THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2017 SPORTS Nadal cruises in Barcelona, Murray gets walkover prize money up 12% to 36 million euros BARCELONA: began his quest back injury. The world number one was a French Open, which starts next month, will for a 10th Barcelona Open title in command- late entry into the draw after suffering a be up 12 percent on last year, tournament ing fashion, whilst moved into shock defeat in Monte Carlo to Albert director Guy Forget said yesterday. But the the last 16 without hitting a ball yesterday. Ramos-Vinolas last week as he seeks time on sum handed out to the winner will rise by Fresh from winning a record 50th clay court court after recently returning from an elbow only five percent from 2.0 to 2.1 million title at the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, injury. However, the Scot will have to wait euros ($2.18-2.29 million). A first-round los- Nadal swept aside Brazilian Rogerio Dutra until today to begin his campaign against er, on the other hand, stands to receive an Silva 6-1, 6-2 in his first appearance on the Feliciano Lopez, who eased past fellow increase of almost 17 percent from 30,000 to newly-baptized Rafael Nadal court. “An hon- Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2. Fifth seed 35,000 euros. But the biggest winners will be or to see this,” Nadal tweeted before the David Goffin, who fell to Nadal in the semi- those coming through qualifying, where match on a rain-interrupted day in the finals in Monte Carlo last week, remained on prize money will jump around 33 percent, Catalan capital alongside a picture of the course for another last-four meeting with the Forget said. “We wanted to put the emphasis court’s new title. 14-time Grand Slam champion after a 7-5, 6- on qualification because the gap between Nadal will face South African Kevin 0 win over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili. the top positions and those trying to live off Anderson today. Murray had an even easier is getting bigger and bigger,” said BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal of Spain prepares to serve to Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil route into the next round as Bernard Tomic French Open prize up Forget. The total pot is up from 32 to 36 mil- during the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona yesterday. —AP pulled out of their second-round clash with a Meanwhile, the prize money at the lion euros.—Agencies Henman: Nastase slur ‘indefensible’

HONG KONG: Former British number one “It’s not something that you like to see blasted tennis great Ilie going on in tennis. It’s got no place in soci- Nastase Wednesday, saying his racial slur ety.” Henman also said it was “going to be against Serena Williams was “indefensible”. hard” for fellow Briton Andy Murray to keep The 70-year-old Romanian Fed Cup captain his world number one status, with the likely has been suspended by the International return of at next month’s Tennis Federation over his controversial Roland Garros after a break of nearly two comments about Williams’ unborn baby, as months from the sport. “He’s had such an well as abusive behavior during a tie incredible end to last year and I think he’s between Romania and Britain. “I think it’s probably suffering a little from that, obvi- indefensible really... but there’s an investi- ously with the shingles and I think his body gation going on and I guess we’ll just have didn’t really have enough time to recover,” to see what happens there,” said the former Henman said. “He’s number one in the world number four. Nastase was overheard rankings now but how long he can hold by a journalist on Friday commenting on onto that? We’ll have to wait and see.” Williams’ unborn child-who will be of mixed Describing Nadal as “the best clay court race as her fiance is white-saying: “Let’s see player in history”, he said: “I’d go with Rafael what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?” (to win).” “In recent years he hasn’t quite A day later the former world number played his best but certainly the way he’s one and two-time Grand Slam winner played in the early part of this year coming found himself in hot water once again after onto clay... totally dominating Monte Carlo swearing at the umpire, British captain and winning another Masters series. I defi- Anne Keothavong and British number one nitely think he’s the favorite.” Henman was player Johanna Konta during a Fed Cup also full of praise for Federer, who won the match-calling the latter two “fucking bitch- in January aged 35, saying: es”. He also reportedly propositioned “I don’t know who’s writing his scripts but Keothavong-who is married and pregnant. they’re certainly good ones.” “It’s an incredi- Speaking at an event to launch grassroots ble story for both guys (Federer and Nadal). tennis program. “The Road to Wimbledon” It’s a little bit of a flashback from four or five on a fittingly wet day in Hong Kong, years ago when they were the two domi- Henman told AFP it had been a “pretty nant players and I think it’s so exciting for unfortunate episode for the Fed Cup”. the game.”— AFP BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal of Spain prepares to serve to Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil during the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona yesterday. — AP TENNIS Rockets oust Westbrook’s Serena to be back on the court after baby Thunder from NBA playoffs

