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Gordon Hayward Messi commits choses Celtics to Barcelona over16 Jazz, Heat until19 2021 THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2017 After accident, Olympian Nieto wants to walk for his wedding Page 18 LONDON: Britain’s Johanna Konta returns against Croatia’s Donna Vekic during their women’s singles second round match on the third day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, yesterday. —AFP Konta reaches third round at Wimbledon Gritty Nishikori down Stakhovsky LONDON: Britain’s biggest hope for a women’s this time,” said Konta, who is trying to become their second-round matches on Centre Court. Nishikori, who is finally fit after a host of injury “I know I have to raise my level to beat champion at Wimbledon worked her way into the first British woman to win the Wimbledon Earlier, Kei Nishikori dug deep to keep his problems. “The last set was very tough. It was Roberto. It will be a tough one. I’ll try to recover the third round yesterday. Johanna Konta title since Virginia Wade in 1977. “I’m definitely Wimbledon challenge alive as the Japanese star hard to get a break. I played good enough. “I and get some rest,” Nishikori said. “I don’t think trailed early but managed to come back and here with the intention of wanting to be a part ground out a 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win felt very good on the court. I had enough ener- we played on grass. He’s a good player, very sol- hang on for a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 10-8 victory over of the event for the full two weeks.” over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky yes- gy for a fifth set as well. I’m very happy to be id from the baseline. I will try to stay aggres- Donna Vekic on Centre Court. Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam terday. Despite reaching at least the quarter- healthy again.” sive.” Following Konta’s victory, Murray was due “It’s a nice feeling not to have to keep going champion who lost in the first round at finals of the other three Grand Slams, Nishikori Nishikori’s cause wasn’t helped by the to play Dustin Brown. Rafael Nadal, a two-time out there,” Konta said. “We were out there a Wimbledon, is dating Vekic and was at Centre has never been past the fourth round at plague of flying ants that descended on Wimbledon champion, will be on Centre Court long time and both of us battled incredibly Court watching the match. When the Wimbledon. Wimbledon throughout the match and kept after Murray against Donald Young, while five- hard. “Whoever was going to draw the short Wimbledon gates opened Wednesday morn- The world number nine was pushed hard by smacking into his face. “There were so many, time champion Venus Williams is scheduled to straw was going to be hurting.” Konta, seeded ing, the race was on to get the best spot on Stakhovsky, who famously stunned Roger they were hitting my face all the time. It wasn’t face Qiang Wang on No. 1 Court. Other women’s sixth, is in the third round at the All England Mount Murray. Federer at Wimbledon three years. But easy but I kept my focus,” he said. winners on Wednesday include former No. 1 Club for the first time in six appearances. She The hill next to No. 1 Court at Wimbledon, Nishikori, 27, ignored the searing heat on Court Nishikori faces Spanish 18th seed Roberto Victoria Azarenka and eighth-seeded Dominika reached the final at a grass-court warm-up formerly known as Henman Hill and also One eventually prevailed in three hours and 15 Bautista Agut in the third round as he aims to Cibulkova. For the men, ninth-seeded Kei tournament in Birmingham last month, but lost referred to as Murray Mound, was a coveted minutes. make the last 16 for the third time. Although he Nishikori, 12th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 16th- to Vekic. spot for Day 3 at the All England Club because “I knew it was going to be a tough match has won all four of their previous encounters, seeded Gilles Muller and 24th-seeded Sam “I think I overall trusted my game a bit more Konta and Andy Murray were scheduled to play because Sergiy’s best surface is grass,” said Nishikori is taking nothing for granted. Querrey advanced. — Agencies CYCLING LA ‘delighted’ with Fabio Aru wins Tour IOC report verdict LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles 2024 chiefs yesterday welcomed