Snooker world ‘Million-pound’ champion Pietersen gets O’Sullivan T20 call masters Milkins THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 201416 17 ‘Fastest mom on ice’ ready to fly in Sochi Page 18 MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic of Serbia makes a backhand return to Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship. —AP Djokovic, Ferrer in third round MELBOURNE: Three-time defending champi- more efficient for me nowadays to recover and his serve broken five times. He made 48 Among the late matches, Switzerland’s extreme heat and a ball boy collapsed. on Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer battled to get ready for next point than it used to be unforced errors to his 32 winners, while the eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka fought past Ice packs and isotonic drinks remained in through intense heat to reach the third round 2009 when I retired in my match against Frenchman committed 73 errors. Alejandro Falla of Colombia in four sets. Top high demand yesterday as temperatures hit of the Australian Open yesterday. Roddick.” Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych drawcards Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and 41.5 Celsius in the early afternoon, but then Second seed Djokovic stepped it up from Djokovic, unconquered at Melbourne Park accounted for Frenchman Kenny De Schepper Roger Federer all play today. dropped to 32 Celsius by 6:00 pm. his mixed first-round performance to ease past since 2010, broke Mayer’s service five times 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 and French ninth seed Richard Meanwhile, Ivan Dodig feared he might die Dodig became the tournament’s 10th with- Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-0, 6-4, 6-4 for his and did not face a break point on his own Gasquet only needed three sets to eliminate and Serena Williams said the high tempera- drawal or retirement, after a Grand Slam 23rd straight win at the Open. serve in his one hour 47 minutes on court. Russian Nicolay Davydenko. tures were making her “paranoid” yesterday as record-equalling nine players pulled out dur- Third seed Ferrer, who lost in last year’s He is bidding to become only the second Elsewhere, Spanish 17th seed Tommy sweltering conditions continued at the ing the first round. semi-final to Djokovic, needed just over three man after Australia’s Roy Emerson to win four Robredo overcame Frenchman Julien Australian Open. Although most of the players cited injuries, hours to overcome Frenchman Adrian consecutive Australian Opens and his fifth Benneteau 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) and With temperatures above 40 Celsius (104 Dutch player Robin Haase was another victim Mannarino, winning 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 on overall in Melbourne. Polish 20th seed Jerzy Janowicz won two Fahrenheit) for the second straight day, Dodig of cramp, which is associated with hot condi- Hisense Arena. It was an improved performance by the tiebreakers to put away Spain’s Pablo Andujar. became the latest casualty when he retired tions. Dancevic, who felt dizzy and then fainted Djokovic may have retired with heat distress Serb after his sloppy first-round effort against French 29th seed Jeremy Chardy eliminated with severe cramp after four sets against during his loss to Benoit Paire, said it was easier in Melbourne four years ago against Andy Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko on Monday. Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), 6- Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur. for players to suffer injuries when affected by Roddick, but he handled yesterday’s 40 Celsius He also hit 30 winners to just 11 unforced 7 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) while Germany’s Florian Mayer “I was thinking I could maybe even die the heat. (104 Fahrenheit) temperatures without difficul- errors while Mayer made 39 errors. Djokovic’s upset Russian 14th seed Mikhail Youzhny in here,” said Dodig, calling for an afternoon break “I think when you’re running around on ty. “As the years go by, I’m more matured as a next opponent will be Uzbekistan’s Denis five sets. in play. “It’s not acceptable to play in these con- court quite dizzy, you’re more prone to getting player, I’ve learned new things in life,” he said. Istomin, who got past Russian 30th seed Bosnia and Herzegovina qualifier Damir ditions,” he added, according to reports. injured also,” Dancevic said. “You can’t play the “I physically got stronger-mentally also. All Dmitry Tursunov in four sets. Spain’s Ferrer had Dzumhur advanced to the last 32 following the Dodig’s complaints follow dismal scenes on way you want to play, you can’t move the way of this plays an important role when you