Family Drama
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016 SPORTS Raonic rocks Wawrinka to reach quarter finals MELBOURNE: Canada’s Milos Raonic fought It was Raonic’s first win against the reign- stressful match situations. “I feel like I’m put- Raonic started missing more and with a put-away at the net. Raonic, who dedi- off a comeback by 2014 champion Stan ing French Open champion in five meetings, ting in the work and I’m getting the results Wawrinka picked up his serving percentage, cated his third-round win over Viktor Troicki Wawrinka in a tense five-setter before taking a and he has not lost a match at tour level from it. I’m very happy with that,” he said. “It and he broke the Canadian in the fifth game to victims of last week’s school shooting major scalp and reaching his second straight since going down to Rafael Nadal in the third gives me some kind of ease in those difficult of the fourth set and fought off four break which left four dead, has yet to beat shot- Australian Open quarter-final yesterday. round of last year’s Shanghai Masters. “I’m moments, maybe if things aren’t going nec- points on his serve in the eighth game. maker Monfils in their two meetings so far. Raonic, who earlier spoke of his grief over very happy with the way I competed, the essarily my way completely.” Wawrinka steamed to triple set point in the “He’s very entertaining and he’s very difficult a high school shooting in his home country, way I turned things around after having the A case in point came when Raonic was on 10th game and took the match into a fifth to play. He can give you complete ends of eliminated the Swiss world number four 6-4, momentum against me going into the fifth track for a straight-sets win after four service set with the momentum shifting his way. But the spectrum within one game,” Raonic said 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 and will face Gael Monfils in set,” Raonic told reporters. breaks to lead by two sets in 76 minutes. But in the final set, Wawrinka lost serve in a shaky of Monfils. “I just have to take the game to the quarters. The 13th seed, who upset “I felt very clear in what I needed to do Wawrinka lifted his intensity and took the sixth game when on second break point his him. I have to make him feel uncomfortable. Wawrinka’s fellow Swiss Roger Federer to win and I believed that I could do it. I think that match to a fifth set. The match turned in the forehand drive was just out, giving Raonic a Not let him get into his sort of playing com- this month’s Brisbane International, remains gave me some kind of calm and some kind third set when Wawrinka broke Raonic’s 4-2 lead. Wawrinka saved a match point in fort. “If I can sort of keep up with the efficien- unbeaten this year after his impressive victo- of peace inside.” Raonic said new coach serve in the 11th game and served out to the eighth game but Raonic brought up a cy moving forward, I’ll have definitely some ry in three hours 44 minutes. Carlos Moya was helping him feel calmer in keep the encounter alive. further three match points and finally won it opportunities.” — AFP Federer’s wisdom on tennis, life and kids MELBOURNE: Over the course of his cel- work hard at it,” he said, adding that he ebrated career, Roger Federer has has no strong opinion whether his off- acquired wisdom on the tennis courts spring inherit his passion for tennis, that translates to life lessons which he although he has started his daughters on hopes his children can learn from. A lessons. father of four, Federer has two sets of twins. The girls are 6 and the boys are Work hard just 18 months and everyone travels “I think they need to know whatever together for his job. Young Myla and they choose, they have to work hard at Charlene have joined their mother, it.” “I told them after all these years, I still Mirka, in Federer’s box at matches, their go out and train, trying to improve,” heads buried in books, as their famous Federer said. “I think they see the benefit dad has expertly navigated his way into of hanging around with the same theme the second week of his 36th consecutive or subject for a while.” Federer continues MELBOURNE: Grand Slam - one of his many records. to set records all the time. In Australia, he Belarus’s Victoria The No. 3-ranked Federer says it might became the first man to win 300 Grand Azarenka gestures be an untraditional family life with a lot Slam singles matches with his third- after victory in her of time on the road, but he wants to round win over Grigor Dimitrov. women’s singles keep his loved ones close. “We’re used to To watch Federer play in Melbourne, match against this life. It’s the only thing they know and whether you’re a fan or his children, is an Czech Republic’s I know really for the last 20 years,” said unforgettable experience. His style and Barbora Strycova on day eight of the Federer. He faces No 6 Tomas Berdych in grace, his elegant one-handed backhand 2016 Australian the quarterfinals on Tuesday and could and his ability to craft shots that make Open tennis face No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a semifinal the crowd gasp are enough to make you tournament. — AFP that would be the latest installment in believe that age is irrelevant. Federer their long rivalry. Djokovic faces Kei joked that his children were now giving Nishikori in another quarterfinal Tuesday. him tennis tips. During on-court interviews, Federer “They told me I should play on the Ominous Azarenka fires up has spoken of the pride he feels knowing lines. They think that’s a good thing. I that his girls are old enough now to have was like, ‘OK, I’ll try that,’” he laughed. life-long memories of watching him play, They came along to practice the other and in post-match news conferences he day at Melbourne Park and had a request as Zhang dream continues has shared what he hopes they learn that dad do a trick where he looks one from him. “I have had those conversa- way and hits the other. “I said, OK, I’ll try MELBOURNE: Two-time champion Victoria what’s coming from her. I will try to be aggres- finalist, who needed treatment on her upper left tions with them, that hard work brings that, too. It’s not as easy as you think it is Azarenka remained in ominous form yesterday sive and try to go and win the match.” leg which hampered her movement. She gamely you somewhere,” said the Swiss star who but I’ll try,” Federer said, amused that the to surge into the Australian Open quarter-finals, World number one Serena Williams and fifth- carried on but was clearly in pain, with tears on has won a record 17 Grand Slams. “I told wisdom flows both ways. “They’ve give as Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai’s amazing seeded rival Maria Sharapova play each other in court. “Bad luck Madison. She was injured and them the other day they can be anything me advice, if you like. Yeah, they’re good Grand Slam run stayed alive. Former world num- a headline last-eight clash today, while fourth I’m very lucky today,” said Zhang. “It was so diffi- they would want to be as long as they coaches.” — AFP ber one Azarenka proved too strong for Czech seed Agnieszka Radwanska faces 10th seed cult to concentrate because I could see she was Barbora Strycova on Rod Laver Arena, storming Carla Suarez. Johanna Konta joined them to in pain.” Azarenka, 27, has been in the zone at through 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with reach her maiden Grand Slam quarter-final and Melbourne Park, dropping just 11 games in four Angelique Kerber, who beat fellow German become Britain’s first woman to reach the matches as she zeroes in on a return to the top Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0. Australian Open last eight since Jo Durie in 1983. after battling injuries for the past two years. She Azarenka, the 14th seed who won at Konta prevailed in a three-hour, four-minute went into the Strycova clash with a clear advan- Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, has a 6-0 slugfest 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 against Russia’s Ekaterina tage, whipping her on all four of their previous record over Kerber, including in the Brisbane Makarova. “Goodness gracious,” said Konta, who meetings, including at the last two Australian International final this month, making her a hot will next face Zhang. “Mentally, emotionally and Opens. favourite to keep her title run going. “I’m looking physically I left it all out there on the court.” The But it wasn’t straightforward against the forward to it. She’s such a fighter and such a nice only other British women to get as far were Czech, who stunned third seed Garbine person,” said the Belarusian, looking ahead to Virginia Wade, who won in 1972, and Sue Barker Muguruza in the last round. “She is such a the test on Wednesday.