LOS ANGELES: James Harden scored 34 string of shots. Westbrook finished with 47 quarter for Memphis, which trailed by 18 late VANCOUVER: Superstar athlete Serena what the next step was,” Williams said. points as the Houston Rockets withstood a points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, but con- in the third quarter before going on a 17-3 run. Williams late Tuesday promised she She won her record-setting 23rd Grand furious effort from Oklahoma City star nected on just two of his 11 shots in the final Marc Gasol added 17 points for the Grizzlies. would be back on the court after Slam title at the Australian Open in Russell Westbrook to oust the Thunder from period. No other Thunder player scored more becoming a mom, with her baby hope- January-where she beat her elder sister the NBA playoffs on Tuesday. The Rockets than 11 points, while Harden had scoring sup- Jazz 96, Clippers 92 fully cheering her on. Williams spoke Venus in the final. “Playing Venus is like beat the Thunder 105-99 to win their best- port not only from Williams but also from the Gordon Hayward scored 27 points and playfully and candidly about family, playing myself; she is my toughest of-seven Western Conference first-round 15 points from guard Patrick Beverly and 14 grabbed eight rebounds, and Utah held off competition, and her accidently opponent,” Williams said. “On the court, series four games to one.Rockets reserve Lou from Brazilian reserve Nene. In the second Los Angeles to take a 3-2 lead in their unveiled pregnancy during an on-stage we are mortal enemies, but the moment Williams scored 10 of his 22 points early in round the Rockets will face either the San Western Conference playoffs series. Rodney chat with journalist Gayle King at the we shake hands we are best friends the fourth quarter as the Rockets responded Antonio Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies. Hood scored 16 points, and Joe Johnson TED Conference in Vancouver. Williams again. It might be a day later for me if I to a sensational third quarter from delivered nine of his 14 points in the fourth said she had made a practice of taking a lose.” In champion form, she admitted to Westbrook, who carried his team to a 77-72 Spurs 116, Grizzlies 103 quarter for Utah. Rudy Gobert added 11 photo of herself each week, to docu- loathing losing and loving victory. But, lead going into the final period. Westbrook Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points, Patty Mills points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz, who can ment the progress of her pregnancy, if you do lose, learn from it and improve scored 10 straight points in one stretch and added 20 and Tony Parker 16 as San Antonio clinch the series with a win in Game 6 on when she accidentally posted a picture don’t make the same mistakes in the finished with 20 points, five rebounds and took a 3-2 lead on Memphis in their Western Friday in Salt Lake City. Chris Paul scored 28 of herself in a swimsuit on social media. future, she advised. three assists in the third. Conference first-round playoff series. Mills, the points and handed out nine assists for the She had shared the news with only a Kelly Bush Novak, Williams’ publi- But Williams opened the fourth with two backup point guard, made five 3-pointers-four Clippers, who played their second game few people until the now widely seen cist, had said this week that the US star free throws and added three more from the in the fourth quarter-while finishing with a without forward Blake Griffin, sidelined for image. “You know how social media is; “looks forward to returning in 2018” line along with a three-pointer as the Rockets career best for scoring in the playoffs. the rest of the postseason with a plantar you press the wrong button and there it and that was echoed by her coach regained the advantage with Westbrook on the LaMarcus Aldridge added 12 points and a plate injury to his right big toe. JJ Redick con- is,” Williams said with a laugh. “I had Patrick Mouratoglou. Williams is due to bench - and they held on even after Westbrook game-high nine rebounds for the Spurs. Mike tributed 26 points, and DeAndre Jordan col- re-entered the game as the Thunder missed a Conley scored 17 of his 26 points in the third lected 14 points and 12 boards.