SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2019 16 Djokovic knocked out as Nadal battles on in Monte Carlo

of serve before Nadal won it in a tie- was breaker. • He served for the match leading 5-2 knocked out by Daniil in the second only to drop serve again, Medvedev in quarters but recovered to take the win as Pella KNOW WHAT double-faulted. Rafael Nadal survives “Reaching the semi-final again means stern• Guido Pella test a lot to me, I hope this win will help me.” to reach semi-finals Nadal has now won 18 Nadal will face off in the semis matches in a row at Monte against either Italian of AFP | Monte Carlo Carlo, 25 sets in a row Borna Coric, the ninth seed. and extended his win-loss Medvedev welcomed his defeat of orld number one Novak record to 71-4 Djokovic after losing in each of his Djokovic was dumped out three previous encounters with the Wby while Serb. Rafael Nadal survived a struggle to ing when Medvedev drove a backhand “This was the best match of my ca- reach the semi-finals of the Monte Car- into the far corner on match point. reer, maybe not in the level of lo Masters for the 14th time yesterday. Nadal toiled away for two hours, 20 but in beating the number one for the Djokovic, twice a champion in the minutes to win for the 71st time in 75 first time in my life,” he said. “It’s just principality, lost serve five times in a Spain’s Rafael Nadal hits a return to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic gestures as he leaves matches at the tournament. amazing.” 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 defeat by Russia’s 10th seed ’s Guido Pella after losing the quarter final tennis match Medvedev will meet another Serb, Medvedev. against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev ‘Lucky to escape’ Dusan Lajovic, on Saturday for a place Nadal, an 11-time winner of the event, events and could conclude “It was a very tough match,” Nadal in the final after the latter beat Italian rallied from 4-1 down in his opening a personal sweep with another title at on clay, and it’s a long season. Let’s see said. “Luckily I was able to come back qualifier Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5. set before finally overhauling poten- Roland Garros in June, feels that all how it goes. (from 4-1 down) in the first set. If he Medvedev totalled less than half of tial Argentine spoiler Guido Pella 7-6 he needs is more court time and some “Maybe I’m lacking the consistency had gone 5-1 it may have been almost the 47 unforced errors which came (7/1), 6-3. extra polish. with the top results in the last couple impossible. off the Djokovic racquet in a three-set For Djokovic, who won a record sev- “The is the ultimate of years in the best tournaments. “It was a physically and mentally tussle in windy conditions. enth Melbourne title in January, defeat goal on clay. It’s expected in a way for “But I’ve been playing my best at draining set, especially losing my first “Novak played worse here than the marked another premature exit after me to peak right at that tournament, Grand Slams and that’s what I intend three service games. times before,” Medvedev said. “But I’m he crashed out in the early rounds at because that’s what I’m aiming for,” to do.” “I was lucky to escape, I’m happy to also getting more experience. Indian Wells and Miami last month. Djokovic said. Djokovic was broken three times in be through.” “I’m making the top guys realise it’s The Serb, who has won the last three “This is only the first tournament the final set, clawing one back but exit- The first set featured eight breaks not easy to play me.” Kohli defends Dhoni, says Ronaldo committed to Juve despite loyalty matters most Champions League flop: Allegri AFP | Milan tacker Mario Mandzukic could also miss rest of the season. AFP | New Delhi crucial for me.” ristiano Ronaldo is com- “(Goalkeeper) Mattia Perin is Kohli, the world number Cmitted to Juventus next Cristiano is the out until the end of the ndia’s Virat Kohli has gone one ODI and Test player, also season despite his bitter disap- future of Juventus. season, as is Sami Ito bat for his former captain praised Dhoni for giving him pointment at the Italian giants He has done very Khedira and may- Mahendra Singh Dhoni, say- the rare opportunity to bat at Champions League flop, coach well this year and be Mario Mand- ing it was unfortunate to see number three when he was just Massimiliano