Djokovic Stuns Nadal to Win Rome Masters
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Gatlin wins 100 Barcelona meters at Diamond preparing for League meet changes after poor season MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014 18 19 Nicol, Gaultier regain British Open crown Page 17 TURIN: Juventus’ players celebrate with the trophy of the Italian League after their last football game of the season against Cagliari. Juventus won their third consecutive ‘scudetto’. — AFP Juventus break 100-points barrier ROME: A stunning Andrea Pirlo free-kick from remain with the Turin giants despite reports packed-out Juventus Stadium ahead of their half-time when Italy midfielder Claudio Atalanta with Gonzalo Bergessio netting a 35 metres set Juventus up for a 3-0 win over that he is unhappy with a projected lack of celebratory parade around Turin. Pirlo helped Marchisio controlled well in the area to send a 90th-minute winner from the spot for the Cagliari and a record 102-point finish as the investment in players for a fresh assault on the the Bianconeri get off the mark when he volley past Silvestri. Sicilians. champions celebrated in style yesterday. Champions League. launched a free-kick from distance which came Juventus’s 33rd win of the campaign gave Late yesterday Torino, Parma, AC Milan and Juve claimed the Serie A title with two The two-time European champions failed to off the post and bounced back into the net them a 17-point lead over closest challengers Verona are battling for sixth spot and a place in games to spare two weeks ago when closest get past the group stages this season. He told after coming off hapless ‘keeper Marco Silvestri, Roma, who finished their season with a third the Europa League. Sixth place will be good challengers Roma crashed 4-1 at Catania, a day Sky Sport: “I want to say a massive thank you to who was later credited with an own goal. consecutive defeat, 1-0 away to Genoa, who enough to qualify for Europe because Italian before Juve added more gloss with a 1-0 home all the players, every one of them has been That eased the early nerves and, with had Giannis Fetfatzidis to thank for an 83rd- Cup winners Napoli have qualified for the win over Atalanta. phenonmenal. Cagliari shell-shocked, Fernando Llorente minute winner. Champions League and Fiorentina, the beaten Now with 30 official titles-the club were “Our objective was to win a third consecu- tapped home a second on the quarter hour Roma coach Rudi Garcia, who confirmed he finalists, are already guaranteed a Europa stripped of ‘scudetti’ won in 2005 and 2006 due tive scudetto, instead we’ve set record after when a Pirlo corner was flicked on by Leonardo will remain with the club next season when League place themselves via Serie A. to their role in a match-fixing scandal-Juve record.” Asked about his future, Conte added: Bonucci as the visiting defence failed to clear. the Giallorossi return to the Champions Torino and Verona arguably have the went on to set two new records last week “Tonight the appointment is to celebrate the Carlos Tevez then spurned the chance to League, was asked about Juve’s 102-point toughest tasks away to Fiorentina and Napoli when a 1-0 win away to Roma gave them a title, my appointment with the club will close to within one goal of Serie A’s leading record. “That shows it was a one-off season, respectively, while Parma host Livorno and 32nd win of the season and a 99-point tally. come later.” scorer Ciro Immobile, who has 22 goals for something you rarely see,” said the Frenchman. Milan host Sassuolo. If teams finish on equal Inter Milan had held the previous record of Faced with the chance to become the first Torino, when he was closed down as he pre- “Next year will be different” points, they will first be separated by the 97 points for a title-winning season under the league champions to claim 100 points or more, pared to pull the trigger. Elsewhere, already-relegated Catania results of direct encounters, then goal differ- current format in 2007. Conte is expected to Antonio Conte’s men did not disappoint a Juve, however, were 3-0 to the good before claimed a consolation 2-1 victory over visiting ence. — AFP Djokovic stuns Nadal Serena retains title ROME: World number one Serena the first set and although the 10th seed to win Rome Masters Williams warmed up for the defence of came back to break in the seventh, she her French Open crown by cruising to her failed to hold in the next, allowing the ROME: Novak Djokovic fought back to stun three very tough matches this week and it second straight Italian Open title yester- American to serve out for the set. defending champion and seven-time winner was very hard mentally, as well as physically. day with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Sara Errani of Errani appeared to have injured her leg Rafael Nadal to claim the Rome Masters 4-6, I was a little bit tired.” Italy. when she failed to go for a Williams return 6-3, 6-3 yesterday. Nadal came into Sunday’s final expected Errani had been looking to become the which allowed the defending French Serbia’s world number two Djokovic to claim an eighth Rome title having won at first Italian winner of the women’s event Open champion to break for a 5-3 lead. claimed his third title on the red clay of the Foro Italico every year since 2005 except in 29 years. But with six previous defeats Shortly after, the Italian called for the Rome, having won in 2008 and 2011, the lat- in 2008 and 2011. to her American rival, her bid was always physio and had strapping applied to the ter with victory over his Spanish rival. He booked his final ticket with a straight- going to be difficult and was hampered top of her thigh. Yesterday’s win was also Djokovic’s 19th forward win over outclassed 12th seed after she picked up a thigh injury at the However it did little to reignite her bid career Masters title and his 19th win against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, while Djokovic end of the first set. to become the first Italian woman since Nadal in 41 meetings. Nadal had been look- had been stretched by hard-hitting Canadian “It’s a shame she got injured, but I Raffaella Reggi in 1985 win the Rome title. ing to stretch his record of seven titles in the Milos Raonic. thought she was playing really well before Williams continued her domination in a Italian capital. It certainly seemed it would be Nadal’s that,” said Williams who now has 60 career completely one-sided second set to claim But despite a dominant first-set display day when he broke the Serb twice on his way titles. “I think she definitely improved a deserved straight sets win in 1hr 12min. the world number one allowed unforced to a quick 4-1 lead in the opening set, which since last year but I think I could have It was all too much for Errani who errors to creep into his game as Djokovic he went on to win 6-4 as Djokovic made a played a little bit better. I was a little slow broke down in tears at courtside. Williams, launched a valiant fightback to put himself in series of unforced errors. Djokovic, however, and nervous at the start, I wasn’t hitting who faced little resistance from semi-final- pole position to win a first title at the forth- pulled his game together early in the second my shots as well as I should have been.” ist opponent Ana Ivanovic or Chinese coming French Open. set, breaking Nadal’s serve as early as the A tearful Errani apologised to her qualifier Zhang Shuai in the quarters, Nadal admitted three tough matches this second game. Although Nadal defiantly home fans for her display. “I’m sorry. You expects to be given a tougher test at the week had left his fuel tank empty for the broke back to 3-2, Djokovic went on to level have been wonderful all week, and I only French Open which starts on May 25. final, but the Spaniard admitted Djokovic the contest, taking the second set 6-3. continued playing because of you.” But she will head to Paris looking to had simply been unbeatable on the day. Djokovic had hit eight forehand and four From the outset, however, Williams match her victories there to her record in “He’s one of the best in the world, he’s backhand winners to Nadal’s one in the sec- never looked in danger of facing an upset Rome, where she has won in 2002, 2013 playing great,” said the Spaniard, who has ond set, and the Serb carried the momentum as her Italian opponent struggled with the and now 2014. sheer pace and power of the American’s “This year I hope to win at least one now lost three matches in the same clay- into the deciding set, breaking Nadal early ROME: Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds the game. Grand Slam, it’ll be nice but I don’t want court season for the first time since 2004. for a 2-0 lead. trophy after winning the ATP Rome’s Having benefited from huge crowd to think too far ahead,” added Williams. “I “I played well for moments, I had my Nadal pumped his fists when he saved Tennis Masters final against Rafael Nadal support during a 6-4, 6-4 semi-final win just think one week at a time.