are a tougher work-out against the 71st-ranked retirement of Croatian 32nd seed Ivan Dodig Tuesday, when Canada’s Frank Dancevic you want to. “For sure, it can make players have playing in such conditions. “Generally it’s much Mannarino, losing the second set and having with leg cramps while trailing in the fourth set. blacked out, China’s Peng Shuai vomited in the injuries.” —AFP Serena keeps her cool Grizzlies silence Thunder MELBOURNE: Serena Williams kept winning 60 matches at the MEMHIS: Courtney Lee scored a sea- BOBCATS 108, KNICKS 98 her cool in the scorching Australian Open. son-high 24 points, including the clos- Al Jefferson scored a season-high 35 Melbourne heat to make the Williams has now played 68 ing two free throws, as the Memphis points and Kemba Walker had 12 of his Australian Open third round yester- times at Melbourne Park, with only Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City 25 in the fourth quarter as Charlotte day, where she was joined by hard- Lindsay Davenport, on 69, having Thunder 90-87 on Tuesday in Marc snapped New York’s five-game winning working fourth seed Li Na. graced the Australian courts more Gasol’s return to the lineup. Zach streak. The Bobcats were in need of a The imposing world number one in the Open era. Randolph had 23 points and 13 win after losing three straight games and top seed stormed through her China’s Li is another serious title match in oven-like conditions on contender, having twice made the rebounds on the night his inside partner and eight of their last 10. Walker was 4 Rod Laver Arena, crushing Serbia’s Melbourne final including last year came back after missing almost eight of 4 from the field in the fourth quarter, Vesna Dolonc 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 when she lost to Azarenka in heart- weeks with a left knee injury. Gasol including 3-pointers on back-to-back minutes. breaking fashion after twice going played 24 minutes and finished with 12 possessions. He also finished with seven Williams is the firm favorite down with an ankle injury. While points. Mike Conley had 19 points and rebounds and five assists. Gerald ahead of defending champion Williams was out of the 40 Celsius seven assists for Memphis, which won Henderson chipped in with 17 points Victoria Azarenka to win a sixth (104 Fahrenheit) heat in barely an its third straight. Kevin Durant led the for Charlotte (16-23), and Michael Kidd- Melbourne crown, and the hour, Li was forced to stay in the sun Thunder with 37 points, converting 15 Gilchrist had eight points and seven American reinforced her credentials longer after a second-set challenge of 28 shots. Reggie Jackson scored 17, rebounds after sitting out the last 19 with a customary towering per- from Swiss qualifier Belinda Bencic. but also committed seven of Oklahoma games with a broken left hand. Carmelo formance. Now 32, she denied The first set was easy but the City’s 19 turnovers. Serge Ibaka finished Anthony had 20 points and six being favorite added any pressure, second proved to be a serious with 11 points and four blocks as the rebounds as the Knicks (15-23) lost in having been in similar positions workout for the Chinese star, who is Thunder lost their third in the last four. Tyson Chandler’s return to the lineup many times before. searching for her second Grand after missing four games with bronchi- “Well, to me there is always pres- Slam title after the French Open in PACERS 116, KINGS 92 tis. sure. It always seems like I’m one of 2011. Paul George scored 31 points, mak- the favorites to win,” said Williams, She admitted she was not at her ing four 3-pointers, as Indiana snapped CAVALIERS 120, LAKERS 118 who next plays experienced Slovak best in the 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) victory. “I Sacramento’s three-game winning Luol Deng hit five 3-pointers while Daniela Hantuchova, who beat cannot say I played 100 percent,” Li streak. David West had 16 points and scoring 27 points, Anderson Varejao Czech Karolina Pliskova. said. “Of course I cannot play 100 eight rebounds, and Lance Stephenson added 18 points and 18 rebounds, and “But for me, I look at it as kind of percent every day, but (I played) at added 13 points, five rebounds and five Cleveland beat spiraling Los Angeles. exciting that I have an opportunity least 60, 65 percent.” Defeat was assists for the Pacers (30-7), who have Dion Waiters scored 13 of his 17 points to go all the way. “But with that painful for Bencic, but at just 16 the MELBOURNE: Li Na of China celebrates her win over Belinda Bencic of won five of six. The victory clinched the in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers being said, I have so many matches 2013 Wimbledon and French Open Eastern Conference coaching spot for improved to 4-16 on the road.