SPORT The Minsk Times Thursday, September 12, 2013 11 Third mixed doubles world title At the US Open, Max Mirnyi wins his third mixed double title, while Victoria Azarenko is a footstep away from victory Victoria Azarenko By Yuri Butrimovich easily gone to a tie-break. However, at 5:5, Serena proved Max Mirnyi, partnering more accurate than Vika and Czech Andrea Hlaváčková, won two games successively. has won the US Open mixed The second set began well doubles. In the final, Mirnyi for Serena, despite persist- and Hlaváčková defeated ent resistance from Victoria, Santiago González (Mexico) who clung to each ball. Wil- and Abigail Spears (US) with liams led 4:1 and needed to a score of 7:6 (5), 6:3. The win only two games, against duel lasted a brief 1 hour and five for Azarenko. It seemed 26 minutes. that Ms. Williams, 31, would Remarkably, Mirnyi has win easily but her 24-year-old won the US Open mixed dou- rival would not surrender, bles for the third time in his rescuing a hopeless situation career: in 1998, the Belaru- after gaining a tie-break — sian took the title partnering 8:6. Unfortunately, the last set American Serena Williams saw Victoria lose 1:6, perhaps and in 2007 with Victoria having had her strength and Azarenko. He has also twice spirits sapped. With 13 of her won the US Open men’s dou- matches against Vika giving bles: partnering Australian her victory (against just three Lleyton Hewitt (2000) and losses to Victoria) Serena’s Mahesh Bhupathi from In- experience remains apparent. dia (2002). Max now boasts She now boasts 55 WTA vic- 10 victories at major tourna- tories, with 17 at Grand Slam ments, noting, “After our first tournaments. joint performance at Wim- This season, Ms. Aza- bledon, I knew it was easier renko won the first Grand to play with Andrea than Max Mirnyi and Andrea Hlaváčková win US Open tournament after persistent struggle Slam tournament, in Austral- with most of my last mixed in the first round, I wanted to The US Open women’s ranked first seed. Sadly, the Grand Slam season. From the ia’s Melbourne, followed by double partners. She is always play with her again. She wrote single was eagerly awaited Belarusian suffered defeat in very beginning, both women victories in Doha and Cincin- searching for the path to vic- to me, saying: ‘Let’s try once by Belarusian fans, since 8th three sets — 5:7, 7:6 (8:6), 1:6. showed that they were on top nati. During her professional tory and is a very positive again?’ and I agreed at once.” September saw world No.2 The final at Flushing Mead- form, ready to fight to ‘the career, which began in 2003, person. In spite of our being Of course, the decision has seed Victoria Azarenko battle ows was a real battle of wills, death’. The first set lasted al- Victoria has won 17 WTA knocked out of Wimbledon been fully justified. American Serena Williams, proving a gripping end to the most an hour, and could have tournaments. Beginning of season brings Dinamo is again first points and a new captain among the strongest Dinamo Minsk hockey players play two games to launch their participation in Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) By Igor Leshin guests brought the score level at the start Unfortunately, in of the 3rd period, the opening game of thanks to Nikolay the season, Alexander Prokhorkin outwit- Andrievsky’s wards ting Kevin Lalande. lost to local Dinamo The score of 1:1 re- Riga in Latvia, with a mained throughout, score of 2:1 in regular leading to extra time, time. Fans were also when CSKA’s Georgy BELTA disappointed by the Misharin managed a Dinamo will again play Europe’s best handball players following match, host- two minutes be- ed by Minsk-Arena in fore the final whistle. By Yegor Glebov Boris Denic while the most goals the presence of 14,800 The loss leaves Dina- — seven — were scored by Bosnian spectators, against mo with one in National handball champions legionary Damir Doborac; Ukrain- CSKA Moscow. Both the KHL Champion- of reach group stage ian Sergey Shelmenko claimed six teams were eager for ship. of Champions League for third goals. victory, after starting The game saw fans time Dinamo now goes through to defeats, leading to in- create a unique atmos- In the decisive match of the the first round of the prestigious tensive play and many phere in support of qualifying tournament, held in Slo- European club tournament, playing shots at goal. Dinamo, as noted by vakia’s Presov, Dinamo defeated lo- in Group C against Spanish Barce- Experienced Alex- coach Alexander An- cal club Tatran Prešov 29:27 (14:13) lona, Macedonian Vardar and Met- ey Kalyuzhny joined drievsky. He considers after a tough struggle. Tatran were alurg Skopje, as well as French PSG Dinamo on the eve that his squad played supported by over 3,000 fans and and Swiss Thun. The champions of of the CSKA match, BELTA even better than in were set on winning, offering the Belarus will play their first match on Dinamo Minsk players lose two matches of KHL joining Geoff Platt Riga but lacked con- Belarusian champions stubborn re- 21st September, at PSG. and Canadian Jacob Micflikier lowing Minsk to score only with- centration. He is pleased to wel- sistance. Last year, our squad, led by in attack, and replacing Geoff as in 3 minutes of the end of the come Kalyuzhny to the team but For a long time, the game was Ukrainian coach Sergey Bebeshko, captain. Despite failing to score, second period, when Artur Ga- believes it will take time for Alex- tense, with Dinamo only pulling reached the final 16 for the first time the three showed team spirit and vrus slipped past Rastislav Staňa, ey to settle and synchronise with into the lead 4 minutes before the but lost both their matches to Mac- kept their rivals on their toes. The scoring his own first goal in the other players, showing his best final whistle, with a score of 28:23. edonian Metalurg, whom they will Moscow squad defended well, al- Kontinental Hockey League. The play. The team are led by Slovenian coach meet again this season.