Says Sharapova
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BADMINTON | Page 2 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Time catches France face up with Dutch in Chinese World Cup legend Dan qualifi er Wednesday, August 30, 2017 CRICKET Dhul-Hijja 8, 1438 AH Warner and GULF TIMES Lyon put Australia back on track SPORT Page 3 TENNIS/US OPEN Sharapova wins on Slam return, ousts Halep AFP “I just thought this was another day, second-round matchup against Hun- Osaka stuns Kerber New York another opportunity, another match but garian Timea Babos, whom she has never this was so much more,” Sharapova said. played. Sharapova won only 5 of 22 break New York: Japanese teenager Nao- “You sometimes wonder why you put points in the match while Halep won 4 of mi Osaka sent defending champion ormer world number one Maria in all the work and this is exactly why.” 10 and produced only 15 winners against Angelique Kerber crashing out of Sharapova made a triumphant An emotional Sharapova punctuated her 14 unforced errors. the US Open first round yesterday, return to Grand Slam competi- shotmaking, at times erratic and other It was Sharapova’s fi rst Grand Slam bringing a rare bright spot to a rain- tion after a 15-month doping moments spectacular, with screams and match since a quarter-fi nal loss to Ser- lashed day at Flushing Meadows. Fban, outlasting second-ranked Simona fi st pumps. She was energetic even at ena Williams in last year’s Australian As players ran for cover off the out- Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at the US Open. rest, closing her eyes and bouncing her Open.Sharapova, ranked 146th, re- side courts, Osaka’s big-hitting game The 30-year-old Russian, who had legs as she sat between sets.After the turned in April but the French Open and love of the big occasion thrived only one hardcourt tuneup match due fi nal point, Sharapova dropped to her snubbed Sharapova for a wildcard entry under the roof of the Arthur Ashe to a nagging forearm injury, swatted 60 knees in tears as a replay appeal showed and she missed Wimbledon with a thigh Stadium court. winners with 64 unforced errors, setting what she already knew. injury. World number one Karolina Plisk- the tempo and baffl ing Halep at times in She later battled back tears as she blew Asked about her low points, Shara- ova, bidding to back up her lofty a tension-packed thriller at Arthur Ashe kisses to spectators, sobbed at times and pova, said, “There were defi nitely a few status with a maiden first Grand Stadium. mouthed “Thank you” to fans that were but I don’t think this is the time to talk Slam title, made a winning start at “This girl has a lot of grit,” Sharapova devoted throughout the two hour and 45 about that.” a soggy US Open yesterday a 6-2, said of herself. “And she’s not going any- minute drama. Sharapova walked onto the court at 6-1 win over Poland’s Magda Linette. where.” Sharapova, who tested positive “You never know what you’re going to Arthur Ashe Stadium to rousing ap- “I felt a little bit nervous walking on for meldonium at last year’s Australian feel until you win that match point,” she plause. She wore a black dress, visor, this court, especially after last year Open, improved to 7-0 in her all-time ri- said. “It was so worth it.” socks and shoes, the same style she and the memories I have here,” said valry with Halep, extending her mastery Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates her victory over Simona Halep of Romania Sharapova, whose major titles in- sported in taking the trophy nine years Pliskova. over the 25-year-old Romanian. in the first round of the US Open in New York. clude the 2006 US Open, advanced to a ago on the New York hardcourts. CRICKET Hope and glory as Windies stun England in 2nd Test It was all the more impressive given that just over a week earlier they’d REACTION suff ered an innings and 209-run defeat inside three days in the first Test AFP Law proud as Leeds WI bounce back hai Hope led the West Indies to a remarkable fi ve-wicket victory est Indies coach scored a hundred in any of his over England in the second Test Stuart Law praised previous 11 Test matches. yesterday as he became the fi rst his side for the way Yet his 118 not out yesterday, Sbatsman to score two hundreds in a fi rst- Wthey responded to following his fi rst-innings 147, class match at Headingley. their humiliating fi rst Test de- saw the Barbados batsman be- The West Indies, set a seemingly im- feat by England to level the series come the fi