Sharapova Relishing 'Emotional' Beijing Showdown
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SPORTS Wednesday, October 4, 2017 23 Evans given one-year ban Raonic hammers after positive cocaine test Japan Open Tokyo TroickiAmerican Steve Johnson in theon Raonic, a formerreturn world Benoit Paire of France threw in anada’s Milos Raonic looked late match on centre court. number three and winner of eight the towel upon losing the first set sharp on his return from But third seed Raonic, who was ATP Tour singles titles, rifled 16 6-4, citing fatigue. wristC surgery yesterday as he forced to sit out the US Open due aces to pile the misery on Troicki, A late decision to rush the battered Serbian Viktor Troicki to persistent problems with his completing victory with a kicking net failed to save Thiem, who 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the left wrist, displayed very few signs serve that his opponent could wilted after losing the second-set Dan Evans (file pic) Japan Open. of rust after a seven-week absence only waft into the net. tiebreak 7-5, and Johnson closed Austrian Dominic Thiem and took just 71 minutes to blast “It was a good match for me out an upset win with a fizzing London fared less well, with his way into the last 16. in a lot of ways -- disciplined, body serve after two hours and ritain’s Dan Evans was hit with a one-year the second Raonic, a right-hander with competed well -– considering the 18 minutes. suspension yesterday after testing positive for seed being a double-fisted backhand, tore circumstances,” said Raonic. “It feels great to get off to such cocaineB in April. bundled through the opening set in bright “The injury developed over the a great start,” said Johnson. “I Evans, ranked 108th, failed the drug test at the out 4-6, Tokyo sunshine and secured the past 10 years, the pain had been stuck with it and was able to serve Barcelona Open in April and went public with the 7-6, 6-4 key break early in the second with manageable,” he added. “But I hit it out. A couple of years ago I result at an emotional press conference in June. b y a cleverly disguised drop shot. a breaking point and the pain was made the quarters and personally The 27-year-old’s ban has been backdated and he Troicki fought gamely but not tolerable.” I’d like to stay here all week.” will be eligible to play again on April 24 next year. when a Raonic volley clipped Currently ranked 12th, Raonic Frenchman Richard Gasquet, “A sample was found to contain cocaine and its the net and trickled over, the finished runner-up at the Japan another former Japan Open metabolite,” a statement from the International Serb slammed his racquet to Open three years running from finalist, upset American sixth Tennis Federation read. the ground in disgust and 2012-2014 -- twice to local seed Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-6 after “A decision has been issued under the Tennis Anti- bellowed furiously favourite Kei Nishikori. clinically winning the second-set Doping Programme that Daniel Evans has committed at courtside The former breaker 7-2. an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of spectators. Wimbledon In other matches, eighth seed the Programme. It was agreed that a period of one finalist next Diego Schwartzman of Argentina year’s ineligibility should be imposed, commencing faces Japan’s beat American Donald Young on 24 April 2017. Yuichi 6-2, 7-5 while Australia’s Matthew “The ITF accepted Mr. Evans’ account of how Sugita, who Ebden ousted big-serving Croat the cocaine got into his system and that he bears no progressed Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-3. significant fault or negligence for the violation.” after 2015 Croatian Marin Cilic heads Evans had accepted the ITF’s anti-doping charge, Tokyo runner-up the Tokyo field this year at a saying in June: “I made a mistake and I must face up to tournament whose list it.” Cocaine is only banned in competition and Evans of former champions insisted he didn’t take it during the tournament. Japan Open results includes tennis H e said it had got into his system via greats Ken Rosewall, permitted medication that he First round John McEnroe, Pete had stored in the same Milos Raonic (CAN x3) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3, 6-4 Sampras, Roger pocket of his washbag Steve Johnson (USA) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT x2) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 Federer and Rafael in which he had Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Sam Querrey (USA x6) 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) Nadal. (AFP) previously kept Yuichi Sugita (JPN) bt Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-4, 0-0 retired the cocaine. Matthew Ebden (AUS) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-4, 6-3 (AFP) Canada’s Milos Raonic returns a shot Diego Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt Donald Young (USA) 6-2, 7-5 Sharapova relishing ‘emotional’ Beijing showdown Beijing relishing her showdown with record against Halep, who retired ill in the second set. had been forced aria Sharapova said the Romanian Halep: “We made it into the next round on Tuesday’s encounter with into a deciding set. yesterday that her third- know each other’s games very the outside Beijing hard courts Makarova was the second time And the Russian roundM China Open clash with well, that’s no secret. after Magdalena Rybarikova in four days that Sharapova believes tournaments such world number two Simona “They’ve always been as the China Open are only Halep will help the Russian very challenging, tough, WTA/ATP China Open results getting harder to win. gauge her progress since competitive, emotional.” “There’s a lot of depth in the returning from a 15-month Sharapova, a crowd Women game, by that I mean there’s doping ban. favourite in Beijing, added: 2nd round maybe many years ago you’d The former number one, “But I love the challenge of Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Julia Goerges (GER) 6-4, 6-2 find yourself working through on the comeback trail since playing against someone that’s Daria Gavrilova (AUS) bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA x14) 6-3, 2-0 retired the first rounds,” she said. April following the ban for number two in the world. Petra Kvitova (CZE x12) bt Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-4, 6-4 (AFP) taking the banned substance “She’s a great player, she’s Elena Vesnina (RUS) bt Duan Yingying Duan (CHN) 6-3, 6-2 meldonium, had to dig deep had a great year. Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Christina McHale (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 as she defeated compatriot “Any time you’re able to Karolina Pliskova (CZE x4) bt Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-4, 6-4 Ekaterina Makarova over three face an opponent that’s done Darya Kasatkina (RUS) bt Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) 6-4, 7-5 sets in the second round. something right and well, it’s Maria Sharapova (RUS) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 Sharapova, a lowly 104 in great to see where you are and Simona Halep (ROM x2) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-1, 2-1 retired the world and on a wildcard at where your level is.” the China Open, has yet to win The Halep meeting will be Men a tournament since returning a replay of the first-round 1st round to tennis. match between the pair Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA) 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 The five-time Grand at the US Open in August, Leonardo Mayer (ARG) bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4 Slam champion said she had when Sharapova made an John Isner (USA x6) bt Malek Jaziri (TUN) 6-2, 6-3 endured “a few ups and downs” impressive return to Grand Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in seeing off Makarova 6-4, 4-6, Slam competition before Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt Pablo Cuevas (URU) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 6-1. exiting in the fourth round. Nick Kyrgios (AUS x8) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-1, 6-2 Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates But the 30-year-old is Sharapova holds a 7-0 .