THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 SPORTS Berdych still searching for his ‘chosen one’

PARIS: Ivan Lendl might be “way too busy” to be ing set up was an obvious one-with both hailing playing those big matches or prepare a player for our sport”? “Well I would say unlucky and, on the his mentor but Tomas Berdych has not given up from the Czech Republic-but the man who guided those big matches. other hand, I think sometimes it is a pleasure to be the dream of jumping on the ‘super coach’ band- Murray to Olympic glory and two grand slam titles “It is a person that can be a consultant or just a part of that and to have had the chance to play wagon. simply could not commit to a full-time job with on top of my current team who are doing a great the best guys like Roger and Rafa,” said Berdych, If he needs any pointers on how to carve out a the world number seven. job. “It’s not easy to just say I want to work with (a who has been drawn with world number one successful coaching relationship with a grand slam “We had a meeting when I got back from particular) past champion and it’s going to work Djokovic in Group A at the Finals. champion, the players’ lounge at the 02 Arena is Shanghai. It didn’t work out because Ivan decided out. It also is about who that person is and... see- “I don’t think there will ever be another time the place to be during the ATP World Tour Finals he’s not able to give the full amount of the weeks ing if that’s the right decision and if (the relation- when someone is going to achieve more (than which start on Sunday. Should Berdych decide to that he would like to give,” Berdych told Reuters in ship) can work out. “If you put 10 coaches togeth- them). “But it’s also been unlucky for me as it’s hang out in the area, he could find the place an interview in the run up to the season finale. er, all of them are going to have different things much harder to fight for one of the slams and the buzzing with the presence of no less than five “He is going to be busy with his activities and that they can see, they can adjust and that they higher rankings.” Despite the misfortune he has ‘super coaches’. his stuff, so not with him.” Berdych has already can make better. suffered with the timing of his career, Berdych said Three years after Andy Murray pulled off a coup drawn up a shortlist of champions he would like to “I am looking to improve myself. One day I am he still had plenty to look forward to despite turn- by hooking up with eight-times grand slam cham- work with but after the talks with Lendl failed to going to (retire) and I want to say, ‘That was quite a ing 30 next year. pion Lendl, the super-coach seems to have produce the desired effect, the 2010 Wimbledon successful career and I’ve tried everything I possi- “Yes I still enjoy playing and the whole career is become a ‘must-have’ accessory for many of the runner-up is keeping tight lipped about his possi- bly can’.” still very much developing year-by-year and I have top players. Eighties rivals Boris Becker and Stefan ble targets. What he would like to achieve more than any- to say it is very different from the first years to Edberg have become familiar sights in the locker “I’m not going to say anything because that’s thing else is to improve his lopsided 11-46 losing now, and I like it,” he explained with a grin. rooms after they were lured back into the day-to- not the way I want to deal with those people. He is record against the Big Three of Federer, Rafa Nadal “There are certain stages that you have in your day grind of grand slam tennis by Novak Djokovic going to be sitting at home reading an article that’s and Djokovic. career that you have to go through and that’s what and Roger Federer respectively. about him. It needs to be done by a proper way,” It has been 10 years since he first burst into the I enjoy. That’s why I always find some new motiva- Goran Ivanisevic and Michael Chang will also be explained Berdych as he ran his fingers through spotlight by railroading Federer at the 2004 tion to go another year. in London to oversee the progress of ATP Finals strands of his dark hair which were sticking out Athens Olympics but since then his wins over the “For me it’s more fun now because I am older, I debutants Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori, while from underneath his back-to-front baseball cap. tennis establishment have been few and far am more experienced and I enjoy it even more.” Murray’s ‘chosen one’ is now Amelie Mauresmo. “I’m trying to bring a guy with a different experi- between. So does Berdych feel lucky or unlucky to The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will be held at Berdych’s desire to draft in Lendl to his coach- ence... all those experiences that he can have from be playing in what he described as “the best era of The O2 in London from Nov 9-16. — Reuters Italian tennis player admits match-fixing

