SPORT 17 We Have to Stay Greedy and We Are, I Am Not in Doubt About That
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SATURDAY 24 AUGUST 2019 SPORT 17 We have to stay greedy and we are, I am not in doubt about that. The best Liverpool manager CRICKET: ICC WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP team spirit in the world is not about Juergen Klopp Australia vs England, 3rd Test in Leeds wants his players to “stay just being together. That is what India vs West Indies, 1st Test in North Sound we had - and have - and we work greedy” in pursuit of an elusive Premier League title. ACTION Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at in Colombo on it every day. TODAY’S Rugby World Cup Wimbledon champion Halep Uncapped Petaia in sets sights on US Open goal Wallabies REUTERS squad NEW YORK AFP Simona Halep is living the dream SYDNEY after her Wimbledon triumph and the Romanian heads into Coach Michael Cheika next week’s US Open hoping for yesterday said the a new dawn at the season’s final Wallabies planned to be Grand Slam after early exits in “unpredictable” in Japan as the last two years. he tapped uncapped back Halep scorched 23-time Jordan Petaia, 19, to Grand Slam winner Serena Wil- become Australia’s liams 6-2, 6-2 in less than an youngest ever World Cup hour in this year’s Wimbledon player and picked Adam final to add a second major title Ashley-Cooper for his to her trophy cabinet after last fourth campaign. year’s French Open crown. Cheika opted for just The 27-year-old’s near- two half-backs, Will Genia flawless display at the All and Nic White, in his England Club marked a spec- 31-man World Cup squad, tacular return to form after her meaning Brumbies No.9 Joe world ranking dropped from first Powell and the Waratahs’ to seventh between mid-January Nick Phipps miss out. and July. Another notable “It’s been like a dream since Romania’s Simona Halep in action absentee was veteran I left (Wimbledon). Even now, I’m hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau living the dream,” Halep, who but flanker David Pocock, credits her improved fortunes on Romanian, who has been confident there’s a chance to do breakthrough at the French Open final. It would be silly not to try who hasn’t played for seven the biggest stages to a more knocked out in the first round on more.” had given the Romanian new- to replicate that,” the 18 times months after injuring his relaxed approach, told the WTA her last two visits, falling to Halep, who reached the Aus- found belief. Grand Slam champion wrote in calf, was named, along with website. Russian wildcard Maria tralian Open final in 2018, has “Before... she was a little bit a column for the WTA. Bernard Foley and Tevita “I felt positive and con- Sharapova in 2017 and Estonia’s not had the ideal preparation closed, she found it easier to Halep enjoys a better career Kuridrani who were over- fident... like I reached my highest Kaia Kanepi last year. heading into the final Grand keep her thoughts to herself. head-to-head record over the looked in recent games. level of tennis. The first six Halep’s best showing at the Slam of the season. Now she’s much more confident three players ranked above her Australia struggled months of this year were more tournament was in 2015 when The world number four was not only on the court, but outside -- Naomi Osaka (4-1), Ash Barty through one of their worst relaxed because I was just trying she was beaten by eventual forced to retire with a left it,” Dobre told the French Open (3-1) and Karolina Pliskova years in decades in 2018 to improve my game without champion Flavia Pennetta in the Achilles injury in the Rogers Cup website in June. (7-3) -- making her one of the and have lost the services thinking about the results. semi-finals, and the US Open is quarter-finals in Toronto earlier Martina Navratilova said bookmakers’ favourites at of star fullback Israel Folau, “This helped me a lot and the only Grand Slam where she this month and lost to American Halep must bring the same Flushing Meadows, behind who was sacked in May for when I got to Wimbledon, I has failed to reach the final. Madison Keys in the Cincinnati aggressive approach she dis- Williams. posting homophobic com- started feeling the grass like I “The US Open is a big dif- third round. played at Wimbledon if she is “Even if things don’t go her ments online. never had before. I got more ference because of the crowd Halep’s new coach Daniel to succeed in New York. way, Simona should now have a But this month’s record confident day-by-day. It was a and atmosphere,” Halep