SPORTS Monday, July 31, 2017 21 Fognini beats Hanfmann Stokes double leaves for fifth ATP tour title Proteas reeling

Fabio Fogini (file pic) Gstaad said Fognini. abio Fognini beat “I lost my first set 6-1 in Yannick Hanfmann 20 minutes (to Slovakian F6-4, 7-5 in the Gstaad ATP Norbert Gombos). But each tournament final yesterday day I felt better and better.” to win his fifth tour title. Despite losing, 25-year- The 31-year-old Italian, old Hanfmann, the world ranked 31 in the world, was number 170 who has had playing in his 13th ATP a hearing impairment since final. birth, enjoyed the best result All five of his victories of his career this week in SCOREBOARD have come on clay. reaching the final, having England 1st Innings 353 (B Stokes 112, “It’s always a nice feeling also knocked out third seed A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85) when you win. This week Feliciano Lopez of Spain in South Africa 1st Innings 175 (T Bavuma was really tough for me,” the second round. (AFP) 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25) England 2nd Innings (overnight: 74-1) Faf du Plessis (C) went for a golden duck in South Africa’s second innings after A. Cook b Morkel 7 being given out lbw from a Ben Stokes delivery (picture courtesy: theguardian) K. Jennings c Morris b Rabada 48 T. Westley st de Kock b Maharaj 59 European Open: Smith D. Malan lbw b Morris 10 London innings on 313 for eight at Heino Kuhn’s off J. Root c Morkel b Maharaj 50 thumps Levy in play-off en Stokes took two Sunday’s tea. stump. B. Stokes b Morris 31 Bwickets in two balls to That left South Africa Toby Roland- J. Bairstow c Rabada b Maharaj 63 leave England eyeing victory needing to set a new record Jones’s dream M. Ali run out (Bavuma) 8 in the third Test against South if they were to achieve an debut then T. Roland-Jones not out 23 Africa at The Oval yesterday. astounding victory, with the continued when, Extras (lb11, w3) 14 South Africa were 117 for most made by any side to win for the second Total (8 wkts dec, 79.5 overs, four at stumps on the fourth in the fourth innings of a Test time this Test, 346 mins) 313 day, needing a further 375 the West Indies’ 418 for seven he dismissed star South Africa 2nd Innings runs to reach a colossal target against Australia at St John’s batsman Hashim (target 492) of 492. in 2003. Amla in single H. Kuhn b Broad 11 One consolation for the But while any realistic figures. D. Elgar not out 72 Proteas was the fight shown hopes of an improbable win Amla had H. Amla c Root b Roland-Jones 5 Jordan Smith (file pic) by Dean Elgar (72 not out) quickly disappeared, a draw is made just five on Q. de Kock b Stokes 5 and Temba Bavuma (16 not not yet out of reach for South Sunday when, F. du Plessis lbw b Stokes 0 out) who kept England at bay Africa, particularly if Elgar trying to withdraw T. Bavuma not out 16 Hamburg a close-range birdie putt after joining forces with their and Bavuma can continue his bat, he saw the Extras (lb5, nb3) 8 ngland’s Jordan Smith to win. Back down the 517- side in dire trouble at 52 for their defiant stand and the bad ball fly low off the Total (4 wkts, 38 overs, Eclaimed the first title yard par-five last hole they four. weather that has plagued this face to Root at 172 mins) 117 of his fledgling European came and this time Smith, 24, The 100th Test at The Oval match returns on Monday. second slip. Tour career yesterday, birdied to take the title and get was turning into a personal A draw would ensure this Replays beating defending champion his hands on the giant trophy triumph for Stokes after he see-saw four-match series confirmed the on his way. Alexander Levy of France in as well as the winner’s cheque laid the platform for England’s remained level at 1-1 ahead catch and Amla, caught It was a far cry from five a play-off at the European in the two million-euro ($2.4 dominant position with 112 in of next week’s finale at Old behind off Roland-Jones for years ago at The Oval when Open in Hamburg. million, £1.8 million) event. a first-innings total of 353. Trafford. Stuart Broad got the six as the Middlesex seamer Amla, now 34, struck South Smith had been two shots Smith, a former Walker England captain Joe Root ball rolling for England after took five for 57 in the Proteas’ Africa’s Test-record score of ahead overnight but he Cup player who turned declared his side’s second the declaration by uprooting meagre first innings 175, was 311 not out. (AFP) needed a birdie at the last on professional in 2014 and was Sunday to force a play-off top ranked on the Challenge with both players tied at 13 Tour last year, shot a one- under par. He then survived under-par 71 featuring four Isner reaches Atlanta Open final on the first trip back down birdies and three bogeys. the 18th when Levy missed (AFP) Washington Luxembourg’s Muller, econd-seeded John Isner who toppled Rafael Nadal powered past Wimbledon in reaching the Wimbledon Squarter-finalist Gilles Muller quarters, had also been 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to reach dominant on serve in Atlanta. Czech’s Siniakova seals the final of the ATP’s BB&T Going into his clash with Open in Atlanta, Georgia. Isner the third-seeded left- second title in Bastad Isner needed just 75 minutes hander had won all 24 of his Bastad, Sweden For 21-year-old Siniakova, to reach his seventh Atlanta John Isner (file pic) service games. aterina Siniakova of the world number 56, it was final in eight years, where he’ll for 69 straight service games ready to go tomorrow,” said But Isner broke him in the the Czech Republic a second career title after be gunning for a fourth Atlanta dating back to his title run last Isner, who will face fourth- third game to take a 2-1, and Kclinched the Bastad clay her maiden triumph in crown. week in Newport. seeded compatriot Ryan broke him twice in the second court title yesterday with a Shenzhen last year. Heavy The big-serving American “Absolutely nothing to Harrison for the title. set to gain the advantage. 6-3, 6-4 win over Caroline rain delayed the final by saved all four break points he complain about today. On and Harrison beat fifth-seeded Isner then saved three break Wozniacki who has now lost more than two hours before faced,The and winning has now Kordal won CCseven team off the court in pretty quick Briton Kyle Edmund 6-7 (5/7), points while serving for the five finals in 2017. the action. (AFP) straight ATP matches and held fashion and I certainly will be 6-3, 6-4 to advance. match at 5-2. (AFP)