ROME: Italian tennis player Daniele Bracciali par- tially admitted to match-fixing during a hearing last week with judicial authorities, a prosecutor said yesterday. “He admitted a few things and he denied a few things” Italian investigator Roberto Di Martino told The Associated Press. Bracciali and occasional doubles partner Potito Starace face corruption accusations after intercepted Internet conversations claiming they sold matches were Al Attiyah seeks second term printed in Italian media three weeks ago. Bracciali and Starace were already two of five Italians - along with Alessio Di Mauro, Giorgio of executive office of FIM Galimberti and Federico Luzzi - who were given suspensions in 2007-08 by the ATP Tour ranging JEREZ: Spain will witness the elections of and the Portuguese Vegas got the position from six weeks to nine months for betting. the executive office of FIM, in which Nasser of the second vice —president as he got 53 The intercepted comments are part of data Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah — the head of QMMF votes. FIM website stated that the that investigators led by Di Martino in Cremona is competing for the position of the Vice- Portuguese Vegas will compete the existing have been sorting through in a soccer match-fix- President . president Vito Ippolito for presidency. ing inquiry. The roots of the soccer inquiry led to In addition to the elections, there will be Al Attiyah enters this election with a Singapore, and the tennis branch of the investi- annual general assembly meetings for FIM good background full of achievements in gation is also extending beyond borders. headed by Vito Ippolito, the existing presi- the last period, so it will be different from “The reality is it’s the same story as with the dent, the union budget will also be dis- the last elections , as he managed to trans- football case,” Di Martino said. “It’s reached a lev- cussed as well as a number of the invest- late the plans and strategies into reality, el where it’s all over the world.” ment projects. The agenda of the meeting such as actual communications between The Last Bet operation has resulted in more will include the release of many new cham- the European and Asian unions , in addi- than 100 people placed under investigation in pionships in the Middle East region, Asia in tion to the support of the game cross Italy since mid-2011, with suspect soccer match- general, Africa and Latin America under the Middle East region throughout the organi- es being looked at by prosecutors in Cremona, great boom of the Motor bike sport all over zation of many championships such as Bari and Naples. Di Martino would not confirm the world. motocross in Qatar which is considered the or deny reports that former Swedish tennis play- Al Attiyah expressed optimism due to first of its kind , and many championships er Tomas Nydahl is also under investigation for the availability of the support to be re-elect- organized at Losail Circuit . Also the good recruiting players to fix matches. ed again for the same position for the next relationship with the president helped to “I can’t say. I don’t know where he is,” Di 4 years . it’s worth saying that Al Attiyah develop the sport, all these factors will be Martino said of the 46-year-old Nydahl, who won the last election in mid-October 2010 a boost for the success of Al Attiyah in this reached a career-high ranking of No. 72 in 1998. Di when he got 74 votes out of 94 , while Vito election which will be held on Nov 19-25 Martino said no other foreign tennis players are Ippolito kept his position as the president, at Jerez, Spain. involved. In a July 2007 conversation on Skype between Bracciali and an accountant who was arrested in 2011, Bracciali discussed arranging a match in Newport, Rhode Island, against ITALY: In this Wednesday, May 9, 2007 file photo, Daniele Bracciali returns the ball. Italian ten- American player Scoville Jenkins. Jenkins won 6-2, nis player Daniele Bracciali has partially admitted to match-fixing. Italian prosecutor Roberto 6-1. In 2011, an owner of a betting parlor who was Di Martino tells The Associated Press that Bracciali ‘admitted a few things and denied a few later arrested was heard saying Starace agreed to things’ during a hearing last week with judicial authorities. — AP sell the final of a tournament in Casablanca. Pablo Andujar of Spain won the final 6-1, 6-2. ist while the 33-year-old Starace is ranked 166th Andrey Kumantsov of Russia this year. Di Martino, who previously confirmed to The in singles. Neither player has competed since In July, one man was charged and five others AP the authenticity of the conversations, said he they lost as a pair in the doubles quarterfinals of arrested in an Australian police operation couldn’t provide more details of Bracciali’s hear- the Kremlin Cup in Moscow the week that the against an international tennis match-fixing syn- ing because the transcript remained confiden- intercepted conversations were published. dicate. tial. He added that hearings with Starace and Bracciali, Starace and Santangelo have not com- While statutes of limitations may be an issue retired Italian player Mara Santangelo, who was mented publicly on the allegations. in sports courts, the president of the Italian ten- also mentioned in the intercepted conversa- In other cases of match-fixing in tennis, life nis federation has promised that the latest cases tions, would likely be held soon. bans were handed to Daniel Koellerer of Austria will be dealt with severely if they are proved The 36-year-old Bracciali is a doubles special- in 2011, David Savic of Serbia in 2012, and true. — AP Hamlin: Most drivers don’t respect Brad Keselowski SHANGHAI: Golfers (left to right) Justin Rose of England, Bubba Watson of the US, Rickie Fowler of the US, Adam Scott of Australia and Martin Kaymer of Germany wear CHARLOTTE: Denny Hamlin thinks most drivers Chinese costumes as they attend a photo call for the WGC-HSBC Champions golf don’t respect Brad Keselowski, and the contempt tournament. — AFP stems from the 2012 NASCAR champion’s refusal to show any remorse for his aggressive driving. Hamlin spoke during a national conference call Scott, Kaymer seek on Tuesday, two days after a brawl between Keselowski and Jeff Gordon on pit road at Texas Motor Speedway. Hamlin said the consensus to excel in Shanghai among his peers was Keselowski didn’t have enough space to attempt a pass of Gordon in the victory are helped without the presence of SHANGHAI: World number two Adam closing laps of Sunday’s race. Keselowski’s bid to the Northern Irishman. Scott is ready to take