22 Sunday, April 22, 2018 SPORTS Monte Carlo Masters Homecoming fight Nadal to meet for Conlan in June Nishikori in final

Michael Conlan (file pic)

London generate. ichael Conlan’s much The undefeated anticipated Belfast featherweight stopped David Mhomecoming fight has been Berna of Hungary in his most set for 30 June at the SSE recent bout and will next Kei Nishikori Arena. appear on the undercard to The former Olympian, who the WBA lightweight title is set to face Spaniard Ibon fight between Jorge Linares Rafael Nadal Larrinaga at Madison Square and Vasyl Lomachenko before Garden on 12 May, will switching his focus to his Monte Carlo record-extending 11th triumph set but was unable to maintain hit the line with a forehand headline the card in his native homecoming appearance. afael Nadal produced at the event and keep him at the high levels of mental winner on his second set point. city. “For me, to be back in Belfast another clay-court world number one. concentration needed to beat Dimitrov failing to win the Conlan, 26, has won is a dream come true,” added masterclassR to beat Bulgarian Nadal needs to win the Nadal as the Spaniard ran away opener felt like his chance all six of his bouts since Conlan. fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov Masters 1000 tournament, with the second set. might have gone - and so it turning professional and “Once I signed the and reach his 12th Monte one of the highest-ranked Nadal broke the 26-year- proved. has frequently spoken of his professional contract in Carlo Masters final. ATP Tour titles after the old’s serve in the second game Nadal broke to love in desire to fight at home before America with Top Rank, one The Spaniard, 31, has won Grand Slams, to prevent Roger as he raced into a 3-0 lead, only Dimitrov’s opening two service the end of 2018. thing I wanted to make sure is 34 straight sets on his favoured Federer overtaking him. for Dimitrov to win the next games of the second set as the “What a huge honour it is that once a year I would fight surface after a 6-4 6-1 semi- And few would back him three games as the pair slugged Bulgarian wilted, Nadal serving for me to box back in my home at home. final victory. to lose Sunday’s final after it out in an intense start. out to win the second set in 31 city,” said Conlan. “The first year, it hasn’t been Nadal will play Kei Nishikori another ruthless display against However, the Bulgarian’s minutes. “I’ve been to an awful lot of doable because I wanted to wait in the final after the Japanese an opponent expected to push serve unravelled under the Nishikori fought back from a huge boxing events around the for a really meaningful bout. world number 36 beat him closer. pressure of Nadal being a game set down to beat Zverev 3-6 6-3 world, and there are very few This time it’ll be something Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Dimitrov pushed him all the away from the set, coughing up 6-4 in the second semi-final. that can match the atmosphere very good and I can’t wait. Victory for Nadal will be a way in an hour-long opening two double faults before Nadal (BBC) the people of Belfast can (BBC) Pliskova, Kvitova give Czechs lead Stuttgart arolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova won their opening singles matches to give Czech Republic Johanna Konta triumphs Ka commanding 2-0 lead in their Fed Cup semi-final against Germany in Stuttgart yesterday. Kvitova powered past German number one Julia Goerges 6-3 6-2 before Pliskova produced a sublime display to record a 7-5 6-3 victory over . Pliskova, who had lost in her previous three encounters with Kerber, fired 15 aces and faced no break points as she subdued the home fans in Stuttgart. “No one expected it,” Pliskova said after the German failed to win a set on day one. Kvitova recorded her 29th Fed Cup victory on the back Johanna Konta of a strong serve and a string of blistering groundstrokes. World number 11 Goerges was stronger in the ohanna Konta levelled Great in Saturday’s opening exchanges and raced to a 3-1 lead in the first Britain’s Fed Cup promotion second singles in Miki. set before Kvitova rediscovered her rhythm to level Jplay-off in Japan after Heather If Britain win, they will be things up. Watson lost the opening match promoted to World Group II - The 28-year-old Czech claimed nine of the last 11 to . the first time they would have a games and dropped just two points on her serve to seal Britain, who are bidding to place among the top 16 teams in the victory on the stroke of an hour. reach the World Group for the the competition since 1993. The 10-time champion Czechs are looking to reach first time in 25 years, trailed Konta and Watson are joined the Fed Cup final after a one-year absence. The last when Watson was beaten 6-2 in the British team by doubles time Germany won the Fed Cup title was in 1992 in 6-3 by world number 22 Osaka. specialist and Karolina Pliskova Frankfurt. () Konta won 6-4 6-2 against debutant Gabi Taylor. (BBC)