TUESDAY 2 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 25 ‘Tie Break Tens’ is a great Rafael Nadal, 3.30pm Onwards ahead of the exhibition concept and we will see event which will be held FOOTBALLFOOOTOTBABALLLL MEN’S SINGLES and play some exciting in Melbourne on January matches. 10, five days before the Khalifa International Tennis MEN’S DOUBLES Australian Open begins. and Squash Complex Round of 16 Halep, Sharapova off to winning starts REUTERS WORLD number one Simona Halep swatted aside American Nicole Gibbs while Maria Sharapova was flawless in her straight sets victory over Roma- nia’s Mihaela Buzarnescu in the opening round of the Shenzhen Open Kvitova yesterday. Halep, who sealed a 6-4 6-1 vic- withdraws tory, struck three aces and fired 12 winners and was at her aggressive with viral best to set up a second round clash with China’s Duan Yingying who Simona Halep of Romania World No. 1 Rafael Nadal illness defeated Evgeniya Rodina 6-2 7-5. hits a return against Nicole “It’s always nice to play here in Gibbs of the US in the first Shenzhen,” said Halep, who captured round of the Shenzhen REUTERS the Shenzhen Open title in 2015. “It’s Open tennis tournament in Nadal to make my first victory this year as number Shenzhen yesterday. BRISBANE: Twice Wimbledon one in the world, so I’m happy and champion Petra Kvitova enjoying the time.” Australian (pictured above) withdrew Five-times major winner Shara- “She beat a crowd favourite yes- from the Brisbane Interna- pova hit 18 winners and needed an terday, so I know I have a tough match tional with a viral illness hour and 22 minutes to despatch the ahead, but I just want to keep playing return in yesterday. seasoned Buzarnescu 6-3 6-0 for a better, and keep improving no matter The 27-year-old Czech winning start to the year. who is across the net.” Every match gets exhibition event was unable to take the court “Every match gets tougher and as Unseeded Danka Kovinic, ranked tougher and as a in her first round match a competitor and someone who tries 123 in the world, stunned Greek sev- competitor and REUTERS against Estonian Anett Kon- to be realistic, I like to only look ahead enth-seeded Maria Sakkari 4-6 6-2 taveit and was replaced in the to the next opponent,” Sharapova said 6-3. someone who tries to MELBOURNE: World number one Rafael Nadal, draw by lucky loser Heather after the match. Local hope Zhang Shuai powered be realistic, I like to who is struggling to get any match practice before Watson. The Russian next faces 2017 past Russia’s Anna Blinkova 6-3 6-4 only look ahead to the the Australian Open, will play an exhibition event “I’m really disappointed to runner-up Alison Riske, who upset and was joined in the next round by next opponent: at Melbourne Park in the week leading up to the withdraw from the Brisbane China’s fifth seed Wang Qiang on Timea Babos who beat China’s Wang season opening Grand Slam, organisers said International,” Kvitova was Sunday. Xiyu 6-1 6-1. Sharapova yesterday. quoted as saying on the WTA The 31-year-old Spaniard has not played since website. he withdrew from the season-ending World Tour “Unfortunately I picked up Finals in London in November with a knee injury. a virus on the flight to Aus- He had already withdrawn from an exhibi- tralia and I haven’t been able Konta survives as Svitolina tion tournament in Abu Dhabi, this week’s Bris- to get healthy in time to play bane International and another event in Sydney, here. citing a lack of time to properly prepare. “It’s always a fantastic and advances in Brisbane However, the 16-times Grand Slam winner competitive place to start the will be part of the winner-takes all Tie Break Tens year so I’m sorry not to be in event at Melbourne Park on Jan. 10, five days the draw.” AP before the Australian Open begins. The former world number “Tie Break Tens is a great concept and we will two required four hours of BRISBANE: Johanna Konta opened her season with see and play some surgery on her left hand in a tough 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over U.S. Open finalist exciting matches,” The eight-man December 2016 after being Madison Keys at the Brisbane International yesterday. Nadal said in a field includes attacked by a man wielding a Fifth-seeded Konta entered the Australian Open statement. knife who had gained access tuneup tournament after losing her last four matches “The field is fan- Novak Djokovic, to her apartment by posing as in 2017, including a first-round exit at the US Open. tastic and I expect three-time Grand a utility worker. After dropping the first set, Konta hit form quickly some tough compe- Slam winner Kvitova returned to action, and