lunch 1 for a record 235 consecu- to Nadal. to join the hundred club on when he was on 43, but tive weeks. He and Nadal His biggest concern this ground. Yorkshire legend play resumed shortly have been ranked 1-2 has been his right knee. Geoffrey Boycott achieved the after the scheduled since July 25, 2005. Now, An irregular kneecap can feat during the Headingley resumption for the the 22-year-old Nadal will cause swelling and pain, Test against Australia in 1977. afternoon ses- become the third and the matches on hard Ramprakash finished with sion. Spaniard to hold the No. 1 courts last week left him an unbeaten 112, spanning 227 Newman kept his spot, joining Carlos Moya with some inflammation. balls, and said: “There are nose ahead for most of the (1999) and Juan Carlos He had a scan last lots of emotions at the morning and afternoon, Ferrero (2003). Monday to make sure moment. I got my first hun- reaching his fifty off 75 balls “He’s been unbeliev- nothing was seriously dred here, and I remember it with eight fours. The left-han- able for the last five wrong. very clearly. To get my 100th der made it to three figures years,” Murray said, Murray twisted the here seems like fate.” just before tea, but was referring to Federer. “He’s knee on a shot in the This was not a typically bowled by Wainwright just still playing great. It hap- quarter finals Friday, fluent Ramprakash innings, before the close. pens in every sport: When leaving him limping for though there were still flashes Ramprakash scored his someone sets the bar so several minutes. He of brilliance when he pushed 99th hundred against Sussex high, guys find a way of moved fluidly Saturday Bresnan through the covers on May 3. His scores since creeping up behind you.” and kept Karlovic off-bal- for a boundary and whipped have been: Karlovic made a ance. He twisted the knee Wainwright over midwicket v Hampshire: 17 & 9; v change at the top possible. slightly during the second for six. Yorkshire: 29 & 14; v The 6-foot-10 Croat was in set and needed a few sec- Since scoring his 99th cen- Somerset: 17 & 15; v Kent: 48 a deep slump heading into onds to stretch. tury against Sussex at Hove & 0; v Nottinghamshire: 42; v the tournament, having “It’s fine,” Murray on May 3, Ramprakash had Yorkshire: 6 & 112* lost his last three match- said. “I’ve been making failed in 10 attempts to notch Ramprakash’s maid- es. The fast courts in sure I get ice on it after three figures, including en first-class hundred Cincinnati have every match. It the first innings in this was also against suited his hard- hurts some- match. Yorkshire, on July 20 to-track serve. times after “The last few games 1989. It was his 51st Karlovic match- have been a tough run. innings. put together es.” The ball has swung, and I’ve Darren Gough congratulates Mark Ramprakash on reaching his 100th (C) The Telegraph the most received some very good first-class hundred, Yorkshire v Surrey, Headingley, August 2, 2008. Group, London 2008 surprising run of the tourna- SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - road race. I don’t want to go unless Tour de France runner-up Cadel I can do a good result for myself Evans has been given a wild card Evans given wild card and the team or contribute to a Andy Murray, spot into the Beijing Olympics road good result for the team.” from Great time trial by the International into Olympic time trial “So if I don’t recover from my Britain, reacts after he Cycling Union and might still race injury and am not close to my best I defeated Ivo Karlovic, if he can overcome a knee injury. was quoted as saying Sunday. don’t mind staying at home.” Evans pulled out of the time The injury has responded well Bannan said a series of test from trial last week with the injury and to treatment, and both Bannan and runs on Evans indicated his knee Croatia, 6-4, was replaced by Australia’s three- Evans said there was still hope the was improving. 6-4, in a semi time world champion Michael 31-year-old Evans would compete in “Treatment on Cadel’s knee has final match at Rogers. But a day later, Evans both the road race and time trial. been going well and we’re hopeful received a call from Australian The Beijing road race is Aug. 9 that on Monday he’ll get the all the Western & national performance director and the time trial Aug. 13. clear to fly to Beijing,” Bannan Southern Shayne Bannan advising him the “Every day I’m doing the said. Financial Group UCI was offering the team a second physio and treatment on my knee “Considering the progress of Masters tennis tour- starting berth. and every day it’s getting better but his recovery we’re optimistic that “Shayne Bannan called me we’ll decide on Monday morning he can back up after the road race nament, Saturday, with the news and I was on the whether I go or Adam Hansen goes and give the time trial a decent go.” Aug. 2, 2008, in table getting treatment with my Cadel Evans of Australia reacts after the in my place,” Evans said of his It is unclear whether Evans Mason, Ohio.