11 SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2019 sports

Nadal, Federer deciside to Serena, Osaka set up rematch re-enter ATP politics and Naomi Osaka book US Open final rematch in Toronto quarter-final able to stay in the rhythm and Karolina Pliskova playing this week and next week • would be good.” keeps no. 1 hopes Williams said she is struggling alive by reaching with the transition from clay to Toronto quarters grass to hardcourts more than usual this year. AFP | Toronto “I definitely feel like it takes a while to get back into the erena Williams and Japan’s rhythm,” she said. “So it defi- Naomi Osaka booked a nitely feels different, especially Switzerland’s Roger Federer (R) shakes hands and embraces Spain’s Rafael rematch of last year’s US for me now. Usually I don’t feel S Nadal (L) after Federer won their men’s singles semi-final match on day 11 of Open final in the WTA Toronto that huge of a difference, but for the 2019 Wimbledon Championships quarter-finals after straight-set whatever reason I do this year.” triumphs Thursday. AFP | Montreal some up and downs in a lot of Reigning US and Australian Pliskova chases No. 1 things.” Open champion Osaka broke Czech third seed Karolina orld number two Ra - Controversy has arisen over at love in the final game to de- Pliskova kept the pressure on Wfael Nadal said Thurs- the past months concerning feat Polish teen Iga Swiatek 7-6 Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball to Ekaterina Alexandrova, Osaka in the battle to take the day that he and long-time rival various issues, with ATP Coun- (7/4), 6-4 after one hour and 51 of Russia world number one ranking by Roger Federer made a joint cil president Novak Djokovic minutes. also reaching the quarter-finals. decision to stand for the ATP often on the opposite side of World number 10 Williams during the awards ceremony Pliskova eliminated Estonia’s Player Council. discussions from Nadal and was broken twice and dropped and later dubbed what should 6-3, 7-5 to set The 33-year-old Spaniard, Federer. the first three games in 10 min- have been her moment of glory up a last-eight clash with rising an 18-time singles The world number one Serb utes then battled back to defeat “a little bittersweet.” Canadian star Bianca Andrees- winner, confirmed the choice has clashed with many fellow Russia’s 48th-ranked Ekateri- Williams spoke after her KNOW WHAT cu, who outlasted fifth-seeded by the pair of icons at the ATP players with disagreements na Alexandrova 7-5, 6-4 in 91 match but before she knew who Dutchwoman 6-1, Montreal Masters after reach- centered on the decision to minutes. she would face in the quarter-fi- 6-7 (7/9), 6-4. ing the quarter-finals. dispense with the services That set the stage for Wil - nals, saying either Osaka -- who Pliskova, 27, must reach the fi- Federer, a 20-time Slam of ATP chief executive Chris liams, a 37-year-old American could return to the world num- Naomi Osaka holds a nal to have any chance of taking singles champion, and Nadal Kermode, a popular figure in who will try for a record-tying ber one ranking next week -- or 2-0 advantage over the top spot next week. Other- were elected by fellow play- tennis. 24th Grand Slam singles title Swiatek would be worthy foes. Serena Williams wise, Osaka will claim the num- ers to fill two of the vacancies Splits widened at Wimble- at the upcoming US Open, to “It will be a good match, who- ber one berth. caused by the resignations of don when Djokovic was tak- again face Osaka after the con- ever wins,” Williams said. “Both minutes. champion Ash- Robin Haase, Jamie Murray en to task over his relation - troversial finish to their Grand players are playing well in this “(Alexandrova) hit really, re- leigh Barty’s stint as the world’s and Sergiy Stakhovsky prior to ship with the disgraced Jus- Slam showdown last year in tournament in particular, so I’ll ally hard and she was hitting top-ranked player was assured Wimbledon. tin Gimelstob. Former player New York. be ready for her.” a lot of winners, so I was just of ending after she was knocked “We decided to be together Gimelstob, who has sat on the It would be the first match Alexandrova broke Williams happy I was able to just fight out on Tuesday. out there,” Nadal said. “I will player council, pleaded no con- between Osaka and Williams -- the 2001, 2011 and 2013 Cana- through that,” Williams said. Defending champion and not be alone there. He will not test to assault charges in Los since the Japanese star defeat- dian champion -- in the first and Alexandrova broke Williams fourth seed of be alone there. Angeles earlier this year for ed her childhood idol 6-2, 6-4 third games for a 3-0 edge only again to open the second set, Romania, coming off a Wim - “Both of us can (combine to) attacking a man in front of his in last year’s US Open final, a to have Williams roll through but the US star pulled level in bledon title last month, beat be a good power, good help for wife and children at Hallow- match marred by an on-court the next four games. the sixth game and broke again Russia’s the sport in some way -- hope- een in 2018. dispute between Williams and They held from there until the in the 12th to advance after 91 6-2, 6-1 to book a quarter-final fully in a better way. Djokovic has come under the umpire that led to a game final game of the first set, when minutes. against Czech qualifier Marie “We are here to help and to fire for refusing to rule out a penalty against Williams. the Russian’s eighth double fault “I’m feeling good,” Williams Bouzkova, who ousted Latvia’s know a little bit better what’s possible return to the board for Osaka was booed by some fans handed Williams the set after 46 said. “Just hopefully just being Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2. going on. Last year have been Gimelstob.