advantage of the squeeze his car through a gap between Gordon and “Selfishly, (his missing) opens up the absence of Rory McIlroy at the $8.5 million Jimmie Johnson after a restart led to contact field a little bit this week,” he said. US Open WGC-HSBC Champions tournament start- between Gordon and Keselowski, which triggered a champion Martin Kaymer agreed. “It’s defi- ing here today. Australian Scott is part of a post-race fight that left both drivers slightly blood- nitely a loss for the golf tournament, but it’s stellar field that includes 40 of the top 50 ied. still a very, very strong field to beat,” said players in the world at the only World Golf “I think the challenge a lot of drivers probably the German. Championships event played outside the have right now with Brad is there’s no remorse,” “One player, usually it doesn’t make a United States. Hamlin said. “He has the right to feel the way that difference, but when you talk about num- The 2013 Masters champion has only he feels - but when there’s no accountability ... FORT WORTH: Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, practices at Texas Motor ber one in the world, of course you think, played once since the American season they’re going to be upset with you. “It’s tough to Speedway. — AFP ended in mid-September, a jetlagged tie OK, one player less to beat and a good one win a championship if nobody likes you. That is aggressive move on Gordon to try to win the race. have had the same reaction as Jeff. No question.” for 38th at the Japan Open last month less to beat.” Kaymer has played only two going to be a very, very tough task.” It led to contact with Gordon that caused the Hamlin has a sense of the feelings in the garage which followed a surfing holiday in Costa competitive rounds since helping Europe Hamlin and Keselowski infamously feuded for four-time champion to spin after his tire went because he’s part of a group text message chain of Rica. But after a week of dedicated practice win the Ryder Cup in late September, pre- three seasons and it came to a head in 2009 when down. Gordon went from racing for the win to a 20 drivers, one of which is Keselowski. Twice on back home in Queensland last week, Scott ferring instead to recharge his batteries for they tangled repeatedly on the track in the 29th-place finish Sunday, and he confronted Tuesday he referred to “a common feel amongst is raring to go again. He acknowledges that three consecutive tournaments to end the Nationwide Series. Hamlin complained repeatedly Keselowski on pit road. Kevin Harvick shoved drivers,” including the sentiment that the hole was McIlroy’s late withdrawal-to prepare for a European Tour season. that Keselowski refused to engage in reasonable Keselowski from behind that triggered a brawl not large enough for Keselowski to try to squeeze court case over a dispute with his former McIlroy is not the only big name missing conversation about their incidents. between the teams and drivers. “You’re just looking past Gordon. “People are calling that a hole, that management company-is a blow to the this week. Tiger Woods is also absent as he The two raced incident-free for many years and for someone to say, ‘Man, I’m sorry I ruined your day. was a very small hole,” he said. “It was not enough event, but understands that every player continues to rehabilitate from back surgery, had their first major scrap last month at Charlotte, I screwed up. I apologize,’” Hamlin said. “When that that a car was going to fit without being in contact has to deal with off-course issues from time while fellow American Dustin Johnson will where Keselowski lost his cool following the race. doesn’t get said, then it immediately lights a fire in with Jeff. Somebody was going to have to pay the to time. not defend his title as he deals with person- Hamlin had to be restrained from confronting him, your stomach that he doesn’t have any remorse. price. It was Jeff Gordon. And it made him have a After all, Scott himself skipped this al issues. and Matt Kenseth jumped Keselowski from behind He’s just like, ‘Oh well, it’s your problem.’ bad day.” event last year to recharge his batteries for But the tournament, in its 10th year, in the darkened garage. “That just lights a fire in your inside. Especially Gordon, who before the restart was headed to a a busy end-of-year campaign in Australia. “I appears firmly established to the point Keselowski was fined $50,000 by NASCAR for his when you just had a bad day and your season could victory that would have earned him an automatic know HSBC and everyone involved under- where it no longer relies on the presence of behavior, but Hamlin and Kenseth went unpun- have rested on that. That really set things off. If Brad berth into the Nov. 16 championship finale, stands that’s the way this game is,” Scott a single superstar. ished. Keselowski then overcame a week of criticism would have talked to Jeff, and said, ‘Man, I was dropped to fourth in the Chase standings. Only four told reporters at Sheshan yesterday. “The golf course is beautiful, the atmos- from his peers to win at Talladega and advance into going for a hole, it was my only chance, I’m really drivers will race for the title, and Keselowski is sev- Scott, who was surpassed at the top of phere is great and the weather is perfect,” the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup sorry it cut your tire.’ Instead, it was, ‘Oh well, sorry enth in the standings with Sunday’s race at Phoenix the world rankings by McIlroy in early Masters champion Bubba Watson said championship. Then on Sunday, Keselowski used an buddy. You left a hole.’ If he did that to me, I would remaining to set the field. —AP August, acknowledges that his chances of under a blue, cloudless sky. — Reuters