rst man to score two posing 322 for victory, fi nished on 322 for with a stunning fi ve-wicket win hundreds in a fi rst-class match fi ve with 28 balls to spare. at Headingley yesterday. in 127 years of cricket at Headin- Hope, elegant through the off side and Shai Hope made hundreds in gley. “I said if he gets one (hun- assured off his legs, was 118 not out fol- both innings, with opener Kraigg dred), he’ll get plenty – well he lowing his fi rst-innings 147. Brathwaite falling just fi ve runs got one and he’s got another,” Having not scored a hundred in any shy of the same feat, as the West said Law of Hope. of his previous 11 Tests, the 23-year-old Indies completed a remarkable “He’s been going through Barbados batsman had two in the one victory yesterday to square the the form dip but he’s looked in game. three-Test series at 1-1. good nick.” Law also had words Victory saw West Indies level the “What a fi ve days,” Law told of praise for the 24-year-old three-match series at 1-1 as they recorded Sky Sports. Brathwaite, saying: “He’s not the their fi rst Test win in England since 2000. “After getting the kicking we most fashionable-looking crick- It was all the more impressive given did at Edgbaston, to get the boys eter but he gets the job done and that just over a week earlier they’d suf- back up to achieve what they’ve he’s one of my fi rst picks every fered an innings and 209-run defeat in- done these last fi ve days, it’s game. side three days in the fi rst Test at Edgbas- a great eff ort – not just by the “(He’s got) plenty of courage, ton. players themselves but all the plenty of character and plenty of This was also, excluding fi xtures support staff . determination.” against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, just “I’m very proud of them, and Meanwhile a delighted Hope the West Indies’ fourth Test win away of the two young guys who scored said: “We needed someone to from home in 88 matches spanning 20 the runs,” added the former Aus- stand up and bat and I was sure years. West Indies’ Shai Hope celebrates guiding his team to victory against England in the second Test at Headingley yesterday. tralia batsman after the West In- if I was there at the end, the cen- Together with opener Kraigg dies, set a seemingly stiff 322 to tury would come. Brathwaite (95), Hope put on 144 after But Broad did reduce the West Indies Headingley fl oodlights shining bright on ond delivery with the new ball for a stun- win, fi nished on 322 for fi ve with “I’m elated, we’ve been work- the pair had shared a stand of 246 in the from 46 for none to 53 for two. a gloomy day, was to loft Anderson’s sec- ning straight six. 28 balls left. ing really hard as a team,” he fi rst innings, with Brathwaite making He had Kieran Powell (23) fending to Hope pushed Broad for a single to com- The 23-year-old Hope had not added. 134. Ben Stokes at fourth slip and then ran out plete a superb century off 175 balls, includ- The West Indies resumed on fi ve with- Kyle Hope, Shai’s older brother, for the ing 13 fours, as he achieved something no out loss after England captain Joe Root unluckiest of ducks when he dropped a one else had managed in 127 years of fi rst- SCORECARD had declared late on Monday with Eng- return catch from a hard-hit Brathwaite class cricket at Headingley — a ground land 490 for eight in their second innings. drive only to defl ect the ball onto the that has been home to such Yorkshire and England 1st Innings: 258 (B Stokes R. Chase c sub (Crane) b Woakes ..30 Only Australia, with 404 for three back stumps at the bowler’s end as the non- England batting greats as Herbert Sut- 100, J Root 59; S Gabriel 4-51, K Roach J. Blackwood st Bairstow b Ali ..............41 in 1948, had made more to win in the striker backed up. cliff e, Len Hutton and Geoff Boycott. 4-71) S. Dowrich not out ...............................................0 fourth innings of a Headingley Test. But it was not until the stroke of tea He was also the fi rst West Indies bats- West Indies 1st Innings: 427 (S Extras (b4, lb9, w1, nb1) .................................. 15 James Anderson started yesterday just that West Indies lost their third wick- man to score hundreds in both innings of Hope 147, K Brathwaite 134; J Anderson Total (5 wkts, 91.2 overs, 393 mins) 322 three away from becoming the fi rst Eng- et when Brathwaite edged off -spinner a Test in England since Gordon Greenidge 5-76) Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Powell), 2-53 land bowler to take 500 Test wickets.