Danielle Kang I’ll urge Pacquiao wins KPMG Women’s to quit, says PGA Championship trainer Roach

TUESDAY, JULY 4,15 2017 18 Arrieta sharp, Happ homers twice as Cubs beat Reds Page 17

WIMBLEDON: Spain’s serves against Australia’s John Millman during their men’s singles first round match on the first day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Club in Wimbledon, southwest London yesterday.— AP Venus in tears over crash as Murray, Nadal stroll

LONDON: Venus Williams wept at Wimbledon mentally, Williams added: “I have no idea what born last year, next faces Dustin Brown, the man ment with a wrist injury. There was lots of emo- Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 in just 72 over the “devastation” of a fatal road accident for tomorrow will bring. That’s all I can say about it. who knocked out Rafael Nadal two years ago. tion for 2011 and 2014 women’s champion minutes. Women’s second seed Simona Halep, which she is facing legal action as That’s what I’ve learned.” Petra Kvitova as the popular Czech downed blasted off court in the final by and Rafael Nadal eased into the second round Despite the tragedy at home, Williams EMOTIONAL KVITOVA Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-3, 6-4. Kvitova was Jelena Ostapenko, downed New Zealand quali- yesterday. remained focused enough on Court One to German world number 97 Brown came back playing just her eighth match since suffering a fier Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-1. Williams, the 37-year-old five-time champi- clinch a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Elise from a set and a break down to beat Portugal’s potentially career-ending hand injury fighting Halep, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2014, on, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her Mertens in the first round. Defending men’s Joao Sousa 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4. off a knife-wielding burglar at her home in next faces Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maria. Former maiden appearance at the All England Club. champion Murray celebrated the news that he’s World number two and two-time champion December. world number one Victoria Azarenka starts But that landmark has been overshadowed about to become a father again by reaching the Nadal secured his 850th career victory with a 6- “I felt the energy from the crowd and it was against Catherine Bellis of the United States and by her involvement last month in a road acci- second round. 1, 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Australia’s John amazing to be back here at Wimbledon and will be playing her first Grand Slam since taking dent near her Florida home which resulted in The top seed and world number one Millman. Fresh from winning his 10th French playing on the beautiful Centre Court,” said the time off after last year’s French Open to have her the death of a 78-year-old man. downed Kazakh lucky loser Alexander Bublik 6- Open title, Nadal is just the seventh player to 27-year-old Kvitova. , who beat first child Leo in December. “There are really no words to describe, like, 1, 6-4, 6-2, shrugging off two brief rain delays reach the 850-win mark, joining Roger Federer, Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014, won’t get another The two-time champion how devastating and-yeah. I’m completely and showing little sign of the hip problem Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, opportunity to repeat that shock. The com- made the semi-finals at the All England Club in speechless. It’s just...” Williams said before she which plagued him in the build-up. “I have felt Andre Agassi and Guillermo Vilas. bustible 20th seeded Australian was 6-3, 6-4 2011 and 2012. Men’s fifth seed , left a news conference to compose herself. OK the last few days and the adrenaline you feel Nadal, seeded to face Murray in the semi- down to France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert when looking to complete the career Slam, faces The family of Jerome Barson, who fractured by playing a match numbs any pain you may finals, will play for a place in the he called it quits on Court Three after failing to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. spine and numerous internal injuries in the have,” said the British star after seeing off world last 32. “I haven’t had many matches on grass for shake off the hip injury which has plagued him French Open winner Ostapenko, the 2014 smash, said they intend to sue the American number 134 Bublik. the last few years, but I had some positive feel- in recent weeks. Wimbledon junior champion, takes on star. When she was asked how she was coping Murray, whose baby daughter Sophia was ings,” said Nadal who missed last year’s tourna- , the Japanese ninth seed, beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus. —AFP

CYCLING Brotherly love inspired Sagan to Tour stage win

LONGWY: Peter Sagan said having his brother the winner. It meant that Froome moved up to “Certainly it showed he’s in great form and alongside him as he won his eighth Tour de second overall, 12 seconds behind Thomas, will always look to use his legs to gain some France stage yesterday made it extra special. with Matthews third on the same time and time.” With a lap of the renowned Spa- The world champion surged clear on the Sagan just one second further back in fourth. Francorchamps motor racing circuit included uphill finish to win the 212.5km third stage It briefly looked as if Thomas and Froome along the course and the sun out, there was from Verviers in Belgium to Longwy. But he might be caught out as Australian contender much to enjoy for riders and fans alike. credited his brother Juraj, the Slovak national Richie Porte launched an attack some 800 A six-man breakaway was allowed around champion, for working hard all day for his Bora metres from the finish, with even two-time for- two minutes for most of the day’s racing and team. “It’s very nice, I’m very happy for him mer winner Alberto Contador unable to hold spent their time battling for king of the moun- because he can feel also the atmosphere of the his wheel. Porte couldn’t keep it up, though, tain points along the five climbs. Tour de France for the first time,” said Sagan, 27, and actually finished 14th, behind other con- Having seen his compatriot and Cannondale of his 28-year-old brother. “I have to say thank tenders such as Romain Bardet and Nairo team-mate Taylor Phinney claim the polkadot you to all my team because they did an amaz- Quintana. jersey on Sunday, American Nathan Brown took ing job, especially my brother, all day in the the necessary points to keep it in the family. front pulling to catch the breakaway.” ‘FANTASTIC POSITION’ For the most part, the peloton and overall Sagan also said it was his brother who had But he admitted afterwards he hadn’t favourites enjoyed a leisurely day in the saddle. first got him interested in bicycle racing. “It’s planned to go on the attack on the 1.6km long But in the final 60km, three more escapees special because he’s my brother, we can race on final climb. “The guys put me in a fantastic posi- joined up with the breakaway, whose advan- bikes. “For sure without my brother, I’m not tion there in the final,” he said. “I felt good but tage was down to one minute, and gave it here now. It was his idea and after I followed.” there were still 500 metres to go, it was a little added impetus. However, the punchers’ teams One of Sagan’s shoes was unclipped in the bit too far.” Thomas insisted he and Froome weren’t prepared to give them any leeway and sprint finish but he kept his cool, re-clipped hadn’t been too worried, but said it showed Frenchman Lilian Calmejane, the last man and pushed on to win ahead of Australian Porte was in good form. “As we started the standing, was caught with 10km to ride. From Michael Matthews, with Dan Martin of Ireland climb, myself and Froomey were a little far then on, it was up to the specialist punchers in third. back, 20 positions. and Sagan, once again, proved the strongest. Briton Geraint Thomas kept the yellow jer- “It needed a bit of an effort (to get back up). He also closed in on the green points jersey, sey after coming home in eighth, one place Richie attacked, a strong attack, but we weren’t still held by Sunday’s stage two winner Marcel VERVIERS: Stage winner Slovakia’s Peter Sagan celebrates on the podium after winning ahead of his Sky team leader and reigning too stressed about it. “We knew Sagan and Kittel of Germany, which Sagan has won in at the end of the 212.5 km third stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling champion Chris Froome, two seconds behind some other guys were likely to cover it. each of the last five years. — AFP race yesterday between Verviers, Belgium and Longwy, France. — AFP