Bianca Andreescu Continues• Dream Run by Edging Past Belinda Bencic
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 12 Serena to meet Andreescu for title Serena Williams overwhelms Elina Svitolina to reach her 10th US Open final Serena is one win away• from 24th grand slam singles title Bianca Andreescu continues• dream run by edging past Belinda Bencic AFP | New York erena Williams will face Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu for the SUS Open title as the American set herself up for another attempt to clinch a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title. Williams, who turns 38 this month, cruised into a 10th US Open final Thurs- Serena Williams of the US hits the ball against Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine Bianca Andreescu of Canada hits a return to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland day by brushing aside fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1, earning her 101st win at the tournament to draw level with the 2017 Australian Open crown while steps up, always steps up, always brings Bencic, the 13th seed, raced 5-2 ahead Chris Evert for the most in history. pregnant. She hasn’t won the US Open her best game,” Svitolina said. with a double break in the second set Williams is seeking to match Marga- since 2014. To be in yet another “She knows what she has to do. She but Andreescu refused to buckle and ret Court’s all-time record of 24 major Williams fought off six break points fiI’ve had so many has unbelievable strength. She gives reeled off the final five games to set up titles and will play 19-year-old Andree- across her opening three service games lots of power. There’s lots of power a rematch of last month’s Toronto final scu, who defeated Belinda Bencic 7-6 before finding her rhythm to dispatch chances to pass it behind her shots all the time. That’s against Williams, who retired from that (7/3), 7-5, on Saturday in her bid for a Wimbledon semi-finalist Svitolina in 70 (Court’s record) and to what makes her unbelievable, legend- clash with a back injury. record seventh US Open triumph. minutes, hitting 34 winners against just have a lot more, but it’s ary tennis player.” “It’s just surreal. I really don’t know “To be in yet another final, it seems 20 unforced errors. cool because I’m playing what to say. It’s a dream come true play- honestly crazy. But I don’t really expect “I know how (Svitolina) can play, in an era with so many ‘Surreal’ moment ing Serena in the finals of the US Open. too much less,” said Williams, who is she’s such a good player,” Williams said. -- five eras with so many Andreescu, who fell in US Open qual- It’s crazy, it’s crazy,” Andreescu said. through to her 33rd major final. “Obviously two semis in a row is really amazing players ifying the past two years, continued her “I think it’s just all the hard work I’ve “I’ve had so many chances to pass it hard to do and I just wanted to not get meteoric rise on her main draw debut put in through the years. If someone (Court’s record) and to have a lot more, off to a slow start and I wanted to hang SERENA WILLIAMS in New York to overcome former Swiss told me a year ago I would be in the US but it’s cool because I’m playing in an on in there.” prodigy Bencic. Open final this year, I’d tell them they era with so many -- five eras with so Williams, who was beaten by Simona Svitolina, 24, was attempting to be- The 15th-seeded Canadian played were crazy.” many amazing players.” Halep in the Wimbledon final in July, come just the second Ukrainian to play catch-up for much of the opening set Andreescu is trying to become the She won her first Grand Slam title returns to the championship match in in a Grand Slam singles final after An- and saved a set point at 4-5 with a fore- first Canadian singles Grand Slam at the 1999 US Open -- before Andree- New York a year on from her infamous drei Medvedev, who lost in five sets to hand winner, but she rattled off the first champion, and could be the fourth scu was even born -- but has lost her meltdown in a loss to Naomi Osaka Andre Agassi at the 1999 French Open. five points of the tie-break and sealed it first-time major champion in five years last three major finals since capturing overshadowed