WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 SPORTS ‘Human headline’ Kyrgios faces Aussie Open test

MELBOURNE: Nick Kyrgios is often associated 2015, equalling his best perform- points on purpose and argued with fans during In his match against America’s , Kyrgios is whether he can control his com- with tantrums and even tanking, but he has a ance yet. And the 21-year-old says he has bene- his second-round defeat to Mischa Zverev. Kyrgios moved listlessly and inexplicably bustible temperament in the heated atmos- chance to create some positive headlines by fited from his sessions with a psychologist, The incident in October came just days after volleyed a Sock shot which was sailing out from phere of . making a deep run at the . which he agreed to in return for a shorter ban Kyrgios had lifted the third trophy of his career well behind the baseline, dumping his forehand Opponents are wary of his rocket serve and The antics of Kyrgios, who is returning from a after his Shanghai meltdown. at the Japan Open in Tokyo. into the net. But Kyrgios, who remains without a forehand but they also know that fidgety ban for “lack of best efforts” during a notorious “Obviously I’m not going to tell you what we “I needed to shut down, really, after a very coach, has played down concerns about his Kyrgios is easily distracted and is prone to los- match in Shanghai, have doused expectations talk about, but I think it’s helping me for sure,” long and tough year,” he said. “I’m still learning injury and said his 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Sock would ing his cool. It does not augur well for Kyrgios’s of a title run at his home Grand Slam. the world number 14 said before this month’s about myself and things like (scheduling).” have no bearing on the Australian Open. bid to become the Australian Open’s first But despite his discipline problems, Kyrgios, Hopman Cup in Perth. “I don’t think losing in an exhibition Hopman home-grown champion since Mark dubbed a “human headline” by Australian “I’m just trying to learn a bit more about BASKETBALL INJURY Cup is going to hinder my performance too Edmondson in 1976. media, is coming off his best year yet when he myself and obviously just trying to figure out Kyrgios’s return at the exhibition-level much for the Australian Open,” he said. He said: “Being the focal point brings added won three titles and broke into the top 15. ways to enjoy the sport a little bit more and just Hopman Cup was not without incident and he “I’m not the type of guys who needs plenty attention and pressure. “But I’m not going to Kyrgios has shown a liking for Melbourne enjoy the grind of it.” The pressures of appeared hampered by a left knee injury which of matches before a Grand Slam.” Apart from his knock that. It’s a positive thing, and it means I’ve Park where he reached the quarter-finals in took their toll in Shanghai, when Kyrgios lost he picked up playing basketball. form and fitness, the biggest question for achieved a position where people care.” — AFP Kuznetsova falls in Sydney

SYDNEY: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won an all- Russian battle against Svetlana Kuznetsova to oust the defending champion in straight sets in the second round of the Sydney International yesterday. Pavlyuchenkova beat world number nine Kuznetsova 7-5 6-3 to set up a quarter-final clash against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard who caused another upset by defeating number three seed Dominika Cibulkova. On a bad day for seeded players, ninth seed Italian Robert Vinci also fell to Czech Barbora Strycova 6-2 6-3. Pavlyuchenkova came into the match having lost five of the last six meetings against Kuznetsova and twice fell back in the opening set. The 31-year-old double grand slam winner was serving for the set at 5-4 before Pavlyuchenkova reeled off the last three games to bag the set. “I’m really happy, especially because she’s not only defending champion but my fellow (coun- MELBOURNE: Andy Murray of Britain (R) talks with coach Ivan Lendl during a break trywoman) and she’s top 10 and she’s had a real- in his tennis training session at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne yesterday. Top ly incredible year last year,” Pavlyuchenkova said. players from around the world are arriving in Melbourne in the lead up to the “I think I did everything well. I wasn’t serving Australian Open from January 16 to 29. — AFP as well as I did yesterday; I was a little upset with that, but I’m so happy that even with a lower first serve percentage, that I was able to win the Murray: Aussie Open is not match in two sets. “I had zero expectations here; I was just trying a psychological barrier to enjoy the tennis, but it’s working good so far.” Next up for the Russian will be former LONDON: Andy Murray says he does not have a “I kept it fairly quiet and just spoke to the Wimbledon finalist Bouchard who completed mental block when it comes to the Australian people that I was closest with and explained her fourth consecutive hard-court win against Open despite losing the final of the opening what the situation was. I just tried to get the world number six Cibulkova with a 6-4 6-3 victo- Grand Slam of the season five times. best advice possible.” ry. It will be the first WTA quarter-final appear- The 29-year-old world number one-whose Murray is clear, though, how he wishes to be ance for the Canadian in 10 months since Kuala season opened with a defeat in the Qatar Open addressed by his rivals on the circuit. Lumpur, where she lost in the final of the to -told The Times in an inter- “A few of the players have been chatting to Malaysian Open. view he had also pondered over whether he me about it and asking how it works, what does “Any time you play one of the best players in should accept the knighthood he received in it mean and what do we call