17 FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018 sports

‘I don’t care’ -- Kyrgios defiant Djokovic crushes Dimitrov over foul-mouthed Queen’s AFP |

Djokovic put in a flawless display to book his spot in the quarter-finals at Queen’s ick Kyrgios refused to Napologise after the con- AFP | London troversial Australian’s foul- mouthed rant overshadowed ovak Djokovic swept his Queen’s Club win against into the Queen’s Club Kyle Edmund. Nquarter-finals and re- Kyrgios smashed 32 aces in a corded his 799th career win MAY LIKE IT 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 second with a 6-4, 6-1 demolition of round victory at the Wimble- yesterday. don warm-up yesterday. Djokovic needed only 65 min- But it was the 23-year-old’s utes to crush world number five If Djokovic is successful verbal volleys that marred Australia’s returns Dimitrov in the second round of in his next match, the his progress to a first Queen’s against Britain’s Kyle Edmund the Wimbledon warm-up event. Serb will become only quarter-final. In the last eight, the former The notoriously volatile world number one faces the the 10th man in the Kyrgios said sorry to the crowd at a press conference when winner of the all-French clash Open era to join the on one occasion after swearing informed the BBC had issued between Adrian Mannarino and 800-win club in frustration, then aimed an an apology for his language. . x-rated outburst towards his When a reporter asked if “Hopefully we can get 800 ’s returns against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov coaching team in the courtside he felt he needed to keep his tomorrow,” said the Serb. players’ box. emotions more under control, If Djokovic is successful in barrassing quar- no longer has the motivation to me the first set. He loves play- Although Kyrgios escaped a Kyrgios gave a surly reply. his next match, the Serb will ter-final defeat against Italian return to the top, the 12-time ing on grass, he’s a great quality code violation, the BBC, broad- “Do you swear? Yes or no? become only the 10th man in Marco Cecchinato extended his winner decided to player,” he said. casting the match live, were Yes or no? Do you swear? Do the Open era to join the 800- wretched run in 2018. start his bid for a fourth Wim- “Being able to get the first set forced to apologise after his you swear?,” he said. win club. Hampered by an elbow injury bledon crown by accepting a under he belt was a huge confi- expletives were picked up by When the reporter replied It was Djokovic’s first win last year, he has failed to reach Queen’s wild card. dence booster for me. their microphones. that he had been known to, over a top 10 player in just over a the semi-finals in any of his last Speaking after finishing off “I made three double faults in But Kyrgios, who has found Kyrgios dismissively respond- year and the impressive display five Grand Slam appearances. former Queen’s winner Dim- the last game and was serving himself in hot water for his ed: “Okay, great. Good ques- suggested he made the right Djokovic hasn’t earned a ma- itrov, Djokovic admitted his with new balls which usually, petulant on-court behaviour tion.” decision to play at Queen’s for jor title since competing his ca- confidence is finally starting on grass, is easier. on numerous occasions, was Kyrgios’s latest outburst the first time since 2010. reer Grand Slam by winning the to return. “I made it stressful for my- unrepentant when quizzed took the spotlight away from Djokovic is a lowly 22nd in . “Grigor made some crucial self. I’m glad I manage to close about the swearing. an impressive win against Ed- the ATP rankings after an em- Dogged by rumours that he double faults today that handed it out.” “Fine. I don’t care,” he said mund.

