MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 SPORTS Ivanovic stuns Serena

MELBOURNE: An inspired Ana Ivanovic blew the race for the Australian Open women’s title wide open when she stunned overwhelming favorite Serena Williams in the fourth round at Melbourne Park yesterday. Novak Djokovic was for once forced to cede the spotlight to another Serbian but showed no signs of relinquishing his iron grip on the men’s title and was merciless in his 6-3 6-0 6-2 flogging of Fabio Fognini. Third seed David Ferrer also advanced to the last eight and a meeting with Tomas Berdych and his stripy football shirt, while women’s fourth seed Li Na and Flavia Pennetta set up a last eight clash of 31-year-olds. Li and Pennetta had every reason to expect their path to the final to be blocked by world number one and top seed Williams until Ivanovic secured the biggest shock of the tournament with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory on Rod Laver Arena. The Serbian’s win instead sent her through to a quarter-final clash against Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard, who ended Australia’s hopes of a home champion when she overcame Casey Dellacqua 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-0. “I actually believed,” said Ivanovic, whose mental toughness has been frequently ques- tioned because of her failure to back up her 2008 French Open title. “Going on to the court today, I really just tried to give my best. “I tried to make it a good match. I was very competitive till the last moment and I’m just very thrilled.” Williams was riding high on a winning streak MELBOURNE: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia celebrates, as she won the second set against Samantha of 25 matches going back to the start of last Stosur of Australia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis champi- year’s US Open and had not lost a single set to onship. —AP Ivanovic in four previous meetings. BUDAPEST: ’s and compete in the pairs free When the 32-year-old took the first set laughter. “I don’t want to blame anything. I feel winners in a highly impressive display of aggres- skating at the European Championships. — AP despite looking a little lethargic, she seemed to like Ana deserves all the credit. I feel she played sive tennis to overcome Spain’s Tommy Robredo be on her way to a record 62nd victory at the unbelievable today. I think she went for her 6-3 7-6 (3) 7-6 (5) in the final match on Rod Laver Australian Open, where she is 51-1 after going 1- shots. “It’s not like I gave her the match. I tried to Arena. Berdych reached the last eight for the Volosozhar and Trankov 0 up in match. In the second set, though, fight the best I could today.” fourth year in a row at the only grand slam Ivanovic really started to take the game to Djokovic gave his friend of 10 years Fognini where he has never made the semi-finals with- retain pairs title at Euros Williams, attacking the 17-times grand slam absolutely nothing in their 93-minute encounter out having given up a service game let alone a champion’s serve with a success very few have on Rod Laver Arena and still had plenty of ener- set. The seventh seed’s 6-2 6-2 6-3 win over BUDAPEST: and Maxim onships, Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia became managed and dictating the back court with her gy left at the end to launch into an imperson- Kevin Anderson was his 10th in 10 matches Trankov retained their title in the pairs event the youngest winner of the ladies’ event with forehand. ation of new coach Boris Becker. against the South African and left him with despite a series of errors as the European fig- a poignant performance to John Williams’ Her tally of 20 forehand winners to two for There were no jokes, however, when he was “plenty of gas in the tank” for his next match ure skating championships concluded yester- score to “Schindler’s List” in her free skate. Just Williams told its own tale but, most importantly, asked to assess his form after registering his 28th against David Ferrer, who beat Florian Mayer 6-7 day. Volosozhar and Trankov, skating to music 15 years old, she was spectacular on her once in front in the deciding set, Ivanovic kept victory in a row and reaching the last eight for a (7-5) 7-5 6-2 6-1. Former French Open champion from “Jesus Christ Superstar,” led Russia’s podi- jumps and spins. Another Russian, Adelina her head before serving out to love for the 19th straight grand slam. Li, who reached the final here last year and in um sweep and won despite a performance Sotnikova, was second, repeating her 2013 match. “I really did certain things extremely well “I felt from the start of this tournament that 2011, allowed Ekaterina Makarova not so much that saw both of them fall. The Russian duo result. Italian , the defending and I kept her under pressure I felt throughout I’ve been elevating my game as the tournament as a sniff of an upset as she set up meeting with had built a large lead ahead of Sunday’s champion, finished third. Javier Fernandez of the whole match,” the 26-year-old said. “I didn’t is going on. Every match is better,” the second Pennetta by demolishing the Russian 6-2 6-0. finale, following a season-best score in Spain successfully retained his title in the think much about the occasion and who I was seed, who is seeking a fourth straight title, said. Pennetta’s journey to her first Australian Friday’s short program. Volosozhar apolo- men’s event and boosted his chances for a playing, because it can get overwhelming.” “The general feeling on the court, all the Open quarter-final was a bit more complicated gized, promising that “Next time we will try to medal at Sochi. Though his program was not Williams’s four-year quest for a sixth shots, using the court position really well, being and she took 53 minutes longer to beat ninth do better.” flawless, the mistakes, mainly on jumps, did Melbourne title has been bedevilled by injury aggressive, playing