Djokovic Survives As Nadal Cruises at French Open Novak Djokovic Recovers from 2-Set Hole Against Teen Lorenzo Musetti at French Open
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TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021 10 Mushrooming T20 leagues a threat to international game - du Plessis Djokovic survives as Nadal cruises at French Open Novak Djokovic recovers from 2-set hole against teen Lorenzo Musetti at French Open Rafael Nadal into 15th• French Open quarter-final Coco Gauff KNOW WHAT becomes• youngest grand slam quarter- Chennai Super Kings cricketer Faf du Plessis plays a shot during the Indian finalist in 15 years Djokovic’s only previ- Premier League (IPL) (file photo) ous loss against a teen AFP | Paris at the French Open AFP | London came back in 2006 against Rafael Nadal he proliferation of do - ovak Djokovic survived Tmestic Twenty20 leagues If it becomes a choice a five-set scare while poses a threat to international moving forward into NRafael Nadal shone in faces Krejcikova for a place in cricket and the game must find the future, then it can the Paris sun as the two Grand the semi-finals. a way to balance both, accord- be a real threat for the Slam heavyweights reached the Spain’s Rafael Nadal plays a return to Italy’s Jannik Sinner The 33rd-ranked Czech also ing to South Africa’s former international game. French Open quarter-finals for my chances,” said 18-time major chance to come inside the court reached her first Grand Slam captain Faf du Plessis. If it becomes a choice the 15th time, stalling the ad- winner Djokovic. and play his best shots. That quarter-final with a 6-2, 6-0 win All top cricket playing na- moving forward into vance of tennis’s next gener- “I feel physically fit, I have was a mistake,” said Nadal after over 2018 runner-up and for- tions - including Australia, In- ation. won most of my five-setters and reaching a 44th Slam last-eight. mer US Open champion Sloane dia, England, Pakistan, Bangla- the future, then it can World number one Djokovic that experience helps.” “I broke back at 5-4 in the first Stephens. desh and Sri Lanka - have their be a real threat for the stayed on course to become the It was the fifth time in his set and the match changed after But Krejcikova admitted she own T20 leagues. The West international game first man in over 50 years to win Grand Slam career that 34-year- that. I played at a great level.” almost didn’t make it to the Indies, which groups several FAF DU PLESSIS all four Slams twice but only old Djokovic has come back Nadal hit 31 winners while the court. Caribbean islands and other after fighting back from two from to sets down. Italian claimed just 10 points in “Half an hour before the territories, also has its own “There needs to be a way sets down to see off 19-year-old Djokovic, the 2016 champion the third set. match, I didn’t even want to step league. somehow you can try and work Lorenzo Musetti. and chasing a 19th major, reeled Schwartzman, the 10th seed, on the court,” said the 25-year- “I think it’s a threat for the with both. Nadal, the 13-time champion off 53 of the last 61 points as he reached his third French Open old. international game - the power “Otherwise, I think the and bidding for a record 21st made a quarter-final at the ma- quarter-final with a 7-6 (11/9), “I had to lock myself in the of the leagues that are growing strength of other tournaments major, claimed his 104th win in jors for the 49th time. 6-4, 7-5 win over Germany’s physio room and I had to talk to year by year,” du Plessis, who is growing insanely quick at Paris by beating another Italian “I was not able anymore to Jan-Lennard Struff. my psychologist. I was actually is a familiar face in such fran- the moment. It is right now 19-year-old, Jannik Sinner in win a point, and so I decided to Gauff swept to an impressive crying.” chise leagues himself and is in potentially a danger for inter- straight sets. retire,” said Musetti. 