14 Thursday, October 8, 2020 Sports Tsitsipas chasing ‘something spectacular’ in Paris

AFP “Second of all, for sure it’s Paris I would like to tell you that I’m not a NextGen going to come at some point. The have been there insists player any more. I’m a proper adult. Second of all, for for a long time. I don’t feel like he’s “chasing something spec- sure it’s going to come at some point. The big three it’s going to be the same in tacular” at Roland Garros as five, six years’ time, I believe.” he attempts to become the first have been there for a long time. I don’t feel like it’s Since dropping the first Greek to win a title. going to be the same in five, six years’ time, I believe. two sets of his opener in Paris The 22-year-old reached against ’s , the semi-finals in Paris for the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas the Greek has been on an im- first time on Wednesday with pressive run, winning 15 sets an impressive 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win in succession. over ’s . Wimbledon and the US Open. player in the top 10. Should he go all the way Tsitsipas made his big He was a surprise cham- Now with two runs to the and lift the title on Sunday, he breakthrough at the 2019 pion at the ATP Finals in last four at the Slams, Tsitsipas would be the youngest men’s where he London at the back end of believes his time is near despite Grand Slam champion since defeated on 2019 before third round exits the stranglehold over the ma- Juan Martin del Potro at the his way to a maiden last-four in Melbourne and New York jors exercised by Federer, No- US Open in 2009. spot at the Slams. when he returned to 2020 vak Djokovic and . However, to get there, he However, he hasn’t kicked duty at the Slams. “I would like to tell you will probably have to defeat on at the majors with a last-16 “I’m chasing something that I’m not a NextGen player world number one Djokovic exit in Paris last season fol- Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after winning against Russia’s Andrey Rublev during their men’s spectacular,” said world num- any more. I’m a proper adult,” in the semi-final and 12-time lowed by first round defeats at singles quarter-final of The Roland Garros 2020 in Paris on Wednesday.( AFP) ber six Tsitsipas, the youngest he said. champion Nadal in the final. Battling Djokovic books Lucky place: Kvitova back in RG semis after eight years clash with Stefanos AFP Paris AFP start and being a break down, I Paris remembered what a big fighter Petra Kvitova returned to I am,” he added. the French Open semi-finals recovered “It’s also about fighting for the first time in eight years from dropping his first set at and trying to find solutions in on Wednesday after defeating this year’s French Open and difficult moments. I managed Germany’s Laura Siegemund overcame a bothersome left to put my brain to work.” 6-3, 6-3, describing Roland arm to defeat Pablo Carreno Tsitsipas, 22, has now won Garros as her “lucky place”. Busta on Wednesday and set 15 successive sets at the tour- Czech seventh seed Kvi- up a semi-final showdown nament having been two sets tova, a two-time Wimbledon with Stefanos Tsitsipas. down to Jaume Munar in the champion, will face either Djokovic beat Spanish 17th opening round. Australian Open winner Sofia seed Carreno Busta 4-6, 6-2, However that streak Kenin or Danielle Collins for a 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last four of looked in peril when Rublev, place in Saturday’s final. a major for the 38th time as he also making his first French “It means a lot to be back in Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova soon after winning against Germany’s chases a second French Open Open quarter-final appear- the semi-finals,” said 30-year- Laura Siegemund in the women’s singles quarter-final at the French and 18th Grand Slam title. ance, served for the opening old Kvitova who was beaten Open in Paris on Wednesday. (AFP) “It took all my strength Serbian Novak Djokovic eyes the ball as he returns it to Spain’s Pablo set at 5-4. by eventual champion Maria and lots of patience, he’s a very Carreno Busta during their men’s singles quarter-final of The Roland A loose game from the Sharapova when she made the One break of in the The 21-year-old says she good player,” said Djokovic. Garros in Paris on Wednesday. (AFP) Russian 13th seed allowed same stage in 2012. opener was enough for Kvito- needs “step up” again having “He doesn’t make a lot of er- Tsitsipas to recover and he “After my last match, I va while five more breaks fol- reached the quarter-finals of a rors so all the points were long. chances to break in the second Busta pushed a forehand wide. rattled off four consecutive was very emotional to be in lowed in the second set. major for just the second time, I started this match a bit badly set but could not capitalise, in- Earlier, Tsitsipas made games to take the lead. the quarter-finals. Now I am Kvitova, who has yet to but she has a fondness for Par- with bad movement. After I stead losing his own serve on his second Grand Slam