22 Monday, February 5, 2018 SPORTS

Nick Kyrgios earned a 2018 point penalty for racquet abuse in the second set tie-break (Pic courtesy: theguardian)

Germany enter

Germany’s quarter-finals celebrates victory Brisbane erman number one Alexander Zverev Gbeat in straight sets to give Great Britain crash out to Spain his country a 3-1 win over Australia in their Davis Cup World Group tie. Brisbane Zverev, 20, won 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 in reat Britain lost 3-1 to Spain in Brisbane to put Germany into a quarter-final Davis Cup following Cameron against Spain. GNorrie’s singles defeat to Albert Kyrgios was troubled by an elbow problem Ramos-Vinolas. and Zverev, the world number five, only Cameron Norrie enhanced his faced two break points. growing reputation but could not Italy’s beat Japan’s Yuichi prevent Great Britain losing to Sugita to give his country a 3-1 victory in Spain in the first round of the Davis Morioka. Cup. World number 22 Fognini edged past The 22-year-old left-hander, Sugita 3-6 6-1 3-6 7-6 7-5 in a marathon who was born in South Africa and match lasting four hours and eight minutes to spent much of his childhood in New take Italy into the quarter-finals for the fifth Zealand, showed remarkable grit time in six years. against world number 21 Albert Cameron Norrie (L) was beaten in the decisive fourth rubber by Albert Ramos-Viñolas (Pic courtesy: theguardian) Japan will have to enter September’s play- Ramos-Vinolas before bowing to a He won 7-6 (7/4) 2-6 7-6 (7/4) point having been won on Friday by was a one-off what he produced offs in a bid to remain among the Davis Cup four-set defeat. 6-2, and Spain could celebrate a Norrie with his stunning comeback on Friday, but he did it again today elite. Their clash was on a knife edge victory that few doubted they would win over . against another really high quality Defending champions France and fourth heading into the third-set tie-break, achieve this weekend, given Andy Great Britain captain Leon Smith player.” seeds Croatia lead 2-1 in their ties against but Ramos-Vinolas edged that and Murray’s injury-enforced absence said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Norrie, who sits 114th in the the Netherlands and Canada respectively then swept convincingly through from the British ranks. what Cam’s done all weekend and world, gave 21st-ranked Ramos- heading into Sunday. the fourth to soothe frayed Spanish They secured an unassailable yet again today. Vinolas a torrid time for long Belgium are 2-1 up against Hungary. (BBC) nerves in Marbella. 3-1 lead in the tie, with Britain’s “People might have thought it stretches of the match. (PA Sport) Kvitova ends title wait Saint Petersburg The 27-year-old’s successful week etra Kvitova landed the St Petersburg in Russia was a return to form after Ladies’ Trophy title yesterday with she made a first-round exit at the Pa comfortable victory over defending . champion Kristina Mladenovic. The Czech two-time Wimbledon Babos wins Taiwan Open champion saw off France’s Mladenovic Earlier, Timea Babos secured 6-1 6-2 in an hour and five minutes. her third career WTA title with It made it 21 career WTA titles for a 7-5 6-1 victory over Kateryna Kvitova, who was appearing in a final Kozlova at the Taiwan Open. for the first time since winning the “It was not easy, she played really Aegon Classic in June – a triumph well and really aggressive in the first which came just six months on from set,” Babos said, quoted on the WTA “The her sustaining career-threatening hand website. “But I stayed there, I got all first set, I think it was injuries when she was stabbed by an the important moments, and I really very difficult for me to start. I was a Petra Kvitova Timea Babos celebrates (Pic courtesy: AP) intruder at her home. fought hard. bit slower today than before.” (PA Sport)