SPORTS Thursday, March 2, 2017 23 Sharapova handed Rome wildcard Rome ive-time Fchampion Maria Sharapova has been given Djokovic a wildcard to play in the in May, organisers said yesterday. The former world number one makes her return to the circuit in Stuttgart in April after completing a through 15-month ban for doping. “We officially announce the wild card for the 3-time Rome champion @ MariaSharapova into the main draw ... “ organisers announced on Twitter. Sharapova hasn’t played on tour since testing Maria Sharapova positive for meldonium at poses as she the 2016 . arrives to the An initial two-year ban by Vanity Fair Party the International following the Federation was reduced to 88th Academy 15 months by the Court of Awards at Arbitration for Sport. The Wallis The Rome tournament Annenberg runs from May 15 to May Center for the 21. She has also been handed Performing Arts a wildcard for the May 6-13 in Beverly Hills, . California

Budapest withdraws 2024 bid Budapest city hall, which leaves just Paris and udapest City Council approved a Los Angeles in the running, saw 22 motion yesterday to abandon its councillors in favour of dropping the Bbid to host the 2024 Olympic Games candidacy and six against. after a referendum push last month Boston, Hamburg and Rome had forced the government to withdraw its already pulled out of the contest to support. follow 2020 hosts Tokyo, all citing Serbian tennis player Novak A vote in the Hungarian capital’s concerns about the costs. Djokovic celebrates his victory

Acapulco slowly and was forced to save two match point. Djokovic duly sealed the game one of the proposals is for ormer world number one break points in the third game of the win with a deft lob that left reducing the search time for lost balls was made to the first set before hanging on for Klizan scrambling to return before from five minutes to three, whilst Fwork hard before finishing strongly a 2-1 lead. finishing with a volley into an open Golf made allowing players to drop a ball from any to defeat Martin Klizan in straight He had to save a further break court. height when taking relief, rather than sets on his return to competition point in the fifth game to take a Elsewhere Tuesday, another shoulder-height as is the case at the at the ATP Acapulco event on 3-2 lead but then swiftly punished former world number one Rafael moment. One area which may provoke a Tuesday. world number 62 Klizan with a Nadal eased into the second round simpler heated debate -- especially on the Ladies Djokovic has not played since break to go 4-2 up. with a straight sets victory over Professional Golf Association (LPGA) his shock second round exit at The contest then went with serve Germany’s . tour, where it is most prevalent -- is the Australian Open in January, as Djokovic claimed the opening Nadal took 1hr 17min to and faster forbidding caddies to help players line and showed signs of ring-rustiness set. advance past the world number up putts. before defeating Klizan 6-3, 7-6 Klizan was soon in trouble in the 30 6-4, 6-3. London Another measure designed to speed (7/4) before a raucous Mexican second set as he suffered a break in Australia’s olf rulemakers The R&A and up a round is professionals will not have crowd. the opening game before Djokovic wilted in the sultry conditions United States Golf Association to repair spike marks made by their “I wasn’t expecting an easy held for 2-0. against American G(USGA) yesterday unveiled a radical boots and one of the generally regarded match, that’s for sure,” said That proved to be the cue before retiring citing the heat. set of new rule proposals they hope unfairer rules where a player was Djokovic. “The field here is very for a mini-collapse, however, as Tomic lost the first set in a tie- will simplify the game and also speed penalised for being struck by their ball strong and I got a collision in the Djokovic was broken twice and break 7-6 (7/5) but then retired up play. has been recommended to be discarded. first round against a guy who is Klizan raced into a 4-2 lead. before the second set got under The two bodies have eliminated many The removal of the obligation of well known for playing his best But the 27-year-old Slovak’s way. penalties including being penalised for dropping balls from shoulder-height tennis on the big stage. composure deserted him and Tomic’s fellow Australian accidentally moving your ball marker will prevent 10-minute hold-ups -- as “But all in all it was a good Djokovic broke back and held to survived a scare in on the green and reduced the number of was the case last year with Jordan Spieth performance to win in straight sets. level at 4-4. his opening round game before rules from 34 to 24. at the US PGA Championship. A tough second set but it’s exactly The set went with serve to go defeating Israel’s Dudi Sela in three The R&A is seeking feedback on the Video reviews will still be used to what I needed at this moment into a tie-break and once again sets, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. proposals until the end of August, with determine if rules have been breached, to test myself and my game and Djokovic’s superior experience of In other matches, third seed any amendments to be made before the but not to “second guess” players who I’m looking forward to the next pressure situations told, Klizan Marin Cilic advanced to the second new rules come into effect from January need to estimate where a ball may have challenge.” snatching at a forehand that round with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 win over 1, 2019. With regards to speeding up entered or last crossed a hazard. (AFP) The 29-year-old Serbian started went long to give his opponent Alexandr Dolgopolov of .