Saudi take positives Bennett open for more Loman express support for WBA for Asian Cup challenges in Brave CF Asia bantamweight champion Reuters | Rostov-On-Don, TDT | Manama Russia TDT | Manama 017 IMMAF Gold Medalist, audi Arabia are look- 2Ben Bennett made his pro tephen Loman was pres - Sing towards the Asian debut at Brave Combat Feder- Sent to support when Carl Cup with hope after they ation with a victory. Bennett Jammes Martin who stopped showed signs of progress in had announced that he is ready George Lumoly of Indonesia in their 1-0 defeat to Uruguay to compete again at Brave the third round to become the as they exited the World Combat Federation. Currently new WBA Asia bantamweight Cup on Wednesday. Bennett competes in the highly champion. The Saudis were crushed active Welterweight division Loman had recently de - 5-0 by hosts Russia in the of Brave Combat Federation. fended his championship in opening game of Group A Bennett embarked on his pro- Belfast at Brave 13 where he Stephen Loman before a goalkeeping blun- fessional career after accumu- faced Frans Mlambo from SBG der from Mohammed Al- lating a successful record of 30 Ireland. The fight went the 9: The Kingdom of Champions ness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Owais handed Uruguay wins in his amateur career. distance and was attended by hosted in Bahrain. Al Khalifa had been successful their place in the last 16 “I love the way Brave Com- Ben Bennett greats from the combat sports After defending his champi- in bringing multiple athletes and eliminated the Green bat Federation works and it world including Conor McGre- onship in Belfast, Loman cre- from Philippines and giving Falcons. will give me a chance to trav- amazing and as a fighter, I un- gor and Amir Khan. ated history as the only fighter them a global opportunity. Saudi Arabia, however, el around the world and gain derstand that the promotion Stephen Loman is the first from Philippines to defend his Bahrain’s Brave Combat were competitive through- fans around the world. Brave genuinely cares about athletes. fighter from Philippines who championship in Europe. He is Federation made it possible out, playing neat football Combat Federation is the right So I am ready to get back as competed in Brave Combat Fed- also the only fighter from Phil- for athletes from Philippines and enjoying most of the place for emerging athletes soon as possible”, said the na- eration. Loman went forward ippines to score a win against a to compete in nations includ- possession at the Rostov to compete and prove to the tive of Alaska, USA about com- to capture the bantamweight fighter from SBG Ireland. ing Bahrain, UAE, Brazil, India, Arena. world that they are the best. peting again in Brave Combat championship by knocking out Brave Combat Federation un- Mexico, Jordan, Indonesia and “We played at a much bet- The exposure that we get is Federation. Gurdarshan Mangat at Brave der the leadership of His High- United Kingdom. ter level than in the Russia game, and that is more our style of play, but we just did not have the right tools to break Uruguay down,” said Beckham tips England vs Argentina final Garbine Muguruza falls short Saudi Arabia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi. AFP | Beijing legiate football league. Reuters | Birmingham Despite occasions of clev- “I think obviously my choice er passing, the Saudis rarely ormer captain David Beck- would be England to win the imbledon champion threatened and managed Fham has tipped England to competition, but that’s me be- WGarbine Muguruza only three shots on target in play Lionel Messi’s Argentina ing biased and passionate about suffered a 6-2 6-4 defeat at their two matches in Russia. in the World Cup final, reflect- my country,” he added. the hands of unseeded Czech “We had a lot of ball ing rising optimism about the But the former Manchester Barbora Strycova in the sec- possession and were able Three Lions’ chances after a United and Real Madrid mid- ond round of the Nature Valley to impose our style of play positive start in Russia. David Beckham fielder, a veteran of three World Classic in Birmingham. Petra Kvitova celebrates winning and distribution,” said Pizzi. Beckham was speaking at a Cups, warned that the road The experienced Strycova, “We conceded a goal from a promotional event in China af- ahead looked hard for Gareth a runner-up at this Edgbaston court preparations ahead of random play and didn’t have ter England beat Tunisia 2-1 in ham was captain. Their only Southgate’s team. tournament in 2014 and 2016, Wimbledon. the weapons or tools to try their opening game, boosting World Cup final was way back “I’m very happy that we won picked up a double break early Defending Birmingham to equalize. We kept the ball their chances of reaching the in 1966, when they beat Germa- the first game in the group,” he in the first set and eventually champion Petra Kvitova con- well and weren’t really trou- knockout rounds. ny at Wembley. said. “England is a very young defeated the top seed with sur- tinued her impressive grass- bled defensively, but lacked England have long stuttered “I believe Argentina will play team, they don’t have a lot of prising ease in just under one court form after overpowering that ability to score.” on the big stage and they last against England in the final,” experience yet and the journey and a half hours. Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-2 “This is our weakness. We reached the World Cup quar- Beckham predicted at an event of the World Cup will become The defeat comes as a set- 6-2 to book a spot in the quar- have good ball possession, ter-finals in 2006, when Beck- to promote China’s largest col- harder and harder.” back for the Spaniard’s grass- ter-finals. but no effectiveness.”