22 Saturday, March 31, 2018 SPORTS Valverde Miami Open wary of playing Stephens Messi to meet

Lionel Messi (file pic) London declined to say whether he arcelona forward intended to pick his talisman Ostapenko Lionel Messi is still on Saturday. Latvia’s Jelena Bfeeling discomfort with his “We have to wait,” Ostapenko thigh and the club need to Valverde told a news returning a shot exercise caution to ensure conference yesterday. (Pic courtesy: AFP) he does not tear the muscle, “We are taking care of him, coach Ernesto Valverde said just as Argentina did. He has a in final yesterday ahead of his side’s little discomfort and we have La Liga game at Sevilla. to bear that in mind, because Miami brought Stephens back into contention Messi joined up with the if it leads to a muscular tear S Open winner Sloane Stephens saw as Azarenka lost three consecutive Argentina squad after ending then the situation is far more off three-time Miami Open winner service games. Barca’s 2-0 win over Athletic serious.” UVictoria Azarenka to book a place in the Stephens made short work of her Bilbao with a muscle problem Barca are 11 points final in Florida. opponent in the deciding set taking but did not feature in the clear of nearest challengers The Belarusian former world number it 6-1. friendlies against Italy and Atletico Madrid at the top one was given a wildcard into the Jelena Ostapenko will be her Spain. The Argentine could of La Liga and could afford tournament and had already seen off opponent after she beat qualifier only complete half Barca’s to leave Messi out against Karolina Pliskova, Agnieszka Radwanska Danielle Collins 7-6 (7/1) 6-3. training session on Thursday Sevilla without the decision and Anastasija Sevastova en route to the Collins had already seen off Venus and even though the club significantly impacting their last four. Williams in the quarter-finals but met have not issued a medical bid for a 25th league title. Azarenka took the first set 6-3 in 46 her match against the Latvian, who report on the injury, Valverde (Reuters) minutes, after breaking Stephens twice was ruthless in the first set tie-break for a 3-0 lead, but then being broken breaking her four times as Ostapenko back twice for 3-3. took the first set. The 186th-ranked Azarenka broke The second was less of a dogfight – the Zlatan the American twice more to seal the world number five breaking Collins in set. the opening game and closing out the set departure Four double faults in the second on the first match point. (PA Sport) Sloane Stephens a big loss: Miami Pablo Carreno ablo Carreno Busta edged past Busta celebrates PKevin Anderson to book a place Mourinho after defeating in the Miami Open semi-finals. Kevin Anderson The Spanish world number 19 (Pic courtesy: AP) Zlatan slogged it out with the South African Ibrahimovic for two hours and 45 minutes, (file pic) prevailing 6-4 5-7 7-6 (8/6). Carreno Busta took the first after London pay tribute to the talismanic breaking Anderson in the seventh uropean soccer has lost Swedish forward who he game to love and serving out for a “huge player” in Zlatan previously coached at Inter the set in 44 minutes, and had two IbrahimovicE but the striker Milan. match points as he served at 5-4 in will raise the level of the game “For me it’s always sad the second. in the U.S following his move when the big players move But the 31-year-old broke back on to LA Galaxy, Manchester towards the end,” Mourinho the next two service games to take the United manager Jose told reporters. second and force a deciding set. Mourinho said yesterday. “I remember Luis Figo’s The third set went to serve, forcing Ibrahimovic last week last match with me and Busta a tie-break which saw both players ended a short but successful Inter, it was one of my have the chance to book their place in stint at United - where he saddest moments. The Zlatan the last four. won the League Cup and the goodbye was more in that Anderson served for the match at Europa League - to become direction, he’s a huge player overcomes 6/5 but Carreno Busta broke twice the latest high-profile that European Football has and made no mistake on his serve at player to move to the MLS, lost. match point. following the likes of David “But this period with LA He will go on to face Germany’s Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Galaxy will be very good Alexander Zverev who beat Borna Thierry Henry and Frank for him, he will be good Anderson to Coric 6-4 6-4. Lampard. for American football, Zverev, who won 83 per cent of his Mourinho used his because of what he can do; first serve points, broke for 3-2 in the news conference ahead of his personality, his passion first and served out the final game of Saturday’s Premier League and his professionalism.” reach semis the set to love, and got a crucial break game against Swansea City to (Reuters) in the second for 5-4. (PA Sport)