added. Dobre, who signed up in March “Simona likes to play it, as lot more belief in herself... she’s 47-26 drubbing of New process.” “It’s more about entertainment after she split with Darren Cahill is her nature, safe. But she had one of the favourites to be Zealand hinted at a revival, Flushing Meadows repre- so it’s not easy to adjust... I’ve before the Australian Open, said a positive... and offensive number one at the end of the despite last week’s chas- sents a different challenge for the made the semis in the past so I’m last year’s Grand Slam mindset in the Wimbledon year,” Navratilova said. tening 36-0 defeat in the return Bledisloe Cup fixture in Auckland. YOUNG AMERICANS AT US OPEN The line-up, captained by Michael Hooper, boasts COCO GAUFF Born: March 13, 2004 Gauff leads American young 1,406 international caps, 200 more than the squad Born in Florida; raised in Georgia; based in Florida which reached the final in Ranking: 141 guns at home Grand Slam 2015. 2019 Record: 21-12 Eighteen players will be Grand Slam Record: 3-1 AP The female set is drawing more tasting World Cup action US Open Main Draw Record: 0-0 NEW YORK attention, though, and McNally for the first time, in contrast Biggest Accomplishments: Fourth-round run at Wimbledon; US doesn’t think the recent surge is a to the 35-year-old Ashley- Open junior runner-up; French Open junior champion Just like many tennis fans, Coco coincidence. Cooper, who will become What She Said: “I’m not going to... take it easy on myself because of this Gauff’s father expects a lot from his There are some “When one person does well, it only the second Wallaby recent success. I think I’m just going to keep my mind focused, because precocious, 15-year-old daughter. 15-year-olds, like justjp kind of pushes the other after George Gregan to play I can see how easy it can get to say, ‘Oh, I already did this at 15, so I can Makes sense, given the way she me, who wouldn’t people,”people,” sheshe said,said, ““andand sshowshows tthemhem in four. maybe lay it back.’” - Gauff on wanting to improve after Wimbledon. swings a racket on a tennis court thatthttha t theyththeeycay cancaanben beb ini thethe same placeplace The Wallabies, beaten and handles herself away from one. know what to do at and dod the thee samesamea thing.”thinhing.”g. in the 2015 final by New CATY MCNALLY Born: Nov. 20, 2001 “Even after I win a tournament, Wimbledon. Then you Zealand but now ranked Born and based in Ohio he’ll let me celebrate, but then he’s have a 15-year-old like just sixth in the world, have Ranking: 121 like, ‘It’s back to work.’ And I under- Coco, who knows what had mixed fortunes so far 2019 Record: 23-12 stand why,” Gauff said. “Because, this year, losing to South Grand Slam Record: 0-1 like, I mean, it’s just one tournament to do: Serena Williams Africa in the Rugby Cham- US Open Main Draw Record: 0-0 of many.” pionship before beating Biggest Accomplishments: Qualified for Wimbledon; Singles semifinalist Next up for Gauff is the US Open, age 17. Sofiaofia Kenin,KKeenin,nin 20,2200, eliminatedelielelimminamiinanatedtet d Argentina. and doubles champion (with Gauff) at Citi Open WTA tournament; US which starts on Monday, and she’s Serena WilliamsWilliamsms iinnnP P Parisariarisa iss andndn jusjujustusst Despite last week’s Open junior doubles champion (with Gauff) in the main draw by virtue of a wild- picked upup hard-courthard-ccoouourtrtt tuneuptunttu eueupup crushing defeat to New What She Said: “It just shows me - because I’ve played really close card entry received after making wins againstaiinnnstns No. 1s AshAsshsh BartyBartBaartyya andaannd Zealand their form has with her and I’ve had chances to win - that I’m right there, too, and I can quite a run at Wimbledon. First, Naomi Osaka.OOssaka.akaka.a.. been an improvement on do the same thing.” - McNally on seeing what Gauff did at Wimbledon. Gauff became that venerable event’s Catyy McNally,MMcMcNcNNallya ly, 17,177, 2018, when they played 13 youngest qualifier in history. Then teamed wwithiththh GaGaufGGauffaufuffftof tot Tests and won just four. AMANDA ANISMOVA Born: Aug. 31, 2001 she wowed the world by stunning win thee CitiCititi OpOOpeOpenn In Japan, they face a Venus Williams. Next came a victory doubless titltitttitlee inn tough Pool D that includes From: Born in New Jersey; based in Florida over a 2017 All England Club semi- August, alsoalslslsosoo reachedreareeachedchechhedhde world number one Wales, Ranking: 24 finalist. That was followed by a the semi-finalsmii--f-finfifiniinnalsa s inin Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay.