FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 10

Hirschi claims maiden Tour de France win with solo effort Serena, Medvedev move into US Open semi-finals digs deep against Pironkova to reach last four

Dominic Thiem outclasses• Alex de Minaur to reach US 20 Open semi-finals aces had been smashed by Serena Williams during Daniil Medvedev the match, the most she • has had in eight years, shrugs off injury taking her tally for the Marc Hirschi rides solo during the stage to book semi-final tournament to 64 so far AFP | Paris spot at US Open

gles, a lot of understanding, ersistance finally paid off AFP | New York Pfor Marc Hirschi as the forcing me to find this route, Swiss soloed to victory on I haven’t been this path, if you can say that. But stage 12 of the Tour de France sleeping well and I erena Williams battled into I’m here and I’m happy.” yesterday, putting behind him had a bad back but I the semi-finals of the US In the men’s draw, Russia’s two gut-wrenching near miss- said to myself just go Open where she will meet Medvedev downed compatri- S Serena Williams hits a serve against Tsvetana Pironkova es. for it. I never would , as Daniil ot and childhood friend An - There was no change in the have believed it and Medvedev booked his place in I just gotta keep going,” Wil - handed. drey Rublev 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 7-6 overall standings a day ahead even in the final the last four of the men’s draw liams added. In the last four she will renew (7/5). of a massive mountain slog Wednesday. Williams smashed 20 aces, her rivalry with former world Twenty-two-year-old Rublev with Jumbo’s Primoz Roglic kilometre I still didn’t Williams, seeded third, came the most she has had in eight number Azarenka who demol- raced to a 5-1 lead in the first- 21 seconds ahead of defending allow myself to hope from a set down to overcome years, taking her tally for the ished Mertens 6-1, 6-0 in just set tie-break before Medvedev, champion Colombia’s Egan MARC HIRSCHI unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana tournament to 64 so far. 1hr 13 min. last year’s US Open runner-up, Bernal of Ineos. Pironkova and keep alive her bid The record for the most num- Williams defeated Azarenka hauled back to win it 8-6 with The 22-year-old Hirschi was for a 24th singles ber of aces in a US Open in the in the final of the US Open in an ace. first pipped at the line by flying and I had a bad back but I said title at Flushing Meadows. women’s singles is 70, set by 2012 and 2013. Medvedev, 24, smashed 16 Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe to myself just go for it,” said the Later, Azarenka blew away Williams in 1999 when she won aces and won 89 percent of on Nice’s iconic Promenade bearded escape artist. Belgium’s as she for the first time. ‘Happy’ first-serve points. He made 75 des Anglais on stage two. “I never would have be - continues her hunt a first Grand “Sometimes when I’m serv- The last few years of Azaren- percent of returns to Rublev’s He then suffered anoth - lieved it and even in the final Slam title in seven years. ing, I just tell myself, I don’t care ka’s career have been interrupt- 54 percent. er blow when the Slovenian kilometre I still didn’t allow Williams’ comeback included if my arm falls off, I’m going to ed by a custody battle over her “One point decided two sets pair Tadej Pogacar and Roglic myself to hope,” said the 2018 two astonishing shots with her keep serving,” she said. son who was born in 2016. so it was a really tough match caught and beat him at Laruns under-21’s world road race left hand that contributed to Williams is looking to match Azarenka said she found it and Andrey was playing unbe- in Sunday’s stage nine. champion. winning points. Margaret Court’s record for the “hard to accept losses” when lievable actually,” Medvedev But the Sunweb man finally “I was so close twice, so it’s “At that point I was fighting most number of singles Grand she was young and at the top of said. found the right formula to pro- an unbelievable feeling.” so hard. I was just trying to do Slam wins. her game, but was now benefit- Medvedev will play either duce a heroic long-range solo Hirschi was given a late everything I can whether righty It has been more than three ing from a more philosophical second seed Dominic Thiem victory on the Tour’s longest scare again by Alaphilippebut or lefty,” she said. years since she won her 23rd attitude. or Australia’s Alex de Minaur, stage of 218km from the cha- the Frenchman quickly aban- A sluggish start saw the at the 2017 -- “I enjoy the moment no mat- seeded 21st, in the last four on teau-dominated town of Chau- doned his late pursuit. American lose the first 6-4, but when she was already pregnant ter what it is. I take life as it Friday. vigny over four rolling hills “He deserved his win, I’m she fought back to take the next with daughter Olympia. comes,” Azarenka told report- Fifth seed Alexander Zverev to Sarran in central France’s glad for him, I just didn’t have two 6-3, 6-2, in 2hr 12min inside Williams has come close ers. of Germany faces Spain’s 20th pastoral heartland. the legs. He was too strong,” Arthur Ashe Stadium. since, reaching four major fi- “It took me a long road to seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the “I haven’t been sleeping well Alaphilippe said at the line. “I never give up and you know nals only to come away empty come here with a lot of strug- competition’s other semi-final.