had decisive service breaks early in the second tition which will be after months of rehabilitation, and third sets before clinching it on her second match great for the Aussie Stan Wawrinka, during the French Open in point, breaking Keys’ serve to finish off in just over fans.” Australia’s Nick May and went on to win the two hours. The eight-man Kyrgios, and Aegon Classic in June. Keys, playing just her second match since her field includes Novak former world career-best run at the U.S. Open, had 11 aces and hit Djokovic, three-time 37 winners but made 38 unforced errors and in humid Grand Slam winner number one conditions on Pat Rafter Arena. Stan Wawrinka, Aus- Lleyton Hewitt. “It was good tennis today — I haven’t played a tralia’s Nick Kyrgios, match in four months, so it’s like a win for me,” Keys and former world I’m really said. I “Played really well. She played better. I’m not number one Lleyton Hewitt. disappointed to that upset about it.” Each match is comprised solely of super tie withdraw from the In other matches, third-seeded Elina Svitolina breaks to 10 points. The knockout tournament Brisbane opened with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Carla Suarez Nav- provides a winner take-all purse of $250,000. Johanna Konta of Britain arro, 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi beat Daria Kasat- “It really will be an intriguing contest,” Aus- International. It’s kina 6-2, 6-2 and qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich tralian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said. always a fantastic hits a return against Madison Keys of the ousted No. 6-seeded Kristina Mladenovic 1-6, 6-3, “These guys are all coming in at different and competitive US during their first 7-5. stages of their preparation, but once their com- place to start the round women’s singles Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova petitive instincts kick in, which will be almost year so I’m sorry not match at the Brisbane withdrew from the tournament earlier Monday instant in this format, there will be some absorbing to be in the draw: International tennis because of a viral illness and was replaced in the draw contests. tournament yesterday. by Heather Watson, who lost 6-0, 6-3 to Anett “Remember, there is not much room for error. Kvitova Kontaveit. You lose the tie break and you are out.” Svitolina eyes Grand Slam success ranked sixth in the and Svitolina was able to Karolina Pliskova, Gar- continue to work and to, world, was speaking close out the match in bine Muguruza and cur- you know, to just be after an impressive 6-2, just under 90 minutes. rent number one Simona focused on these kind of 6-4 win over Spain’s Svitolina won five Halep. things. Carla Suarez Navarro in titles in 2017 on her way Svitolina said her “That’s what’s impor- the first round of the to a career-high world ability to raise her game tant for me -- and then Brisbane International ranking of number three. to see off someone as the Grand Slam and AFP yesterday. She said she had dangerous as Suarez number one is all going The 22-year-old worked hard during the Navarro showed she was to come if I have my BRISBANE: Ukraine’s cruised through the first off-season and there was also capable of taking game, if I’m healthy, if Elina Svitolina (pictured) set but was forced to fight no reason why she could the next step. I’m playing my best.” believes she can become harder in the second as not win a Grand Slam or “This match was a Svitolina will take on world number one in Suarez Navarro began to take the top ranking. good example that I can Ana Konjuh in the second 2018 despite a host of find her range with pow- Five women held the play a good level of round following the challengers for the erful groundstrokes. top spot at various times tennis, a high level of Croatian’s 6-1, 6-2 win coveted top ranking. But the Spaniard fal- in 2017 -- Serena Wil- tennis,” she said. over Dutchwoman Kiki Svitolina, currently tered while serving at 4-5 liams, Angelique Kerber, “So I will try to Bertens on Sunday. 26 SPORT TUESDAY 2 JANUARY 2018 TUESDAY 2 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 27 Tiger hopes to FIFA World Cup, Asian and play full 2018 Will new faces challenge tennis Commonwealth Games but not yet legends at the top this year? highlight action-packed year ready to commit FIFA World Cup 2018 (June 14 – July 15) REUTERS ATP WORLD TOUR Rafael Nadal will again likely pick up thousands record in finals as a popotentialtential quarter-finalsquarter-finals of The Champi-Champi- ONE of the biggest and most attended sporting spectacle, FIFA of ATP Rankings points on the European red clay.