MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015 SPORTS Kvitova wins in New Haven

NEW HAVEN: Defending champion Petra Kvitova used a dominant serve to beat Lucie Safarova 6-7(6) 6-2 6-2 in their all-Czech final at the Connecticut Open on Saturday. Kvitova faced only one break point and was never broken as she remained unbeaten in seven career matches against her compatri- ot. The second seed collected her 17th WTA title and her third in New Haven after victories in 2012 and 2014. After a disappointing mid- dle of the season during which she was slowed by a bout of mononucleosis, Kvitova will head to next week’s U.S. Open with renewed confidence, though she will need some rest before her first round match on Tuesday. “I feel terrible, but doesn’t matter,” Kvitova told reporters. “I will have a day off. It was very tiring.” Kvitova and fourth seed Safarova, left- handers born less than 150 km apart, wore identical outfits-red skirt, white top and red headband. They even had matching wrist- COROLINA: Kevin Anderson of South Africa holds the championship trophy after bands. defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert, of France, 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the Winston-Salem There was also little to separate them in Open tennis tournament. — AP the first set as both held serve easily before Safarova prevailed in the tiebreak. However, Anderson beats Herbert Safarova, who did not face a break point in the first set, could not maintain her hot start to clinch third ATP title and it was all Kvitova from then on as the world number five triumphed in a match that CAROLINA: Second seed Kevin Anderson an added pressure to be the favorite com- lasted two hours 18 minutes. used his powerful serve to end the unlikely ing into the final.” “She’s a big hitter,” Safarova said of Kvitova. run of qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert with Anderson was in danger of dropping his “She’s putting a lot of pressure on you, serving a 6-4 7-5 victory in the final of the Winston- serve against Herbert only once, in the really big. She was just going for it today, strik- Salem Open in North Carolina on Saturday. fourth game of the second set, and saved ing it well.” One break in each set was enough for four break points. Herbert, ranked 140th in Kvitova, the fifth seed at the U.S. Open, Anderson to clinch the third ATP title of his the world, was outclassed in the first set faces German Laura Siegemundin the first career and end a streak of losing seven but played much better in the second round in New York, a city she readily acknowl- straight finals. before his serve was broken at 5-5. edges she does not really like. The tall South African was broken only That was the opening world number 15 Sixth seed and losing French Open finalist once in the entire tournament at Wake Anderson needed to close out the Safarova will be up against Ukrainian Lesia Forest University in a promising warm-up Frenchman. Had Herbert won he would Tsurenko in a rematch of their New Haven NEW HAVEN: Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic celebrates with her trophy after defeating for the US Open that starts today. have been the first player since 1996 to win semi-final. — Reuters compatriot Lucie Safarova 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2 in the final match of the Connecticut Open. — AP Anderson, 29, has a mediocre record at an ATP event after playing nine matches. Flushing Meadows where he has never The 24-year-old survived three rounds made it to the round of 16. He faces of qualifying just to make the main draw. Russian teenager Andrey Rublev in the first “I had an incredible week,” said Herbert High risk, high reward sees round next week. who will meet 23rd seed Roberto Bautista “I’ve been in a few finals and come up Agut of Spain in the first round at the U.S. short which is always tough,” a relieved Open. “I came here to play some matches Anderson told reporters. “Each final is a dif- but I didn’t expect to play that much. Naholo in All Blacks squad ferent situation and for some reason it just (Anderson) was better and more experi- hadn’t happened for me. Maybe it’s a bit of enced today.” — Reuters WELLINGTON: The inclusion of injured winger Waisake Naholo in the All Blacks World Cup Serena chases calendar squad was a case of high risk, high reward, coach said after the announcement at Slam, history at US Open New Zealand’s Parliament buildings yesterday. Naholo broke his leg on debut against NEW YORK: World number one Serena time record of 24. Argentina last month and sought out alternative Williams feels the pressure of chasing