Vettel to join Aston Martin from Ferrari in 2021 England’s Morgan hopes for turning AFP | Monza pitches in Australia ODI series AFP | London ormer world champion Se- BETTER Fbastian Vettel has signed oin Morgan is hoping for for the renamed Aston Martin Espinning pitches during team for the 2021 season “and KNOW England’s one-day series beyond”, the ambitious British against Australia as the world Formula One outfit announced champions plan for the 2023 yesterday. The last of Vettel’s 53 World Cup in India. The 33-year-old German won victories -- the third The England captain is an- four consecutive titles from ticipating a gentle turner in 2010 to 2013 with Red Bull most in F1 history Manchester, where the fierce before joining Ferrari, but the -- came at the 2019 rivals will play three one-day Italian team has not renewed Singapore Grand Prix. internationals over the next his contract. Only Michael Schu- week, with weather conditions Signing Vettel was “a clear macher (91) and Lewis conducive to slow bowlers. signal” to the racing world, said England’s rise to top spot in Eoin Morgan celebrates with the ICC Hamilton (89) have World Cup trophy (file photo) Racing Point, which will take won more races the 50-over rankings was built the Aston Martin name next around posting big totals on period of time will expose us Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel reacts prior to a race (file photo) year after Canadian billionaire good batting tracks and their in different areas we need to owner Lawrence Stroll’s invest- He added: “I still have so Grand Prix. Only Michael Schu- play a significant role in taking tournament triumph last sum- get better at. ment in the British brand. much love for Formula 1 and macher (91) and Lewis Hamil- this team to the next level.” mer was driven by their pace “Over the course of the last Vettel will drive alongside my only motivation is to race ton (89) have won more races. Racing Point’s current season attack. four-and-a half years we have Stroll’s son Lance and replace at the front of the grid. To do Vettel has also finished on the has been marred by controversy But with the next World Cup had to wait to play at Cardiff Mexican driver Sergio Perez so with Aston Martin will be a podium a further 67 times. with accusations they had cop- due to be held in India in three or Old Trafford or go away on who announced on Wednesday huge privilege.” ied Mercedes’ brake ducts. years’ time, as well as a T20 tour to experience those con- he will leave Racing Point at the Vettel has spent six seasons - ‘New era’ at Aston Martin - On Sunday, Racing Point World Cup there next year, ditions. So hopefully a little end of the season. with the Italian team without “Everybody at Silverstone is dropped their appeal against Morgan is embracing the need more of that will help us get “It’s a new adventure for me repeating his title-winning he- hugely excited by this news. Se- a 15-point deduction and for change. better at what we need to do with a truly legendary car com- roics at Red Bull. bastian is a proven champion 400,000-euro ($472,000) fine. “It’s a huge benefit to us on those sort of pitches.” pany. I have been impressed This term has proved particu- and brings a winning mentality Vettel’s arrival means that playing at Old Trafford, par- The three-match ODI series with the results the team has larly difficult with Vettel sinking that matches our own ambitions the team will dispense with ticularly if we play on the starts on Friday, following a achieved this year and I believe to 13th place in the champion- for the future as Aston Martin the popular Perez, a dependa- wicket I think we’re going to Twenty20 series in Southamp- the future looks even brighter,” ship ahead of Sunday’s Tuscan F1 Team,” said team principal ble and fast racer who played play on which will hopefully ton, which England won 2-1. said Vettel. Grand Prix at Mugello in Italy Otmar Szafnauer. a prominent role in saving the be slow and take a lot of turn,” The match at Old Trafford “The energy and commit - as Ferrari have suffered a mis- “On a Saturday or Sunday af- former Force India team dur- he said. will be the first 50-over con- ment of Lawrence to the sport erable season. ternoon, Sebastian is one of the ing a financial crisis two years “That’s the sort of wicket we test between the sides since is inspiring and I believe we can The last of Vettel’s 53 victories best in the world, and I can’t ago before it was taken over by will be more than likely to play England won last year’s World build something very special -- the third most in F1 history think of a better driver to help the consortium that renamed it on in India in the World Cup of Cup semi-final on their way to together.” -- came at the 2019 Singapore take us into this new era. He will Racing Point. 2023 and to play on that for a lifting the trophy.