— Agencies been so good about it and this one time give birth in September, the month I slipped.” Williams said she learned she she turns 36 years old. “I definitely plan was pregnant just two days before the on coming back,” Williams said of her Australian Open, which she went on to tennis future. “My baby is going to be Sharapova returns in grand style win. She told of being nervous about in the stands, hopefully cheering for playing, uncertain whether it would be me and not crying too much.” In STUTTGART: Maria Sharapova marked her return match point for victory in one hour, 45 minutes. need similar generosity from Roland Garros if she too dangerous for her or the baby. December, Williams announced her from a 15-month doping ban yesterday with a is to make the main draw of the French Open, Williams said she played differently, engagement to tech entrepreneur rusty 7-5, 6-3 win over Roberta Vinci in Stuttgart, ‘AT MY BEST’ where she is a two-time champion. Yesterday, the shutting out fatigue and stress. Alexis Ohanian and will not play again describing victory as the “best feeling in the “I’ve been doing this for so long and this was French Tennis Federation repeated that they will Everyone expected her to win the this year. She said that the next chap- world”. Sharapova, the former world number one my first match for a while, so when you are in the not make a decision until next month. tournament, and few knew she was a ter in her life will include her baby, and five-time Grand Slam champion, brushed off a moment, you block everything else out,” said “There is a date which has been fixed. There is mom-to-be. “I had to take any negative staying fit, playing tennis and working nervous start to eventually claim a convincing win Sharapova. “I’m competitive by nature, even no reason to make an exception for Maria emotions, bottle them up and figure out on her fashion line.— AFP on her controversial comeback having tested posi- when things aren’t working out. “That’s when I Sharapova,” said FFT president Bernard tive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. am at my best, when I forget about everything, Guidicelli.”We will meet with the tournament “It’s the best feeling in the world to walk out just be me and just compete.” Sharapova will now director Guy Forget on May 15. The decision will (on court), it’s been a stage of mine since I was a play fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova in be taken and communicated at 1900 (1700GMT) young girl and it was very special,” said Sharapova Thursday’s second-round. “It’s going to be tough, on Facebook on May 16. “I know that there is who celebrated her win with a succession of dou- but every match I play now is important for me,” strong expectation from the media and fans but ble fist pumps and a broad smile before blowing she said. we are not casting. This is not a rock-opera.” kisses to all corners of the Porsche Arena. “I have “It’s important to just play, it’s a journey and it With the likes of Serena Williams, Victoria been waiting for this a long time.” Sharapova was officially starts for me today and I am looking for- Azarenka and Petra Kvitova sidelined-and poten- given a wildcard to play in Stuttgart, where she ward to playing as many matches as I can.” tial heir Eugenie Bouchard struggling-women’s has been champion three times, a move which Sharapova has also been granted wildcards into tennis needs pulling power and Sharapova ticks drew a barrage of criticism from rivals who the Madrid and Rome tournaments and she will all the boxes for event organizers. —AFP believed she was receiving preferential treatment. She fired 39 winners and 11 aces past 34-year- old Vinci, one of many to have voiced her con- cerns over the Russian benefitting from wildcards. After receiving warm applause from the crowd, which included one fan who held up a Russian flag bearing the words ‘Welcome back Maria’, Sharapova, dressed in an orange top and lilac-col- ored dress, initially struggled. She quickly found herself 2-0 down before she broke back to level at 2-0. As was to be expected after her long break, Sharapova labored to find her shots and Vinci profited from several mistakes. But the 30-year-old Russian started to move her Italian opponent around the court and found her range with a pair of aces. Sharapova finally broke the Italian in the 11th game and then held her service, converting her second set point in exactly an hour. Vinci had lost to Sharapova in both their previous meetings and the Italian trailed from 2-0 Serena Williams covers her face after defeating her sister, Venus, in the women’s sin- down in the second set yesterday. Sharapova quickly moved to 5-3 ahead up with an and gles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in this file photo. A spokes- STUTTGART: Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves to Italy’s Roberta Vinci in their first round match woman for Williams says the tennis star is pregnant.— AP extended her domination in the following game, racing into a 40-0 lead and converted her first at the WTA tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany yesterday. — AFP