TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012 | WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA Sports 11 NEWS Human, humble and so nearly unbeatable: IN BRIEF On the tube Nadal in seventh heaven at BASEBALL: Washington Nation- als at Toronto Blue Jays, 4 p.m. on Sportsnet (Cable 23); New York Howard FENDRICH Yankees at Atlanta Braves, 4 p.m. The Associated Press on TBS (Cable 33). BASKETBALL: NBA Playoff s — PARIS — is so un- flinching, so nearly unbeatable, Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thun- while sliding and grinding and der, 5:30 p.m. on TSN (Cable 22). pounding his way past opponent SOCCER: Euro 2012 — Greece vs. after opponent at the French Open. Czech Republic, 9 a.m.; Poland vs. Away from the red clay, Nadal is Russia, 11:45 a.m. Both games on human, of course. Humble, even. TSN (Cable 22). Nadal’s mind, generally imper- vious to negativity on court, was Nationals beat Jays fraught with worry for the 18 or so hours he and No. 1-ranked Novak TORONTO (AP) — Bryce Harper Djokovic were made to wait, from had three hits in his return to the Sunday evening into Monday after- starting lineup, Edwin Jackson noon, before continuing the fourth pitched eight strong innings to set of their rain-interrupted final at win consecutive starts for the fi rst Roland Garros, a match filled with time this season and the Wash- historic implications. ington Nationals beat the Toronto While eating dinner, while leaf- Blue Jays 6-3 Monday. ing through his favourite Japanese Adam LaRoche hit a two-run anime comic book in his hotel room homer and Rick Ankiel also con- before bedtime, while getting in a nected as the NL East leaders won AP PHOTO pre-match practice session, Nadal for the fourth straight time and focused not on the tantalizingly Rafael Nadal reacts as he defeats Novak Djokovic during their men’s final match in the French Open tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday. extended its lead over second close prospect of a record seventh place Atlanta to three games. French Open championship, but “I don’t know if I am the best or Djokovic was attempting to be only could wind up doing if he keeps play- The Braves lost to the New York rather on the other possible out- not,” said Nadal, who won his 11th the third man to win four major ing,” said Corrado Barazzutti, a top- Yankees 3-0. come: a loss in a fourth consecutive title overall. “I am not tournaments in succession, joining 10 player in the 1970s who lost all 10 Jackson (3-3) improved to 4-0 major final against Djokovic, who the right one to say that.” Don Budge in 1938, and Rod Laver career matches against the Swede. in his past seven starts against in turn would become the first man Djokovic, for his part, had zero in 1962 and 1969. Nadal dropped to his knees on since 1969 to collect four Grand doubts. Alas, Djokovic ran into Nadal winning and covered his face, Toronto dating to July 30, 2008. Slam titles in a row. “He’s definitely [the] best player at Roland Garros. The same thing thick strips of white tape covering The right-hander, who had gone “You never know if you’re going in history... on this surface,” said happened to in 2006 the knuckles and fingertips of his eight starts without a win before to win another one,” Nadal said. Djokovic, whose 27-match Grand and ‘07, when his Grand Slam bids racket-wielding left hand. He rose, beating the New York Mets in his “Opportunities pass ... Losing a Slam winning streak ended, “and fell one win short because of losses chucked his racket, and clambered last outing, allowed two runs and fourth in a row would have been results are showing that he’s one of to Nadal in the French Open final. into the stands for a group hug three hits. He walked three and tough for me.” the best ever.” “For us, it was very important to with his father and various mem- struck out three. When play was halted by show- Can’t argue with that. Since his win here now against Djokovic, be- bers of his entourage. Then he ers on Sunday, the No. 2-ranked French Open debut at age 18 in cause we knew that if he won again, leaped into Toni’s arms, spilling his Roughriders sack Nadal was clinging to a lead quick- May 2005, Nadal is 52-1 for his the fourth one, then [Rafa] complet- uncle’s bottle of water. ly shrinking as his performance career at the tournament, the only ing a Grand Slam of losses would Nearly two hours later, Nadal and rookie quarterback dipped and Djokovic’s rose. It loss coming to Robin Soderling in have been ugly,” said Toni Nadal, more than a dozen others gathered (CP) — The Saskatchewan wasn’t until a few minutes before the fourth round in 2009. Rafael’s uncle and coach. “And we on the court for a photo session of Roughriders released rookie quar- setting foot back on Court Philippe Asked to explain his success on were very close to doing that.” the sort you might see at a wedding. Chatrier – his favourite arena at clay, Nadal pointed not to his upper- Instead, his nephew gained First, everyone stood together for a terback Colt Brennan on Monday. his favourite tournament on his cut of a topspin-slathered forehand, ground on Federer’s record of 16 picture, Nadal cradling the trophy. The move leaves the Riders with favourite surface – that Nadal