my style of the game. seeded German Angelique Kerber 6-1 4-6 7-5. The next time will be at the Olympics in not break the flow of his routine. but she offered no excuses until realising coach “Mentally I was there. I was tough. I was Li had her own particular reason for being Sochi in February. Trankov agreed with his Still, the biggest talking point in the men’s Patrick Mouratoglou had let the cat out of the focused. I feel great about myself in this delighted to face the Italian. “She’s one day older partner. “I hope at the Olympics we will skate field was which Russian skater will be named bag about a back problem she had suffered. moment. Trying to keep it up.” Djokovic next than me, so for once I don’t have to play a like we did at the beginning of the season,” to the only men’s slot available in Sochi for “So he’s the one that’s snitching?” she said to faces eighth seed Stan Wawrinka, who hit 57 younger player,” she beamed. — Reuters Trankov said. and Fedor the host country. Two Russians flanked Klimov skated without mistakes and surged Fernandez on the podium - Sergei Voronov from fourth after the short program to claim was second and Konstantin Menshov third. silver ahead of Vera Bazarova and Yuri Current Russian national champion Maxim Heat scorch Bobcats Larionov. The respective point totals for the Kovtun was fifth, another disappointing skate three medalists were 220.38, 207.98 and at an international event after placing 17th at 201.61. Volosozhar and Trankov had only the the last world championships. CHARLOTTE: LeBron James had 34 points and second-highest score behind Stolbova and Evgeny Plushenko, the 2006 Olympic eight rebounds, and the Miami Heat beat the Klimov in the free skate but were awarded champ, skipped the Europeans and is sched- Charlotte Bobcats for the 15th straight time, 104-96 top marks for elements including lifts, spins uled to audition at a closed-door session for in overtime Saturday night. and steps and got the gold despite the falls Russian skating officials on Tuesday. The fed- James scored six points in the extra period, and under-rotated jumps. eration’s choice for Sochi is set to be including two driving layups to lift the Heat to their “In our team nobody understands what announced Thursday. second win in two nights. Chris Bosh added 25 has happened. We skated amazing in the In another twist, Russian Sports Minister points and seven rebounds for Miami. practices and in the short program,” said Vitaly Mutko lauded Voronov while also sug- Al Jefferson had 22 points to lead the Bobcats, Trankov, who fell twice. “We were not able to gesting Plushenko was still in the running. who were playing their fourth game in five nights. cope with our program today and I didn’t do “The production Voronov has performed Charlotte lost point guard Kemba Walker in the my job. All the mistakes were my mistakes. “It on the ice here was absolutely amazing, it third quarter with an ankle injury. is a question for our coaches how we will pre- might be decisive in the composition of the The crowd of 19,631 was the largest ever to see pare during the next three weeks before the Olympic squad,” Mutko said late Saturday at a Bobcats game at Time Warner Cable Arena on a Olympics,” Trankov concluded. Germany’s the championships. “According to the guide- night in which the team began selling its Hornets Aliona Savchenko and , the lines of the figure skating federation, for a gear for the first time. The Bobcats will become the four-time world champions who were second nomination at the Olympics it is not required Hornets after this season. after the short program, withdrew as either to participate at the preceding Savchenko aggravated a respiratory tract Europeans, or to have a result from it.” PACERS 106, CLIPPERS 92 infection she brought with her to the event. The ice dance was won by Italians Anna Paul George scored 36 points and Lance “Our team doctor said if she is pushing Cappellini and Luca Lanotte, who edged Stephenson added 22 points and 12 rebounds to through she might be sick for 10 days,” coach Russians Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov. lead Indiana to its fourth straight win, all by double said. “The second half of the free The team event opens the figure skating at digits. The Pacers, though, missed a chance to win skating is tough and the risk of injury too Sochi on Feb. 6, one day before the opening four in a row by 20 or more points for the first time high.” In the other events at the champi- ceremony. — AP in franchise history. Indiana retained the league’s top record and improved to 21-1 at home before heading West for a five-game road trip. CHARLOTTE: Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem (40) is fouled by Charlotte Bobcats’ Al Jefferson (25) Jamal Crawford scored 22 points for the during the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP Clippers, who had their five-game winning streak hold on for the victory. Brandon Knight scored 26 rebounds and Andre Drummond added 10 points snapped. Blake Griffin had 19 points and DeAndre points with seven assists for the NBA-worst Bucks, and a game-high 13 boards as the Pistons outre- Jordan added 12 points and 17rebounds. who have dropped eight in a row. bounded the Wizards 44-35. John Wall scored 34 points, including TIMBERWOLVES 98, JAZZ 72 BULLS 103, 76ERS 78 Washington’s last 10, as the Wizards snapped a Nikola Pekovic had 27 points and 14 rebounds Joakim Noah had 21 points and 16 rebounds, three-game winning streak and failed to move past in three quarters to lead Minnesota. Kevin Love Carlos Boozer added 15 points and 13 boards, and .500 for the first time in more than four years. It was had 18 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, and Chicago won for the seventh time in nine games the third time this year they lost at home with a Kevin Martin scored 20 points to help the this month. chance to get over the .500 mark. Timberwolves snap a