MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 SPORTS Federer fires Switzerland into Davis Cup final

GENEVA: France will host Switzerland in Simone Bolleli and he started as a strong the Davis Cup final in November after favoirite against top Italian Fognini. Roger Federer gave the Swiss the winning point against Italy in Geneva yesterday. Dominated Federer reached the first Davis Cup final Games went with serve until 3-2 for of his career with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 7- Federer in the opener when the Swiss star 6 (7/4) win over Fabio Fognini in the first of made the breakthrough and went on to the semi-final’s reverse singles. take the set 6-2 in just 24 minutes. The sec- That made it 3-1 for the Swiss thus ond set also saw Federer edge his way ensuring they would contest the final of ahead with a break in the eighth game, the annual team event for the first time Fognini furious with himself for netting an since 1992 when they lost to the United attempted smash on break point. States. The volatile Italian had his chances in France made sure of playing in the final the third set against an increasingly edgy for the first time since 2010 on Saturday Federer, but squandered three break points when their doubles team of Richard in the third game and another break point Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated two games later. Czechs Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek He was made to pay the price in the in four sets. ensuing tie-break which Federer dominat- The final will be played in France from ed after conceding the first point on his November 21-23, with the northern city of own serve. Lille being touted as the likely host. The last The Swiss number worked out three time the two countries met in a Davis Cup match points and he converted the first of tie was in the 2004 quarter-finals when the those as Fognini netted a forehand drive. Swiss won 3-2 at home. “For the whole of Switzerland it’s great “The most classical match-ups I’ve had we’re in the finals now. We couldn’t be hap- have come against France so I’m happy,” pier,” said Swiss Severin Luthi. said Federer. “We’ve had some great ties “Roger didn’t have that much time to get here in Switzerland so we’re very pleased to used to the court and conditions and there be in the finals and we’ll see how it’s going is a lot of pressure involved. For me he to go.” played again fantastic tennis.” LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr celebrates his unanimous decision victory against Marcos Maidana during their WBC/WBA welterweight title “It’s nice sharing emotions with your Over in Paris, the France v Czech fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. — AFP fans and your loved ones. You have to fight Republic tie ended at Roland Garros in a 4- with what you’ve got and I’m happy I was 1 win for the French, Jiri Vesely defeating able to make a difference.” Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-3 before Gael Mayweather outpoints Seeking a Davis Cup title to go with his Monfils beat Lukas Rosol 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the all-time record of 17 Grand Slam victories, two “dead” rubbers. France last won the Federer had given the Swiss the opening Davis Cup in 2001 when they travelled to point of the tie with a straight sets win over Australia and won 3-2. — AFP Maidana to remain perfect

LAS VEGAS: Undefeated five-division champion in 2002 against Jose Luis Castillo, executed the “We clenched, we came together my hand Floyd Mayweather Jr claimed a unanimous deci- perfect game plan, frustrating the 31-year-old went under him and he bit my three fingers,” sion in a feisty encounter against Marcos Argentine brawler with his speed and sharpness. said Mayweather. “My three fingers went numb, I Maidana to successfully defend three world titles Maidana, however, left convinced he had couldn’t feel my fingers the rest of the fight. and improve his record to 47-0 on Saturday. won the fight. “When he first bit me, he acted like he didn’t In just the second rematch of his 18-year “I’m very happy to have fought twice against do it. Then he said I put my hand in his mouth.” career, the 37-year-old American came out on Floyd Mayweather, I think I did a terrific job,” said top on all three scorecards, retaining his World Maidana. “Many have fought against him and I Facing Pacquiao Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing don’t think they did what I was able to do. In the 10th round, Maidana was docked a Council (WBC) welterweight and light-mid- “I thought I did enough to win. If the judges point for sending Mayweather to the canvas dleweight belts. like a fighter who runs like Floyd there is nothing with a forearm across the throat and tensions The victory was another masterful showcase I can do about it. escalated in the 11th when the American landed of evasion from Mayweather, widely regarded as “He’s