by controversy. “On the important moments, she when Bencic swatted a forehand long. to win the women’s US Open title. Argentina, Chile stalemate in LA friendly Belotti brace against 10-man Armenia extends AFP | Los Angeles leading their attack, were simi- Aranguiz was lucky to stay on larly uninspired in front of goal. the pitch after picking up an rgentina and Chile ground Thursday’s game was the lat- early booking and then com - Italy’s perfect start Aout a 0-0 draw here Thurs- est instalment of an increasingly mitting a brutal stamp on Tot- day in a niggly friendly interna- bitter rivalry between the two tenham Hotspur’s Giovani Lo tional between the two South sides who met in both the 2015 KNOW WHAT Celso in the first half. American rivals. and 2016 Copa America finals, Marrufo had brandished his Argentina, missing the sus- won by Chile on each occasion. yellow card three times within pended Lionel Messi and sev- The two sides also faced off in the first 15 minutes, cautioning eral other European-based stars this year’s Copa, with Argentina The intense rivalry was Paris Saint-Germain midfielder including Sergio Aguero and winning a third-place play-off. evident throughout, Leandro Paredes in the sixth Angel Di Maria, enjoyed the bet- The intense rivalry was evi- with US referee Jair minute for a rugged tackle on ter chances but were unable to dent throughout, with US ref- Marrufo showing no Sanchez. find a goal in front of a sparsely eree Jair Marrufo showing no fewer than 10 yellow Aranguiz got Chile’s retalia- populated Los Angeles Memo- fewer than 10 yellow cards in cards in an often tion in moments later, flattening rial Coliseum. an often ill-tempered contest. ill-tempered contest Rodrigo De Paul to earn a yellow Chile, with Alexis Sanchez Chile midfielder Charles card before later flying in on Lo Celso. Argentina came closest to breaking the deadlock on 23 Armenia’s defender Varazdat Haroyan (L) fights for the ball with Italy’s minutes, Lo Celso releasing forward Andrea Belotti Lautaro Martinez on the edge AFP | Yerevan, Armenia Italy back level on 28 minutes of the area who teed up Paulo and added a second 10 min- Dybala for a shot that was su- ndrea Belotti bagged a utes from time after substitute perbly saved by Chile’s Man- Abrace as Italy saw off 10- Lorenzo Pellegrini had put the chester City reserve goalkeeper man Armenia 3-1 to extend away side in the lead his first Claudio Bravo. their perfect start to Euro 2020 international goal. Chile’s best chance of the half qualifying with a fifth straight “The satisfaction is to have came five minutes from half- win on Thursday. won a game that was not at time, with Aranguiz forcing Roberto Mancini’s side had all easy,” said Mancini, who a save from Porto goalkeeper trailed after 11 minutes in Ye- becomes the first Italy coach to Agustin Marchesin. revan when Aleksandre Kara- win five consecutive European River Plate defender Lucas petyan got just the second goal qualifiers in one group. Martinez Quarta almost gave past Gianluigi Donnarumma in “Playing the 11 against 10 Argentina the lead in the second the Italy goal in five qualifying paradoxically penalised half, glancing De Paul’s cross games. us because Armenia fo - just wide. But the forward, who plays cused even more on defend- Chile then missed a gold - for Russian club Sochi, went ing and reduced the spaces en chance to go in front when from hero to villan when he further. Eduardo Vargas cut back to find was sent off for a second yel- “But we had the patience to Cesar Pinares only for the mid- low card just before the break continue to attack even at the fielder’s shot to clip the top of to leave his side a man down. risk of exposing ourselves to Leandro Paredes of Argentina (L) vies for the ball with Alexis Sanchez of Chile (R) the bar. Torino captain Belotti got counter-attack.” Hon. Chairman Najeb Yacob Alhamer | Editor-in-Chief Mahmood AI Mahmood | Chairman & Managing Director P Unnikrishnan Advertisement: Update Media W.L.L | Tel: 38444692, Email: [email protected] | Newsroom: Tel: 38444680, Email: [email protected] Subscription & circulation: Tel: 38444698/17579877 | Email:[email protected] | Website: www.newsofbahrain.com | Printed and published by Al Ayam Publishing .