THE FREE PRESSJOURNAL MUMBAI | THURSDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2020 FPJ SPORTS AZARENKA EXITS No histrionics for Djokovic at French Open FPJ NEWS SERVICE tected ranking after struggling the 15th man in history to reach Paris with hamstring injuries for much the milestone at the majors. ASSOCIATED PRESS of last season. Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina Paris Tenth seed Victoria Azarenka Women's top seed and 2018 drew on all her big-match experi- was the first big name beaten at champion Simona Halep navigat- ence to overcome a second-set Novak Djokovic's backhand clipped Roland-Garros on Wednesday, a ed a tricky second round against wipeout against Mexican qualifi- the net and landed wide, so he shook straight-sets victim of Slovak her good friend and fellow Ro- er Renata Zarazua to move into his head. That was it. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on manian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6- the third round. Later, a too-soft drop shot found the Court Simonne-Mathieu. 4 in 83 minutes to reach the last 32 The Ukrainian third seed white tape and bounced back on his The Belarusian joined three- for a fifth consecutive year in looked well on her way to stamp- own side, finally ceding a game in a time champion Serena Williams Paris.Fifth Kiki Bertens had a ing her ticket under a closed roof dominant debut performance at the as casualties, following the No.6 dramatic end to her 7-6(5), 3-6, 9-7 on Court Philippe-Chatrier be- US Open finalist 2020 French Open. Djokovic simply seed's withdrawal earlier on victory over 2012 runner-up Sara fore her opponent ensured a 23rd Azarenka falls to bowed and walked to the sideline. Wednesday due to an Achilles Errani as she was wheeled off in birthday to remember with a sec- And when he flubbed yet another problem. tears and in pain, struggling with ond-set bagel. Schmiedlova as drop shot, he kept using them on the Williams handed Bulgaria's cramps, after saving a match Svitolina steadied to post a 6-3, Bertens survives slow red clay during a 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 win rarely miss. His position is unreal in Tsvetana Pironkova a walkover point against the Italian. 0-6, 6-2 victory after 93 minutes. over 80th-ranked Mikael Ymer, and the court," Ymer explained. into the third round. Errani was not too thrilled Zarazua stood a set from be- cramps to down Errani got broken Wednesday, Djokovic "You know how the snake kills its Azarenka was coming of a run about a medical timeout Bertens coming the first Mexican woman pulled an extra tennis ball out of his prey?" Ymer said, pantomiming a to her first Grand Slam final in needed late in the match and an- in 50 years to reach the third pocket and merely gave it a gentle boa constrictor's attack by bringing seven years at the US Open and grily walked off court without round in Paris. Last year's semi- tap with his racket strings. his arms around and putting his had reached the quarter-finals in tapping racquets with the Dutch- finalist Amanda Anisimova, the The ball landed right behind him, hands together. Rome leading in, but had no an- woman. No.25 seed, was in imperious safely in the middle of the court. "That's a little bit how I felt being swers in a 6-2, 6-3 verdict. "That match, I don't like - I don't form against fellow American Playing his first Grand Slam match out there." Ymer said he didn't pay Schmiedlova had snapped a 13- know how to say in English - Bernarda Pera as she sped to a 6- since his US Open disqualification any attention to Djokovic's mood or match Grand Slam main draw when somebody joking on you," 2, 6-0 win in just 57 minutes. for smacking a ball after dropping a energy. losing streak to down Venus said Errani later. I don't like these Meanwhile, Canadian wild card game and accidentally striking a line And Djokovic, for his part, said that Williams in the opening round, things. I'm sorry." Eugenie Bouchard reached the judge in throat, Djokovic never real- what happened in Flushing Mead- her third straight over the Amer- Former champion Stan third round of a major for the ly gave himself reason for histrion- ows was of no concern to him, either, ican - and has now equalled her Wawrinka overcame a third-set first time since the 2017 Aus- ics or shouts of dismay or displays of as he began his pursuit of a second best run at a major from the 2015 blip to see off in-form German tralian Open, thanks to