beatable, you have to attack him. When a low blow and then ordered the Argentine to one of the best defensive fighters of all-time, as you attack him he really doesn’t know what to stop stalling and fight. he danced out of danger and used his lightning do. “He is very fast on his feet I will tell you that.” The result, with one judge scoring the bout counter punching to great effect. Maidana employed the attacking tactics that 115-112 while the other two had it 116-111 in Despite a dominating display Mayweather served him well in the majority decision loss in the champion’s favour, immediately renewed could only give his performance a C-minus. “I May but failed to do any damage as the elusive speculation about a long-awaited super-fight bring in a game plan, I bring in a team and we Mayweather ducked and weaved away from his between Mayweather and Filipino great Manny gave the fans what they wanted to see,” said hard-hitting opponent’s punches. Pacquiao. Mayweather, who earned a guaranteed $32 mil- By the eighth round, an increasingly frustrat- “I got to go back and talk to my team, I’m not lion for his night’s work. “He’s extremely dirty but ed Maidana appeared to bite Mayweather’s arm ducking or dodging no opponent,” Mayweather rugged. when they were locked together in a clinch with responded when asked about the possibility of “It is another fight, another victory time to the champion pulling away, jumping up and facing Pacquiao. “If a Pacquiao fight presents PARIS: France’s Davis Cup national tennis team Richard Gasquet (L) and Gael Monfils move on. The saga continues there are a lot of screaming at the Argentine. itself, let’s make it happen.” (R) face from left to right: coach Arnaud Clement, Julien Benneteau, Michael Llodra, great fighters out there.” The referee halted the action so Mayweather The evening ended in chaos as the sellout Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as they celebrate with the national flag after the The 12-round bout was not without contro- could receive attention in his corner as he con- crowd tried to exit the MGM Grand Arena fifth match of the Davis Cup semi-final between France and Czech Republic, yester- versy, however, with Mayweather accusing tinued to yell at Maidana, who paid little heed to through one main entrance where a fight trig- day at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. — AFP Maidana (34-5) of biting him, while the the fuss as he waited passively for the bout to gered a stampede, sending several people to American tagged the Argentine with a low blow restart. floor while others struggled to pull them to safe- late in the bout then taunted him as he recov- “I never bit him, he was rubbing my eyes with ty. There were no immediate reports of any ered in a neutral corner. his glove,” Maidana told reporters. “Maybe he injuries. It was the second consecutive Top seed Lisicki fights had his glove in my mouth but I did not bite. Mayweather fight at the venue to end in a stam- Hard punches “Maybe he thinks I’m a dog but I did not bite pede. After the May 3 bout, several spectators back to win HK Open Mayweather, whose only other rematch came him.” Mayweather saw the events differently. were taken to hospital with injuries. — Reuters

HONG KONG: Sabine Lisicki justified her for every single point no matter what the top seeding by winning the inaugural WTA score is,” Lisicki said. Pliskova again had Hong Kong Open 7-5, 6-3 against Karolina chances to break as Lisicki faltered to 15-40 Pliskova of the Czech Republic yesterday. in the 11th game. But the Czech world The German had endured a lean time on number 36 couldn’t take advantage and a tour since losing the Wimbledon final to loose return way out into the tramlines on Marion Bartoli last year, tumbling out of the her second break point caused her to slam world’s top 30. Lisicki only accepted a wild- her racquet down in disgust. card into the Hong Kong tournament at the Lisicki served out for her fifth game in a last minute after US Open semi-finalist row and squandered one set point on Peng Shuai and world number seven Pliskova’s serve in the next game, but a Eugenie Bouchard pulled out. It proved to searing backhand crosscourt pass in the be a move that paid off handsomely. best rally of the match sealed the set 7-5. “I’m very happy,” she said. “Especially It capped an incredible run of six con- because it was such a spontaneous deci- secutive games for the world number 31. sion. We literally decided (to play) three or Lisicki made it seven on the trot by holding four days before the tournament started.” serve to open the second set, but Pliskova The scoreline may say it was a straight-sets finally got back on the scoreboard with a victory, but it was far from straightforward service hold of her own. in an error-strewn match at the Victoria When Lisicki broke again and strode out Park centre court. to a 4-2 lead the match looked all but over. The Czech third seed had seemed