Sports FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 45

Warne tells Kyrgios ‘you’re testing our patience mate’

SYDNEY: Australian cricket great Shane disrespectful while others view as good for & yourself.” Kyrgios was criticised for his “No shame in losing, but show us you Warne told tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios yes- a sport in need of characters. audacious shot selection during his loss to will never give up, that you will give it terday respect was more important than Warne, no stranger to controversy him- Murray and Warne said learning from his everything to be the best you can be, being liked and warned him “you’re testing self, offered his fellow Australian some atti- mistakes was a demonstration of true char- respect is earned not given! I believe in you our patience mate”. Showman Kyrgios has tude tips, and urged him not to waste his acter. “We all make mistakes, but it’s how & know you can do it, but now’s the time been making headlines for all the wrong talent. “We all realise you’re only 20 & have we learn from them & the way we conduct my friend.” Kyrgios was slapped with a 28- reasons, with his sex slur at Stan Wawrinka a lot to learn buddy. But please don’t waste ourselves when we lose that shows true day ban and US$25,000 fine over his verbal last month sparking stinging criticism from your talent, everyone in the world, especial- character,” he said. abuse of Wawrinka at the Rogers Cup in fellow players. He lost at the US Open ly us Australians want to respect u,” he “You’re testing our patience mate, show Montreal. But both punishments will be Tuesday to Andy Murray before jousting wrote on his Facebook page. “Remember us what you’re made of & how hungry you waived if he avoids any fines for verbal or with the media over his reputation and respect is way more important than being are to be the best in the world, it’s time to physical abuse at ATP events over the next behaviour, which some see as petulant and liked, u need to respect the game of tennis step up & start winning, no excuses. six months. — AFP

Venus seeks sisterly advice to take down Swiss teenager

NEW YORK: earned a shot at a little family revenge by outlasting American compatriot Irina Falconi 6-3 6- 7(2) 6-2 to set up an intriguing US Open third round clash with Swiss teenager on Wednesday. Venus will seek out a scouting report from little sister and world number one Serena (50-2), who has only lost two matches this season, one of those to the 18-year-old Swiss prospect in Toronto last month. More significantly, Bencic, who rallied for a 5-7 7-6(3) 6-3 win over Japan’s , stands in the way of a potential all- Williams quarter-final clash that would see Venus attempting to end Serena’s bid for the rare calendar-year . “We always give each other advice, especially if one of us has played the other opponent recently,” said Venus, who played first U.S. Open in 1997, the same year Bencic was born. “So, yeah, we always are there for encouragement and advice. She’ll probably give me some pointers like tomorrow or Friday. She’s got pretty sage advice.” Neither Bencic nor Venus impressed in their second round encounters. Venus squandered two match points in the second set as Falconi forced a tiebreak which she easily won 7-2. But the two- time US Open champion showed her experience in the third, recovering to clinch a tense victory. By contrast, Bencic’s nerves betrayed her as she unraveled in a second set meltdown that left her sobbing in frustration as Doi rallied from 5-2 down to force a tiebreak. The 12th seeded Swiss would eventually gather her NEW YORK: chases down a shot from Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, during the second round of the emotions and go on to take the match in the third set but her US Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, in New York. — AP inexperience had been exposed. “I was really mad. I was just so frustrated today,” explained Bencic. “I think we all have not-so- Serena, Djokovic, Nadal good days, but I was very frustrated for the line calls and the ref- eree. “I know I shouldn’t have behaved like that. “For sure I know that but sometimes I just can’t control myself right now. I for sure have to be working on that, but I think I’m not the only one reach US Open third round who would freak out like this.” Having taken one Williams scalp, Bencic believes she is ready NEW YORK: The Serena Williams show contin- Bencic, one of only two players to beat Serena as the Argentine saw his record against top 10 to take another. “Obviously I never won against her (Venus) yet,” ued at the US Open as the world number one this season. Born in 1997, the same year Venus opponents drop to 0-6. Djokovic, a five-time US Bencic added. “I played my first WTA match against her, which moved a step closer to a calendar Grand Slam made her U.S. Open debut, Bencic survived a Open finalist but winning it all just once in was a great experience. “Now I really want to win. I feel like I can on Wednesday, while Mardy Fish took a final second set meltdown that left her sobbing and 2011, has been in imperious form strolling into have a good plan when I go on the court. “If I will feel good, I Flushing Meadows bow as the curtain came a determined Misaki Doi of Japan to claim a the third round with a clinical 6-4 6-1 6-2 win think it can be a very interesting match. I mean, of course, she’s a down on the American’s career. nervy 5-7 7-6(3) 6-3 victory. over Austrian Andreas Haider-Mauer. great player. She hits the ball very hard. “It will be very difficult for Defending men’s champion Marin Cilic and “I think we all have not-so-good days,” said After a first round littered with upsets, sec- me, but we will see.” — Reuters two-time winner Rafa Nadal and world number Bencic. “I know I shouldn’t have behaved like ond round action went largely according to one also eased into the third that.” After playing his opening match on an script as Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer round with straight sets wins as the tempera- outside court, Cilic took his U.S. Open title beat Serb Filip Krajinovic 7-5 7-5 7-6(4) and tures and stakes continue to rise at the year’s defence back to a sweltering Arthur Ashe Canadian 10th seed Milos Raonic fought off final grand slam. Bidding to become just the Stadium and looked right at home, storming back pain to beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6- fourth woman to win all four slams in the same into the third round with a 6-2 6-3 7-5 win over 2 6-4 6-7(5) 7-6(1). It was the end of road, how- year, no one has more riding on the Flushing Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy. ever, for Fish, who announced earlier this year Meadows fortnight than Williams, who contin- During last year’s magical run Cilic was that he would retire after playing his 13th US ued her quest with an error-strewn 7-6(5) 6-3 invincible on the main court, sweeping past Open. Following an 18-month layoff, Fish, who victory over Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens. The Tomas Berdych in the quarters, taking out suffers from a severe anxiety disorder, returned 110th-ranked Bertens put up a valiant fight and in three sets in the semi-finals to the ATP Tour in March and went down had Williams, who struggled with her serve fir- and Kei Nishikori in a one-sided final. swinging in his Flushing Meadows farewell, ing 10 double faults, on the ropes in the open- “This court is very special for me, brings stretching out his final match as long as he ing set. However, the 33-year-old American’s back special memories,” the ninth seeded Cilic could before falling 2-6 6-3 1-6 7-5 6-3 to 18th class shone through in the second set as she said. “It’s sort of unreal. I was working all my life seeded Feliciano Lopez. broke Bertens three-times to seal her 23rd con- to win a grand slam and now I’m in position to “I have got a lot of great memories; I’ve secutive US Open victory. defend one.” got a lot of good wins out here,” Fish said. “I “I never stop. I keep going and give the best probably would have chosen this one as my effort that I can,” Williams said after raising her Few upsets last one regardless if I didn’t have any issues 2015 match record to 50-2. Williams was joined Two-time champion Nadal got his second with my health in the past couple of years, NEW YORK: Dominika Cibulkova, of Slovakia, returns a in the third round by sister Venus who outlast- round contest off to a sluggish start but the just because this is the biggest one and the shot against Jessica Pegula in the second round of the US ed Irina Falconi 6-3 6-7(2) 6-2 to set up an eighth seeded Spaniard was quickly in control, most fun and the one that you want to go Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, in New York. — AP intriguing clash with Swiss teenager Belinda dispatching 7-6(5) 6-3 7-5 out on.” -—Reuters