a 5-7, 6-4, anger. Sure, there was some eye- title at Roland Garros and 18th US Open and 2014 Roland-Garros. Dominik Koepfer to reach the 6-3 success over Australian Daria rolling and one sarcastic kiss direct- Grand Slam trophy overall. World No.2 Rafael Nadal was third round. Gavrilova. ed at one of the few fans on hand un- "I have not had any traces of New not messing around in his second The Swiss 16th seed was com- Recent US Open champion Do- der the roof at Court Philippe Cha- York in my mind. I'm over it. Honest- round on Wednesday as he ing off a first-round blitzing of minic Thiem recorded his ninth trier. ly forgot about it. I'm not thinking cruised to a 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 victory Andy Murray and backed it up consecutive match-win, routing But otherwise, what was there for about it," the No. 1 seed said after im- over American world No.236 with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 result. American qualifier Jack Sock 6-1, Djokovic to be disturbed about? proving to 32-1 in 2020, the only blem- Mackenzie McDonald, who en- Wawrinka recorded his 150th 6-3, 7-6(6) on Court Suzanne- Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action against "I just felt very suffocated out there. ish being that fourth-round default tered the tournament using a pro- Grand Slam match win to become Lenglen. Mexico's Renata Zarazua. It's just corner, corner; very, very this month” he said. Easy draws for Indians Tottenham shoot out Chelsea THIS DAY, THAT YEAR While he had his lean spells in Tests, Olympics quarterfinalist, when Jose Mourinho's side PTI / Odense ASSOCIATED PRESS 1999: Sourav Ganguly's status as one of the will open against Eng- London was transformed, showing Olympic hopefuls Ki- land's Toby Penty and may the threat missing before world's best one-day batsmen was rarely ever in dambi Srikanth and Saina face fellow Indian Sub- Tottenham staged a second- the break. doubt. On this day in Nairobi he stroked India to a Nehwal were on Wednes- hankar Dey in the second half comeback before elim- Reguilón chipped the ball comprehensive victory over Zimbabwe in the LG day handed decent draws round. Subhankar will inating Chelsea on penal- over for Erik Lamela, who Cup with a blistering 139 that included 11 fours and at the Denmark Open Su- take on Canada's Jason ties to reach the quarterfi- got ahead of Emerson five sixes. It kickstarted a golden period for per 750 tournament which Anthony Ho-Shue in the nals of the League Cup. Palmieri to net the equalis- Ganguly, in which he made nine hundreds in 37 ODIs. will mark the restart of first round. The first nine penalties er in the 83rd minute past the adjusted international The world number 14 In- were all successfully con- goalkeeper Edouard calendar after seven dian, a title-winner here verted before Chelsea's Ma- Mendy, who was making months. in 2017, may face second- son Mount missed the tar- his debut in the Chelsea WHAT’S Saina and Srikanth will seed Chou Tien Chen of get to ensure Tottenham goal. 05.30: WWE NXT; Sony Ten 1 resume their hunt for Taiwan in the quarterfi- advanced 5-4 in the No extra time is played in 18.00: Dream11; IPL; Pre Show; Star Sports 1 valuable ranking points to nals if he can register two shootout after the game the League Cup, so the 19.00: UFC Classics; Brock L v FMir Sony Ten 2 inch closer to their Tokyo wins in the earlier rounds. ended 1-1. game went straight to 19.20: Dream11; IPL; Select Dugout; Star Sports Select 1 Olympics dreams when For world number 20 Sergio Reguilón gave the penalties and Tottenham the US $ 750,000 tourna- Saina, France's Yaelle ball away on his Tottenham scored all its spot kicks in a 19.30: Dream11; IPL; KXIP v Mumbai Indians; Star Sports 1 ment, the only event to Hoyaux awaits her in the debut at left back before shootout without the usual 20.00: WWE NXT; Sony Ten 1 take place since the All women's singles opener Werner scored in the 19th pressure coming from the 21.30: UEFA Champions League; Group Stage Draw; Sony Ten 2 England Championship, and she is likely to meet minute. But the recruit stands. Games are being 22.30: LPGA Tour - Shoprite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer Europort begins on October 13. local favourite Mia Blich- from Real Madrid made Tottenham players celebrate after the victory played in empty stadiums 01.30: PGA Tour - Sanderson Farms Championship - Day 1; Eurosport Srikanth, a Rio feldt, seventh seed, next.