SPORT NBA Finals
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPORT Thursday 1 June 2017 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Warriors' dynastyy Manchester City Batsmen in focus as at stake as Cavs set Guardiola EnEnglandgla and Bangladesh look for repeat treble target gear up for opener We were unlucky Nadal, Djokovic march on not to qualify says, Lekhwiya's Oliveira as Muguruza survives The Peninsula atar Stars League champions Lekhwiya's assistant Paris coach Bruno Oliveira says his side was unlucky not AFP Q to qualify for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champi- ons League on Tuesday. rench Open title rivals Persepolis progressed to the last eight stage thanks to Rafael Nadal and Novak a Chico Flores own goal in the second leg of the last 16 Djokovic stormed into match. the last 32 yesterday, After a goalless draw in the first leg in Tehran last week, while women's defend- Persepolis grabbed a crucial away goal midway through Fing champion Garbine Muguruza the first half at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium when Vahid survived a second-round scare. Amiri released Mehdi Taremi, whose low ball across goal Nadal outclassed Dutchman was diverted into his own net by Flores. Robin Haase 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in one Oliveira blamed the loss to the lack of focus by the hour and 49 minutes on Court players. Philippe Chatrier to continue his "We had aimed to continue with the splendid perform- quest for an incredible 10th Roland ance we had in the away match. Play in the first half was Garros triumph. limited to the midfield and the (own) goal we conceded "I was more or less under con- affected us and caused confusion for our players and trol during the whole match, so I'm affected their performance," Oliveira said at a press con- very happy. Winning in straight ference after the match. sets is always good news," said "In the second half, we had many chances that we Nadal. could not convert as we were not focussed and luck was "I think I did a lot of things well not on our side. Everyone is sad to lose the match and crash this afternoon." out of the AFC champions League . Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates with ball boys after winning his match against Portugal's Joao The Spaniard will face "We respected the Iranian team , it is a big team and Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place Sousa at the Roland Garros 2017 French Open yesterday. has some special players. We excelled until the goal, and in round four after the Georgian although we came up with several attacks we could not matched his best ever run at a Goffin sailed through, but French battle out there," said Muguruza, slow start to ease into the third latch on to the opportunities." Grand Slam. hopes suffered a huge blow as who beat Serena Williams in last round with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Defending champion Djoko- 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga year's final. Japan's Kurumi Nara. AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS vic battered Portugal's Joao crashed out to Renzo Olivo in his "I knew that losing to her not Williams, the 2002 runner-up Sousa 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to make it opening match. long ago I did something different who turns 37 next month, will play four wins in as many meetings Serving to stay in the contest this time. I think something differ- Belgium's Elise Mertens in the third ROUND OF 16: SECOND LEG with the world number 59. when darkness halted their tie ent in a good way. round. The second seed plays Argen- on Tuesday, Tsonga was broken "I have a different spirit here, "Do I sense (the draw) is open? Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 (Pedro Junior 28, Kanazaki 90+1) Guangzhou tina's Diego Schwartzman for a immediately when play resumed I'm going to fight for every ball to I just am really focused on me and Evergrande (CHN) 1 (Paulinho 55) place in the last 16. as the Argentine world number 91 try and win," she added. nothing's a given, or else I'd win 2-2 on aggregate, Evergrande go through on away goals "I think the first two sets went wrapped up a 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), American qualifier Bethanie every match," said Venus, who has very well, the third was more dif- 6-4 win. Mattek-Sands halted Petra Kvito- sister Serena in Paris supporting her. Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4 (Kobayashi 31, Hasegawa 32, Eduardo Neto ficult," said Djokovic. Reigning champion Muguruza va's comeback, defeating the Caroline Wozniacki dished out 40, Rhayner 79) Muangthong United (THA) 1 (Teerasil 89) "Generally, I felt better than survived another tough examina- popular Czech 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) a chastening 6-0, 6-0 thrashing Kawaski win 7-2 on aggregate the first round, so that's exactly tion from 53rd-ranked Anett in her first tournament since a hor- to Canadian qualifier Francoise what I wanted." Kontaveit, who beat the Spaniard rifying knife attack in December. Abanda in just 52 minutes. Lekhwiya (QAT) 0 Persepolis (IRI) 1 (Chico Flores 23-og) Sixth seed Dominic Thiem in Stuttgart last month. "I'm disappointed, for sure. I The 20-year-old blamed the Persepolis win 1-0 on aggregate charged into round three with a Muguruza has endured a dif- came here to win the matches," exertions of coming through three routine win over Simone Bolelli, ficult 2017 and again found herself said twice former Wimbledon qualifying rounds in order to reach Al Hilal (KSA) 2 (Khribin 16, al-Dawsari 82) Esteghlal Khouzestan (IRI) 1 sweeping the Italian aside 7-5, in trouble after falling a set and a champion Kvitova. the main draw. (Nong 12) Al Hilal win 4-2 on aggregate 6-1, 6-3. break behind against the "But I really fought. I mean, "I wasn't impressed at all," The Austrian, who is the only Estonian. after the match, I didn't feel that Abanda retorted when asked if she AET - Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 3 (Koroki 18, Lee 33, Moriwaki 114) player to defeat Nadal on clay But the fourth seed recovered bad as normally I probably do. was struck by anything in Wozni- Jeju United (KOR) 0: Urawa win 3-2 on aggregate this season, will meet American to claw out a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2 "I'm still happy I'm here and acki's game. 25th seed Steve Johnson next as win and book a third-round clash playing. The fairy-tale ended. "As I told you, fitness-wise and Jiangsu Suning (CHN) 2 (Hong Jeong-Ho 75, Wu Xi 90+3) Shanghai SIPG he looks to build on last year's with Yulia Putintseva of Now, in upcoming weeks, I think physically, I was tired. (CHN) 3 (Elkeson 34, Yang Xiaotian 43 OG, Hulk 90+4) run to the semi-finals. Kazakhstan. it will be business as usual." "I think that she played her sec- SIPG win 5-3 on aggregate Grigor Dimitrov and David "I knew it was going to be a Venus Williams shook off a ond match. I played five matches." My swing is coming back slowly, says Amir Mohammed Amir Rizwan Rehmat England. Hopefully I will do to give his side the edge. Championsns TrophyTrroopphyy openeroppenen r The Peninsula well," the left-arm paceman "I don't have one particu- against archchh-rivals-rrivi alals India.InInddia. said. lar batsman that I look at "Like youyyoou said,sasaidd, I amm veryverry akistan's premier fast Pakistan landed in England My line and length bowling to. My attempt will be excited aheadheaad off tthehe Pakistan-Pakakisstan-n bowler Mohammed Amir a little over two weeks ago and are getting better. to get wickets so that we could India game.mee. HopefullyHHooppeefuf llly I willwill Phas insisted that his Amir said it was a right move. get the opposition out as soon get a chancencce ttoo plpplaylaayy iinn thethe feared swing is slowly return- "Yes, this camp will defin- I think the as possible," Khan said. playing XI,"I,", AAlili ssaid.aia dd.. ing in his deliveries after he itively help the players. These confidence that I "Whatever effort was When askedaskkeed aaboutbout hhisiss produced long spells during the are tough conditions since it have now will help needed from our side, we have preparations,onns, AliAli said:saidd: "II Test series against hosts West has rained a lot here during given during the training ses- try to stickk toto babasicsassiicss andand Indies earlier this month. the last few days. But the good me during our sions," Khan said. "We are keep myselfself calmcac lmm mostmosst Amir, 25, bowled 129 overs thing is that in the coming Champions Trophy doing more than our given of the times."ess.". in the three-match Test series days, sunny conditions have matches since ability," he said. He added:ded: "I havehave beenbeenen bagging 13 wickets as Pakistan been predicted and when you playing conditions When asked about Paki- trainingg produced a memorable send- bowl or train in tough weather stan's first game against India, hard off for captain Misbah Ul Haq conditions, you do well dur- will be helpful in he said: "We must take this as with our and veteran batsman Younis ing sunny days," Amir England. any other match since there's batting Khan. explained. no need to put pressure on coach. I "I bowled few long spells. "The 10-day gap we've had yourself.