ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021 SPORTS 15

Serbia pull away late to win Canada hold off Greece in More slipping and sliding at Olympic qualifying opener BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 30, playing, and how experienced they are, (AP): Andrew Wiggins and Canada and what traditions they have,” Nurse Wimbledon as Djokovic wins survived their fi rst test in the Olympic said. “It never entered our minds that it Qualifying Tournament. wasn’t going to be really hard. I think Wiggins scored 23 points, RJ Barrett winning any game is really hard and added 22 and Canada held off Greece then when you’re playing in mean- 97-91 in Victoria, Canada in the the ingful competition, a good team, a fi rst game at that site’s qualifi er. physical team, a big team and a well- Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored coached team, you’re going to be put 18 for Canada, which trailed by as under some duress.” many as eight points late in the fi rst There are four qualifying tourna- half. The Canadians took the lead for ments - hosted by Canada, Serbia, the good midway through the third Lithuania and Croatia - to determine quarter, then held on at the end. the last four spots in the 12-team fi eld Canada coach Nick Nurse, the coach for the Tokyo Olympics. Those four of the Toronto Raptors, made clear that spots will all be determined on Sun- his team doesn’t expect any game to be day. easy. Greece had fi ve players in double “We’re not under any illusions of fi gures, led by Konstantinos Mito- how good these teams are that we’re glou’s 14 points. Kostas Sloukas and former guard had 12 for Greece. Infections on rise “I can’t ask any more out of these guys,” said Greece coach Rick Pitino, the Hall of Fame coach Bach arrives in now at Iona College. “We’re all disap- pointed in losing, but we’re hoping we Tokyo on July 8 can see Canada again.” TOKYO, June 30, (AP): IOC Turkey 95, Uruguay 86 President Thomas Bach will Cedi Osman scored 27 points and arrive in Tokyo on July 8 and Turkey won a back-and-forth nightcap spend three days in isolation in Victoria, ending the game on a 31- before holding meetings leading 14 run. up to the opening of the post- Alperen Sengun scored 15 points poned Tokyo Olympics on July for Turkey, which wasted an 11- 23, Tokyo organizers and the the early lead and then rallied in the fi nal International Olympic Commit- minutes. tee said Wednesday. Bach is also expected to visit BASKETBALL Hiroshima on July 16, at the same time as his vice president and colleague John Coates is to Omer Yurtseven scored the last seven visit Nagasaki. points of a 10-0 run that gave Turkey a Visiting dignitaries often pay 37-26 lead, its biggest of the game, mid- visits to the way through the second quarter. Uru- cities as a guay chipped away and led by as many reminder of as eight in the fourth, before Osman’s the nuclear 3-pointer with 4:01 left rattled in to put Serbia’s Novak Djokovic plays a return to South Africa’s Kevin Anderson during the men’s singles second round match on day three of the Wimbledon attacks by the Turkey ahead to stay. Tennis Championships in London, on June 30. (AP) United States Jayson Granger had 25 points and in August 10 assists for Uruguay, which got 16 1945 during points from Mathias Calfani. Sabalenka, Kyrgios advance World War Serbia 94, Dom Rep 76 Messi’s future up in the air II. Serbia’s quest to return to the Olym- Ahead of pics got off to a good start. WIMBLEDON, England, as Barcelona contract ends Bach Bach’s visit, Boban Marjanovic scored 18 points June 30, (AP): Novak COVID-19 cases are rising in and grabbed 10 rebounds, and the sil- Djokovic slid, slipped, skid- MADRID, June 30, (AP): Lionel Mess’s history. But since then, Bar- Tokyo. ver medalists from the 2016 Rio de Messi’s contract with Barcelona is celona has a new coach in Ronald On Wednesday, Tokyo re- Janeiro Games opened their Olympic ded and stumbled into the coming to an end Wednesday with Koeman and a new president after ported 714 new cases - the high- Qualifying Tournament with a 94-76 third round on Wimble- no news from the player or the the resignation of Josep Bartomeu, est in fi ve weeks and the 11th win over the Dominican Republic. don’s slick grass Wednes- club about his future. who was at odds with Messi. straight day in Tokyo that cases The game was tied at 69-69 early The expectation is that the In came are higher than they were seven in the fourth quarter; Serbia, which day by beating Kevin An- 34-year-old Messi, who is play- Joan Lapor- days previously. is playing host to the qualifi er in Bel- derson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. ing with Argentina at the Copa ta, who won Only about 12% of Japa- grade, outscored the Dominicans 25-7 Djokovic didn’t face a break America, will stay at the Catalan the club’s nese are fully vaccinated. A the rest of the way. club. He reportedly had been close presidential quasi-state of emergency ends “Of course, we’re proud,” Marjanovic point and committed just six un- to reaching a deal to extend his election in on July 12 with the possibility said. “Everybody who comes here wants forced errors, including one with contract for two more years. part because that government offi cials may to make the Olympic Games, the main his forehand. of his good have to reinstate another state of thing. Everybody’s fi ghting for that spot, But footing continued to be an is- relationship emergency that could be in force everybody plays tough, good, and I’m sue on the third day of the tournament, SOCCER with the Ar- when the Olympics open. proud of my team because we didn’t give and Djokovic went sprawling several gentina star. In controversial remarks made up in this game.” times, as did players in other matches Messi’s future has been a mystery He was just over a month ago, Coates was Filip Petrusev scored 17 points and and at least one ball kid. Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka cel- since he had his request to leave the Messi the president asked if the Olympics could be Vasilije Micic added 16 for Serbia. Seven-time champion Serena Wil- ebrates winning a point against club denied at the end of the 2019- when Messi’s held during a state of emergency. “As expected, it was a diffi cult game,” liams retired from her first-round Britain’s Katie Boulter during the 20 season. He ended up staying and career started. Laporta said recently “The answer is absolutely Serbia coach Igor Kokoskov said. match Tuesday with a leg injury after women’s singles second round said he would reconsider his options he was optimistic that Messi would yes,” he replied. Michael Torres Cuevas and Victor she slipped. Roger Federer’s opponent, match on day three of the Wimble- when this season was over. renew his contract. When asked The IOC has pushed on with Liz each had 16 points for the Domini- Adrian Mannarino, had to call it quits don Tennis Championships in Lon- A lot has changed since he an- about Messi’s future on Wednesday, the Olympics despite strong can Republic. after he fell and twisted his knee. don, on June 30. (AP) nounced he wanted to leave the club. he briefl y said “don’t worry.” local opposition, partially be- Persistent rain the first two days Lithuania 76, Venezuela 65 That decision was made not long af- Messi excelled again this season cause it earns almost 75% of its of play created slick conditions. The but was seeded fifth, committed 34 un- ter the team’s embarrassing 8-2 loss despite staying against his wishes. Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points on forced errors to seven for Cornet. income from selling television weather also caused a scheduling to Bayern Munich in the quarterfi - He led the Spanish league in scor- rights. That income has stalled 8 of 9 shooting, plus grabbed 11 re- backlog, with 27 first-round matches Grand Slam underachiever Aryna bounds for Lithuania. Domantas Sabo- Sabalenka is into the third round for nals of the Champions League, one ing with 30 goals and helped the during the pandemic. pushed into Wednesday. of the worst defeats in the club’s and team win the Copa del Rey title. Offi cially, Japan is spending nis and each scored the first time, thanks to a narrow win $15.4 billion on the Olympics, 12 for Lithuania, which closed the fi rst over a local favorite. although government audits half on an 8-0 run to break a tie and TENNIS The Belarusian advanced by rally- of their suspended first-round match at play past 11 p.m. When they resumed suggest it’s much more. All but kept the lead the rest of the way. David ing past British wild-card entry Katie Wimbledon. on No. 1 Court, Kyrgios broke for an $6.7 billion is public money. Cubillan scored 11 points for Venezu- The retractable roof was open when Boulter 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The match had been halted at 3-all in 8-7 lead and then saved two break Tokyo Metropolitan Govern- ela. the top-ranked Djokovic was first on Sabalenka has a tour-best 31 match the fifth set because local rules prevent points in the final game before clinch- ment offi cials have already de- Poland 83, Angola 64 Centre Court for his rematch against victories this year and is seeded sec- ing the match with a service winner. cided to take the Olympic torch Mateusz Ponitka scored 22 points Anderson, who also lost when they ond. She’s the only woman among the It was Kyrgios’ first match since the relay off streets in Tokyo from in 23 minutes, A.J. Slaughter added played in the 2018 final. top 20 seeds who has yet to reach a ma- Australian Open in February, where he July 9 through July 16. It is un- 16 and Poland had little trouble in its While Djokovic endured an up-and- jor quarterfinal. also beat Humbert in an entertaining clear what form the relay will opener. Angola led 19-18 late in the down performance on the slippery sur- Boutler, ranked 219th, had the Cen- five-setter. take from July 17 until the open- opening quarter; Poland took control face and rose from one spill muttering tre Court crowd roaring until the end. Yoshihito Nishioka overcame a 15- ing ceremony on July 23 at the by scoring 28 of the game’s next 40 in frustration, he had little trouble with But Sabalenka hit 10 aces and erased inch height disparity to beat 6-foot-10 National Stadium. points. Yanick Moreira had a game- Anderson. The preternaturally limber six break points to hold in one key John Isner 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7), The relay began in March in high 27 points for Angola. Djokovic extended one rally by hitting game down the stretch. 6-4. The match took place on Court northeastern Japan. It has faced a forehand while down on his knee - Ukrainian Elina Svitolina needs one 18, where Isner won a record fifth set Germany 82, Mexico 76 more victory to play in the third round numerous detours, scaled-back Germany used an 18-3 run in the and won the point. 