three-game losing streak that Noah extended his streak of double-digit included losses to Sacramento and Toronto. The rebound games to 12, the longest stretch of his TRAIL BLAZERS 127, MAVERICKS 111 Wolves scored 28 points off 16 Utah turnovers and career. DJ Augustin scored nine points and dished LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and 12 outscored the Jazz 50-18 in the paint for a much- out seven assists in the pivotal second quarter, in rebounds, and Portland ran past Dallas for its fifth needed blowout. which Chicago extended its lead from five to 20. He straight win. Aldridge, a 28-year-old Dallas native, Alec Burks scored 18 points for the Jazz, who finished with 19 points and eight assists. had his 24th double-double this season. trailed by as many as 36 points and shot 28.8 per- Only three 76ers scored in double digits, The NBA’s highest-scoring team reached 30 cent, the worst shooting night in franchise history. Thaddeus Young leading the way with 12 points. points in the first quarter for the 14th time in 2013- Derrick Favors had eight points and 10 boards, but James Anderson had 11 points and seven 14, and 100 points in three quarters for the fourth was just 3 for 10 from the field. rebounds for Philadelphia, which has dropped six time. of seven. Nicolas Batum scored 21 for the Trail Blazers. WARRIORS 97, PELICANS 87 Robin Lopez added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Dirk Stephen Curry scored 28 points, David Lee PISTONS 104, WIZARDS 98 Nowitzki had 18 points for the Mavericks, who had added 22 and Golden State sent New Orleans to its Josh Smith overcame a slow start to score 22 won four of their previous five games. Devin Harris Kuwait takes part in Arab eighth straight loss. Anthony Davis had 31 points points and Rodney Stuckey added 20 to lead played 17 minutes and scored six points in his first and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with Detroit. Greg Monroe had 12 points and 10 game this season following toe surgery. —AP more than 20 points, but that was only enough to Shooting Championship keep the Pelicans competitive into the final min- utes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 KHARTOUM: Arab Shooting Federation’s added. The Kuwaiti Information Minister, rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from Pinturault wins Wengen slalom President Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi launched Vice-President of the International a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped late on Saturday the Arab shooting cham- Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Sheikh a two-game skid. Jordan Crawford added 10 WENGEN: Alexis Pinturault boosted French American Ted Ligety and won the slalom leg. pionship, hosted by Khartoum in Sudan. Salman Sabah A-Salem Al-Humoud Al- points. Tyreke Evans scored 14 points in his return morale three weeks before the Olympics when “Clearly it gave me a hell of a lot of confi- He added in a speech during the Sabah offered the shooting sports a spe- to the Pelicans after missing three games with a he handed his country their first victory in the dence,” he said after upstaging the three other opening ceremony that Arab shooting cial care and support. left ankle sprain. Al-Farouq Aminu added 12 points, alpine World Cup this season in the prestigious skiers to have won slaloms this season to “witnessed a remarkable development “We are looking forward to further but the Pelicans were doomed by 13-of-39 shoot- Wengen slalom yesterday. secure his fifth career victory. during the few past years.” cooperation with countries all over the ing in the second half, during which they scored The 22-year-old all-rounder made amends Germany’s Neureuther was second, 0.34 A large number of Arab shooting world to best serve this sport, he only 33 points. after a poor start to the winter when he fought seconds adrift, and Austrian Hirscher, who led championships were organized, thanks to affirmed. from seventh in the morning run to beat pre- after the first run, had to settle for third after the Arab states’ participation, besides the He expressed his appreciation to the ROCKETS 114, BUCKS 104 race favourites Felix Neureuther and Marcel making a mistake second time around. “When great support offered by His Highness the organizing highest committee of the Terrence Jones had a career-high 36 points and Hirscher in the second leg. “This is a huge vic- he (Pinturault) skis at 100 percent and doesn’t Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber A- championship that is held for the first 11 rebounds, and Houston led from the start. Jones tory because it was not obvious in slalom for make any mistake, he is unstoppable,” said Sabah, he said. time in Sudan, as well as all workers and had 25 points by halftime, matching his previous me in recent weeks,” said the Frenchman, who World Cup holder Hirscher, who trails Norway’s Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic supervisors of the event. Kuwait is taking career-best set on Wednesday, and James Harden had failed to complete three of the four previ- Aksel Lund Svindal by 22 points in the overall Shooting Complex hosts the Arab shoot- part in this championship with a delega- added 22 points. ous World Cup slaloms and had not won in the standings. Pinturault’s victory was excellent ing Union, besides His Highness’ patron- tion consisting of 11 players and adminis- Houston led by 17 points before the Bucks got discipline since December 2012. Pinturault had news for France after losing world champions age and support to a number of Arab trators, while participants from Arab within six points in the third quarter. The Rockets indicated his return to form in Friday’s super- Marion Rolland and Tessa Worley to injury championships carrying his name, he countries reached 170. — KUNA responded with a big run to extend the lead and combined when he finished second behind before the Olympics. — Reuters