THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 SPORTS Running out of time in Photo of the day Grand Slam fame game NEW YORK: When Rafael Nadal pulled out of added the Bulgarian. “It’s definitely slower. All the US Open, his agony was sweet music to the top guys that are out there now have Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov and Kei been winning majors at 22, 23, 24.” Nishikori, tennis’s widely-hyped but under- performing next generation. More than any- Age no barrier one else, Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam win- Federer believes the likes of Raonic need ner, has proved to be their nemesis, leaving to be on the offensive more and not defend many in the sport wondering if the men try- constantly from behind the baseline in the ing to follow in the footsteps of the Big Four hope of picking up scraps. “I’ve seen it come will ever achieve similar dominance. and go a little bit, but I do believe for him in Raonic, the big-serving Canadian, and the future, if he wants to do well, he has to Dimitrov, the high-profile Bulgarian, are both stay up on the baseline. Can’t move far back,” 23 while Japan’s Nishikori will be 25 in offered the Swiss star in an off the cuff tactical December. In stark contrast, Nadal was a talk. Raonic has made the fourth round at the major winner at just 19, lifting the first of nine US Open on his last two visits. He was buoyed French Opens. Nishikori has lost all seven by a title march in Washington where he fired times he has played Nadal while Raonic and 83 aces as well as a semi-final run in Dimitrov have identical, depressing 0-5 Cincinnati. records. The three pretenders have been If he is to make a deep impression at treated with equal contempt by Novak Flushing Meadows, he knows the serve will Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. again be crucial. “It has improved. I have put World number one Djokovic has a 3-0 win- more focus on it, I would say, just getting out ning record over Raonic, enjoys a 4-1 stran- there and hitting more serves....it’s just been glehold against Dimitrov and is 1-1 against more difficult for my opponents,” said Raonic. Nishikori. “I think my holding numbers are higher and Federer, looking for an 18th major in New winning on second serve points and saving York, is 6-0 against Raonic with two recent breakpoints. I have a better understanding wins at Wimbledon and Cincinnati achieved what I need to do.” Nishikori, meanwhile, was without dropping a set, 1-0 against Dimitrov a first round casualty at the 2013 US Open and 2-2 with Nishikori. The only record and it’s six years since he had his best run-a against the Big Four which is in positive terri- fourth round place in 2008. Like Raonic and tory is Raonic’s 3-1 edge over Murray. The Dimitrov-and unlike Nadal, Djokovic and Scot, however, is 3-2 when facing Dimitrov Federer-the quietly-spoken Florida-based and 3-0 against Nishikori. “It’s a long road. Japanese player is erratic on the Grand Slam Tennis has changed so much in a way that it’s stage. very hard for the younger generation to get His last-16 runs at the Australian Open and Ken Roczen competes in the AMA Pro Motocross Championships at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, New York, USA. — www.redbull.com out there and win majors and consecutive big Wimbledon this year sandwiched a first round tour titles. I think it is not as easy as it was exit at the French Open. But despite the trio before,” admitted Dimitrov. of hopefuls all being in their mid-20s, there is The world number eight, dubbed “Baby always hope. Stan Wawrinka was 28 when he Lippi sees red as Guangzhou Fed” for his playing similarities to the great won the Australian Open this year while Swiss and a picture-perfect one-handed Murray was 25 when he captured his maiden backhand, was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon Grand Slam title at the 2012 US Open. The go down in Western Sydney this year and made the last eight at the days of a teenager winning the US Open-Pete Australian Open. But his three visits to the US Sampras was just past his 19th birthday when Open have resulted in three first round he won in 1990 - may be gone, but age seems SYDNEY: Guangzhou Evergrande coach defeats. “I think we, in a way, we are all aware to be little of a barrier to dreams. Just ask the Marcello Lippi exploded in rage after the Asian of that. I give ourselves a bit of credit that at Dominican Republic’s Victor Estrella Burgos champions had two players sent off in the dying least we’re trying really hard for all those who will make his New York debut next week minutes of their 1-0 first leg loss to Western things, but I believe our time will come,” at the age of 34. — AFP Sydney Wanderers in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals yesterday. The World Cup- winning former Italy coach charged on to the pitch to remonstrate with Emirati referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed after midfielder Gao Lin had followed defender Zhang Linpeng in being shown a straight red card. Tomi Juric was credited with the winner on the hour mark but the scenes just before the final whistle, with players and coaches pushing and shoving in a crowd around the officials, might have more far-reaching repercussions. Zhang was dismissed for an elbow on Mark Bridge after 88 minutes and Gao followed in stoppage time after being adjudged to have fouled Brazilian Saba. Lippi was still fuming in his post-match press conference, accusing the Wanderers players of theatrics to get his players sent off and the referee of chiding the home side like naughty children rather than reaching for SYDNEY: Western Sydney Wanderers player Tomi Juric (left) and Guangzhou Evergrande player his cards. “The first one I didn’t see very well but Zhang Linpeng (right) vie for the ball during their AFC Champions League quarter-final foot- the second one was right in front of me and was ball match in Sydney yesterday. — AFP not a red card,” he said through a translator. “You edge of box which eluded Guangzhou goal- strikeforce and ultimately the frustration clearly know me from the World Cup and the keeper Zeng and rolled into the net with the got the better of him. Champions League, I am not like this, I am an Spain’s Rafael Nadal lurking Juric claiming the final touch. The return leg takes place in Guangzhou next educated man. I know I shouldn’t go on the Guangzhou continued to create half chances at Wednesday with the winners facing FC Seoul or pitch but I just wanted to ask him to explain his the other end but Lippi looked on in vain for a Pohang Steelers, who meet an all-South Korean Singaporean takeover could decision.” moment of class from his expensively assembled last eight tie, in the semi-finals. — Reuters Lippi was further enraged when he was revive Valencia glory days stopped from seeing the referee after the match and finished addressing the media standing up and emitting a stream of Italian that neither his VALENCIA: Valencia coach Nuno Espirito president Amadeo Salvo was treated like a English or Mandarin translator could keep up Santo believes an expected takeover by hero by fans on his return to Valencia airport with. “I didn’t want to talk about winning the Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim can bring last Saturday after meeting Lim in Singapore World Cup or anything, I just wanted to ask him the glory days back to the club after years of such is the excitement over what a new era for an explanation,” he said. Wanderers manager financial problems. could bring. “It is a step further in a long Tony Popovic said it had been a “fantastic” win The protracted deal, which has been process but the end will arrive in a few weeks,” for his team given they were still in pre-season under negotiation since before January, has Salva told reporters at the airport. “Lim will and had no sympathy for Lippi. “I don’t know still not been signed and sealed but this come when the agreement is effective.” what he’s so upset about,” he said. “We all dis- should now take place in the coming weeks agree with decisions but we do it from the and Lim has already been active behind the First moves touchline. “But you can’t have coaches going on scenes over transfer dealings. One of the club’s first moves in the close the pitch and manhandling players.” His aim is to return the La Liga club to the season was to appoint as coach after top of the European game - they kick off the Argentina-born coach Juan Antonio Pizzi was No quarter new campaign at Sevilla on Saturday - and sacked following a disappointing campaign The A-League side certainly gave no quarter media reports say he is ready to invest 50 mil- in which they finished out of the European in defense and got sharper the longer the match lion euros ($66.61 million) on his arrival. “The places in eighth. Lim gave his backing to for- went on to run out worthy winners in front of a takeover has been going on for some time mer Deportivo La Coruna and Porto goal- noisy crowd of 17,093 at Parramatta Stadium.