70-68 in 2010. programs, and has been run at Djokovic seeks his sixth Wimble- at Wimbledon on Saturday, the same Also advancing was Queen’s Club fourth quarter to pull off a come-from- day her country faces England in soc- times only in public park spaces behind win, forcing Mexico into 10 don title and third in a row. By win- tournament champion Matteo Berret- to avoid spreading the virus. ning the championship, he would also cer’s European Championship. tini, who hit 20 aces and pulled away consecutive misses from the fi eld dur- Svitolina advanced to the second Organizers and the government ing part of that stretch. Joshiko Sai- match the record total of 20 majors from Guido Pella 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. are under pressure to improve shared by Roger Federer and Rafael round by beating Alison Van Uyt- American Sam Querrey upset No. 11 bou led the Germans with 17 points. vanck 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. screening after a Ugandan team Francisco Cruz led all scorers with 30 Nadal, and would need only a title at Pablo Carreño Busta 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5. the U.S. Open to sweep all four Grand Svitolina was a Wimbledon semi- member tested positive earlier this points for Mexico. Former U.S. Open runner-up Kei Ni- month at Tokyo’s Narita airport Slams in 2021. finalist two years ago. She’s seeded shikori ousted Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-4, and was quarantined there. Brazil 83, Tunisia 57 Bianca Andreescu made another third, and in the wide-open women’s 6-4 for his 100th Grand Slam match win. But the rest of the nine-person Vítor Benite scored 15 points and early Grand Slam exit when she lost draw, ranks among the favorites. Australia’s Nick Kyrgios plays a No. 10 Denis Shapovalov moved into the team was allowed to travel more Brazil pulled away steadily over the fi - to Alice Cornet 6-2, 6-1. The Cana- Ukraine in Euro 2020? Not so much. return to Ugo Humbert of France third round when Pablo Andújar with- than 500 kilometers (310 miles) nal three quarters to an easy opening dian won the 2019 Open but is 2-5 in The team is in the quarterfinals for the during the men’s singles first round drew because of a rib injury. on a chartered bus to their pre- win. Oussama Marnaoui scored 13 for majors since, including three opening- first time. match on day three of the Wimble- In other women’s play, French Open Olympics camp in the western Tunisia. The game was tied 21-21 after round defeats. Nick Kyrgios finished off No. 21 don Tennis Championships in Lon- runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova prefecture of Osaka. the opening quarter, and Brazil outscored Andreescu, who has battled injuries seed Ugo Humbert 9-7 in the fifth set don, on June 30. (AP) beat Ana Bogdan 6-2, 6-2. Tunisia 62-36 the rest of the way. Jones scores 23 in return, Sun rout Mystics Williams lifts Dream past Liberty COLLEGE PARK, Ga., June 30, (AP): and the Connecticut Sun beat the short- Courtney Williams scored 18 points, handed Washington Mystics 90-71. including a go-ahead basket with 58.2 Jones, who recently got back from seconds left, and the Spain, had to pass multiple COVID-19 beat the New York Liberty 73-69. tests before playing the Mystics. She Williams gave Atlanta a 71-69 lead got going early, collecting a double on a baseline jumper. double in the fi rst half with 19 points had multiple chances at the other end and 11 rebounds. for New York, but Crystal Bradford Jasmine Thomas made a career-high blocked her second attempt. seven 3-pointers and scored 21 points, and Brionna Jones added 14 points and nine rebounds for Connecticut BASKETBALL (11-5). DeWanna Bonner tied a career high with seven assists, and she also made 1 of 2 free grabbed eight rebounds. throws with 18.4 seconds left to give Washington only had six healthy Atlanta a three-point lead. Sami Whit- players available. (an- comb was off on a 3-pointer and Wil- Seattle Storm’s Mercedes Russell, kle) was a late scratch from the lineup, liams sealed it with a . (right), shoots while being fouled by and Myisha Hines-Allen (knee) and Bradford set career highs with 14 Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) Elena Delle Donne (back) are still out. points and seven rebounds for Atlanta during overtime of a WNBA basket- Tina Charles scored 26 points, reach- (6-9). Carter and ball game at Michelob Ultra Arena ing 25-plus points for a fi fth straight each added 11 points, and Tiffany on June 27, in Las Vegas. (AP) game, for Washington (7-9). The Mystics Hayes did not play. were outrebounded 52-13. Laney had 16 points, fi ve rebounds and Sun 90, Mystics 71 Charles picked up two fouls in the Canada’s Dwight Powell drives to the hoop as Greece’s Konstantinos Mitoglou tries to defend during the first seven assists for New York (8-9). Michae- In Washington, Jonquel Jones scored opening four minutes of the game but half of a FIBA men’s Olympic qualifying basketball game, on June 29, at Memorial Arena in Victoria, British la Onyenwere added 13 points, Whitcomb 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in her fi nished the fi rst half with 17 points on Columbia. (AP) had 11 and Leaonna Odom 10. return from the EuroBasket tournament, 6-of-15 shooting.