SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016

Great Britain stay alive in Hopman Cup

PERTH: Great Britain kept their Hopman Cup hopes Murray said the Hopman Cup had provided an ideal few things I can still work on, the movement can get a alive with a 3-0 win over Germany in their final round launching pad for his upcoming Australian Open bit sharper and hit the ball a bit cleaner from the back robin outing at the mixed teams tournament in Perth campaign in Melbourne later this month. of the court, but I think that will come.” yesterday. The British pairing of Andy Murray and Murray was too good for the emerging Zverev, Watson showed she would be a dangerous oppo- Heather Watson won their respective singles matches despite being broken when he initially served for the nent in Melbourne with her second win in succession, against Alexander Zverev and Sabine Lisicki to secure second set, winning 6-3, 6-4 for two victories from his against Lisicki. Former Wimbledon finalist Lisicki is on the tie. Although the mixed doubles was a dead rub- three singles matches in Perth. His one defeat was to the comeback trail after being sidelined by injury for ber, the couple also needed a win to enhance their mercurial local Nick Kyrgios. “I obviously have things the second half of 2015 and had her chances against chances of reaching today’s final. to practice on and try to improve, I am fairly pleased Watson, but couldn’t match her opponent’s consis- They did so in style, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6- with how I played,” Murray said. “The serve was good, tency. Ranked 32 in the world, the Germand had three 4 to complete a clean sweep of the tie. With two wins that is a good start to build from. “I gave up maybe break points at 0-40 when Watson served for the from their three round robin outings, Great Britain still five or six break points total in the three matches, and match in the second set, but the world number 55 needed unbeaten Australia Green to lose their final some of them could have been avoided as well, so claimed the final five points in succession to complete tie against France. Regardless of that outcome, that was very good. “The rest of my game there is a a 6-3, 6-4 win. — AFP

Aubameyang wins African player of the year, rejects EPL overtures

ABUJA: Star Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rejected English Premier League overtures as he celebrated winning the African player of the year award. The Gabonese, who is the leading Bundesliga scorer this season, was reduced to tears after stopping Yaya Toure getting a fifth straight title on Thursday night. “I am staying at Dortmund,” the 26-year-old Aubameyang, who has been linked with an $85 million move to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, said after accepting the prize at a gala in Abuja. “I am so happy. I am not someone who usual- ly cries but it is quite an emotional moment. “When you are standing alongside players like Yaya Toure or Andre Ayew there is pride in winning such a trophy ahead of them because they are great players and I obviously admire them a lot.” The first player from Gabon to win the title said he hope to get a second award next year with his rich run of form. “I will really have to work a lot. Obviously I think I have the QUEENSLAND: Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov during their skills and the talent to make it again next year but it will men’s singles quarter-final match on the sixth day of the Brisbane International tennis tournament yesterday. require lots of work and many sacrifices as well.” — AFP Aubameyang, who has scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games this season, earned 143 points in a poll of African coaches, seven more than Manchester City’s Toure. Ghana Defending champ cruises and Swansea City striker Andre Ayew was third on 112 points. “I am disappointed but that won’t take anything from anybody,” said Toure, the Ivory Coast captain. “I am into Brisbane semifinals sure Andre is also disappointed after what he did last year. “This is not the time to complain. We will all go back and continue to work hard.” Aubameyang dedicated his title to Federer overcomes illness and opponent his country and Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba was among the first to congratulate him. “His genius is a major asset for the Panthers in preparation for the next African BRISBANE: Roger Federer overcame a lin- “I’m not going to tell you too much, but it Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-3. Two-time Australian Cup of Nations,” said Bongo. Gabon will host the next next gering sickness to hold off Grigor Dimitrov 6- was tough in a way,” Federer said of his ill- Open champion Victoria Azarenka and US African championship in 2017. “We have good players and 4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 yesterday and take his title ness, knowing the Australian Open starts Jan. qualifier Samantha Crawford played the oth- a good national team in Gabon,” declared Aubameyang. defense into the semifinals at the Brisbane 18. “Body is not quite ready, so it’s good to er semifinal match. Frenchman Herve Renard, who led the Ivory Coast to the International. Federer delayed his opening get through it without any issues.” By holding In Auckland, New Zealand, Julia Goerges 2015 African Cup of Nations, was named Coach of the Year. match at the Australian Open warmup until off Dimitrov, who is 10 years his junior, reached her sixth WTA final and her first in This was his second such award after the 47-year-old the fifth day because of a flu-like illness and Federer set up a meeting with 22-year-old four years when she beat qualifier Tamira also led Zambia to upset favorites Ivory Coast to lift a first- was playing Dimitrov in the quarterfinals on Dominic Thiem, the youngest player in the Paszek 6-4, 6-2 in the ASB Classic semifinals. ever Nations Cup trophy in 2012. “You never win alone so I less than 24 hours rest. His serve in the first top 20. Thiem beat third-seeded Marin Cilic 2- Sloane Stephens was leading 5-2 in the first would like to congratulate my staff,” said Renard. “I would set was almost flawless, dropping just two 6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and later said he was hoping to set of the other semifinal match against like to congratulate the Ivory Coast Federation because points, and he appeared to be on course play Federer. “It’s for every young player an third-seeded Caroline Wozniacki when rain they believed in me and I dedicate this trophy to all the with break-point chances for another amazing experience to play with the proba- halted play, forcing it to be postponed to people around the world from Ivory Coast because it was straight-set victory over the young Bulgarian bly greatest of all time,” Thiem said. “You can Saturday. At the Hopman Cup in Perth, Andy an amazing victory for us, after 23 years they were waiting - sometimes likened to him because of their learn so many things from him.” Murray and Heather Watson each had 6-3, 6- this trophy.” Compatriot Bruno Metsu has also clinched two similar styles - before Dimitrov rallied. The other semifinal match will feature 4 singles wins over German opponents Coach of the Year Awards when he was in charge of After wasting a chance to serve out the 2015 finalist Milos Raonic against Bernard Alexander Zverev and Sabine Lisicki, and Senegal in 2001 and 2002. second set in a nervous 10th game, Dimitrov Tomic. Tomic ended 2014 US Open finalist combined to win the mixed doubles by the Ivory Coast were named Team of the Year. Other award dominated the tiebreaker and forced a Kei Nishikori’s streak of three straight semifi- same margin to secure a 3-0 win that kept winners included Cameroon’s Gaell Enganamouit decider. Federer, after showing signs of nal appearances at the Brisbane Britain in contention for Saturday’s final. The (Women’s Player of the Year), TP Mazembe (Club of the fatigue in the second, took a quick break International with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win, his first Australia Green team can seal a spot in the Year), Nigeria Under-23 midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo before the third, and then went on a roll to over a top 10 player on home soil. Raonic final against Ukraine with a win over France (Most Promising Talent) and Nigeria’s Under-17 star Victor set up three match points in the ninth game. relied on his big serve to dictate a 6-4, 6-4 late Friday. Nick Kyrgios gave the home team Osimhen (Youth Player of the Year). Charles Kumi Gyamfi Again Dimitrov rallied, winning five consecu- win over No 78-ranked Lucas Pouille. On the a 1-0 lead when he beat Kenny De Schepper (Ghana) and Samuel Mbappe Leppe (Cameroon) were tive points and forcing Federer to serve it out women’s side, fourth-seeded Angelique 6-4, 6-4 ahead of Daria Gavrilova’s match recognised as African Legends.— AFP - which the 17-time major winner duly did. Kerber moved into the final by beating Carla with France’s Caroline Garcia. — AP