des- Pliskova had other ideas and fought back tined to avenge her second-round defeat from 40-30 to break when Lisicki double- to the German at Wimbledon this year faulted for the seventh time in the match. when she raced into a 5-1 lead in the first However Pliskova was immediately bro- set, breaking Lisicki’s serve twice. ken again and Lisicki served out to seal the But Lisicki, who at that point was man- match, collapsing to the court in joyful cel- aging to put only a woeful 40 per cent of ebration after ending a drought of almost her first serves into play, slowly got into her three years without a singles title. stride to spark a remarkable run in which “I really enjoyed it here in Hong Kong she broke back twice to level at 5-5.Asked and I think that’s the reason I played so by reporters if she had thought about let- well,” added Lisicki, who now heads for ting the set slip away at 1-5, Lisicki gave a this week as the women’s tour con- HONG KONG: Sabine Lisicki of Germany (L) and Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova pose with their trophies after their women’s final singles ten- robust response “No. Never. I always fight tinues its Asian swing. — AFP nis match at the Hong Kong Open yesterday. — AFP lady cricketers blaze trail after samurai

TOKYO: Blood-thirsty samurai warriors who biffs the ball around with the care- “Chihiro does have a bit of Kevin back suddenly appeared at mid-. in Holland in 2003 and got completely once threatened to kill the game of free abandon of England great Pietersen. Pietersen about her,” said Japan Fortunately for the gentlemen on the smashed by Ireland, West Indies, cricket in Japan before a ball had been “I had absolutely no idea what cricket Association (JCA) chief executive officer green, samurai did not stop play but the Pakistan and Scotland,” said Miyaji. “They bowled in anger. Now the country’s trail- was at first,” maverick left-hander Alex Miyaji. “You expect her to go out game was clearly not for the faint-heart- bowled 50 wides in a match or some- blazing women cricketers boast an Asian Sakamoto told AFP. “The first time the and make runs-or come back early. She ed. “It is, I suppose, the only match on thing ridiculous like that.” Games bronze medal and even their ball hit me I was like ‘Ouch, okay that doesn’t mess about.” record in which the players had to be Once a curiosity to rival the Jamaican own pint-sized answer to Kevin really hurts!’ But I fell in love with cricket Nor did the Japanese shogun who armed,” wrote the future polar explorer bobsled team, Japan’s female cricketers Pietersen. from the first day. ordered the slaying of all foreigners who Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, made significant strides under the tute- Baseball may be Japan’s most popu- “It is still a bit scary when a bouncer refused to leave the country by June 25, who took part as a young lieutenant. lage of former New Zealand internation- lar sport but cricket actually goes back smacks you on the helmet,” added the 1863, as political tensions with Britain Japan’s first cricket club was founded al Katrina Keenan between 2007 and further-in 1863 British merchants and 20-year-old with a giggle. “I bat at num- escalated in the wake of the brutal mur- five years later by a Scottish tea mer- 2010, culminating in a gold medal at the naval officers played a tense match in ber three so there’s quite a lot of pres- der of an English merchant. chant, despite the bad blood and threat East Asia-Pacific championship and a , revolvers tucked in trousers sure to score runs. My favourite shot is of violence. Japan’s women will have surprise bronze at the Asian Games four to protect them from rampaging assas- the pull shot. It’s a bit like a softball shot Sword-wielding warriors considerably less to worry about at this years ago. sins with orders to chop off their heads. so I can really put some welly into it.” At a time when Britannia ruled the month’s Asian Games after a steep learn- “They definitely know their ‘china- More than 150 years later, Japan’s Sakamoto, who made her Japan waves, the Brits tweaked the nose of ing curve since the JCA formed in 1984, men’ from their ‘googlies’ now,” added ladies head to the Asian Games in South debut two years ago, is expected to play fear, striding into bat with hidden setting up its headquarters 70 kilome- Miyaji, referring to cricketing terms for Korea armed with their secret weapon in a key role at the Asian Games but, in true revolvers and stiff upper lips, guarded by tres (44 miles) north of Tokyo in the city types of spin . “Cricket used to Chihiro Sakamoto, a hard-hitting former maverick style, has a tendency to throw a small force armed with rifles-just in of Sano, also famous for its ramen noo- be something totally alien to them, but softball player with a wicked pull shot her wicket away cheaply. case sword-wielding warriors on horse- dles. “Japan played World Cup qualifiers not anymore.” —AFP