SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 NBA stars gather for first game in Africa JOHANNESBURG: Basketball stars includ- it’s the first game over here,” Paul told AFP. ern, and they also need balls and all that,” charge. ing Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers “We want to make sure we give the fans said Diaw during training. The teams have been involved in charity and Luol Deng of Miami Heat warmed up a great game.” Five-time NBA Champion He said he was confident that develop- work ahead of the clash, including fitness yesterday for the NBA’s first game in Africa, Gregg Popovich will coach Team Africa, ment was starting to take place in Africa, sessions with children and a basketball clin- as the sport looks to expand into the conti- which includes Deng, who was born in despite challenges. ic in a township outside Johannesburg. nent. The sold-out exhibition game at the South Sudan, Luc Mbah a Moute from “I see it in Senegal and lots of things are The game of basketball is steadily gain- Ellis Park arena in Johannesburg on Cameroon, Senegalese Gorgui Dieng and done in other countries too,” he said. ing popularity in Africa, with more than 35 Saturday will pit a team with African links Frenchman Boris Diaw, whose father is from Team World will feature Bradley Beal of players from the continent featured on NBA captained by Deng against a “world team” Senegal. “The first thing they need is infra- Washington Wizards, Pau Gasol of Chicago rosters since Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted captained by Paul. structure. Sports infrastructure needs to be Bulls and Evan Turner of Boston Celtics, with in 1984. The NBA opened an office in “I think what makes it so special is that put in place, basketball courts that are mod- Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins in Johannesburg in 2010.— AFP Wallabies Palu and Giteau return for All Blacks test SYDNEY: Number eight Wycliff Palu and centre Matt Giteau have been recalled to the Australia squad for next week’s Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand with uncapped prop Toby Smith also getting the nod for the Sydney test. Palu was rested for the victories over South Africa and Argentina and returns in place of Scott Higginbotham, while a recall for Giteau after he missed the test against the Pumas with a sternum injury means winger Nick Cummins drops out. “Palu’s obviously a very important player in the fab- ric of the team and just to have him around training, nudging a few players here and there, gives us more self-belief,” coach Michael Cheika told reporters. “We’re starting to get a few more experienced play- ers back in the groove with himself and the likes of Matt Giteau back it’s really helpful.” Smith was rewarded for a fine season with the Melbourne Rebels and, with four props required on matchday, looks likely to make his debut against the All Blacks at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday week. Third string hooker James Hanson was considered HAMBURG: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay during their quarterfinal match at the surplus to requirements for a match on home soil, Hamburg Open tennis tournament in Hamburg, Germany, yesterday. — AP while it was too early for Kane Douglas despite the lock becoming newly eligible for test rugby after signing a deal with Queensland on Friday. “I don’t think he’s picked up his bags from the air- Nadal sets up Seppi port yet has he?” Cheika said of Douglas, who is on the comeback trail after back surgery. “What would be best to do there is talk to him, see how he feels physically, might give him a runaround semi-final clash later on the week and see if he’s in condition to have a look at him next week.” Australia could win a first southern hemisphere title HAMBURG: Top seed Rafael Nadal defeat- Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 7-5. 17th ace, but Stepanek - a 36-year-old, 20- since 2011 if they can beat the world champions in the ed fifth seed Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-2 yesteri- In Atlanta, two-time defending champi- year pro from the Czech Republic - broke final round of the Rugby Championship, which is short- day to set up a Hamburg semi-final clash on John Isner beat Radek Stepanek 7-6 (3), registered the first service break of the ened this year because of the World Cup. against Italian veteran Andreas Seppi. 7-6 (7) on Thursday night in his opening match when he launched a forehand win- It has also been four years since the Wallabies last Nadal, 29, broke the Cuevas serve five match in the Atlanta Open. ner to lead 3-2 in the second set. beat New Zealand and Cheika is under no illusion as to times on his way to a second triumph over The top-seeded Isner has made the After trading holds, Isner broke back in how much work it will take to beat the world’s best the Uruguayan this year, having also beat- Atlanta finals four of the last five years, a game where he turned his back to the en the South American in the Rio de winning the last two after losing to Mardy net and ran to save a deep ball by popping team. Janeiro quarter-finals in February. Fish in 2010 and 2011. Yet, this was the it high in the sky. That set up an eventual “The reality is, they’re the world champions, we’re Nadal is playing in Hamburg for the first time in six Atlanta appearances that passing shot that surprised Stepanek. the underdogs,” Cheika said. first time since 2008, when he lifted the he was not taken to three sets in his first “I certainly got lucky right there,” said “What we need to do is to focus every day at train- trophy with victory over Roger Federer, as match. Still, Stepanek - previously 4-1 Isner, who now lives in Tampa. “He hit it ing, use every single minute to get ready to face the the left-hander looks to breathe life back against Isner - stretched both sets only to right back at me and I was able to hit a world’s best. That’s all we can do.” into his flagging season. see Isner move to 12-1 in Atlanta tiebreak- winner. He had some double faults in that Seppi, who knocked Federer out of the ers since 2012. game as well.” Squad: Australian Open this year, enjoyed a While Isner’s booming serve was good Earlier, Ukrainian qualifier Denis Kudla Forwards - James Slipper, Scott Sio, Greg Holmes, walkover into Saturday’s semi-finals when for 33 aces to three for Stepanek, it was a upset third-seeded Jack Sock 7-6 (6), 6-3, Sekope Kepu, Toby Smith, Stephen Moore, Tatafu compatriot Simone Bolelli withdrew due good thing the world’s 19th-ranked player and No. 6 Steve Johnson and No. 8 Polota-Nau, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, James Horwill, to gastroenteritis. was at “home.” Fans in Atlantic Station Benjamin Becker also tumbled out. Dean Mumm, Scott Fardy, Wycliff Palu, Ben McCalman, Seppi trails Nadal 5-1 in career clashes favored the former University of Georgia Sock, an American ranked 35th, fell with his only win coming in 2008 in star, especially when the former Bulldog quickly in the second set when his service Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, David Pocock. Rotterdam. The other semi-final sees trailed in the second. game abandoned him and high humidity Backs - Nick Phipps, Nic White, Bernard Foley, Quade French qualifier Lucas Pouille face Italy’s “(With) the Georgia fans, the barks in and temperatures in the mid-90s slowed Cooper, Matt Toomua, Matt Giteau, Christian Fabio Fognini. the crowd, it feels like I’m playing a college him down. Lealiifano, Kurtley Beale, Tevita Kuridrani, Adam World number 85 Pouille defeated match,” Isner said after moving to 17-3 in The 94th-ranked Kudla was 5-7 in ATP Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Joe Tomane, Henry countryman Benoit Paire, who was cham- Atlanta. “It’s a very comfortable atmos- matches, although he reached the round Speight, Israel Folau. — Reuters pion on clay at Bastad last weekend, 6-3, phere. I played a pretty nervous match, to of 16 at Wimbledon a month ago. Sock 6-2. Eighth seed Fognini beat Britain’s be honest.” Isner took the first set with his was 17-8.—Agencies.