Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Kvitova to play Pliskova in all Czech final in Sydney

SYDNEY: Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will play in the final of the Sydney International after ending Tsvetana Pironkova’s incredible run at the tournament yester- day. The Czech second seed proved too strong for the plucky Bulgarian defending champion, winning their semi-final 7-5, 6-1. Kvitova ended Pironkova’s quest for a 15th straight win at the Sydney tournament after the Bulgarian came through the qualifying rounds to win the tournament in 2014 and again had to qualify for the main draw this year. After a stiff contest in the opening set the world No.4 fin- ished off Pironkova with the loss of just one game in the sec- ond set. Kvitova set up an all-Czech final with Karolina Pliskova, who was a straight sets winner in the other semi- final over German fifth seed Angelique Kerber. After a slow start that included losing her opening service game, Kvitova went to a new level and looks in good shape for next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne. Meanwhile, a sapping schedule finally caught up with Kerber. World No.22 Pliskova enjoyed a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over last year’s finalist. It had been a tough few days for the German fifth seed and world No.9 who had to endure three three-set matches, including a WTA record late local time finish at 3.10am on Wednesday after rain delays disrupted the tournament sched- WASHINGTON: Goalie Braden Holtby #70 of the makes a save on a shot by Brayden Schenn #10 of ule. Kerber had little more to offer and was dispatched in just the during the second period at Verizon Center on Wednesday in Washington, DC. — AFP 55 minutes by Pliskova. “I been playing the whole week really well,” Pliskova said. “I won some good matches. Last week as well in Brisbane I had few good matches, so I’m feeling well and happy to play good before Melbourne. “I was surprised Holtby lifts Capitals that it was 6-3, 6-2. I played her a few times and it was always a close match. “But I started to play really fast, pushing her and dictating to 1-0 win over Flyers the game a little bit and my serve was working today as well, so maybe that’s the difference between us.” — AFP WASHINGTON: Braden Holtby’s iron-man second career in Anaheim’s blank- Devils 5, Kings 3 run produced another shutout as he made ing of . Kyle Palmieri also scored in netted his first two power- 21 saves in his 20th consecutive start and the Ducks’ fourth victory in five games, put- play goals of the season, and New Jersey lifted the Washington Capitals to a 1-0 win ting them back atop the overall NHL stand- scored three times during a 68-second over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday ings alongside Nashville. span of the second period in a victory over night. Holtby put up his fourth blank slate Capping his league-leading third hat . Martin Havlat, Michael of the season, including three since he trick of the season with an empty-net goal, Cammalleri and Michael Ryder also scored became too hot to rest. Jason Chimera’s Perry took over the team lead with 18 goals for the Devils, and Cory Schneider made 23 first-period goal was all the offense the this season despite missing 15 games with saves. The Kings’ goals were scored by Capitals needed as they won for the 14th illness and injury. His second goal was a Marian Gaborik, and time in 19 games overall and for the sev- breakaway set up by a long, beautiful back- Dustin Brown, who ended a 17-game enth straight home game. Holtby is 14-2-4 hand pass from captain Ryan Getzlaf, who drought. The defending cham- during his starting streak, and he hasn’t had two assists in Anaheim’s first win over pions have played 20 consecutive games allowed more than one goal in his last Toronto in seven tries. without being outshot but are 8-7-5 during three games. He also played in his 26th stopped 21 shots for the Maple Leafs, 1-3 that stretch. It was the third meeting connective game, extending his franchise under new coach Peter Horachek. between the teams since the Kings beat record. Holtby was nearly matched by Andersen earned his 44th victory in just 64 the Devils in the 2012 . Flyers goalie Rob Zepp, the 33-year-old career games. He also got an assist on Jaromir Jagr and Tuomo Ruutu didn’t make SYDNEY: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic plays a forehand rookie who filled in for the second straight Perry’s empty-netter that completed the the trip for the three-game West Coast against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria during their game while Steve Mason is out because of forward’s eighth career hat trick. swing because of the flu. — AP women’s singles match on day five of the Sydney an upper-body injury. Zepp made 25 saves, International tennis tournament in Sydney yesterday. — AFP including a terrific left pad save on Eric Fehr late in the second period. NHL results/standings

S Africa, West Indies Canadiens 3, Blue Jackets 2 3, Columbus 2; Washington 1, Philadelphia 0; Anaheim 4, Toronto 0; Max Pacioretty scored two power-play New Jersey 5, Los Angeles 3. seek World Cup form goals, and P.K. Subban added another - all in a span of 3:53 of the third period - to lead Western Conference Montreal 27 12 3 114 97 57 Montreal to a comeback victory over Pacific Division Detroit 23 11 9 120 107 55 DURBAN: South Africa and the West Indies square up in five Columbus. made 14 saves, and W L OTL GFGA PTS Boston 23 15 6 117 114 52 one-day internationals, starting at Kingsmead today, in their Andrei Markov had two assists for the Anaheim 28 10 6 125 118 62 final competitive matches before the World Cup starts in Florida 20 12 9 102 113 49 Canadiens, who have earned points in San Jose 23 16 5 119 120 51 Toronto 22 19 3 137 136 47 Australia and New Zealand next month. Los Angeles 20 14 10 124 117 50 eight of nine games and 11 of 13. Ryan Ottawa 17 17 8 114 118 42 South Africa will be fielding their World Cup squad, with Johansen scored a third-period, power-play Vancouver 23 15 3 114 109 49 Buffalo 14 27 3 82 150 31 the exception of injured wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who goal to extend his career-best point streak Calgary 22 18 3 123 114 47 has been replaced for the series by veteran Morne van Wyk. to 11 games. Kevin Connauton also had a Arizona 16 22 4 99 139 36 Metropolitan Division The West Indies announced their one-day squad for South goal for Columbus on its first shot of the Edmonton 10 25 9 99 149 29 NY Islanders 29 13 1 134 116 59 Africa late last year and the World Cup squad, announced last game. made 28 saves and Central Division Pittsburgh 26 10 6 129 100 58 week, shows three changes. lost his shutout bid with 81/2 minutes Nashville 29 9 4 130 94 62 Washington 24 11 8 126 106 56 Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kemar Roach will be playing remaining. The Canadiens, who had seven Chicago 28 13 2 134 95 58 NY Rangers 24 12 4 124 98 52 in the World Cup but are not in South Africa. Three players power plays, scored on three consecutive St. Louis 27 13 3 140 107 57 Philadelphia 17 20 7 119 130 41 22 14 8 121 111 52 named for the South African series, Carlos Brathwaite, advantages in the third period to overcome New Jersey 16 21 8 101 127 40 Narsingh Deonarine and Leon Johnson, will not be going to Dallas 19 16 7 131 139 45 a 2-0 deficit. They came in ranked 28th in Columbus 18 20 3 106 134 39 the World Cup. AB de Villiers had a rocky start as South African the NHL on the power play. Colorado 18 17 9 115 127 45 one-day captain after being appointed in 2011 but the side Minnesota 18 19 5 113 128 41 Carolina 14 24 5 91 114 33 Note: losses (OTL) are worth showed major improvement last year, briefly rising to top Ducks 4, Maple Leafs 0 Eastern Conference one point in the standings and are not place in the International Cricket Council rankings before suf- Corey Perry scored three goals and Atlantic Division fering a 4-1 defeat in a series in Australia late last year. —AFP made 28 saves for his Tampa Bay 27 14 4 146 122 58 included in the loss column (L).