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Federer confirms Paris Masters participation Solari open to Real AFP | Paris day after recieving a bye in the first round. oger Federer yesterday “I prefer playing to training Rconfirmed his participa- as long as I don’t take any risks tion at this year’s Paris Masters ahead of the London Masters, job long-term after a three-year absence. (November 11-18),” Federer The Swiss world number said. AFP | Madrid three will play the win- “I feel like I’ve re - ner of the tie between covered well after last antiago Solari said he is France’s Jo-Wilfried week. I feel good today open to becoming Real Tsonga and Croatia’s (Tuesday),” he added SMadrid coach long-term Milos Raonic after winning the Swiss after being put in temporary on Wednes- indoor championships charge on Monday following in Basel on Sunday. the sacking of . Federer’s only tourna- Solari has been promoted ment victory in Bercy came from his role as manager of the in 2011. On his last appear- club’s B team, Castilla, and took ance in 2015 he training for the first time yester- was knocked- day morning at Madrid’s base in out by Valdebebas. Amer- ican Jon The Argentinian, who spent Isner in the five years playing for Madrid Round of between 2000 and 2005, will 16. be in charge for their Copa del Meanwhile Rey game away to Melilla on French hopes of success were Wednesday. He has not ruled dented when Pierre-Hugues out becoming Lopetegui’s per- Herbert, Jeremy Chardy and manent successor. Benoit Paire were knocked- “I’m going to go into things Roger out in the first round yester- very positively,” Solari said at Federer day. his opening press conference World number 57 Herbert yesterday. was beaten by Kazakhstan’s “I will do everything I can. Temporary coach of Real Madrid CF, Argentinian former player Santiago Solari (3L), talks to players during a training Mikail Kukushkin in three sets It’s a great opportunity and it’s session (3-6, 6-3, 7-5) while Jeremy a great club. I don’t just say that Chardy, ranked 40th, lost 6-4, now as coach of the first team. strategy against Melilla, he said Champions League titles. 6-4 to Spain’s Fernando Ver- I’ve been here with other teams, “the idea is to go there and play “He’s one of the greatest dasco. I’ve played and sweated in the with balls”. things we’ve ever had at this The 56th-ranked Paire made shirt of this club. I will do Lopetegui paid the price for club,” Solari said. “He’s very the opening round through the “Madrid is bigger than all of everything I five defeats in seven matches, calm, a great coach and nobody qualifiers but lost 6-4, 6-4 to us but it touches us all with its can. It’s a great the last a 5-1 thrashing at the can compare to him.” Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics. greatness. I want to be a part opportunity and hands of Barcelona on Sun - Solari will be without Raphael of it.” it’s a great club. day. Solari believes the players Varane and Mariano Diaz on Solari is likely to remain in are determined to turn things Wednesday, after Madrid con- post for Real’s game at I don’t just say around. firmed the pair had sustained home to Real Valladolid on Sat- that now as coach “They are hurting, obvious- injuries against Barcelona. urday and could stay on for next of the first team. ly, but eager to reverse the sit- Varane, who came off at half- Derby boss Lampard eyes week’s trip to Viktoria Plzen in I’ve been here uation,” Solari said. “This is a time at the Camp Nou, has an the Champions League. with other teams, group of champions, warriors, adductor problem while Mari- ‘special’ return to Chelsea Madrid have sounded out I’ve played and who have won many things. The ano has picked up a hamstring former Chelsea and Juventus sweated in the situation is not the easiest, but I strain. coach Antonio Conte but initial have seen them eager to change Any extended absence, par- talks have reportedly not gone shirt of this club it.” ticularly for Varane, would be a smoothly. Belgium boss Roberto SANTIAGO SOLARI Solari was keen to dismiss blow. After Plzen, Madrid face Martinez and the club’s former comparisons with Zinedine Zi- Celta Vigo and Eibar in La Liga Guti have also been in position and a run of posi- dane, who also stepped up from next month, before a potentially linked. tive results could turn opinion coaching Castilla, before lead- decisive game away to Roma in Solari, however, is the man in his favour. Asked about his ing Madrid to three consecutive the Champions League.

