SATURDAY 3 MARCH 2018 SPORT 21 Tou’re always very happy when you start with such a low round, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE especially for me. This is such a big event, I would say this is All Times in GMT 15:00 Swansea City vs West Ham United Indian Golfer 12:30 Burnley vs Everton 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur vs Huddersfield Town taking some pressure off me, Shubhankar playing well on this course. 15:00 Leicester City vs AFC Bournemouth 15:00 Watford vs West Bromwich Albion Sharma 15:00 Southampton vs Stoke City 17:30 Liverpool vs Newcastle United TODAY’S TODAY’S ACTION Zverev in Acapulco semis AFP Anderson defeated South Korean Chung Hyeon 7-6 (7/5), -4 ACAPULCO, MEXICO: Third- while Donaldson beat Spain’s Feli- Shubhankar Sharma plays a shot seeded German Alexander Zverev ciano Lopez 6-3, 6-1. during the first round of the reached his first ATP semi-final Anderson saved six of the WGC - Mexico Championship golf of the season on Thursday, beating seven break points he faced to tournament on Thursday. Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-1 to set up a reach his third semi-final of the clash with Juan Martin del Potro season. in Acapulco. “I felt the first set was really World number five Zverev, 20, touch and go,” Anderson said. “I Sharma shines is the highest-ranked player left had to save quite a few break in the draw of the hardcourt tour- points. I felt I played some of my nament that saw top seed Rafael best tennis down on those break in Mexico Nadal withdraw with nagging hip points.” trouble. In women’s action, top-seeded REUTERS In the semis he’ll face former American Sloane Stephens and US Open champion del Potro, who second-seeded Kristina Mladen- NAUCALPAN, MEXICO: Shubhankar Sharma fended off a second-set challenge ovic of France were both sent made an eye-opening World Golf Championships from third-seeded Austrian packing in the quarter-finals. debut as the Indian prospect carded a six-under- Dominic Thiem to triumph 6-2, Switzerland’s Stefanie Vogele, par 65 in the first round at the WGC-Mexico Cham- 7-6 (9/7). ranked 183rd in the world, pionship on Thursday. “I was very happy with how I stunned reigning US Open cham- Already twice a winner this season on the played,” said Zverev, who saved pion Stephens 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. European Tour, the 21-year-old proved himself all four break points he faced. “I’m Seventh seed and defending equally at home among the most elite of com- starting to play very well again, champion Lesia Tsurenko of pany, ending the day one stroke behind South and that’s all that matters for me.” Ukraine made short work of African leader Louis Oosthuizen. Argentina’s del Potro saved Mladenovic, 6-2, 6-2, in a rematch “I’m really pleased with the way I played. I three set points against Thiem in of last year’s final. was very nervous in the morning, but very happy the second-set tiebreaker, firing Vogele next faces Sweden’s with the way I put it all together,” Sharma said two aces to give himself a match Rebecca Peterson, who ousted after sticking his approach to two feet for birdie Germany’s Alexander Zverev point and taking the contest when fourth seeded Zhang Shuai of at his final hole. returns the ball to US Ryan Thiem double-faulted. China 6-2, 6-1. Tsurenko will The hot start was another small step towards Harrison during their Mexico In the other semi-final, fifth- take on third-seeded Australian what Sharma hopes will be an appearance in next ATP 500 Open men’s singles seeded South African Kevin Daria Gavrilova, who beat month’s US Masters. match in Acapulco, Guerrero Anderson will take on American Veronica Cepede of Paraguay Despite recent victories in South Africa and state, Mexico on Thursday. Jared Donaldson. 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Malaysia, and leading the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings, Sharma has yet to qualify for the first major of the year. Currently ranked 75th in the world, he has only four weeks left to move into the top 50 and punch his ticket to Augusta. Wawrinka withdraws from The Masters has a tradition of occasionally inviting a non-exempt Asian player, raising the intriguing possibility that Sharma might yet receive Indian Wells and Miami Open a prized summons, even if he doesn’t qualify automatically. But he would rather make it a moot point and REUTERS winner returned to competition again and in order to do that, I with a strong finish