you,” Murray said. the world... it’s like a standard of where you’re the New Year’s Honours list. Murray, who is in “Andy is fine.” at,” Bouchard said after taking her head-to-head preparing for next week’s Aussie Open, Murray, whose win in the 2012 US Open record over Cibulkova to 4-1. “I feel like I could is adamant he no longer has issues over tourna- was the first in a Grand Slam by a British ten- play better tennis. I feel at times we both kind of ments he has yet to win. nis male tennis player since Fred Perry in were making unforced errors, but we were also “I don’t feel like I have mental hurdles now,” 1936, says another thing that has changed as pressuring each other to make mistakes. “I think said Murray. he has matured is how he reacts to personal I served okay. There are things I would have liked “I feel like I’m past that, to be honest. criticism. “When you are comfortable like that to do better...But overall, it was just me pushing “I just go there and give my best to win. So with who you are, someone saying that you’re myself and trying to do something on every SYDNEY: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada hits a return to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in their women’s long as I give my best effort, boring or miserable or whatever it is, it point that helped me get through.” — Reuters second round match at the Sydney International tennis tournament in Sydney yesterday. — AFP I don’t judge myself or feel like I’ve failed doesn’t affect you like it does when you are here (Melbourne) or anything like that.” younger and you are still not sure of yourself,” Murray, who had a memorable year in 2016 said Murray. “When you are growing up in the becoming Britain’s first tennis number one of spotlight and you don’t know exactly who Croatian pair tune up for the professional era and won Wimbledon and you are or what you’re going to become, defended his Olympic singles title, admitted he that’s probably a bit more difficult.” had conferred with those closest to him-but not Murray, who says he likes to organise his his brother Jamie-over whether to accept the schedule so he can see his daughter Sophia and Open with Kooyong wins knighthood when he was offered it in the mid- wife Kim every fortnight, received a flood of dle of December. congratulations when he became number one “I spoke to a few of the people closest to me. but two phone messages, left by two sporting MELBOURNE: Croat pair Ivo Karlovic and Borna conditions. “I had a few tough games but I was Gasquet but instead playing big-serving Karlovic. I didn’t have too long, but obviously you think giants, in particular touched him. “I got one Coric both posted victories yesterday as the able to win them so I am really happy with my “It’s more about the strategy, playing Richard or about something like that because I do feel like from Alex Ferguson and one from Jose Kooyong Classic began with injured Frenchman serve and with the game coming into the Ivo is like the complete opposite,” he said. it’s obviously a big honour to be offered that, Mourinho,” said Murray. , one of the top drawcards, Australian Open,” Karlovic said. “It’s hard to play against Ivo, tough to find a but with that comes maybe a little bit more “That was pretty cool. I obviously watch a lot pulling out. The pre-Australian Open tune-up was “It was a little bit windy and it was also hot, rhythm but I think I did a good job in difficult responsibility,” said Murray. “I’m still very young, of football and they are two of the most forced into a last-minute schedule change when which I was not used to because I’ve been in conditions.” In Tuesday’s final men’s match at the I’m still competing and obviously don’t want respected and best managers in one of the Gasquet withdrew citing an abdominal injury. Europe the last two to three months.” Kooyong club, which for years hosted the anything to distract me or affect my perform- hardest sports to succeed in at the highest level. Karlovic was originally set to face German Fellow Croat Coric, 20, coming off a four- Australian Open, Polish substitute Jerzy ance on the court.” That was pretty nice.” — AFP veteran , 38, but was switched to month injury break, beat Australian Andrew Janowicz beat Haas 5-7, 6-4, 10-4. play ’s Gilles Simon, who had been due to Whittington 6-3, 6-4. “It was a solid match, noth- The four-day event has brought back women take on Gasquet. The 37-year-old Croatian beat ing special but I was hitting it okay and in the sec- for the first time in two decades, with local Simon 6-4, 6-7 (1/7), 10-7 in a tournament using ond set a little better,” he said. Simon said it was teenage hope Destanee Aiava losing to Five men to watch at the match tiebreak system in testing summer difficult to adjust his game plan, expecting to face Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 7-6 (7/4). — AFP the Australian Open MELBOURNE: Andy Murray and Novak appearance. Federer is feeling his way Australian player hit with Djokovic will be big favourites for the back after a six-month injury lay-off, the Australian Open when it begins in longest of his career, which he ended with Melbourne on Monday. Here are five players a mixed performance at the Hopman Cup who might challenge the world’s top two. team tournament in Perth last week. seven-year corruption ban Federer does not seem to be contemplat- MILOS RAONIC ing retirement, however, and he remains SYDNEY: Australia’s Nick Lindahl was yes- en. The sanctions come just days after police The tall, serious Canadian ended 2016 as stubbornly optimistic of a last hurrah to terday banned for seven years and fined in Australia said an 18-year-old had been world number three as he continued his add to his record 17 Grand Slam titles. US$35,000 for corruption with two others charged with match-fixing at a tournament steady rise up the rankings, and