Sri Lanka enter new Sweden win first era in Pakistan Euro U-21 title decider17 19 THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015

Hamilton determined to dominate home race Page 18

LONDON: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns against Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen during their men’s singles second round match on day three of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Club. — AFP Djokovic, Sharapova breeze through

LONDON: Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova him.” Tomic made the third round by defeating Pierre- But the 25-year-old admitted that the left calf injury he beat ’s Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-4. breezed through at a sweltering Wimbledon yesterday Hugues Herbert of , 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5). he suffered last month in Halle, which had forced him to The 26th seed faces Canadian seventh seed Milos where temperatures soared to a record 35.7 degrees Fourth seeded Sharapova, the 2004 champion, out- retire in the semi-finals, was still a factor during his five- Raonic who hit the third fastest serve in tournament while injury-plagued Japanese star Kei Nishikori was classed Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp 6-3, 6-1 in set win over in the first round at history of 145mph in his 6-0, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4) win forced to withdraw. just over an hour and next faces Romanian 29th seed Wimbledon on Monday. over 37-year-old German Tommy Haas. Raonic, a semi- Defending champion and top seed Djokovic reached Irina-Camelia Begu. “It got worse in the fifth set of that match, it hurt so finalist in 2014, hit 29 aces and 61 winners. the third round with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jarkko Sharapova, 28, hit 23 winners as she booked her much,” said Nishikori. “It hurt to walk and run today so I Late yesterday, fourth seed and cham- Nieminen which brought down the curtain on the Finn’s place in the third round. With temperatures at decided not to play.” pion Stan Wawrinka takes on world number 48 Victor All England Club career. Wimbledon at a record high of 35.7 Celsius-beating the As Giraldo goes on to face either German teenager Estrella Burgos, only the second Dominican Republic Djokovic will take on Australian 27th seed Bernard previous mark of 34.6C in 1976 — the tournament heat or American wildcard Denis Kudla for player to take part in a . Tomic for a place in the last 16 as the Serb continues his rule was being used in women’s matches. a third round spot, Nishikori was left contemplating Wawrinka recorded his best Wimbledon perform- bid to win a third Wimbledon and ninth Grand Slam That allows a 10-minute break between the second another injury setback in his career. ance by reaching the quarter-finals in 2014. Five-time crown. and third sets although the rule does not apply to men. Nishikori, the US Open runner-up last year, didn’t women’s champion and top seed Serena Williams faces It was Djokovic’s sixth career win in seven meetings However, Djokovic, who has played in 40 degrees at the play from April 2009 until April 2010 after undergoing Hungary’s Timea Babos as she continues her bid to against the 33-year-old Nieminen and the two men , said: “It wasn’t as bad as I thought. surgery on his right elbow. sweep a calendar Grand Slam and a 21st major. exchanged a warm embrace at the net once their 92- People were talking about it and predicting really diffi- Last year, he was forced to quit his Madrid Masters In other early second round matches, Bulgarian 11th minute Centre Court duel had ended. “It was his last cult conditions. But I didn’t find it as difficult as I final against Rafael Nadal with a back injury which was seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated of the Wimbledon so I congratulated him on a great career,” thought it might be.” still affecting him by the time the French Open came United States 7-6 (10/8), 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), Belgian 16th seed said Djokovic after firing 36 winners. “He’s been around Fifth-seeded Nishikori had been scheduled to face around. , the temperamental Australian David Goffin saw off Britain’s Liam Broady 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, for many years and he’s one of the nicest guys off the Colombian world number 60 Santiago Giraldo on who knocked out Rafael Nadal last year, ranted and 6-1 and French 21st seed got the better court and a great fighter on it. It was a pleasure to play Centre Court for a place in the last 32. raved at officials for the second match in succession as of compatriot Kenny De Schepper 6-0, 6-3, 6-3. — AFP Argentina thrash Blind appointed Paraguay 6-1 new Dutch coach CONCEPCION: Lionel Messi produced years at the Copa America. “The a scintillating individual performance important thing is that we’ve achieved THE HAGUE: Danny Blind was named as hard with staff and players to qualify for as Argentina destroyed Paraguay 6-1 our first objective by reaching final. new coach yesterday, tak- next year’s European championship,” to reach the final of the Copa America Now we need to win it,” Messi said. ing over from who left the Blind said in the same statement. here Tuesday. Manchester United defender Rojo post with the Dutch team struggling to “I’m neither looking back nor further The Barcelona superstar tor- and Paris Saint-Germain’s Pastore had qualify for Euro 2016. ahead than next year’s Euro 2016. mented Paraguay mercilessly as the given Argentina a 2-0 lead midway