Bayern romp to Rain plays spoilsport as Gayle misses history bid against India 23-0 win over AFP | Providence, Guyana rain interruptions during the brief in- of the game after the World Cup, occu- amateur side nings ended any hopes of a result and any pied 31 deliveries before being dismissed. nclement weather forced the abandon- lingering prospect of play was washed This is his 299th ODI, equalling Lara’s erman champions Bay- Iment of the first one-day international away by the latest downpour in mid-af- record for the most by a West Indian. Gern Munich showed no between the West Indies and India at the ternoon. It therefore means that the 39-year-old mercy to amateur side FC Guyana National Stadium on Thursday, Veteran opening batsman Gayle was will establish a new ODI record for West Rottach-Egern by romping after Chris Gayle was made to wait for the lone wicket to fall, being bowled by Indies appearances and also has the to a 23-0 friendly win on the hosts’ ODI run-scoring record. left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav chance to surpass Lara’s run tally when Thursday, 12 months after Only 13 overs were bowled after the for just four, leaving him nine runs short the second match is played in Trinidad beating the same side 20-2. home side were put in to bat when India of surpassing the tally of outstanding -- Lara’s homeland -- on Sunday. Among the scorers were captain Virat Kohli won the toss, with the former batsman and captain Brian Lara In contrast to Gayle’s pedestrian in- Corentin Tolisso with four West Indies reaching 54 for one before of 10,405 as the most by a West Indian nings, Evin Lewis was unbeaten on 40 while Robert Lewandowski rain drove them off the field. in ODIs. off 36 deliveries (three sixes, two fours) and Otschi Wriedt both Having already started two hours late Gayle, who has reversed a decision to Evin Lewis (L) of West Indies hits 4 as Rishabh in partnership with Shai Hope when the grabbed hat-tricks with because of morning showers, the further retire from the 50 overs-per-side format Pant (R) of India look on match was called off. Thomas Mueller claiming a brace. Bayern coach Niko Kovac made 10 changes at half- time, with New Zealand in- Wolves close on Europa League group stage with thumping win ternational Sarpreet Singh among the newcomers. AFP | Paris Wing-back Matt Doherty, converted to all but put the tie The 20-year-old talent, who scored eight goals last to bed. who arrived from Welling- olves moved a step closer term, rolled in a 29th-minute Wolves, who lost to Totten- ton Phoenix earlier this Wto reaching the Europa opener, before Jimenez made it ham in the 1972 UEFA Cup final year, scored twice before League group stage for the first two three minutes before half- and are playing their first Eu- the hour mark to pick up his time as Raul Jimenez scored time. ropean campaign since 1980, first goals in a Bayern shirt. twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Ar- Mexican international Jime- will likely face a tricky play-off Bayern’s record signing menia’s Pyunik in the third nez grabbed his fourth goal round against Torino should Lucas Hernandez also came qualifying round, first leg, on of qualifying shortly after the they complete the job against on at half-time to make his Thursday. restart, having also netted two Pyunik and the Italians beat Be- first appearance for the Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves, against Crusaders in the previ- larus’ Shakhtyor. club. The French World who made it into qualifying by ous round. Torino, seventh-placed finish- Cup winner joined Bayern finishing seventh in the Premier New signing Patrick Cutrone ers in Serie A last season, cruised for 80 million euros earlier League last season as a new - was given a debut as a late sub- past Shakhtyor 5-0 with Italy this year, but has been out of ly-promoted club, made short Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers scores a goal to make it 0-4 from a stitute, and won an injury-time striker Andrea Belotti scoring action since February due to work of their hosts in Yerevan. penalty kick penalty which Ruben Neves twice. a knee injury.