WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019 16

Kohli above peers, destined for greatness - Sangakkara Wawrinka through as Reuters | New Delhi Paire switches off Stan Wawrinka benefitted from a Benoit Paire collapse in tricky Rotterdam opener

Reuters | Rotterdam

tan Wawrinka benefitted from a Benoit Paire col - It’s tough to play a India’s Virat Kohli during nets lapse, with the Swiss carv- (file photo) S friend whose game ing out a 7-6(7/4), 6-1 win on you know so well. I ndia captain Virat Kohli Monday at the Rotterdam Open. didn’t start well, but Iis well ahead of his con- After fighting through a temporaries and destined 45-minute first set the 33-year- I lifted my level and for greatness, former Sri old Wawrinka needed just 26 got better and better Lankan batting stalwart more minutes to salt away the STAN WAWRINKA Kumar Sangakkara has said. first-round victory as the moody Run-machine Kohli Paire had unleashed a trade - knee surgeries in summer, 2017. capped a memorable 2018 mark racquet smash after drop- Victory over his French op- by becoming the first to win ping the opening set. ponent leaves him with a 9-3 the International Cricket The frustrated 58th-ranked record in the series. Council’s (ICC) cricketer, Frenchman made little effort in The field is headed by Asia’s test and one-day interna- the second set, phoning it in with top player, Kei Nishikori of Ja- tional (ODI) player of the apparent disinterest as Wawrin- pan, who opens in his tourna- year awards last month. ka took complete charge. ment debut yesterday against Considered part of the Breaking four times on his Montpellier finalist Pierre-Hu- elite group also featuring way into the second round gues Herbert of France. Kiwi Kane Williamson, Wawrinka made a date against In other first-round results on Australian Steve Smith and either Milos Raonic, who beat Monday, Italian veteran Andreas England’s Joe Root, Kohli him in four tiebreak sets at the Seppi outlasted Peter Gojow- has surged ahead after a , or German czyk of Germany 7-6(7/3), 3-6, stupendous 2018 and is cur- Philipp Kohlschreiber. 6-2 while Kazakh Mikhail Kuk- rently the top ranked test as “It’s tough to play a friend ushkin beat Dutchman Robin well as one-day batsman. whose game you know so well,” Haase, a quarter-finalist here in Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka plays a backhand return to France’s Benoit Paire “Everything about Virat’s Wawrinka said of Paire, “I didn’t 2018 who lost to Roger Federer, game stands out. I think he start well, but I lifted my level fought hard to find my rhythm.” level in Melbourne against The number 68 Swiss who 6-2, 7-6(7/4). is head and shoulders above and got better and better. Wawrinka said that his knee is Raonic over almost four hours. claimed the title in Europe’s ma- Federer became the oldest anyone else in world crick- “I’m happy to win this match. no longer a problem. “The knee is good, I’m happy jor port city in 2015, has been man to return to the number et today,” Sangakkara told “It’s tough to play Paire but “In general I’m training well physically and have confidence working for more than a year to one ranking through that victory India Today news channel. I was able to regain my focus. I and moving well. “I had a good in it.” rehab completely following two one year ago here.

World number one Osaka in shock split with coach Missing Reus a blow for AFP | Tokyo injury-hit Dortmund orld number one against Spurs - Matthaeus WNaomi Osaka has split from her coach Sascha Bajin just AFP | Berlin home to retreive the docu- 17 days after completing back- ment before making the flight to-back Grand Slam victories at ith the absence of in - to London. the Australian Open. Wjured playmaker Marco “Yes, we have a few dropped “Hey everyone, I will no Reus, Borussia Dortmund will out, but we won’t be going longer be working together face Tottenham in the Cham- there just to wave,” said Dort- with Sascha. I thank him for pions League without their mund’s director of sport Mi- his work and wish him all the best player, Germany legend chael Zorc. best in the future,” the 21-year- Lothar Matthaeus said yes- Reus injured his thigh last old Japanese tweeted in a shock terday. Tuesday while drilling home a announcement. Reus has scored 17 goals and direct free-kick against Werd- Bajin, a former hitting partner created 11 more for the Bunde- er Bremen, but Dortmund lost to , responded: sliga leaders this season, but a on penalties as the German “Thank you Naomi. I wish you thigh strain will keep him out Cup tie finished 3-3 after extra nothing but the best as well. of the last 16, first leg against time. What a ride that was. Thank you Spurs at Wembley. Spurs are also without big for letting me be part of this.” “Now he’s also going to be names of their own as England Osaka, who became the first missing for the important forwards Harry Kane and Dele Asian to hold the top ranking game against Tottenham - that Alli are injured. after beating Czech Petra Kvi- won’t make it any easier,” said Matthaeus says Dortmund’s tova in the Melbourne final on Japan’s with coach Sascha Bajin before her match against Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova (file photo) former Germany captain Mat- 3-3 draw at home to Hoffen- January 26, had worked with thaeus, now a Sky pundit. heim on Saturday the German for just over a year. astonishing rant at the chair the stadium. “The third-best team in the showed how No reason was given for the umpire following a coaching She won more fans with a Premier League against the much they surprise decision to part ways, violation. nail-biting 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 win over best in the Bundesliga. I see miss Reus’ but Japanese media cited Osa- Based in the United States, Kvitova in the Australian Open the chances as 50/50. influence ka’s management company IMG Osaka linked up with Bajin in final, after which Osaka sobbed “In Marco Reus, Dortmund and organi- in reporting that there had been late 2017 and enjoyed a break- KNOW WHAT tears of joy as the jeers were are missing their best player.” sation. a breakdown in the player’s re- through year, shooting from 72 replaced by cheers. However, it is not just Reus lationship with the coach since in the world to the top of the Former greats Billie Jean who will be missing against the start of the year. women’s rankings. King, Martina Navratilova and Spurs. According to Japan’s Nikkan Osaka melted hearts Chris Evert have all heaped Right-back Sports, some practice sessions Disbelief when she fought back praise on the new darling of Lukasz Piszczek with Bajin at the Australian During that period she won tears after her emo- women’s tennis. is out with a heel Open lasted just 10 minutes and the prestigious Indian Wells tional US Open win “Winning back-to-back Grand injury, stand-in she sometimes hit without him tournament before scooping her over her idol Williams Slam tournaments is a rare and centre-back Ju- being present. first major in New York, while special achievement, and I’m lian Weigl has flu Osaka, who is scheduled to Bajin was named WTA coach of as booing echoed thrilled these results have pro- and striker Paco Alcacer compete in Dubai next week, the year. around the stadium pelled Naomi to the top of the is sidelined by a shoulder began sounding out potential Osaka’s Twitter feed lit up women’s game,” said Evert, the injury. replacements late last year, local in response to her announce- “WHAAAAT?” first ever WTA world number Dortmund head coach media reported. ment, with several memes ex- Osaka, who grew up in the one. It’s tough to play a friend Lucien Favre is struggling The Japanese player captured pressing widespread disbelief US and speaks little Japanese, It’s tough to play a friend whose with the effects of flu and her first Grand Slam crown by -- including a shrugging Barack melted hearts when she fought game you know so well. I didn’t England winger Jadon stunning Williams at last year’s Obama, a confused Joey from back tears after her emotional start well, but I lifted my level Sancho forgot his passport, Marco Reus US Open in a final remembered American sitcom “Friends” and US Open win over her idol Wil- and got better and better. I’m forcing a red-faced dash as much for the American’s a Minions character screaming liams as booing echoed around happy to win this match