Frank Lampard of Derby County celebrates victory after the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Derby County Kasatkina hangs on in Zhuhai

AFP | London great affiliation with this club already. I’m working hard to Aryna Sabalenka edges out Ashleigh Barty in the WTA Elite Trophy opener erby boss Frank Lampard try to do something good here, Dis relishing his first return and I love it here. AFP | Zhuhai, China to Chelsea as a manager in the “But I can’t forget 13 years of Sabalenka made the League Cup on Wednesday af- my career. It was a very special op seed Daria Kasatkina most of breaking Aus- ter dumping Jose Mourinho’s time for me, I was lucky to be survived a scare yester- tralian Barty in the Manchester United out in the part of such a strong era at the Tday to claim victory over very first game of the previous round. club. So it will be a very special crowd favourite Wang Qiang in match, seeing out a Lampard is considered to night for me to be back there a thrilling contest at the WTA be one of Chelsea’s best-ever and to feel that atmosphere Elite Trophy in China, taking nip-and-tuck opening players after scoring a club-re- once again.” the match 6-1, 2-6, 7-5. set cord 211 goals and winning 11 Derby head into the contest The 21-year-old Russian major trophies between 2001 having made it through the looked totally dominant in the ty in the next few days to try and and 2014, including the Cham- previous round with a shock early stages in Zhuhai, wrap- finish my season on a real high.” pions League in 2012 and three triumph on penalties against ping up the first set against the Asked about the strength of Premier League titles. United, managed by Mourin- Chinese eleventh seed in just the field in Zhuhai, the 2017 “It’s a special draw for me ho, Lampard’s former manag- 26 minutes. semi-finalist said: “It’s phenom- to be able to go back and see er at Chelsea. But the vocal supporters at enal. I think last year was good, people behind the scenes and Chelsea assistant boss Gi- the Hengqin International Ten- Kasatkina hits a return against Wang Qiang of China in their first-round match but this year’s another level. 40,000-plus friends in the anfranco Zola, who played nis Center were given some - of the Zhuhai Elite Trophy tournament “It’s really exciting for the stadium,” said the 40-year- with Lampard at Stamford thing to cheer about when women’s game. We have the top old ahead of the fourth-round Bridge, described his former Wang, 26, broke all four of Ka- Yesterday night’s clash was eighth seed and world number 20 players in the world this year clash at Stamford Bridge. teammate as a “legend of the satkina’s service games to claim their first round robin match, 18 Caroline Garcia from France who are fighting right until the “I’m more emotional as I club”. the second set. with both yet to play American in their round robin group. end of the season, which is re- have gotten older, I think. “I think you can understand The deciding set saw some Madison Keys, ranked 16th in “I think I played well in the ally positive.” These things catch you. Be- when somebody has a future breathtaking points and rallies the world. Earlier, big-hitting first set, and in the second set I In yesterday’s second sin - cause you realise, in my life, in this (managerial) position as each player tried to break the Aryna Sabalenka, 20, was too probably started to rush a little gles match, fourth seed Elise how important Chelsea was because to succeed as a coach deadlock, but nerves appeared strong for Australia’s Ashleigh bit and make a lot of mistakes, Mertens from Belgium comfort- and what I owe for that in you really need the ability to to take hold as both failed to Barty, 22, in the opening singles and kind of stupid mistakes,” ably beat Estonia’s Anett Kon- terms of thanks.” spend a lot of time thinking win almost any of their service clash, taking the match 6-4, 6-4. Sabalenka said after the match. taveit, the tenth seed, 6-3, 6-1. Lampard is enjoying life at over things,” said the Italian. games. The pair produced some spec- “But I think the game was Now in its fourth year the Derby, who are sixth in the “Frank has always had this Finally, after almost two hours tacular base-line battles, but quite good, just a few... stupid Elite Trophy features 12 players second-tier Championship, ability. As a player he had a lot on court, it was Kasatkina who Sabalenka, from Belarus, turned moments.” ranked roughly from nine to 20. just four points off top spot. of physicality and technicality, held on to her serve at the cru- the screws on to see out the Barty said: “I’m disappointed This year’s total prize money is “This (Derby) is my work- but he spent a lot of energy on cial time to take the third and match in one hour, 26 minutes. not to come away with the win, $2.35 million across the singles ing home now and I have a football, on and off the pitch.” final set 7-5. They are both yet to play but I’ll have another opportuni- and doubles tournaments.