histo- Not since Graf won the 1989 Australian treatment in in an effort to make the World ry at the US Open, but she accepts the Open after her 1988 calendar Slam has a Cup and had said earlier he expected to be fit for intensity as the price for dominating a gen- woman won five Slams in a row, as Williams the All Blacks’ third pool game against Georgia eration of women’s tennis. could. on Oct. 2. The 33-year-old American, who cap- Patrick Mouratoglou, Williams’ coach, “One of the things we have done throughout tured her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 likes what he sees in his star pupil, especial- the whole selection process is risk and reward,” US Open at age 17, is a huge favorite as she ly her powerful serve. Hansen told reporters. “Yes he is injured but he tries to complete the first calendar-year “She has probably get the best serve in is on the road to recovery and should be fit for Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 by win- the history of the women’s game,” he said. the third game. “In effect he will miss only one ning her 22nd career major title starting “Even when it’s not perfect, it’s still good game because the first two are four days apart Monday on the New York hardcourts. enough to win. She has to continue to have and he wouldn’t have played both of those any- “I decided I prefer to have that pressure faith in her serve.” Williams, who opens way. “The reward is that he is a try-scoring than the pressure of not winning,” Williams Monday night against Russia’s Vitalia machine, he is X-factor and he brings something said. “Not everyone can handle that pres- Diatchenko, will be the US Open top seed to the team that others don’t. “We can’t win this sure, but I’m OK with it. I would rather be in for a fourth time, having already won titles World Cup by having something ordinary, we this position than another one.” Still, there’s as top seed in 2002, 2013 and last year. need something different and he provides that.” no doubt Williams is looking forward to Second seed Halep could be the toughest Naholo was jogging with no pain, Hansen seeing her designs in a New York fashion healthy foe in Williams’ path. They can’t said though he was unsure if his decision to seek show a few days after the US Open. meet until the final. alternative treatment had been a factor in his By then, the Grand Slam bid will be over, “I respect her for what she has already being 10 days ahead of his expected recovery. win or lose. “I’m ready. I’m so ready. I’m done and what she’s doing, but I also have “Our medical staff are open minded people. ready to get it over with,” Williams said. “I a desire to beat her,” Halep said. “In Alternative medicines have been around for a don’t care if I win or lose or break even. I’m Cincinnati I didn’t believe enough I could long time,” Hansen said. “Has that treatment ready to start it, get it over with, and be beat her and win the match. I have to made the process quicker? I don’t know... but done and go on to the next event.” improve this. Next time I have to not think our medical crew are happy with his progress.” Williams seeks her fourth consecutive about I’m playing Serena and concentrate US Open title after having won this year’s on winning.” NEW PLAYERS French and Australian Opens and Russian third seed Maria Sharapova, The 24-year-old Naholo joins winger Nehe Wimbledon as well as hardcourt events in Danish fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki and Milner-Skudder and hooker as the Miami and Cincinnati, the last US Open 2012 and 2013 US Open runner-up Victoria only players capped in 2015 in the squad. Richie McCaw will captain the side in his warm-up where she defeated Romania’s Azarenka of Belarus all have leg injuries. Waisake Naholo in action in this file photo Simona Halep in the final for a 69th career In the end, Williams’ toughest enemy fourth World Cup as he seeks to become the first crown. might be herself and her mental ability to player to lift the Webb Ellis trophy for a second selection in their favour. Much of the debate sur- place in the mix. “It gives me confidence to know that handle trouble during matches. “If I am time. Milner-Skudder and Naholo in effect were rounding the squad had been on the composi- Just three specialist locks, , what I’ve been working on these past few playing well then hopefully no one (else) the only surprises in an otherwise predictable tion of the back three with and Julian and , were named days and weeks has been going very well,” will win, but we’ll see,” Williams said. “It’s all squad with 17 forwards and 14 backs with the Savea considered certainties