Tsitsipas, last year’s ATP in the semis. I never imagined drop a set at the tournament, is having knocked out Serena found rhythm and confidence. two occasions. semi-final with a straight- Finals champion, dominated this would happen after every- claimed victory when Siege- Williams on her way to the last “It was important to stay Djokovic unleashed a pri- sets win over 13th seed An- the second set to leave Rublev thing that has happened. mund served up a third double 16 in 2019. focused on the key points.” mal roar having fended off two drey Rublev, avenging last on the brink, profiting from a “This is my lucky place.” fault of the tie. Collins, 26, is a late bloom- The Serb now sits two wins break points in the first game month’s loss to the Russian favourable net cord to break at It was Paris where Kvitova “I am happy to be here and er after taking the college away from becoming the first of the third set and appeared in the Hamburg final. 3-2 after carving the opening made her comeback in 2017 to be able to compete with the route in the US, twice captur- man in half a century – and in control at 3-0 until Carreno The Greek fifth seed following a 28-shot rally. after spending six months best especially in these condi- ing the national singles title only the third in history – to Busta clawed back to 3-all. downed Rublev 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 to Only Djokovic has won recovering from a terrifying tions -- roof open, roof closed, while at Virgina. win all four Slams twice. But the top seed reclaimed match his breakout run at the more than Rublev’s three titles knife attack at her home in sunshine, windy.” “I know what it’s like hav- However, the world num- the initiative with another . in 2020, but the world num- December 2016. ing $50 in my bank account ber one required treatment on break at 4-3 on his way to tak- “I’m expecting since a ber 15 was powerless to stop a The frenzied assault re- Battle of Americans and being worried if I’m go- his upper left arm after losing ing the third set. young age to potentially tri- supreme Tsitsipas who closed quired a four-hour operation Fourth seed Kenin, 21, has ing to be able to get to the next the opening set and looked Djokovic grew increasingly umph at these Grand Slams. out victory inside two hours. and left her with damaged developed a knack of working place that I need to go. I know vulnerable against an oppo- animated when he missed out I’m happy that I’m able to be Tsitsipas, who was the first ligaments in her playing hand. her way out of trouble in Paris, what it’s like being on a Grey- nent who was the beneficiary a string of break points early in in a position where I am to- Greek to have made the quar- Doctors warned her that her twice recovering from a set hound bus,” said Collins. of Djokovic’s disqualification the fourth set, but he eventually day,” said Tsitsipas. “I’m chas- ter-finals in Paris, crunched 35 career may be finished. down en route to the last eight. The 57th-ranked Collins, at the US Open. landed the decisive blow in the ing something spectacular.” winners and made just 17 un- On Wednesday, Kvitova In her last 16 win over Fio- who has fired an impressive 140 Carreno Busta twice had seventh game when Carreno “Despite not having a good forced errors. fired 22 winners and six aces na Ferro she overcame a first- winners in four rounds, beat past 32-year-old Siegemund, set blip and partisan crowd, Kenin in straight sets in Ade- the world number 66 who was displaying a steely resilience laine earlier this year and is aim- playing in the quarter-finals of while raising her game to an- ing to match her run to the 2019 NBA Finals a Slam for the first time. other level. Australian Open semi-finals. James, Davis put LA Lakers on Fired up by Guns N’Roses, brink as Miami Heat beaten Swiatek rocking through AFP in the mood. I’ve been listen- AFP game had been decided in key moments Paris ing to Thunderstruck before Orlando in the closing stages. matches.” “There was some moments of truth Iga Swiatek will look to be- Music therapy is work- LeBron James scored 28 points as the Los there at the end, and probably the bottom come the first Polish woman ing wonders – at this Roland Angeles Lakers moved to within one win of a line is they won those moments of truth,” in 81 years to reach the Roland Garros, she knocked out 2018 17th NBA championship on Tuesday with a Spoelstra said. “It came down to making Garros final on Thursday, fired champion and top seed Simo- 102-96 victory over the Miami Heat. plays. They just made more plays and up by Guns N’Roses, AC/DC, na Halep, exacting revenge for Humbled by Miami in game three on more shots to seal it.” Pink Floyd...and watermelons. the loss she suffered to the Ro- Sunday, James and the Lakers came roar- An attritional contest saw defenses With a world ranking of manian in the fourth round in ing back in a hard-fought defensive battle on top throughout, with Miami contain- 54, the 19-year-old would nor- 2019, winning just one game. that was finely balanced until Los Angeles ing the threat of James