Allegri revealed zukic.” he said. so many people going after the starting out. yesterday. will do so next Meanwhile veteran player. Dhoni earned a reputation Allegri’s injury-hit side host season striker Paulo Dy- Dhoni, 37, led India to World as one of the deadliest finish- Fiorentina on Saturday needing MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI bala will be out Cup victory at home in 2011 but ers in 50-over cricket before just a point to lift their eighth for three weeks and his patchy form in recent times struggling to make a mark in the straight Serie A title, days after Douglas Costa and has led critics to question the crucial middle overs. a shock home 2-1 defeat to the Jose Caceres for wicketkeeper-batsman’s place Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli Kohli said Dhoni’s input and Dutch side that saw them elim- 10 days each, on the side. Last week, selectors talks with teammate Mahendra Singh experience were invaluable as- inated 3-2 on aggregate. while defender picked Dhoni in a 15-member Dhoni (R) ODI cricket match between sets for the team. “Cristiano is the future of Giorgio Chiel- World Cup squad ahead of the India and Australia (file photo) “He is the one person who Juventus. He has done very lini could be 21-year-old Rishabh Pant, trig- For me, loyalty matters the literally knows the game in - well this year and will do so back for next gering fresh debate about his most,” Kohli told India Today side out. He understands the next season, of course he is week’s trip cricketing skills. TV channel Thursday. game from ball one to ball 300 disappointed like all of us but to Inter Mi- But Kohli, who played under “When I walked into the (50 overs) on the field,” said he’s calm about it,” said Allegri. nal this lan. Dhoni before taking over the team he (Dhoni) had the op - Kohli, 30. “Cristiano has had an ex - year for the Howev- skipper’s mantle, said defend- tion of trying someone else after “I won’t say its a luxury to traordinary season and will play first time after four er with a ing him was a matter of loyalty. few games, although I grabbed have him, but I am fortunate tomorrow.” years and they have 17-point lead “It’s unfortunate to see so my chances, but for me to get to have a mind like that behind Five-time Ballon d’Or winner (Lionel) Messi. Foot- over Napoli many people going after him. that kind of backing, it was very the stumps.” Ronaldo had been bidding for a ball is not just about Allegri’s side sixth Champions League title to individuals. are almost add to his four won with Real “We have to put the certainties to Madrid and one with Manches- disappointment of lift their 35th ter United. the elimination in the league title as Barty to face Azarenka in Fed Cup semi The 34-year-old joined Ju- Champions League they cement ventus from Real last summer behind us.” their domes- AFP | Brisbane, Australia Experienced former US Open in a 100 million-euro ($117 Injuries have hit tic domi - champion Samantha Stosur was million) deal which runs until Juve hard ahead nance despite orld number nine Ash- Australian captain Alicia Mo- 2022, with a reported annual of the weekend’s continental Wleigh Barty will face her lik’s surprise pick over Daria salary of 31 million euros. clash, with Sami disappoint- doubles partner and two-time Gavrilova to open the tie against He scored six of his teams’ 14 Khedira announc- ment. major winner Victoria Azaren- Aryna Sabalenka. Champions League goals this ing yesterday ka in Fed Cup semi-final be - They play the reverse singles season and has 19 so far in Serie that he is set tween Australia and Belarus. and a doubles on Sunday. A, four behind leading scorer to have sea- The pair will contest the While Belarus are bidding to Fabio Quagliarella. son-ending second singles match on the reach the final for the second “Ronaldo’s arrival did not knee sur- opening day at Pat Rafter Arena time in three attempts, hav - give us any certainty of win- gery, while in Brisbane as the home team ing been beaten by the United Ashleigh Barty of Australia returns ning the Champions League,” Allegri targets Australia’s first final States in 2017, Australia haven’t a shot to Karolina Pliskova of Czech continued Allegri. revealed since 1993. made the decider in 26 years. Republic during the women’s final of “Barcelona play a semi-fi- that at- the (file photo)

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