an International Olympic Committee report on the city’s bid fifth stage, Froome for the Games ahead of a key meeting next week. The IOC Evaluation Commission report lavished praise on Los Angeles takes yellow and rival bidder Paris, stating there was “very little to separate” the two bids. PLANCHER-LES-MINES: Fabio Aru emulat- expect to compete at the Tour. Commission chairman Patrick Baumann said members of ed compatriot Vincenzo Nibali in winning “My goal was the Giro but unfortunately the IOC panel had described Los Angeles’s bid as “forward- the fifth stage of the Tour de France yester- I was injured.” Briton Froome came home looking,” “innovative,” “vibrant” and “cool”. LA 2024 chairman day as reigning champion Chris Froome 20 seconds behind the winner, with Casey Wasserman expressed gratitude for the IOC report in a took over the race lead. Italian Aru won the Australia’s Richie Porte just behind him, but statement. 160.5km stage that finished on the La Colombian Nairo Quintana struggled and “We are delighted that our efforts have resonated so clear- Planche des Belles Filles climb, where Nibali lost 14 seconds to Froome. ly with the IOC Evaluation Commission,” Wasserman said. “We won three years ago before going on to “It’s amazing for me to be back in yellow are grateful to Evaluation Commission Chairman Patrick claim Tour victory. but having said that the race is far from Baumann and his colleagues for their comprehensive, insight- Froome came home third behind over,” warned Froome. “(Aru) showed ful appraisal of our bid.” Ireland’s Dan Martin in second, and took already in the (Criterium du) Dauphine he Wasserman reiterated that the LA 2024 bid-which will over the yellow jersey from Sky team-mate was in great form, today he just confirmed make use of existing or already planned venues and enjoys Geraint Thomas. Aru launced his attack that. “Fabio’s going to have to be one of the strong public support-made it an “ideal Olympic city and an with 2.4km left and finished 16 seconds guys we keep an eye on in the next couple ideal partner for the IOC right now.” clear of Martin. With a 10-second time of weeks.” Last year’s runner up, Romain The commission’s report will be the key reference docu- bonus on the line, he moved up to third Bardet came home fifth at 24sec behind ment for IOC members in the lead-up to the 2024 Candidate overall, at just 14 seconds behind Froome. Aru, to now sit seventh overall at 47sec. City Briefing on July 11-12 in Lausanne. The final vote to But more importantly, the 2015 Vuelta a Thomas, who started the day 12 sec- Espana winner made a statement that he is onds clear, dropped to second at 12sec decide the 2024 hosts is scheduled to take place during the a genuine challenger to end Froome’s Tour behind his team leader. But at the end of 131st IOC session in Lima on September 13. reign. Having previously won stages at the the first mountain summit finish of this The IOC has recommended that hosting rights for the 2024 Giro d’Italia and Vuelta, this completed a year’s race, the overall standings took on a and 2028 Olympics be awarded at the same time at Grand Tour stage sweep for Aru. familiar look as the overall contenders September’s meeting in Peru, in order to exploit the candida- “First of all I’m going to enjoy this flexed their muscles for the first time. cies of Paris and Los Angeles. Paris is widely seen as being the moment because I had a great spring and The top 10 are now separated by one front-runner for the 2024 Games, which fall on the 100th won the Italian title but before that I had a minute with all the big guns in there, anniversary of the 1924 Olympics in the city, the last time the tough time,” said Aru, who had to pull out including two-time former winner Alberto French capital staged the Games, having also hosted the 1900 of May’s Giro due to injury. “It’s a difficult Contador, now eighth at 52sec. Porte VITTEL: Italy’s Fabio Aru celebrates his polka dot jersey of best climber on the podi- edition. Los Angeles has staged the Olympics twice before, in race and the opposition is very tough. I’d moved up to fifth at 39sec, with Quintana um at the end of the 160.5 km fifth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France 1932 and 1984. —AFP prefer to take it day by day because I didn’t ninth at 54sec.— AFP cycling race yesterday between Vittel and La Planche des Belles Filles. — AFP .