with Milner- to accommodate the loose forwards, though said Williams. “It also makes me realize the up to me. If I decide to play right, it’ll be emphasis on the backs being their versatility to Skudder, Charles Piutau and 2011 World Cup Hansen felt Vito, and feeling of winning. I like that feeling and great.” cover numerous positions. winners and competing would be adequate lineout options. want to do the hard work.” Not since Aussie Samantha Stosur beat and were picked for the last two spots before Naholo’s recovery. “Again we looked at the risk and reward and Williams has won six Wimbledon, US Williams in the 2011 final has Williams lost as backups for flyhalf , with Lima Jane and Dagg have been hampered by the big reward was taking an extra loose for- Open and Australian Open titles and three at the US Open. “No doubt she is going to Sopoaga unlucky to be left out of the squad injury this season and had little chance to prove ward, who will have a high workload,” Hansen French Open crowns to stand one shy of be feeling the pressure,” Stosur said. “You after an impressive debut against South Africa. themselves, something Hansen acknowledged. added. “It gives us the opportunity to put two Steffi Graf’s Open Era (since 1968) record of know she wants to get that calendar Slam. Hansen, however, said that Barrett and Slade He named six loose forwards, with Liam loose forwards on the bench and gives us the 22 Grand Slam singles trophies and only She’s not immune to the nerves and pres- were also specialist flyhalves, who could play Messam and Victor Vito both included after they versatility in how we want to play late in the three shy of Australian Margaret Court’s all- sure.” — AFP other positions if needed, which had tipped the had been considered to be competing for one game.” — Reuters Namibia relish All Black challenge, says coach

CAPE TOWN: Namibia do not expect to to achieve an 80-minute performance. “It’s nationals in recent weeks to prepare but beat favourites New Zealand in their open- always going to be challenging with a whether Kenya, Russia and Zimbabwe have ing match at the Rugby World Cup next group of players that has just a few full-time been of the requisite quality is a question month but coach Phil Davies says his part- professionals but that has been absolutely Davies sidesteps. time players are eagerly anticipating their our top priority and we feel now we’ve got a “Key for us with the performances has moment in the spotlight. 23-man squad we can put out each game been concentrating on ourselves and work- Namibia face the most demanding and who, over the course of 80 minutes, will ing on our systems and getting processes in schedule of all the teams participating in be able to perform.” Namibia also play place.” His own appointment had gone the tournament in England-four group Tonga on Sept. 29, Georgia on Oct. 7 and smoothly, he added. “A lot of the structures matches in 17 days-but are taking on the Argentina four days later. and planning had been done already. Since challenge with enthusiasm, the former I’ve taken over as coach, I’ve tried to sup- Welsh international said in an interview ‘FANTASTIC ATTITUDE’ port and help and grow the systems that with Reuters. Davies, 51, joined Namibia last October were already there. It’s not been ideal but “They want to go and face up to the chal- as a technical advisor and took over as it’s also not been a difficult transition.” He lenge. They want to do the very best they coach in June after the surprise sacking of said Namibia represented ‘going back to the can there. We know what we are up against, Danie Vermeulen. He says he cannot fault old values’ of the game. “The majority of the we know we aren’t going to win the game,” the attitude of the players from the south- squad have full-time jobs and have to fit he said of the opening Group C encounter ern African nation. their training around that in the way we against the All Blacks at Wembley on Sept. “That’s been really evident from the start, used to in the amateur era.” Davies won 46 24. the excitement. The attitude of these lads, caps for Wales, including playing six match- “It’s a case of us playing to our maximum who want to represent their country well at es at the World Cups in 1987 and 1991. His and that’s all we can ask for. “The players the World Cup, is fantastic and this has been coaching career including spells at Leeds and staff have worked exceptionally hard really energising for the coaching staff.” Tykes, Scarlets, Worcester Warriors and over the last seven weeks to get us to a level Namibia have played several low-key inter- Cardiff . — Reuters Phil Davies