set or his superior returns of serve, but Grand Slam titles, tying Borg and Then came various two-person pos- four quarterbacks still under aside his anxiety. Oh, did he. Once rather to his movement, his mental Laver for fourth place. es: Rafa with Dad; Rafa with Uncle contract: starter Darian Durant again the King of Clay, Nadal over- fortitude, and this: “I always was Borg walked away from the sport Toni; Rafa with his buddy Pau Gasol and backups J.T. O’Sullivan, Levi whelmed Djokovic for the 50 min- scared to lose.” at age 25 after losing the 1981 of the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown and Drew Willy. utes and nine games they played Djokovic gave Nadal reason for Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals Might seem a tad over-the-top Brennan was vying for a backup Monday, wrapping up a 6-4, 6-3, added concern, having beaten him to John McEnroe. for a guy who’s done this so many position behind Durant. 2-6, 7-5 victory that allowed Nadal in the finals at Wimbledon in July, “If Borg had kept playing until times. to earn French Open trophy No. 7, the U.S. Open in September, and he was 30, he might have won 10 Then again, you only win your MacTavish back with breaking a tie with Bjorn Borg. the in January. French Opens – something Nadal seventh French Open trophy once. Edmonton Oilers EURO 2012 EDMONTON (CP) — The Edmon- ton Oilers have hired former coach Craig MacTavish to be the Lescott and Nasri trade goals team’s senior vice-president of hockey operations. MacTavish, 53, was head coach of as France and England draw 1-1 the Oilers for eight seasons from The Associated Press minute when captain Steven Ger- [instep], so this time I closed it.” While fans shouted “Sheva, She- 2000 and 2009, including Edmon- rard curled in a free kick from the The French team finished the va,” the Ukraine veteran striker ton’s run to the Stanley Cup fi nal DONETSK, Ukraine — England right after Patrice Evra had fouled match with 19 shots, 15 of them sprinted to the sideline and em- in 2006 when they lost in seven went 1-for-1 in a 1-1 draw with James Milner, and Lescott was on target. England managed three braced his coach Oleg Blokhin, games to the Carolina Hurricanes. France. able to nod the ball past France shots, but only the one on target. who decided against the odds to The London, Ont., native was fi red Joleon Lescott scored England’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The draw means France has still play Shevchenko from the start in in 2009 after the Oilers missed the lone goal on England’s lone shot France’s equalizer was all about not won a match at a major tour- the co-host’s European Champi- playoff s for a third straight season. on target a few minutes before one-touch football as Florent Ma- nament since the 2006 World Cup. onship match against Sweden on MacTavish spent this past season Samir Nasri equalized as the teams louda, Evra and Franck Ribery The national team, however, is Monday. coaching the Vancouver Canucks’ finished even in Group D of the Eu- flicked the ball around the left side unbeaten in its last 22 matches. Blokhin kept his confidence in American Hockey League affi liate, ropean Championship. of England’s penalty area to free up Shevchenko even after he missed the Chicago Wolves, to a 42-27-7 “I think we have to be happy with space for Nasri, who put in a low Ukraine vet gets two Ukraine’s best first-half chance. record. The Wolves announced his that,” France coach Laurent Blanc shot before England goalkeeper The reward came early in the sec- resignation Monday. said. “We were too timid at the start. Joe Hart could react. goals against Sweden ond half with two great headers to The Oilers are currently looking There was a bit of pressure that got “The England defence was really give Ukraine a 2-1 victory. for a new head coach to replace to us, and then we got better actual- low, so I had to take a shot,” Nasri KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — As soon The goals earned Ukraine an ly after we conceded the goal. That’s said. “The weird thing is Joe Hart as Andriy Shevchenko had scored unexpected upbeat start to their Tom Renney, who was hired as when we started playing.” knows me from Manchester City, his second goal of the evening, he home event – Shevchenko’s last in head coach after Pat Quinn’s England took the lead in the 30th and knows I normally I open my knew who he had to thank. the national yellow-blue dress. dismissal. The Oilers didn’t renew Renney’s contract this year. Raonic wins opening match The Associated Press Ze Zhang of China, who overcame another German, Tobias Kamke, 6-4, 7-6 (2). HALLE, Germany — Canadian Milos Ra- Philipp Kohlschreiber began his title de- onic defeated Philipp Petzschner 7-5, 7-6 fence at the grass-court tournament with (1) in his opening match at the Gerry Weber a win over wild card Dustin Brown in an Open on Monday. all-German matchup. Raonic, the No. 5 seed from Thornhill, The 163rd-ranked Brown twice pushed Ont., served 19 aces in the straight-set vic- Kohlschreiber to a tiebreak, before the tory over the German, who made it to the eighth-seeded defending champion won 7-6 final of the 2011 event. Raonic will next play (4), 7-6 (4) in one hour 23 minutes.