MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014 SPORTS

Federer poised for Photo of the day fairytale of New York

NEW YORK: 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 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 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 . 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 , 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 is this year,” said second-seeded Federer, who of the Netherlands. With 2009 champion Juan faces ’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 . 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. that he was closing the gap. est. It is the longest and one of the most demanding for stepping up her game when it mattered this year,” she said, and admitted that such mile- In Hungary, Hamilton refused team orders to let By now, Rosberg was fourth, with Vettel, Raikkonen on the circuit, due to its undulating nature with diffi- most has thrice been thwarted in 2014 in her bid stones matter. “At this position, that’s where you Rosberg past. At the Monaco GP in May, Hamilton was and Ricciardo in front after 15 laps. Two laps later, cult turns such as Eau Rouge and Blanchimont. to join Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova as 18- showcase how strong you are and how much incensed when Rosberg surprisingly crashed late in Rosberg tried and failed to overtake Vettel as smoke Jules Bianchi’s left rear wheel flew off his Marussia time Grand Slam singles champions. you really love it and (want) to show your legacy qualifying when under no pressure, leading to a safety billowed from his front left tire. Halfway through the after contact on the first corner. Lotus driver Pastor Although she has lifted five WTA trophies through the sport,” she said. Just who else might car coming out and squandering Hamilton’s chances of 44-lap race, Hamilton was down in 16th and asked his Maldonado and Caterham’s Andre Lotterer - making this year, she has failed to make it past the fourth emerge to challenge Williams is unclear. pole. Yesterday, after pitting for repairs, Hamilton was engineers if it would be better to retire and save the his F1 debut - both retired early on, while Alonso had round at the , French Open or Australian Open champion Li Na of China is an told to manage at least 15 laps on his new tires, to engine. “We are looking at the options now,” his race to take a five-second stop-and-go penalty after his Wimbledon. So she sounded wary of the sug- injury absentee, while Czech Petra Kvitova was which a despondent Hamilton responded “the rear tire engineer replied. Hamilton then complained about mechanics stayed on the grid too long. — AP gestion that a return to Flushing Meadows, an early casualty in Canada and Cincinnati where she has won five US Open titles, would although she did claim the New Haven title on produce major number 18. Saturday. Eugenie Bouchard, who reached the “Yeah, Australian, Wimbledon, and French semi-finals at the Australian and French Opens Kvitova takes second also could have been 18,” she said. “Didn’t quite before becoming the first Canadian woman to happen.” But Williams was firing on all cylinders reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, has as she won two hardcourt titles in the buildup to failed to impress since her crushing loss to the Open, signalling she won’t surrender her Kvitova at the All England Club. Connecticut Open title crown without a fight. Her straight-sets win over Ana Ivanovic in the Azarenka injury cloud final at Cincinnati showed Williams at her domi- Victoria Azarenka, beaten by Williams in each NEW HAVEN: Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova “Last year I play a lot of three setters, not only ing very well. She improved a lot,” Rybarikova said. nant best. “At some point of the match, I actually of the past two US Open finals, goes into the appears ready to make a run at her second Grand here,” she said. “I’m just glad that I did it without drop- “She can beat anybody, absolutely, when she’s playing felt quite embarrassed walking from one side to fortnight under an injury cloud. Slam title this summer. The No. 4 ranked Czech star ping any sets. I’m just very impressed about that.” her game. Kvitova she came into New Haven having the other for returns,” Ivanovic said of the near- The Belarusian, owner of two Australian dominated Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-2 Rybarikova said she also was impressed and believes played just three times since winning her second hopelessness of returning Williams’ best serve. It Open titles, has been limited to just six events in Saturday to win the Connecticut Open, her second her long-time friend has a great chance to win in New Wimbledon title, losing in her second match in was a long way from Ivanovic’s fourth-round vic- 2014. She battled a foot injury for much of the title in New Haven in the past three years. York. “She can return. She can serve. She’s even mov- Montreal and her opener in Cincinnati. —AP tory over Williams at the Australian Open, where year and withdrew from her title defence at “That’s something what I need probably, have the American was hindered by back pain. Back Cincinnati with a right knee injury. some matches before (the Open),” she said. “I know trouble, a humbling second-round exit at The two-time Australian Open winner, is last two years I had great run here, but I didn’t have Roland Garros, and the virus that left her weak seeded 16th, but says the drop in her ranking great results in US Open. Still, I mean, I hopefully can and woozy in doubles after her shock third- doesn’t concern her and won’t change her make it little bit better.” round singles exit at Wimbledon, are all in the approach. “I never cared about that stuff,” she The No. 4 player in the world also won here in 2012 before losing in last year’s final to Simona Halep. She past, Williams said. said. “I’m the same way if I was better ranked. I did not drop a set in New Haven this week as she pre- always know that it doesn’t matter how high pared for next week’s US Open. Kvitova broke Feek really fit you’re ranked or how well you play the tourna- Rybarikova’s serve in the sixth game and final game of “I’m in some of the best shape I’ve been in,” ment before. You’ve still got to start from zero.” each set, running her opponent from one side of the said the world number one. “I can play long Russian veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won court to the other. She sent a backhand across court points and be ready to go again. I feel really fit the US Open in 2004, arrives in New York having on the final point and Rybarikova did not attempt to — 32 is the new 22, right?” An actual 22-year- snapped a four-year WTA title drought at chase it down. Rybarikova said she injured her right old, Simona Halep, will be among those trying Washington in August. thigh sliding to get to a ball Friday in her semifinal win to topple Williams in New York. Australian Samantha Stosur-whose 2011 US over Camila Giorgi of Italy and was not sure she would The Romanian has been knocking at the Open triumph makes her the last woman to be able to play on Saturday. She grabbed the back of door of a first Grand Slam title this year, finishing beat Williams in a final at Flushing Meadows-has her leg several times while sprinting after Kvitova’s runner-up to Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros. had a largely forgettable season. Also among shots, but never called for a trainer. Halep also reached the quarter-finals of the the former champions in the field, Venus “In the beginning, it was OK, but then it started to Australian Open and the semi-finals at Williams has failed to shine in Grand Slams this be worse and worse,” she said. “It’s tough to play like Wimbledon as she climbed to number two in year, but won her 45th career title at Dubai and this against such a great player. But I don’t want to say the world. Williams will also be challenged by reached the final at the US Open tune-up in I lost because of that.” The Czech star was again domi- more familiar foes, including Sharapova. Montreal-where she fell to Poland’s Agnieszka nant on her serve and was broken just once, in the NEW HAVEN: Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, left, and Magdalena Rybarikova, of Sharapova’s appetite is only greater after she Radwanska. That Canadian run included a her ninth game of the match. It was just the third service Slovakia, celebrate after Kvitova’s 6-4, 6-2 victory in the final match of the Connecticut Open missed last year’s US Open with a shoulder first victory over younger sister Serena since break she had suffered this week. She also double injury that brought her season to a premature 2009. — AFP faulted just 10 times during her four matches. tennis tournament in New Haven, Conn., on Saturday. — AP