it is surely Federer’s ranking has dropped to 17 after also sanctioned as tennis authorities step in Victoria last October. He was widely only a matter of time before he wins a his long absence, meaning he faces a up their fight against match-fixing ahead of named in local media as Oliver Anderson, an Grand Slam. Raonic, 26, laid down a marker tougher draw. the first Grand Slam of the year. Lindahl, emerging star who is the reigning Australian for the season at last year’s Australian Open who reached a career-high ranking of 187, Open boys champion and was reportedly when he ousted before was found guilty of contriving or attempt- approached to drop a set. falling to Andy Murray in a thrilling five-set Like Federer, Nadal’s aura and results are ing to contrive the outcome of an event and semi-final in which he was hampered by on the wane and it has been more than failing to cooperate with a Tennis Integrity LIFE BAN injury. Six months later, he reached his first two years since he last won a major, at his Unit (TIU) investigation. The claim underlined concerns about Grand Slam final at Wimbledon before los- favoured in 2014. The 30- The case related to his offer to throw a corruption in tennis as the world’s leading ing to Murray again. Raonic rounded off the year-old Spaniard didn’t make it to any of match at a Futures tournament in Australia players assemble in Melbourne for the year with a last-four spot at the ATP World the Grand Slam quarter-finals last season, in 2013 and a refusal to provide his mobile first Grand Slam of the season, starting Tour Finals in London and he heads into and his tally of two tournament wins was phone for forensic investigations on the next week. Reacting to the Anderson 2017 with a new coach, former Wimbledon his lowest in 12 years as he dropped to TIU’s request. “Although Mr. Lindahl, 28, news, world number one Andy Murray winner Richard Krajicek. ninth in the world. Nadal has won only one retired from the sport in 2013, today’s deci- urged severe punishments for anyone of his 14 major titles at the Australian Open, sion prevents him from resuming playing found cheating. STAN WAWRINKA when he beat a tearful Federer in an epic, professional tennis for the seven years of “If it’s happening, there should be the “The Stanimal” is riding high after win- five-set final in 2009. He will certainly look the ban,” the TIU said in a statement. most severe punishments for whoever is ning his third major at the US Open and the to improve on 2016, when he was sent “He is also prohibited from attending involved in it,” Murray said, in views backed powerful Swiss has the tools to triumph in packing by fellow Spanish left-hander any tournament or event organised or sanc- by his rival Novak Djokovic. Last month, Melbourne, as he memorably proved in in the first round. tioned by the governing bodies of the sport Spanish police arrested 34 people, includ- 2014. Wawrinka has forced his way into ten- for that period.” Lindahl was convicted in an ing low-ranking players, from a network nis’s upper echelons in the past three sea- ALEXANDER ZVEREV Australian court last year for “using corrupt that fixed matches in Spain and Portugal. sons but now aged 31 faces the challenge Wawrinka dubbed Zverev the “future of conduct information” and fined Aus$1,000 And in September, South African player of staying there-and even improving-as a tennis” after losing to the German in last over the same incident. Joshua Chetty was banned for life after group of younger players matures. The year’s St Petersburg final, and it is a label Two other players, Brandon Walkin and being found guilty of match-fixing charges. world number four with the brutal, one- that seems apt for the 6ft 6in (1.98 metre) Isaac Frost, were also disciplined after being Last year’s Australian Open was blighted handed backhand appears to enjoy the 19-year-old. Nicknamed “Sascha”, he is found guilty of corruption at the same tour- by bombshell media allegations that conditions at Melbourne Park, and it was a already ranked 24th, has a string of scalps nament. Walkin, ranked 1,066, was slapped match-fixing was rife and that authorities surprise when he lost to Raonic in the last to his name including two victories over with a six-month suspension for passing a had done little to counter the issue. 16 a year ago. Federer, most recently at the Hopman Cup. corrupt proposal to another party on behalf Citing leaked files, the BBC and Buzzfeed What’s missing so far is a deep run at a SYDNEY: This file photo taken on January 11, 2010 shows Australian tennis player Nick Lindahl playing a of Lindahl. His punishment was suspended said players who had reached the top 50 Grand Slam tournament, and Zverev was for six months, meaning he is free to contin- had been repeatedly suspected of fixing The superlative Swiss has lost none of unlucky to come up against Murray in the return to Marcus Baghdatis of Cyprus at the Sydney International tennis tournament. Australian tennis ue playing. matches but had never faced action. his popularity but, at 35, only his most first round in Melbourne last year. This time Frost, ranked 1,515, was found guilty of It sparked an independent review head- ardent fans would rate him as a leading around, he will be under close scrutiny for player Lindahl was yesterday banned for seven years and fined US$35,000 over corruption allegations with refusing to supply his phone for analysis. He ed by barrister Adam Lewis QC, a London- contender for the Australian Open, where signs that he is making good on his vast has already served a one-month suspension, based expert on sports law, aimed at shak- he will be making his 69th Grand Slam potential. — AFP two others also sanctioned, just days out from the first Grand Slam of the year. — AFP the TIU revealed, with no further action tak- ing up the Tennis Integrity Unit. — AFP