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NBA | Page 6 GOLF | Page 8 Hawks soar, Eagles land Warriors for Torrey To Advertise here and Cavs Pines winner Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 post wins Jon Rahm Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Jumada I 3, 1438 AH CRICKET Aussies lose GULF TIMES to NZ despite Stoinis heroics SPORT Page 3 FOCUS Sports world heaps praise on Roger, Rafa Federer drops hints DPA Melbourne niversal praise has been heaped on Australian Open champion URoger Federer and beaten finalist Rafael Nadal after the two veterans that end may be nigh turned back the clock by contesting Sunday’s Melbourne final. Sprint star Usain Bolt, golf legend Jack ‘I think this one will take more time to sink in. The magnitude of this match is going to feel diff erent. Nicklaus, footballers including Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm, I can’t compare this one to any other one except for maybe the French Open in 2009. I waited and former and retired tennis players such as Juan Martin del Potro and Andy for the French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried again and failed. Eventually I made it. This feels similar’ Roddick were among those hailing the two stars. Federer, 35, won a record 18th title at the majors when he beat the 30-year-old Nadal in five sets over almost four hours — a stunning comeback for both players who had spent months on the sidelines last year with injury problems. It was the first Grand Slam title between the two since the 2011 French Open and the first major trophy for Switzerland’s Federer since Wimbledon 2012. “Congrats Roger Federer,” eight-time Olympic sprint champ Bolt tweeted while the 77-year-old Nicklaus, himself an 18-time winner of golf majors, tweeted a picture of himself and Federer and pleaded: “As a huge fan of tennis and you, don’t stop there.” Federer seemingly doesn’t plan to hang up his racquet very soon which was also rated good news by Del Potro, who himself had a remarkable comeback after a year of wrist problems when he claimed the 2016 Olympic silver in Rio, beating then number one Novak Djokovic in the first round and Briton Andy Murray in the final. “Thank you both, don’t you ever quit tennis!! GRANDEEE ROGER. So inspiring!!” the Argentine tweeted. Former American great Martina Navratilova spoke of “epic tennis” in the final, Lahm of “an incredible final”, and Ca- nadian world number four Milos Raonic also agreed, tweeting: “What a great and amazing match to wake up for. Thank you Roger, thank you Rafa.” Former US Open champion Rod- dick found kind words for both finalists, saying “can’t believe what I watched” and naming Nadal “one of the classiest champions I’ve ever known”. But he also said their injury-related absence proved that tennis needed a longer off -season. “If Rafa and Roger didn’t prove the benefits of a longer off -season, I don’t know what will. Let’s be smart with our players and promote longevity,” he tweeted. The media also went along for the ride, as the New York Times said that for Federer the final “really did feel like gravy after all the major meals he has enjoyed through the years”. Britain’s The Guardian said: “Both finalists have enriched the game through their personal skills and their rivalry... They have made each other great.” It added that Federer’s “right to be regarded as peerless in the history of his sport was cemented beyond argument” with the latest win. In Federer’s native Switzerland, the Neue Zuercher Zeitung referred to the almost five years between his Wimble- don crown 2012 and the latest coup in Australia. “Roger Federer’s 18th title is the most significant one. It ended a period of four-and-a-half year of criticism and doubts,” the NZZ said. AFP force him off the scene. The Australian course. That’s my hope right now.” Unusually for the Swiss, he took ments of his career, after his Grand Melbourne Open marked his comeback from a six- a medical timeout in the fi nal as well Slam chances had been largely written month injury break, the longest of his “This is all about, you as during his fi ve-set semi with Stan off . It was a redemptive win as Federer career, after he underwent surgery for know, knowing that I have Wawrinka. He also went fi ve sets with has struggled against Nadal, losing oger Federer dropped hints the fi rst time last February. only so much tennis left Kei Nishikori in round four. four straight major fi nals to the fear- that his great career may be “This is all about, you know, know- in me. If I do get injured, He said Sunday’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, some left-hander since his Wimble- drawing to a close after his ing that I have only so much tennis left you know, maybe if I miss 6-3 win ranked alongside his 2009 don victory in 2007. age-defying win over his in me,” he told reporters, when asked French Open victory, which completed “Rafa defi nitely has been very par- RGrand Slam nemesis Rafael Nadal at about the comment in his acceptance next year, who knows what a career Grand Slam and ended a run of ticular in my career. I think he made the Australian Open. speech. “If I do get injured, you know, happens... You never know three defeats in the fi nal. me a better player,” Federer said. “Him The 35-year-old Swiss admitted his maybe if I miss next year, who knows when your next Grand “I think this one will take more time and a couple more players have done return to Melbourne wasn’t guaran- what happens... You never know when Slam is going to be, if ever. to sink in. When I go back to Switzer- the most to do that to me because the teed after he ended a fi ve-year wait for your next Grand Slam is going to be, if You never know if you’re land, I’ll think, ‘Wow’. The magnitude way his game stacks up with me, it’s a his 18th major title by beating Nadal in ever. You never know if you’re going to going to have an opportu- of this match is going to feel diff erent,” tricky one. I’ve said that openly. a thrilling fi ve-setter. have an opportunity at this stage.” nity at this stage.” he said. “I can’t compare this one to “It remains for me the ultimate He told the Rod Laver Arena crowd: Federer added: “Look, I’ve had a any other one except for maybe the challenge to play against him. So it’s “I hope to see you next year, but if not, tough year last year. Three fi ve-setters Federer, now four titles clear of Nad- French Open in ‘09. I waited for the defi nitely very special. I said that then it was a wonderful year here and I are not going to help. al and Pete Sampras on the all-time French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried also before the fi nals: if I were to win couldn’t be happier tonight.” “I just meant it the way I meant it. major-winners’ list, was troubled by again and failed. Eventually I made it. against Rafa, it would be super-spe- Federer has been rebutting sugges- There wasn’t something planned be- injury during the tournament and he This feels similar.” cial and very sweet because I haven’t tions of retirement for several years, but hind it, that this is my last Austral- said he had been carrying an upper leg Fittingly it was Nadal who pushed beaten him in a Grand Slam fi nal for a he said he was now aware injuries could ian Open. I hope can I come back, of problem since the second round. Federer to one of the biggest achieve- long, long time now.” Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 SPORT SPOTLIGHT Federer is peerless but he and Rafael Nadal have made each other great The Swiss player won a thrilling Australian Open final but would have been happy to ‘accept a draw’ against Nadal Legends...Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver and Roger Federer in Melbourne on Sunday. that reached a pitch that hardly seemed possible even a few only partially facilitated by the early shock defeats of the two gest stage here for the fi rst time since 2009, both hit with vi- By Kevin Mitchell months ago and unlikely even earlier in the evening. best players in the world, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. cious intent. Federer’s 73 winners may have been more pleas- The Guardian Almost a year to the day since he wrenched his knee while On Sunday, the two who stood at the top of the mountain, ing on the eye but Nadal – whose wrist injury robbed him of running a bath for one of his four children and playing in his deservedly so, had a combined age of a pensionable 65. two months last season – struck savagely, too. There were fi rst proper tournament since surgery after losing against Mi- At the very instant Nadal – fi ve years younger at 30 – served 184 rallies of fewer than four shots and 34 that went longer oger Federer’s claim to greatness has never been in los Raonic in the semi-fi nals at Wimbledon six months ago, to start the match, just after 7.30pm local time with the sun than nine – 10 of those in an epic fi nal set that lasted just over question, not even in the fi ve years since he won his the 35-year-old somehow made a legend crack.

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