favorites produced their best dis- through the first half before Paraguay “Danny Blind has been appointed as Qualifying is my only aim,” he said. Blind play of the tournament and pulled one back through Lucas new coach of the Dutch eleven, starting is to reveal his plans in greater detail in advanced to a showdown with Barrios. from August 1,” the Royal Dutch Football press conferences planned ahead of a in Saturday’s final. But any Paraguayan hopes of Federation (KNVB) said in a statement. home match against Iceland on Although Messi failed to end his repeating their heroics in the group Former Dutch international Blind, 53, September 3 and away against Turkey run of more than 900 minutes without phase-when they came back from two will be contracted until August 2018 on September 6, said the KNVB. an international goal from open play, goals down to draw 2-2 — were with an evaluation planned after the Only the top two and the best third- 2015-16 season, the KNVB said from its he turned creator as Argentina tore snuffed out by two goals in six min- CHILE: Argentina’s Lionel Messi goes for a high ball during a Copa placed side from the nine groups qualify headquarters in central Netherlands. Paraguay apart. utes from Di Maria early in the second America semifinal soccer match against Paraguay. — AP automatically for Euro 2016, with the Goals from Angel Di Maria (2), half. The carnage was completed with “We’re happy we could quickly find a remaining third-placed finishers going Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio a headed goal from Manchester City gilt-edged opportunity by Messi six restart, however, as two goals from Di home-grown successor following Guus into play-offs. Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain com- striker Aguero in the 80th minute minutes later. Maria put the favourites 4-1 up. Hiddink’s departure,” KNVB boss Bert van Hiddink, 68, has overseen four wins pleted an emphatic rout for the South before substitute Higuain made it 6-1 Slick approach play saw the ball A superb counter-attack saw Oostveen said in the statement. and five defeats in 10 games since American giants. just after coming on. end with Messi, who deftly carved Pastore slip in Di Maria, whose low Hiddink stepped down Monday fol- returning for a second spell as Dutch A satisfied Messi was delighted Argentina’s opener came from a open the Paraguayan defence to play shot made it 3-1 on 47 minutes. In the lowing a string of disappointing per- coach last summer. Argentina’s potent collection of setpiece after 15 minutes. Messi flight- in Pastore. The controlled 57th minute, Messi set up Argentina’s formances in the Oranje’s qualifying Blind, who enjoyed a highly suc- on the run with a sublime first touch fourth, jinking clear of the Paraguay attacking talent finally appears to ed a teasing free-kick into the area and campaign for next year’s championship cessful playing career winning all before bludgeoning a low shot past defence to feed Pastore. have clicked with Saturday’s final when the ball dropped to Rojo, the in France. Justo Villar. Pastore’s shot was saved by Villar three European club trophies includ- looming. defender reacted quickest and drilled With four matches remaining the ing the 1995 Champions League, was “We’ve been playing well-we knew in a low shot. The Argentinians should A disastrous start for Paraguay was but only as far as Di Maria, who tucked Dutch-who finished third at last year’s supposed to only take over from once we scored one goal, many more have doubled their lead six minutes compounded when veteran striker away his second. The only question would come, and that’s what hap- later when Messi sprinted clear of the limped out of the thereafter was whether Messi would World Cup under -are Hiddink next year after Euro 2016 and pened,” said Messi as he collected his Paraguayan cover and released Pastore contest, to be replaced by Barrios. get on the scoresheet. third in qualifying Group A with 10 Dutch media have pointed to his rela- man-of-the-match award. down the left. As half-time approached, however, The diminutive maestro produced points, three points behind the Czech tive inexperience. The former Ajax “We got an early goal and then But with the goal begging, Pastore Argentina’s defensive frailty was a mesmerizing burst past three Republic and five adrift of surprise lead- defender has been head coach at the found more space, and then we got took took too long to get a shot away exposed once again with sloppy play Paraguay defenders on 68 minutes ers Iceland. Amsterdam-based club for one season the second. We continued to play the and Victor Caceres was able to slide in at the back presenting Barrios with only for his finish to be blocked. On 80 Blind is currently the Oranje’s assis- only in 2005-06. He’s also held other same way and more goals came.” to make a desperate last-ditch block. the chance to lash home a shot from minutes, Aguero headed in from Di tant coach and is Manchester United positions among Ajax’s staff including Argentina, who finished runners- Yet Pastore did not have to wait 20 yards to give Paraguay hope. Maria’s cross and three minutes later and Dutch international player Daley technical director, assistant and youth up in last year’s World Cup, are deter- long to make amends, seizing his Paraguay’s fightback was extin- Higuain got on the scoresheet after Blind’s father. “I’m committed to working coach. — AFP mined to clinch a first major title in 22 chance when presented with another guished within eight minutes of the another probing Messi run. — AFP