WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 16 India drop Pant with Saha set to don gloves against South Africa Djokovic bounces back in Japan Reuters | Mumbai Novak Djokovic makes winning return in Tokyo after US Open injury ndia are set to select IWriddhiman Saha to re- place Rishabh Pant for the The experienced first test of a three-match • series against South Africa Serbian top-seed starting in Visakhapatnam claimed victory on Wednesday, with skipper against 20-year-old KNOW WHAT Virat Kohli describing Saha Alexei Popyrin as the best wicketkeeper in the world. The 34-year-old Saha AFP | Tokyo Djokovic marked his played the last of his 32 271st week as the tests against South Africa orld number one world’s number one, in Cape Town in January Novak Djokovic dis- claiming the title last year but had struggled Wplayed steady recov- of the third longest to find a way back into the ery of his left shoulder injury squad with shoulder and yesterday by defeating an Aus- weeks in the top hamstring injuries hamper- tralian challenger at the Japan spot, and passing the ing his progress. Open, his first competition since record of American Pant, 21, stepped in to pulling out of the US Open. great Ivan Lendl fill the gap and has scored City boss Guardiola was centuries in England and forced The experienced Serbian Australia. But Kohli sug- top-seed claimed a 6-4, 6-2 vic- gested the experienced tory against 20-year-old Alexei Pete Sampras with 286 weeks, Saha would don the gloves Popyrin, who fought bravely at and Roger Federer with 310 this time, partly in view of the Ariake Colosseum, a venue weeks. the spin-friendly wickets for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In the rest of the Tokyo tour- in India. Djokovic added his shoulder Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin nament, Japanese wild card “Yes, Saha is fit and fine to felt “good” and declared that he Taro Daniel, ranked 127, pulled go, and he’s going to start for has set his eyes on an Olympic managed to win points on 84 Djokovic said he has no imme- ovic, a bronze medal winner at off an upset victory against sec- us this series, and his keep- medal next year. percent of his successful first diate worries about his shoulder. the Beijing Olympics in 2008. ond-seeded Borna Coric of Cro- ing credentials are there for Popyrin mixed big serves serves. “I have not felt anything in “Hopefully I can get at least a atia, ranked 14th, with a 6-4, 4-6, everyone to see,” Kohli told with delicate drop shots to stage He finished the roughly previous days, including to - step further in Tokyo. I still feel 7-6(7/5) win in a gruelling match a news conference yester- courageous offensives against 90-minute match by winning day on the match. So I am young in my body and my spirit that stretched over two hours day. 32-year-old Djokovic. the final five games straight. He very pleased to say that I feel as well. I still feel motivated to and 30 minutes. “He’s the best wicket - But Djokovic, taking part in will now face Japanese wild card healthy,” he said. do great things on the court,” Japanese qualifier Yasuta- keeper in the world, so in a Japanese competition for the Go Soeda on Wednesday. When asked about his ambi- he said. ka Uchiyama defeated French these conditions, with what first time, kept his calm to al- “Very pleased overall with the tions about winning an Olym- Meanwhile, Djokovic was fourth-seed Benoit Paire 6-2, he’s done in the past, he ways stay a step above the Aus- game,” Djokovic said after the pic gold medal in Tokyo next marking his 271st week as the 6-2. starts for us.” sie, never giving his opponent a win. year, Djokovic said it would be world’s number one, claiming Reilly Opelka of the US defeat- “He’s played well when- break point, consistently playing It was his first singles compe- “a dream come true.” the title of the third longest ed his countryman seventh-seed ever he’s got a chance, with at a “high-level” with “good in- tition since he withdrew from “It definitely is one of the weeks in the top spot, and pass- Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4. the bat also, and it was un- tensity.” his US Open fourth-round match greatest wishes, if I can say so, ing the record of American great Frenchman Gilles Simon fortunate that he was out Djokovic nailed seven aces, against Swiss Stan Wawrinka the gold in the next season and Ivan Lendl. cruised by Spanish qualifier for such a long period.” against eight by Popyrin, and due to a left shoulder injury. the rest of my career,” said Djok- The Serbian is now chasing Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-0. Murray ‘in right direction’ after biggest win since return Wolff says Mercedes engine deals unrelated to future plans Andy Murray beats • Reuters | London are at a crucial time now to US Open semi-finalist see where the regulations go Matteo Berrettini for ew engine deals with and how it all pans out,” said best win since surgery NMcLaren and Williams the Austrian, principal of the are not linked to Mercedes’s Mercedes Grand Prix team. AFP | Beijing future in Formula One as a “Its a different topic in sup- works team and the brand’s plying customers, which is a involvement in the all-electric standalone decision.” ndy Murray said his return Formula E series, motorsport Formula One is set for a ma- Ato tennis is going “in the head Toto Wolff has said. jor shake-up in 2021 with new right direction” after the for- Mercedes and McLaren an- regulations designed to make mer number one claimed his nounced an engine supply deal the sport more competitive biggest scalp yesterday since from 2021 until at least the end along with the introduction of career-saving hip surgery. of 2024 at the Russian Grand a budget cap. A new commer- The Briton defeated US Open Prix on Saturday. cial agreement has yet to be semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini The German manufacturer finalised, however. 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) in just over had previously extended the Mercedes, the home of two hours at the China Open in Williams contract through to world champion Lewis Ham- smoggy Beijing. 2025. ilton, have won the Formula Murray meets compatriot Asked whether the deals One drivers’ and constructors’ Cameron Norrie in the last 16 Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against Matteo Berrettini of Italy might reflect planning for a fu- titles for the past five seasons after a gutsy victory over the ture where Mercedes focused and are making their debut in 13th-ranked Italian. with Murray saving two set champion Caroline Wozniacki on supplying engines rather Formula E in November. Murray, 32, a three-time points on the way to a win. and Naomi Osaka all comfort- than running a works team in Wolff said he and Niki Lau- Grand Slam winner, said he had Murray said that patience was ably reached the last 16. Barty, Formula One, Wolff told Sky da, the team’s late non-execu- made big strides since the first I didn’t really feel now the key. troubled by a calf problem last Sports television there was no tive chairman, used to have ‘big singles match of his return, a like I was playing at a “Last week was a big step for week in Wuhan, said she felt no connection. discussions’ about whether defeat at the Cincinnati Masters great level. Whereas me,” he said. ill effects in a 6-4, 6-2 win over “One is not linked to the oth- Mercedes should supply other in mid-August. even last week (in “Now I just need to try and get Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. er. I think we’ve got to see how teams or just concentrate on Last week in Zhuhai he won Zhuhai), although the matches, get them consist- “We had a couple light days. Formula One develops and we the works outfit. his first ATP singles match since ently, so that I’m used to playing We didn’t really test it (the leg) January’s major operation. I lost in the second three, four matches in a week. until today,” said the 23-year-old “I didn’t really feel like I was round, I felt like I was Australian. playing at a great level,” he said playing tour-level Trio into last 16 “I didn’t play any points or of his match against Richard tennis. I think things Also in the men’s draw, Felix anything, practice any points, Gasquet in Cincinnati are going in the right Auger Aliassime set up a mouth- simulation until today. “Whereas even last week (in direction watering clash with second seed “I think it was about going Zhuhai), although I lost in the Alexander Zverev of Germany. back out there and knowing second round, I felt like I was ANDY MURRAY The 19-year-old Canadian, we’ve done everything we playing tour-level tennis.” rated one of the finest young could, trusting it.” “I think things are going in the Murray showed glimpses of talents in tennis, beat Albert The 21-year-old Japanese right direction,” added Murray. the steely determination which Ramos Vinolas 6-3, 6-4.