Barty Clinches Miami Open Title Unlikely
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MONDAY 1 APRIL 2019 SPORT 07 She played well and I was super tired. The conditions Karolina Pliskova were different to the night after losing the Miami FOOTBALL FOOTBALL matches I played. For sure Open final to Ashleigh Premier League: Ligue 1: I could play better but she Barty. Arsenal Saint-Etienne vs vs Newcastle United Nimes ACTION went for it in the tie-break. TODAY’S Lisicki eyes Barty clinches Miami Open title unlikely AFP Wimbledon MIAMI comeback Ashleigh Barty’s transformation is complete after the Australian I was an average AFP defeated Czech fifth seed cricketer and I’m BERLIN Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 becoming a better on Saturday to win the biggest The 2013 Wimbledon finalist singles title of her career at the tennis player. I feel Sabine Lisicki has said she is WTA Miami Open. like when I play my hoping to make an unlikely The 22-year-old Aussie quit best, I’m good enough return to the All England Club tennis five years ago after finding this summer after a dramatic the mental grind of the tour too to match it with decline in recent years. much to bear, turning to profes- the very best in the Lisicki, 29, has battled a sional cricket in a bid to find world: Ashleigh Barty string of injuries and plum- sporting happiness. meted to 298th in the world Barty, however, knew she When the Australian double rankings since losing the Wim- had the tennis skills to compete faulted at 1-1 to hand Pliskova bledon final in straight sets to at the very top and after an early break, it wasn’t the start Marion Bartoli. returning in February 2016, has Barty sought and more errors in She was knocked out in the taken her career to an elite level, the following game allowed first round of Wimbledon in culminating in her first-ever Pliskova to extend her lead. 2017, and failed to qualify in WTA Premier Mandatory title to Barty then began to settle 2018. follow on from the US Open down and crisply struck a Yet in an interview with doubles crown she won last forehand winner to break Bild yesterday, the German September. Pliskova for the first time. tennis star said that she is Barty, a junior Wimbledon The Aussie started superbly determined to return to the winner at age 15, will rise from in the tie-breaker, moving 5-1 biggest stage. Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates with the trophy after defeating Karolina Pliskova of Czech 11th to number nine in the world ahead before Pliskova hit long “I have unfinished business Republic in the Miami Open final on Saturday. rankings and become the first to seal the set for Barty, who at Wimbledon, and it would be Australian woman since Sam broke early in the second set to great if I can be there this Stosur in June 2013 to crack the player. I feel like when I play my fourth in the rankings despite a won.It was tough to fight in the signal it would be her day. summer,” said Lisicki. top 10. best, I’m good enough to match disappointing final, badly second.” “It’s been an amazing fort- She will return to WTA tour “It feels like it’s a long time it with the very best in the struggled with her serve and The 27-year-old Czech , who night of tennis and it’s pretty cool action this week, having been ago now since I took the break world.” movement, off the pace mentally beat Barty 6-4, 6-4 in the round to have played a good match on granted a wild card for the and since I came back,” said Barty hit 15 aces and 41 and physically after reaching the of 16 at last year’s US Open, came such a big stage. Charleston Open. Barty, who also reached the winners compared to 22 from an quarter-finals or better in her into the final with 31 aces, most “It was always going to be a “There are plenty of good doubles semi-finals at the Hard out-of-sorts Pliskova. five prior tournaments this year. in the women’s draw, but she match of small opportunities so players who are older than 30 Rock Stadium with Victoria “I had to keep it physical, “She played well and I was won only 65% of points on her getting the first set was massive. and are celebrating the biggest Azarenka. make as many balls as possible super tired,” said the Czech. first serve compared to 86% from “There were zero expecta- successes of their careers,” she “It’s been a few years now, and keep my running shoes on,” “The conditions were dif- Barty. tions coming into this tour- said. but I certainly feel like I’m a very Barty said. ferent to the night matches I “She served great,” said nament, I just saw it as an oppor- Lisicki claimed that she had different person. I feel like I’m a Barty’s victory means that for played. For sure I could play Pliskova who defeated Simona tunity to get better every day but now returned to full fitness and more complete player, I’m a the first time ever there have better but she went for it in the Halep in the semi-finals and I have grabbed my chance with had never thought about calling better player. been 14 different winners in 14 tie-break. denied the Romanian the chance both hands. time on her career. “I was an average cricketer WTA events so far this season. “The first set was key for the to reclaim the world number one “I am proud of myself,” she “Giving up is not an option and I’m becoming a better tennis Pliskova, who will rise to match and one I should have ranking. said. for me,” she said. In-bee seizes Bjerregaard stuns Woods at Match Play LPGA Kia REUTERS and it did the same thing. Just WGC-MATCH PLAY RESULTS AUSTIN one of those weird spots.” Bjer- Classic lead regaard’s birdie at the first gave Quarter-finals Dane Lucas Bjerregaard pulled him the early lead but three Kevin Kisner (USA x48) bt Louis AFP off a stunning victory over idol consecutive birdies from the Oosthuizen (RSA x19) 2&1 LOS ANGELES Tiger Woods in the quarter- third put Woods 2 up. Francesco Molinari (ITA x7) by Kevin Na finals of the WGC-Dell Tech- “Tiger had a great stretch (USA x57) 6&5 South Korean Park In-bee drained nologies Match Play in Texas on the front nine where he Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN x50) bt Tiger a long birdie putt at the 18th hole on Saturday. stiffed a few and made a couple Woods (USA x13) 1-up on Saturday to grab a one-shot Woods had beaten Rory of good putts,” the Dane said. Matt Kuchar (USA x23) bt Sergio Garcia lead over Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in McIlroy 2&1 in their first match “So it looked a bit uphill (ESP x26) 2-up the LPGA Kia Classic. play meeting in the last 16 but there but I made some great Park, a seven-time major Bjerregaard completed a 1-up putts coming in.” champion seeking to end a year- victory over the former world Italy’s Francesco Molinari world number ones, building a long title drought, carded her number one when the will meet American Kevin three-hole advantage over second straight five-under par 67 American missed a short putt Lucas Bjerregaard (left) and Tiger Woods on the 16th Kisner in the other semi-final McIlroy by the 10th hole. at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, on the 18th hole. green during their quarter-final round on Saturday. at Austin Country Club. McIlroy rallied, however, California. “Just to get the chance to Molinari, the highest cutting the lead to 1-up before Her 14-under par total of 202 play against him today is pretty the semi-final. Bjerregaard, 27, 17-foot birdie putt at the last remaining seed at seventh, beat the Northern Irishman lost the put her one in front of Hataoka, special,” Bjerregaard told PGA eagled the 16th from 29 feet to only to have Woods lip out for American Kevin Na 6&5 and 16th hole and Woods closed out who had eight birdies without a Tour Radio. draw level with Woods and par from four feet to decide the Kisner saw off South African the match at the 17th. bogey in her 64 for 203. “I’m pretty proud to say I after both made birdies on the match. Woods admitted he Louis Oosthuizen 2&1. Na had “I played pretty consistent Park, seeking a 20th LPGA title beat Tiger Woods. Not many 17th, the Dane won the match misread the putt. knocked out second seed Justin the entire day,” said Woods. in this last event before the first people can say that.” at the last to complete a “We read it inside left, left Rose in the morning. “I felt like I didn’t give him major of the year, the ANA Inspi- The 50th seed will play stunning day after he beat centre, and the putt went left,” Woods, the 13th seed, never any holes and Rory didn’t make ration, said the key to her round American Matt Kuchar, who Swede Henrik Stenson 3&2. he said. trailed in the showcase opening any putts today.