SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 16 Nadal, Federer plough on upsets defending champion Wozniacki to sweep into the last 16

second major title. “I hit a good serve and played Cilic saves match Sharapova won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 a solid game,” said the 2009 • with the roof closed on Rod La- champion who is searching for points to advance in ver Arena and will next play in- an 18th title. late-night drama form local hope , He paid tribute to De Minaur, who bounced Greece’s Maria who saved six match points. Kvitova starting Sakkari, for a berth in the quar- “He’s a big fighter and super 100 matches have been played to• click as Open ter-finals. quick. Alex has an amazing fu- “I thought the level was quite ture.” by Roger Federer on Rod last 16 looms high. I knew it would be a tough Nadal’s reward is a meeting Laver Arena ( match,” said the 2008 champion, with Tomas Berdych, who ral- in Melbourne) AFP | Melbourne who has been in sizzling form lied to beat Argentine 18th seed at the tournament as she chases Diego Schwartzman 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, aria Sharapova stunned her first Slam title since Roland 6-4. defending champion Garros in 2014. The Czech veteran reached On a rain-affected day that MCaroline Wozniacki to “These types of matches are the semi-finals in 2014 and 2015 delayed play on outside courts, sweep into the Australian Open what I train for and it was really but is unseeded this year as he the 37-year-old showed no mer- last 16 yesterday and join ice rewarding to win that last point,” returns from a back injury that cy to the 21-year-old in his 100th men Rafael Nadal and Roger added the 30th seed. almost forced his retirement last match on the centre court in Federer, who clinically disposed Second seed Nadal called year. Swiss great Federer was Melbourne. of their opponents. young Australian Alex de Min- also on fire in taming big-serving “I had a really good feeling out The Russian five-time Grand aur “one of the best in the world” American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, here today against someone who Slam winner, who has struggled ahead of their evening clash, 6-2 to stay on track for a third can be dangerous,” said Federer since returning from a drugs then proceeded to hand him a successive title at Melbourne after reaching the Melbourne ban in 2017, was at full throttle lesson, dismantling the Park and a 21st Grand Slam fourth round for the 17th time in ending the Dane’s dream of a teenager 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. crown. -- more than anyone else ever. “Taylor played really well. He is going to have many more years on tour playing at this level.” The double defending cham- pion is gunning for a record sev- Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves against Denmark’s enth Australian title. If he goes on to win the tournament, he 7-5, 6-1, with the 15th seed yet Germany’s second seed An- will become the first man ever to drop a set in her best perfor- gelique Kerber, the 2016 title to claim seven or more crowns at mance at Melbourne Park. winner, steamrolled Australian two Slams, having already won She has won seven of eight youngster Kimberley Birrell 6-1, eight Wimbledons. matches this month to back up 6-0 as the Wimbledon champi- Next up for him is fiery Greek a title victory in Zhuhai late last ons continued her under-the-ra- 14th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, year to shape up as a dangerous dar progress. who beat Georgia’s 19th seed opponent for Sharapova. Meanwhile, unseeded Ameri- Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 “It’s getting to the point now can Amanda Anisimova contin- (9/7), 6-4. where I’m feeling more and ued her dream run, ousting 11th The man who lost to Federer more comfortable on the court seed in straight in the final last year, Marin Cilic, and can play my brand of tennis, sets. The 17-year-old will play battled back from two sets down, which when I execute I know eighth seed Petra Kvitova for a surviving two match points to it works against the best in the place in the quarter-finals. beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco world,” said a confident Barty. Russia’s Anastasia Pavly- in a 4hr 18min epic. No Australian woman has won uchenkova also advanced, the season-opening Grand Slam crushing My brand of tennis at Melbourne Park since Chris- for a showdown with fifth seed Switzerland’s Roger Federer hits a return against Taylor Fritz of the US Barty beat Greece’s Sakkari tine O’Neill in 1978. . Konta slams ‘dangerous’ Impey makes his move in Tour Down Under Australian Open late start AFP | Adelaide, outh Africa’s Daryl Impey Ssurged into contention to defend his Tour Down Under title with a thrilling win ahead of race leader Patrick Bevin in Adelaide yesterday. The Mitchelton-Scott rid- er claimed the fourth stage to move to second overall just sev- en seconds behind New Zea- land’s Bevin (CCC Team) with two stages left in the UCI sea- Spain’s Garbine Muguruza (L) shakes hands as she celebrates after victory son-opening world tour event over Britain’s Johanna Konta in South Australia. AFP | Melbourne “I don’t agree with athletes Impey gave his hopes of be- having to physically exert coming the first rider to go back- riton Johanna Konta la- themselves in the wee hours to-back in the race’s 21-year his- Bbelled her late-night Aus- of the morning,” she told the tory a massive boost with his South African rider Daryl Impey (R) from Team Mitchelton-Scott celebrates after crossing finish line tralian Open match against BBC after the 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 stage victory. 129.2-kilometre (80-mile) stage Jumbo-Visma), Richie huge buffer,” Bevin said. Garbine Muguruza “danger- second-round defeat to Span- Astana’s Leon Luis Sanchez through the Adelaide Hills from Porte(Trek-Segafredo) and “Those four (Porte, Bennett, ous” and unhealthy yesterday, iard Muguruza. went early but was caught by Unley to Campbelltown. Michael Woods ( EF-Educa- Woods and Poels) showed saying they should not have “I don’t think it is healthy Impey and Bevin in the last 20 “I’m so stoked to have done tion First) attacked on the final themselves as the best pure had to play in the early hours -- in fact it is quite dangerous. metres to finish third on the something like this, it’s so spe- climb. But they were caught by climbers in this race, but this of the morning. “However, Garbine and I cial,” Impey said. the chasing bunch, led by Im- race fortunately is about being Konta was eliminated ear- were both in the same position “I knew if I lined up Paddy pey and Bevin, on the descent an all-rounder. ly yesterday after contesting and, with the circumstances, Bevin, I’d have a good shot at resulting in an exciting 20-rider “Basically you’ve got to sprint the latest women’s match ever we really put on a great match winning, so I’m super-happy to finish. better than the climbers and held at the Australian Open, and it’s just a shame more peo- I knew if I lined up win today.” Poels, Bennett, Porte and climb better than the sprinters.” starting at 12:30 am and ending ple couldn’t enjoy it.” Paddy Bevin, I’d have a The stage featured the chal- Woods announced themselves Australia’s Jason Lea (Uni- two hours and 42 minutes later The start was delayed when good shot at winning, lenging Corkscrew Road ascent as the top climbers ahead of SA-Australia) retained the King at 3:12 am. the men’s match between Al- so I’m super-happy to as a final test some six kilo - Sunday’s challenging final stage of the Mountain jersey after An exhausted Konta said the exander Zverev and Jeremy metres from the finish. at Willunga, where the Tour stage four from Bennett and situation should never have Chardy on the same court win today Wout Poels (Team Sky), winner will be anointed. Italy’s Manuele Boaro (Astana arisen. turned into 3hr 46min epic. DARYL IMPEY George Bennett (Team “It’s (points lead) still not a Pro Team).

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