MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014 SPORTS Federer poised for Photo of the day fairytale of New York NEW YORK: Roger Federer hopes to mark heads into the US Open with two dispiriting the 10th anniversary of his first US Open title third round losses in Toronto and Cincinnati. with a sixth triumph in New York and become The 27-year-old Serb, recently married, has the oldest Grand Slam champion in more also had to bat back accusations that he is than 40 years. distracted by impending fatherhood. In an astonishing reversal of fortunes, the “I wanted to do better in Canada and 33-year-old, written off as a relic of the game Cincinnati. Unfortunately I wasn’t even close when he slipped to a fourth round loss to to my best. But, you know, a lot of things hap- Tommy Robredo 12 months ago, finds him- pened in the last two months, and it was very self perfectly positioned to win a staggering emotional period,” said Djokovic, who plays 18th major. Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in Monday’s Buoyed by claiming a sixth Cincinnati title- first round. “I just felt a little bit flat on the his 80th career crown-and with long-time court. I wasn’t managing to find that intensity rival Rafael Nadal again sidelined with injury, and the perfect mindset.” the Swiss is relishing the twilight of his career. His last-16 loss to Robredo in 2013 in New Djokovic impressive York meant it was the first year since 2002 Despite recent hiccups, Djokovic’s record that he had failed to make a Grand Slam final. at all the majors is impressive the last time he The defeat also marked the first time in 10 failed to make at least the quarter-finals of a years that he hadn’t made at least the last- Grand Slam was at the 2009 French Open. eight at Flushing Meadows. The odds on Djokovic and Federer meeting in Suddenly, his five consecutive US Open the September 8 final were shortened when titles from 2004-2008 appeared a detail in his- defending champion Nadal was forced to tory and his 17th and most recent major suc- withdraw with a right wrist injury. cess-the 2012 Wimbledon title-looked certain Andy Murray, the 2012 champion, has not to be his last. But the Swiss never doubted reached a final of any description since his his ability to remain a force in the sport and historic 2013 Wimbledon triumph. he goes into his 15th US Open with his unwa- Now down at nine in the world, the 27- vering confidence justified. year-old has not got beyond the quarter- There were hints of a revival at Wimbledon finals of any tournament since his morale- in July where he was defeated in five sets by sapping semi-final loss to Nadal at the French world number one Novak Djokovic. Since Open where the Spaniard allowed him just six then, he has been runner-up at Toronto and games. “This year would be the best pre- champion in Cincinnati and the problems of pared I have been coming into a slam. I got a Ken Roczen competes in the AMA Pro Motocross Championships at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, New York, USA. — www.redbull.com 2013, when he was hampered by a back great training block over in Miami done, so injury, are now distant memories. physically I’m where I would want to be. My “I was scared to have another setback, and body is pain-free, which is good,” insisted so it was just not as clear-cut and simple as it Murray whose first round foe is Robin Haase is this year,” said second-seeded Federer, who of the Netherlands. With 2009 champion Juan faces Australia’s Marinko Matosevic in the first Martin del Potro still sidelined by injury, the Ricciardo wins at round of what will be his 64th consecutive much-vaunted next generation will get Grand Slam. another opportunity to shine. But they “This year I played a lot of good matches. remain works in progress. Canada’s Milos Not just Toronto and Cincinnati, but really Raonic, the world number six, was a semi- from the first week on I have always played finalist at Spa for Red Bull really nice tennis. Wimbledon and Cincinnati where he was “You almost forget how to lose to a point swept aside in straight sets on both occasions and confidence rises. You’re back to winning by Federer. Fellow 23-year-old Grigor ways again and everything seems so simple. Dimitrov, the world number eight, has three Hamilton retires, Rosberg second I’m looking forward to this tournament, titles to his name in 2014 but lost out to because I really feel like I can play a great Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals. More tournament. I hope I can show that on the frustratingly, the Bulgarian boyfriend of Maria SPA: Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo beat Nico court this year.” Djokovic, the 2011 champion Sharapova has yet to win a match in three vis- Rosberg to win an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix and who has featured in the last four finals, its to the US Open. — AFP yesterday, while Rosberg extended his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in acri- monious circumstances. Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas was third. The increas- ingly strained relations at Mercedes look set to get even worse after Rosberg effectively ended Hamilton’s race chances with a risky overtaking move that saw him clip and puncture the Briton’s left tire. Rosberg was loudly jeered by the Spa crowd when he went onto the podium. “It’s not my position to comment on it at all because I haven’t seen it,” Rosberg said afterward of the incident. “Of course it’s very disappointing from a team’s perspective. We could have done a lot better than just finish in second place with the car we have.”Hamilton retired with five laps remaining after his team noticed some further degradation and he appeared to blame Rosberg after the race. “I’m sure he’ll leave here happy,” Hamilton told the BBC. It was a second straight win for Ricciardo after vic- tory at the Hungarian GP last month and the third of an impressive season. The Australian continues to out- shine his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel who was fifth. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth. “We’re happy with what we’re doing,” Ricciardo said. SPA: Red Bull Racing’s Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo (R) celebrates on the podium at the “The consistency was there and we’re making the tires last.”Rosberg started from pole for the fourth straight Spa-Francorchamps ciruit in Spa yesterday after the Belgium Formula One Grand Prix. — AFP NEW YORK: Tennis players, from left, Jack Sock, Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka race, but a great start by Hamilton and Vettel saw them is never going to last.” He had qualified on the front having no downforce on his car but his team insisted and Andy Murray appear at US Open Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the USTA Billie Jean both zoom past the German at the first turn. Just two row for the first time in six races. But once again the he scrap for points. King National Tennis Center on Saturday, in New York. — AP laps into the race, as Hamilton fixed his racing line, 2008 champion needed to carve his way back through With 30 laps gone, Rosberg overtook Raikkonen Rosberg tried to pass him on the outside but instead the field, just like in the previous two GPS - Hungary and looked to close on Ricciardo, who was about three his front wing hit Hamilton’s left side, also causing and Germany - where he qualified 20th and 22nd due seconds ahead. Things got intense in the battle for Supreme Serena targets damage to Rosberg’s front wing. to technical problems. fifth. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso waved his Rosberg’s front wing was replaced on lap nine. left hand in frustration after failing to get pas Rosberg’s front Then, in another dramatic turn, some flying debris got Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen on lap 38. Alonso was so 18th major at US Open wing replaced attached to the radio aerial of Rosberg’s car and blew desperate to get past Magnussen that he ended up “Nico hit me, Nico hit me,” an exasperated Hamilton around in his face. He tried in vain to remove it with his losing two places after he was forced too wide. Both NEW YORK: Serena Williams is taking nothing close. She sealed yet another return from injury said over the race radio. Early signs are that the left hand as it flapped around, even catching on the Vettel and Jenson Button moved inside him and the for granted as she vies for a third straight US by capturing her fifth career Grand Slam in Paris, Mercedes team looks like coming down heavily on steering wheel. Meanwhile, a worried Hamilton asked Spaniard finished eighth. Others had trouble on the 7- Open title, which would put her alongside two but she has never won two majors in the same Rosberg for taking a risk right at the start of the race. “Is my pace really far off?” as his team reassured him kilometer (4.3-mile) track nestled in the Ardennes for- greats of the game. The 32-year-old once known year. “I only have one more chance to do that The two drivers have clashed throughout the season.