and Davis for mally start the semi-final of Swiatek is yet to win a WTA pulled away in the closing minutes. long periods. any Slam as the underdog. final, the closest she came was The win leaves the Lakers 3-1 up in the James in particular struggled to gen- However, her opponent a runners-up spot in Lugano best-of-seven series, meaning they can erate his usual rhythm throughout the on Thursday will be Argenti- Poland’s Iga Swiatek rejoices last year. clinch the championship with victory in first half, giving up five turnovers and na’s Nadia Podoroska, ranked after her win against Italy’s But sport runs in the blood game five in Orlando on Friday. scoring just eight points. at 131 and who is bidding to Martina Trevisan at the French – her father Tomasz Swiatek is “It felt like both teams were desperate, The Lakers looked to have built a become the first qualifier to Open on Tuesday. (AFP) a former rower who competed understanding the situation they had put of steam towards the end of the first quar- reach the final at a Grand Slam in the men’s quadruple sculls themselves in,” James said afterwards. ter, edging into a 27-22 lead after a Kyle in the modern era. cause I wanted to win.” at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. “Trying to get every extra possession, Kuzma three-pointer and a driving layup In a Roland Garros like It’s paying off. Not only is “It’s amazing for me. I execute offensively, not to make mistakes from Alex Caruso. no other – being played four she into the singles semi-finals never would have thought that defensively, that’s what it was all about.” But Miami responded swiftly at the months late due to the corona- without dropping a set, Swiatek I’m going to be in the semi- James started slowly but clicked in start of the second quarter, transforming virus and with just a handful is also in the last four of the finals in singles and doubles, the second half to lead the scoring while a five-point deficit into a 33-29 lead after of spectators allowed on site -- doubles with , so it’s kind of crazy,” she said providing eight assists and hauling down Jae Crowder’s three-pointer. Swiatek has had to find novel again all in straight sets. Wednesday. 12 rebounds. Butler, meanwhile had started ways to psyche herself up for She only teamed up with “I had to play a match Anthony Davis meanwhile finished LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smoothly, going five-from-five in the first her best run at majors. Melichar on the eve of Roland every day. But it’s good for with 22 points, while Kentavious Cald- drives to the basket during the fourth quarter quarter to move into double figures. Step forward Axl Rose and Garros after the American’s me, because I’m still in the well-Pope chipped in with a vital 15 point against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Despite Miami’s defensive efforts, Slash, the wild heartbeat of US scheduled partner couldn’t rhythm. Also doubles is contribution. 2020 NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Lakers were still able to carve open rockers Guns N’Roses, one of obtain a visa. helping my performance in Caldwell-Pope’s tally included a three- on Tuesday. (Getty Images/AFP) a series of good looks, only for off-target Swiatek’s go-to bands. When she made the last 16 singles because I’m learning pointer and a layup in the closing stages shooting to let them down. “I am still listening to Guns in Paris in 2019, Swiatek was new stuff. that put the Lakers seven points ahead points, frustrated throughout by a com- Butler raised Miami’s hopes after ty- N’Roses’ Welcome to the Jun- discovering Pink Floyd. “The only tough thing about with two minutes remaining. manding defensive display from Davis. ing it at 83-83, but the Lakers pulled away gle because I want to keep my “I love Learning to Fly, that is that I’m getting tired.” Davis then drained only his second “He challenges me every night, I chal- with Caldwell-Pope’s three-pointer tran- routines,” she said. Comfortably Numb, and re- That’s where the water- three-pointer of the night with 39.5 sec- lenge him every night,” James said of Davis. sition followed by a layup to make it 95- “Actually I wanted to cently I’ve been listening to melons come in. onds left on the clock to give the Lakers a “We have to do things to help our team 88 with two minutes left on the clock. change it because right now it’s Shine On You Crazy Dia- “Actually I’m eating a lot 100-91 lead and effectively seal the contest. win, defensively, and offensively, and he Rajon Rondo’s layup was then followed kind of boring to listen every mond,” she told WTA Insider. of watermelons here and also Butler, the 40-point hero of Miami’s did that tonight -- he was spectacular.” by a Davis crucial three-pointer with 39.5 day to the same song. But yeah, “If I want something more mango because fruits here are win on Sunday, was restricted to 22 Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said the seconds left which sealed the win. I stayed with Guns N’Roses be- aggressive, AC/DC gets me the best, like, every year.”