could qualify as early as this at the Australian Open in January will keep working hard every week. With the nerves settled, it is full steam MIAMI: Former world number but hobbled to a second round single day.” ahead. three Stan Wawrinka has with- exit. Following his defeat at Mel- “To be honest, I’m actually relaxed now,” he drawn from the Miami Open and “They are both amazing bourne Park, Wawrinka reached said. “I just wanted the first round to get out of the Indian Wells tournaments this events, but coming back from a the semi-finals of the Sofia Open way,” said Sharma, who has been hooked on golf month to continue his recovery big surgery after having played a but followed that with early exits ever since he was introduced to the game by his from a persistent knee injury, the few tournaments, I have dis- at Rotterdam and Marseille, the father as a six-year-old. Swiss right-hander said on cussed with my team that it is best second through an injury “You’re always very happy when you start with Thursday. for me to build on the progress retirement. such a low round, especially for me. This is such The 32-year-old curtailed his and go back to practice,” French duo Richard Gasquet a big event, I would say this is taking some pres- season in August last year after Wawrinka said in a statement. and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have also sure off me, playing well on this course.” battling injury through the grass- “I’ve enjoyed being back on been ruled out of Indian Wells Sharma had a chip-in eagle at the first hole court campaign, which ended tour playing matches and this due to knee injuries with Jeremy (his 10th) and added four birdies on the Club de with opening round exits at gives me even more motivation Chardy, Laslo Djere, and Lukas Golf Chapultepec course, which at its highest point Queen’s Club and Wimbledon. to go back on the practice court. Lacko replacing the trio in the is 7,835 feet (2,388 metres) above sea level, and Stan Wawrinka The three-times grand slam My goal is to find my highest level main draw. plays much shorter than its 7,345 yards. F1 drivers don’t like the halo, but have gotten used to it AP killed French driver Jules Bianchi and British IndyCar driver Justin MADRID: Formula One drivers Wilson a few years ago. haven’t hidden their disdain for It is supposed to reduce the “halo,” the new protective When you are sitting potentially fatal impact of objects cockpit device that is mandatory there you only see like a loose wheel, and to pro- this season. tect drivers from head collisions They quickly got used to it, the centre pillar with outside elements during though, and the season will start and a small part of rollovers. in Australia in three weeks with the wider one, but “There’s room for improve- few complaints about the odd- you are not looking ment with the halo,” Renault looking shield implemented to driver Carlos Sainz said. “Aes- improve safety. there anyway. It’s thetically, it’s not part of the DNA Most say that, as ugly as the a small thing in the of Formula One. It’s also difficult halo may look, it won’t cause a middle and that’s to get in and out of the car major impact on racing. it, I’m completely because of it. But if it saves one “I’m not going to lie, I don’t life in 10 years, every person in like it,” Toro Rosso driver Pierre used to it and it’s the paddock will be grateful.” Gasly said. “But that’s what we fine: Mercedes driver There were concerns the have. And honestly, when you Valtteri Bottas halo would reduce the drivers’ drive, you don’t really see it. You visibility on the track, keeping are paying attention to other them from seeing safety signs things, so it doesn’t disturb you middle and that’s it, I’m com- and flags, but after the four days at all.” pletely used to it and it’s fine,” of testing at the Circuit de Cat- Some drivers tested the halo Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas alunya-Barcelona this week, last year, but this week’s pre- said. “It took a little bit of time to most said it wouldn’t be a major Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing during Formula One Test Session at the Circuit de Barcelona- season testing - which ended get used to it but its OK. It’s not issue. Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain on Thursday. Thursday - gave them a first real been disturbing anything.” Teams also complained look at what to expect from The halo brings the biggest because the device significantly driving with the new device.