15 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019 sports

Djokovic safely into US Open second round Federer overcomes Nagal Swiss third seed rallied to defeat Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal

Reuters | New York

oger Federer gave ’s Sumit Nagal a harsh in- Rtroduction to as the five-time champi- on weathered an early storm for a 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 win on Monday to reach the second round of the U.S. Open. Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits to Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain When the match began it Reuters | New York movement and great instincts was Federer who surprisingly to remain undefeated in 14 ca- looked intimidated under the ovak Djokovic began his reer first-round matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium lights as NU.S. Open title defence in New York. he sprayed errors all around style with a 6-4 6-1 6-4 win Carballes Baena looked up the court but the Swiss great over Spaniard Roberto Car- for the task early on as he woke from his slumber in time balles Baena in first-round ac- fought off a trio of break points to turn the match resoundingly tion on Monday. to hold for 1-1 in a game that in his favour. The top-seeded Serbian, lasted nearly 10 minutes. “I thought I played like my who has claimed four of the The Spanish world number beard today, I was rusty,” Feder- last five Grand Slam titles, took 76 kept up the fight and was er, who was sporting a few days some time to set- serving at 4-5 in worth of stubble, said in his on- tle in to his first the opening set court interview. career meeting but Djokovic sent “I’m going to clean it up for with Carballes a backhand volley my next match.” Baena but after a It’s great to be to an empty court World number 190 Nagal, who Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot against Sumit Nagal of India tight first set was back. I’m grateful to set up a pair of has never earned a tour-level off to the races. that at this stage break points and victory and only qualified for convert two championship kind of what you live for, you “Obviously of my life and converted on his the year’s final Grand Slam last points on his own serve against dream about, playing on the big getting out of the first chance. week, came out swinging and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, stage. So I think he did that very block it takes a career I am still Djokovic was even put a rare look of incredu- was down 0-40 while serving well,” said Federer. little bit of time competing at a never tested the lity on the faces of those inside for the match but won six of Russian fifth seed Daniil Med- to feel comforta- Grand Slam at a rest of the way third seed Federer’s box. the next seven points to hold KNOW WHAT vedev, an ATP winner at Cin- ble on the court,” high level and did not face a The 22-year-old Indian used for the win. cinnati, beat India’s Prajnesh Djokovic, who NOVAK DJOKOVIC break point in the impressive court coverage and The 38-year-old Swiss only Gunneswaran 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in beat Juan Martin entire match. sent heavily-spinning shots over played two hardcourt matches 85 minutes. He faces Bolivia’s del Potro in last “It’s great to be the net during his dream start in his leadup to the U.S. Open Federer has not lost Hugo Dellien next. year’s final, said back,” Djokovic but his legs started to look more and admitted that he may have in first round of Slam “I can’t say I’m feeling amaz- in his on-court said. “I’m grateful wobbly as the match wore and been a little rusty adjusting to since 2003 Roland ing about my game but to win interview. that at this stage of my life and Federer righted the ship. the hardcourt but chose to focus Garros by that score in the first round “But we’re moving on. Obvi- career I am still competing at Still, the start to the match on the positives. is great,” Medvedev said. ously it’s not the first time to be a Grand Slam at a high level. for former world number one “Maybe it’s not a bad thing That’s encouraging.” Japanese seventh seed Kei Ni- in the second round so I know “We sometimes have to re- Federer, who is chasing his first to go through a match like this. After the match Federer shikori, the 2014 US Open run- what I need to do.” mind ourselves of these bless- New York title since 2008, could It was very similar at Wimble- heaped praise on his opponent ner-up, won 6-1, 4-1, when Ar- Djokovic got an early break ings.” hardly have been worse as he don when I dropped the first set for the performance he man- gentine qualifier Marco Trung- to go ahead 2-0 in the second Up next for Djokovic will be made 19 unforced errors in the there, as well, in the first round,” aged to deliver on one of the elliti retired with a back injury. set and never looked back as either American Sam Quer- first set. said Federer. sport’s biggest stages. “I’m happy with the way I the three-times champion rey or Argentine Juan Ignacio Federer, playing in his first “At the end you look at the last “Never easy to come out and played,” said Nishikori, who gets used a mix of deft volleys, solid Londero. Grand Slam since he failed to three sets, and they were good. play your best. Even though it’s American next.

Misbah emerges Red Star fans wheel out tank ahead of match Stokes’ life will change as front-runner for Pakistan cricket forever, says Botham coach

Reuters | London AFP | Karachi

ngland’s Ben Stokes has be- ormer captain Mis - Ecome a “world box-office at- Fbah-ul-Haq yesterday traction” with his Ashes heroics emerged as the favourite in the third test against Austral- to take over as Pakistan’s ia and his life will never be the cricket coach after Mickey same again, former all-rounder Ian Arthur was axed follow - Botham has said. ing a disappointing World All-rounder Stokes’ unbeat- Cup. en 135 at Headingley on Sunday Misbah, Pakistan’s helped the hosts chase down a most successful Test cap- record target of 359 in dramatic tain, has stepped down fashion and level the five-match from the Pakistan Cricket series at 1-1. Board’s executive commit- A Red Star Belgrade fan takes a selfie in front of the Soviet-made T-55 main battle tank in front of Rajko Mitic The 28-year-old’s epic knock tee to clear the way for his stadium ahead of their soccer match with Young Boys evoked memories of Botham’s application. famous unbeaten century on the “I have resigned from the AFP | Belgrade traction”, the Serbian club vosti slammed the “morbid same ground in 1981 that sparked cricket committee and have said on their Facebook page. provocation from Belgrade”. an equally unlikely home test tri- applied for the post of Pa- ed Star Belgrade fans However, the move divid- “They want to play in the umph and made him an Ashes hero aaa Ben Stokes sits in the Headingley kistan’s head coach,” said dressing room after his match-winning stirred controversy after ed fans and drew strong con- Champions League as they for the ages. the former batsman, de - R innings parking an army tank outside demnation in neighbouring celebrate one of the worst “It changed my life overnight. I scribing the position as a their stadium ahead of their Croatia, who saw the tank crimes,” the newspaper think Ben’s life will be the same. will reap the rewards which he “dream”. Champions League play-off as a symbol of the assault wrote. Online news site In- He will have no private life. He richly deserves and he is now a The four-member exec- second leg against Swiss side by Serb forces on the city of dex.hr also accused Red Star has to get used to that and so do world box-office attraction.” utive committee declined Young Boys yesterday. Vukovar at the start of the of “displaying a Vukovar tank the family,” Botham told the Daily Botham, 63, described Stokes to renew Arthur’s contract The tank, a refurbished Croatian War of Independ- in front of their stadium”, Telegraph. as the “Special One” and said the after Pakistan failed to T-55 purchased from an ence in the 1990s. although neither the club “He is public property but it is big-hitting all-rounder’s desire to reach the semi-final of the army depot, was parked out- An article in leading Croa- nor its supporters presented a great place to be in for the long succeed in the longest format was World Cup in England and side the stadium as an “at- tian sports daily Sportske no- it that way. term. It will set him up for life. He a welcome sign. Wales.