12 Friday, July 12, 2019 Sports Federer, Nadal braced for Wimbledon epic AFP only three occasions. LONDON The Spanish third seed Djokovic faces has yet to face a seeded player unheralded ROGER Federer and Rafael and has only been truly tested Nadal battle for a place in the once, in his four-set second Bautista Agut Wimbledon final on Friday, round victory over Nick Kyr- THE eager anticipation of their 11 years after they mesmer- gios in what was comfortably 40th clash has relegated de- ised Centre Court in a Grand the tournament’s most bad- fending champion Novak Djoko- Slam championship match tempered match. vic’s push for a fifth title to sec- widely regarded as the great- Federer, 37, is the old- ond billing. est ever played. est man in the semi-finals The top seed and world Nadal emerged trium- of a Slam since 39-year-old number one reached the semi- phant that day, winning Jimmy Connors at the 1991 finals for the ninth time, rack- in five sets in a four-hour US Open. ing up his 70th career win at 48-minute epic of fluctuating He is in his 13th semi-final the All England Club by sweep- fortunes that stretched out at the tournament and 45th at ing past David Goffin in straight over seven hours because of the majors. sets, reeling off 15 of the last constant, momentum-shift- In a career illuminated 17 games. ing rain interruptions. by landmarks, he became In his 36th Grand Slam The Spaniard won 6-4, the first man to register 100 semi-final, the 15-time major 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 match wins at a single Slam winner faces Spain’s Roberto as the clock ticked past 9pm when he came back from a set Bautista Agut who is in his maid- and with the famous stadium down to beat Kei Nishikori in en last-four at the majors at the in near-darkness. the quarter-finals. 27th attempt. Over a decade later, the Federer is wary of the dan- Djokovic leads the 31-year- sport’s two most successful gers presented by Nadal. old 7-3 in career meetings, in- players now have 38 Grand His loss in Paris, which cluding 3-0 at the majors. Slam titles between them and took place in what he de- However, the unheralded more than $100 million in scribed as “insane” windy Spaniard, who had to cancel prize money each. Spain’s Rafael Nadal (left) and Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their respective practice sessions on Thursday ahead of their 2019 Wimbledon conditions, was his heaviest at plans for his stag party in Ibiza Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 semi-final clash. Nadal, the 2008 & 2010 Wimbledon champion, has the edge overall, leading his great rival 24-15 and 10-3 at the Slams. the Slams in 11 years. as a consequence of his run to champion at Wimbledon, has “Rafa really can hurt the semi-finals, has defeated the edge overall, leading his Nadal famously broke the oped since 2008. “I am running less so I better, slicing better.” anybody on any surface,” Djokovic twice in 2019, in Doha great rival and friend 24-15 spell in 2008. Mostly, that’s due to his need to serve better. I prob- In terms of the bare sta- said Federer. and Miami. and 10-3 at the Slams. Nadal, who demolished age as well as the desperate ably cannot play 20 weeks a tistics, there is little to choose “He’s serving way differ- “He’s got amazing consist- However, it is eight-time Federer in straight sets in need to protect his creaking year any more,’ said 33-year- between them. ent. I remember back in the ency,” said Djokovic. “He has champion Federer who just the semi-finals at Roland knees which so often con- old Nadal. Nadal has served up 47 day how he used to serve, and improved his backhand. He’s edges their Wimbledon head- Garros last month on his spired against him on the “I am serving better. I aces so far and been broken now how much bigger he’s got more depth on his backhand to-head 2-1 after winning the way to a 12th title in Paris, low-bouncing lawns of the All am hitting the backhand just four times; Federer has serving, how much faster he more suitable to his style.” 