53-minute, 6-3, 6-1 win over Tu- Last year’s runner-up Sofia Abu Dhabi for the Pakistan Su- national cricket.” Meanwhile, in the women’s “But it was a fantastic expe- nisia’s Ons Jabeur. Kenin, the fourth seed, was per League T20 competition, The batsman identified draw, Coco Gauff, Barbora rience for me. I was playing my At just 17, she is the youngest knocked out by Sakkari 6-1, 6-3 told a virtual news conference defending champions West Krejcikova and Maria Sakkari best tennis.” woman to reach the last eight of as the Greek reached her maid- on Sunday. Indies as the favourite at this all reached the quarter-finals of Third seed Nadal downed a Slam since Nicole Vaidisova at en Slam last-eight. “If it becomes a choice mov- year’s T20 World Cup to be a Slam for the first time. 18th-seeded Sinner 7-5, 6-3, the 2016 French Open. The world number 18 will ing forward into the future, organised by India. Musetti, ranked 76 and mak- 6-0 and goes on to face Diego face either reigning champion then it can be a real threat for “If you look at teams with ing his Grand Slam debut, was Schwartzman of Argentina who Kenin out Iga Swiatek or Ukrainian teen- the international game.” good firepower and experi- poised to condemn Djokovic to he defeated in the semi-finals In a composed performance ager Marta Kostyuk for a place Du Plessis pointed out how ence, you have to look at West his earliest exit in Paris since in 2020. on Court Philippe Chatrier, the in the last four. several West Indies players Indies and the fact that they 2009 when he captured the first Nadal has now won 104 American teenager, seeded 24, Swiatek, the only top 10 seed chose franchise cricket over have brought back all their two sets, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/2). matches at Roland Garros broke her Tunisian opponent left, has not dropped a set at national duty and felt several players, almost given them But Djokovic levelled by tak- against just two defeats since his three times without facing a the tournament in her last 10 South African cricketers could a directive to try and be the ing the next two, 6-1, 6-0 be - 2005 debut while yesterday’s break point. matches. go down that road. team that wins three times,” he fore Musetti, who had needed a victory extended his run of con- “I am super happy to reach Kostyuk, ranked 81, made her “Maybe in 10 years time, said. medical time-out, retired at 4-0 secutive sets won in Paris to 35. my first Grand Slam quarter-fi- breakthrough at the 2018 Aus- cricket will be almost like soc- “All the guys you wouldn’t down in the decider suffering The 35-year-old Spanish nal. I played really well,” said tralian Open. cer, where you have your world have seen playing much of from cramps and a back injury. world number three is seeded to Gauff. Just 15 at the time, she became events and in between you just international cricket will be “I like to play young guys in face Djokovic in the semi-finals. Gauff, who famously raced to the youngest player to reach the have these leagues around the back - Dwayne Bravo, Andre the best of five because even at “I started well but was a little the Wimbledon fourth round in third round of a Grand Slam world,” the 36-year-old said. Russell.” two sets down, I feel I still have too defensive. I gave him the 2019 as a 15-year-old qualifier, since 1997. De Bruyne crowned PFA player of the year Williamson urges ‘superb’ New AFP | London Zealand to ‘start afresh’ in second Test BETTER evin De Bruyne became AFP | London Kjust the third player to win the English Professional ew Zealand captain Kane KNOW Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) NWilliamson has told his player of the year for a second side they must “start afresh” consecutive season on Sunday. in next week’s second and final The Belgium midfielder fol- Kevin De Bruyne Test against England at Edgbas- lows in the footsteps of Thierry became just the third ton after some “superb” cricket Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo player to win the PFA enabled them to have the bet- as the only other players to ter of a drawn series opener at win the award in back-to-back player of the year Lord’s. years. award in two consecu- The Black Caps were in De Bruyne was vital to City’s tive seasons charge from the outset as open- third Premier League title in er Devon Conway marked his four years and a fourth consec- “When you have these things, Test debut with a brilliant 200. utive League Cup triumph. you can show your kids and say, Veteran seamer Tim Southee The 29-year-old also guid- Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City ‘Look, this is what daddy did then took 6-43 as New Zealand, New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson (L) bowls on the fifth day of the first ed City to the club’s first ever celebrates with the Premier League when he was younger’.” Test cricket match between England and New Zealand Champions League final, where Trophy De Bruyne scored 10 goals who after this series face In- of cricket’.