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Friday 44 Sports Friday, January 18, 2019 Former champion Wawrinka edged by Raonic in titanic tussle MELBO URNE: Three-time Grand Slam both wings with his classic single-handed champion Stan Wawrinka said yesterday he backhand. was happy with his comeback from a major “For sure it’s frustrating to lose, espe- injury, despite being ousted from the Aus- cially in a match with four tie-breaks,” said tralian Open in the tightest of second-round Wawrinka. “I’m happy if I look the big pic- battles. The 33-year-old Swiss, unseeded ture. I’m happy with my level, the way I was for the first time since his debut in 2006 moving, the way I’m playing in general. I after recovering from knee surgery, fell to think he also played really well. “I want to Canada’s Milos Raonic after four sets de- win more matches. Again, if I take some cided on tiebreaks 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (8/6), 7- distance, see a little bit everything I’ve 6 (13/11), 7-6 (7/5). done the last few months to get at that level, “That’s hard to describe,” said the 16th I’m quite happy. “I’m looking forward for seed Raonic. “I feel four hours went by in the rest of the year.” about 15 minutes. The adrenalin just takes The match started under cloudy skies over.” Wawrinka was a break up in the and finished indoors after a mid-match rain fourth set but failed to serve out from 5-4 delay caused organizers to close the Rod to take it to a fifth. “I was fortunate to stay Laver Arena roof. Wawrinka’s serve in par- alive in the fourth set,” admitted the Cana- ticular was in fine order, almost matching dian, whose best Slam performance was Raonic’s renowned power as he banged reaching the 2016 Wimbledon final where down 28 aces to the Canadian’s 39 during he lost to Andy Murray. “Four tie-breaks, four hours and one minute of blistering play. three went my way,” he added. “Could eas- “I just tried to get my hand on his serve, es- ily have been different.” pecially with the roof open,” said Raonic. Wawrinka won the Australian Open five “It’s how I like to go about my game, so it’s years ago, beating Rafael Nadal in the final, tough to be on the receiving end of that. “I but his knee operation during 2017 and do a little better indoors normally. So thank lengthy battle back to fitness saw his rank- you for raining up there,” he added, looking ing plunge to 263. He began slowly climbing towards the heavens. Raonic, whose best back last year and is now 59th in the world. previous Australian Open performance was The Swiss showed more than a few a semi-final in 2016 that he also lost to Mur- glimpses of his old greatness, moving well ray, will face France’s unseeded Pierre- MELBOURNE: Canada’s Milos Raonic hits a return against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka during their around the baseline and ripping winners to Hugues Herbert in the third round. — AFP men’s singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament. — AFP Serena blitzes 32 clash with Nadal. “Obviously against Rafa De Minaur-Nadal that’s going to be something special,” said De Minaur, who was sent packing in a straight Bouchard to sets by the Spaniard at the same stage of last clash promises year’s Wimbledon. “I got the chance to play reach third round him in Wimbledon on Centre Court. I feel like ‘something special’ I learnt a lot from that experience, hopefully this time around I can go a bit more relaxed. MELBOURNE: Serena Williams stormed past “Rafa is pretty much like the king in Spain. It’s Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and into the Aus- MELBOURNE: Half-Spanish Alex de Minaur going to be fun for me to get out on court and tralian Open third round yesterday as her quest said it will be special facing “king” Rafael be able to test where I am.” for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title Nadal at the Australian Open on Friday after Nadal said he was aware of De Minaur’s gathered pace. The American won 6-2, 6-2 in 70 the 17-time major champion called the Spanish heritage and rising status, and would minutes, setting up unseeded Ukrainian teenager teenager “one of the best players in the not be taking him lightly. “Yeah, since couple Dayana Yastremska as the next hurdle in her bid world”. The 19-year-old Australian number of years ago we know that we have a good for another major to equal the mark set by Aus- one De Minaur went to primary school in player coming,” said Nadal, who is going for tralian great Margaret Court. The 37-year-old Spain, has a Spanish mother and a Uruguayan an Aussie hat-trick having already knocked won her 23rd major Down Under two years ago father and speaks fluent Spanish. out James Duckworth and Matthew Ebden while two months pregnant and is the bookies’ Expectations are being heaped on the without dropping a set. “I think he improved favorite to claim an eighth Australian title, de- MELBOURNE: Serena Williams of the US reacts young shoulders of the 27th seed nick- a lot during the last three years. Today is one spite being seeded 16th. after a point during her women’s singles match named “Demon” by a feverish home sup- of the best players of the world. That’s the real Williams said she was wary of Bouchard, who against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard on day four port. And pundits such as legend John thing. “He’s young, very young. He is winning is on the comeback trail after a slide down the of the Australian Open tennis tournament. — AFP McEnroe are predicting him as a future a lot of matches. He’s having a great improve- rankings to number 79 in the world. “It wasn’t an multiple major champion. “Yeah, it’s a differ- ment year-by-year. So let’s see. Going to be a easy match tonight, Eugenie’s been to the final Bouchard’s tenacity that she managed two ent position for me, a position I’m not really tough one.” Seven-time Grand Slam champion of Wimbledon (in 2014) and the semi-finals of breaks to four against Williams’ howitzer serve, used to. It’s sort of come out of nowhere,” McEnroe is convinced De Minaur will be Aus- other Grand Slams,” she said. “So I knew ‘Serena, sending her supporters into raptures. De Minaur said early yesterday morning tralia’s next big star. you’ve got to come out hot, you’ve got to come But it always looked like an exercise in dam- after a late-night second-round win. The “Alex de Minaur is coming along for sure out firing, she’s a really good player and I haven’t age control for the Canadian, who attempted to teenage sensation won the Sydney Interna- — top 10 player to me,” said the American had many matches since last year’.” run Williams around the court but struggled to tional warm-up last weekend, beating vet- on Australian TV of the slightly-built The signs looked ominous for Bouchard when cope with her opponent’s blistering power. Her eran Andreas Seppi in the final. teenager, who has raised his career-high she won only one point on her opening service resistance was slightly more effective early in the He extended his win streak to seven ranking 18 times since the start of 2018 from game, then failed to hit a return when it was second set, when she managed to hold her two matches by surviving Wednesday night’s four- 208 to his current 29. “Possible multiple Williams’ turn to serve. Yet the first set was a service games. Williams responded with a lift in hour marathon against little-known Swiss Grand Slam winner if he can fill out a bit messy affair for both players, with only two intensity, going on a five-game winning streak Henri Laaksonen to set up a blockbuster last- more,” added McEnroe. — AFP games going on serve. It was testament to to settle the match. — AFP .

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