2006 and 2007 finals before admits his game has devel- England Club. better. Maybe volleying 42 aces, dropping serve on finishes points.” PSG new home kit now Algeria beat Ivory Coast available at Villaggio Mall for AFCON semis berth REUTERS SUEZ, EGYPT EXPERIENCED striker Wil- fried Bony and midfielder Serey Die missed penalties in the Long wait shootout as Algeria sealed a 4-3 victory over the Ivory Coast fol- Algeria will now meet lowing an entertaining 1-1 Afri- Nigeria in the semi-finals ca Cup of Nations quarter-final at the Cairo International draw on Thursday. Stadium on Sunday as Algeria will now meet Ni- geria in the semi-finals at the they seek to end their Cairo International Stadium long wait for continental TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Doha. Following clues given in the Qatari Capital of Doha on Sunday as they seek to success that stretches DOHA on social media, participants and will be the first to show- end their long wait for conti- back to 1990. based in Doha had the chance case the new kit in the city.” nental success that stretches SINCE July 11, Doha-based to win one of the five Paris Throughout the sum- back to 1990. fans and football lovers are Saint-Germain shirts for the mer, from June 30 to August Sofiane Feghouli put Al- Bounedjah in the box, and after able to get hold of the newly 2019/20 season offered by the 8, within the framework of geria ahead in the first half, a consultation with the Video “ALL – Accor Live Limitless“ club, which bears the name of a promotional campaign, but they failed to increase Assistant Referee, Bamlak Tes- sponsored kit. It is first avail- the city and the number “1”. made by the club’s partner that advantage when Baghdad sema Weyesa awarded the spot able exclusively in Paris Saint- Fabien Dilem, Head of QNTC, to market Qatar as a Bounedjah missed a penalty kick. Bounedjah took the pen- Germain’s official Qatari bou- Paris Saint-Germain’s MEA/ premium sporting and tour- early in the second period. Algeria celebrate their win over Ivory Coast after penalty shootout in alty himself, but fired over off tique based in Doha’s popular India office said: “This launch ist destination, and in addi- Ivory Coast striker Jona- the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final at the Suez Stadium the crossbar. shopping mall Villaggio. along with the treasure hunt tion to the activities already than Kodjia equalised just past in Egypt on Thursday. (REUTERS) A few minutes later, Kod- Unveiled last week, the organized in the capital of offered by the QNTC, Paris the hour mark, after which jia’s quick shot from a tight an- new kit gives a typically Doha are the starting point Saint-Germain will also give both sides created chances advance to just a second semi- with a well-worked goal on gle looped onto the woodwork, prominent place to Paris Saint of a summer full of activi- visitors and fans (aged from and had efforts cleared off the final in 29 years. 20 minutes. Full back Ramy before the Aston Villa forward Germain’s two iconic colors – ties that PSG will offer and 5 to 16) the opportunity to line, but were unable to be Max Gradel’s curling 25- Bensebaini picked up the loose finally found the equaliser. red and blue – and provides shows the strong link the club take part in football sum- separated in 120 minutes. yard shot was tipped onto the ball on the left-hand side of Set free by Zaha on the a modern reworking of the has with the city of Doha and mer camps offering foot- Bony saw his weak penalty post by a diving M’Bolhi as the the box and laid on a perfect right, he cut inside and let fly shirt’s legendary design. Qatar and its increasing pres- ball courses within the PSG saved by Algerian goalkeeper Ivorians served notice of their pass for Feghouli to score. from the edge of the box, his To celebrate the launch, ence here. Academy Qatar. Rais M’Bolhi, before captain early attacking intent. They could have made it 2-0 shot arrowing into the bottom Paris Saint-Germain has or- “Our official boutique in Registrations are now open Die struck the post to sink the Algeria captain Riyad a minute into the second half corner of the net. It was a first ganized a major treasure the Villagio Mall is one of the on the website www.psgacad- 2015 Nations Cup champions Mahrez fired wide at the other when Ivory Coast goalkeeper goal conceded by Algeria in hunt in five cities including three retail spaces the club has emy.qa and on 3306 2115. and see the North African side end, before they took the lead Sylvain Gbohouo up-ended the tournament. Quick takes Thomas gains time as Teuns wins Stage 6 in brutal finish FIFA introduces harsher punishment for racism REUTERS who had been tagged as the LA PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES pre-stage favourite on an as- FIFA wants teams to automatically forfeit matches if their support- cent situated 15km from his ers are found to be guilty of racist and other discriminatory behav- DEFENDING champion Ge- home town, reacted swiftly in iour, world football’s governing body has announced.