22 Friday, February 3, 2017 SPORTS

Saint Petersburg Kristina Mladenovic at the St perfect match and gave me no no time to adjust to the new enus Williams blamed Petersburg Trophy yesterday, chance today.” conditions and it paid off. poor fitness for her five days after losing to sister Mladenovic raced into a 5-0 “I have a lot of respect for V 55-minute defeat Serena in the lead before Williams, who was Venus as I grew up watching t o final. experiencing problems with her playing. And I’m proud The 36-year-old, seeded her left thigh, chalked up her to play with her on the same four, slumped to a 6-3, 6-1 first game of the match. court and win.” defeat to her French After taking the opening set Vinci, the 33-year-old opponent in her second in 28 minutes Mladenovic, the Italian and seeded sixth, round tie after receiving a world number 51, broke at the needed an hour and 37 minutes first round bye. start of the second. to record her second win over “Today I wasn’t in my best She produced two more the 52nd-ranked Petkovic in of health,” Williams said. breaks to secure her win their third meeting. “I felt pain in my legs. I and to set up a quarter-final “It was a difficult match,” Niš, Serbia had similar feelings during meeting with defending Vinci said. “I started well and ovak Djokovic my last match in Australia. I champion of led 4-0 in the first but Andrea admitted also felt some lack of energy. Italy, who prevailed 6-4, 6-4 found a way to come Nyesterday he was Definitely it wasn’t the best over German qualifier Andrea back.” wary of rivals Russia match in my life. Petkovic. as he returns for “Also she “It wasn’t as easy as Serbia in (Mladenovic) the scoreline indicates,” World Group first round action this weekend. played really Mladenovic said. The world number two will take on on his well. She “Venus is a top player and favoured hard court surface at home in the southern fortress has a great champion. For sure it town of Nis on Friday after opens played was difficult for her to come against Russia’s . almost here and compete at her best “Russia are a young, motivated team and a after playing in Australian we must not underestimate them under any Open final. circumstances,” warned Djokovic, the only top ten “I tried to play very player featuring consistent and this weekend. aggressive () Djokovic said Schedule from the beginning, he welcomed the Friday (from 1400 GMT): trying to give return to his Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Karen Khachanov (RUS) her homeland after (SRB) v Daniil Medvedev (RUS) a disappointing Saturday (1500): second round defeat at the Viktor Troicki/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) v Andrey Australian Open Kuznetsov/ (RUS) to rank outsider Sunday (1300): . Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Karen Khachanov “It’s a special (RUS) feeling when Viktor Troicki (SRB) v Daniil Medvedev (RUS) we are together playing for our country,” he said. “It’s a very special atmosphere every time we get together.” The fixtures are reversed Sunday with Djokovic playing Khachanov, with Saturday’s doubles featuring Venus new player-coach Nenad Zimonjic. “I’m sure with the home fans behind us we will get a major win here,” Zimonjic said. Russia won their previous meeting in 2008, defeating a makes team including Troicki and Djokovic. (AFP)

Napier The rain eased off in ain and a damp outfield Napier around the time of shock forced the abandonment the scheduled 2:00pm start ofR the second one-day and the umpires at one stage international between New announced a new time with the Zealand and Australia without game reduced to 37 overs. a ball being bowled in Napier But the outfield never dried exit yesterday. The series will now sufficiently for play to get be decided in the final match in underway and the match was Hamilton on Sunday. abandoned five hours later. New Zealand won the series Barrichello to drive at Le Mans opener by six runs in Auckland Paris, “I’m delighted to hear that They will be driving a on Monday and a follow-up etired Formula One veteran we have been accepted for my Dallara LMP2 car which victory would see them regain Rubens Barrichello will 23rd Le Mans and Racing Team the pair have already started the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy makeR his debut driving in the Le Netherlands’ first entry,” ex F1 testing. they lost in a 3-0 whitewash in Mans 24 Hour endurance race, driver Lammer told Britain’s Whilst this will be Australia in early December. it was confirmed yesterday. autosport magazine online Barrichello’s first taste of Le The Brazilian will share the edition. Mans, the 44-year-old has wheel of a Dutch entry with Jan “We are extremely proud to completed three editions Lammers, the 1988 winner with enter some Brazilian flavour of the Daytona 24 Hour, ODI Jaguar. into Le Mans,” he added. finishing runner-up last year. washed out