WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 16 Djokovic cruises in Madrid

Launching his quest for a• third Madrid title, Novak Djokovic dismissed qualifier Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 6-2, to roll into the Madrid round of 16

Simona Halep was too strong• for Johanna Konta

AFP | Madrid ovak Djokovic needed just 65 minutes to make a winning start Nat the Madrid Open yesterday, hammering Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round. The top seed and world number one broke three times as he schooled the Roumania’s Simona Halep returns the ball to Britain’s Johanna Konta Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to US Taylor Fritz American. Djokovic won the Madrid title in 2011 and 2016, He will be chasing a fourth “It was a great first match. I’ve hopefully they can come sooner than The Briton had made a dash to Ma- straight Grand Slam trophy at Roland been good on the practice court, later. drid on Sunday evening after playing Garros next month. feeling really good, so it was impor- “I’m ready to keep working the right the Rabat clay final. Konta won her Third seed Roger Federer was mak- tant to start well today,” Wawrinka way to get back in a better place and to opening match against Alison Riske but ing his clay return after two full sea- said. I’m ready to keep working win more matches and hopefully get could not match Halep, the defending sons off of the surface when he faced “I hope my game is going to click the right way to get back in a later in the tournament.” French Open champion. Frenchman Richard Gasquet later in soon. I’m patient enough to know that better place and to win more Wawrinka will next play Argentine “I feel good every time when I come the second round after a bye. sometimes it takes time,” said the Swiss matches and hopefully get Guido Pella, who put out Barcelona to Madrid and I’m happy to be back and Unseeded treble Grand Slam cham- player, who underwent two knee sur- later in the tournament finalist Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. winning matches,” Halep said. pion Stan Wawrinka started his Ma- geries in August, 2017. In the women’s WTA draw, third seed “It was a good match. Both of us drid campaign with a 6-2, 6-3 win over “I’m playing well and feeling STAN WAWRINKA and two-time champion Simona Halep played very well and, in the end, I was Pierre-Hugues Herbert to move into well on the court. I still have of Romania ended the hopes of Johanna a bit stronger mentally and I found a the second round. some big result inside me so Konta 7-5, 6-1 in the second round. rhythm.”

Ajax hopeful on David Neres Trump awards Presidential Medal Neres fitness of Freedom to Tiger Woods for Tottenham AFP | Washington iger Woods, fresh off his Tepic comeback victory return leg in the Masters, was award - ed the Presidential Medal of AFP | Amsterdam, Netherlands up again,” Freedom by President Donald added Ten Trump at the White House on jax are hopeful David Neres Hag. Monday. Awill be fit for their Cham- ‘Healthy Presenting the golfing great pions League semi-final second tension’ with the nation’s highest honor, leg against Tottenham Hotspur, Spurs will Trump praised Woods’ “relent- with coach admit- have Son Heu - less will to win, win, win.” ting there was “a small question ng-min back from “These qualities embody mark” surrounding the fitness suspension this the American spirit of pushing of the talented Brazilian winger. time, though, and boundaries, defying limits and “There is perhaps a small that gives them always striving for greatness,” problem with David, but he hope, especial- the president said. will train and we expect him to ly after Mauricio Trump congratulated Woods President Donald Trump presents Tiger Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House play,” Ten Hag said at a press Pochettino’s de- on “your amazing comeback conference yesterday at the Jo- pleted team recov- and your amazing life and for by Nicklaus. han Cruyff Arena. ered from a torrid first 30 min- game after the Cup final, when giving sports fans a lifetime of ‘Especially meritorious’ Woods, a black superstar in Ajax take a 1-0 lead into utes in London to cause Ajax veteran striker Klaas-Jan Hunt- memories. a white-dominated sport, has Wednesday’s game after Donny problems. elaar was one of those to come “We can’t wait to see what’s Established by John F. Ken- steered clear of commenting on van de Beek’s early goal sepa- “Our defensive organisation into their team. next, Tiger,” said Trump, an nedy in 1963, the Presidential politics during his career. rated the teams in London last was excellent,” pointed out Ten He netted twice against Wil- avid golfer and owner of several Medal of Freedom is bestowed He has golfed with Demo - week. Hag. lem II in between goals from golf courses around the world. upon those who have made an cratic presidents Bill Clinton Neres, who scored a brilliant “In the final third we didn’t and Rasmus Kris- Woods, 43, choked up as he “especially meritorious” contri- and Barack Obama and with equaliser in the 1-1 draw at play all that well but the play- tensen as Ajax won the Cup thanked his mother, his two bution to US security or national Republican presidents George home to Juventus in the quar- ers’ mindset was to defend our for the first time since 2010. children, his girlfriend and interests, world peace, cultural H.W. Bush and Trump. ter-finals and hit the post late in 1-0 lead.” Celebrations after that game his caddy during the ceremo- pursuits or other non-specified He has hit the links with the first leg against Tottenham, There are likely to be a were muted, however. ny in the White House Rose endeavors. Trump on several occasions, came on as a second-half sub- few changes to Ten Hag’s “Most of the celebrations Garden. It has been awarded to near- most recently in February at the stitute in the Dutch Cup final line-up for Wednesday’s were on the pitch and then in “You have seen the good and ly three dozen sports figures president’s course in Jupiter, at the weekend as Ajax beat the Arena with the fans, and the bad, the highs and the lows,” including golf legends Jack Florida. Willem II 4-0 in Rotterdam. after that it was a bit timid,” said Woods, who battled back Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Woods was asked last year It was the first leg of a poten- admitted Blind. from injury to win the Masters honored by president George about his relationship with tial treble for the Amsterdam “We knew what was coming last month, his first major title W. Bush. Trump, who has been engaged side, who are top of the Dutch and it is clear that this match since the 2008 US Open. President Barack Obama gave in an ongoing feud with a num- and hoping to reach was in our thoughts.” “My dad is no longer here, but the medal in 2014 to Charlie ber of African-American bas- the Champions League final for KNOW WHAT Blind, who played for Man- my mom is here,” Woods said. “I Sifford, the first African Amer- ketball and football stars. the first time since 1996. chester United when they beat love you, Mom.” ican golfer to play on the PGA “Well, I’ve known Donald for They have already dumped Ajax in the 2017 Europa League “I have tried to hang in there Tour. a number of years,” Woods said. out the holders, Real Madrid, final, returned to the Amster- and I have tried to come back During his speech, Woods “We’ve played golf together. and beaten Juventus to reach Ajax take a 1-0 lead dam club last year. and play the great game of golf praised Sifford who he said was We’ve had dinner together. this stage, and now they are into Wednesday’s Despite the size of the oc - again,” Woods said. “I have “like the grandpa I never had.” Woods said the important hoping to finish the job against game after Donny casion, he said there were no been lucky enough to have had “I ended up becoming so thing was to respect the office Spurs. van de Beek’s early nerves in the home camp. the opportunity to do it again.” close with him that I ended up of the presidency, regardless of “The intensity against a Pre- goal separated the “There is a bit of healthy ten- He said his Masters victory naming my son Charlie after who happened to be occupying mier League team is a little dif- sion, which is good,” he said. was “probably the highlight of him,” he said. “So to have been the White House. ferent, but we experienced that teams in London “Each match is important in what I have accomplished so chosen as the next golfer after “No matter who is in the of- before against Juventus and last week its own right -- even in the qual- far in my life on the golf course. Charlie is truly remarkable.” fice, you may like, dislike per- Real. The team has the ability to ifying rounds the games were “To have had that type of ex- Woods’ Masters was his 15th sonality or the politics, but we adapt to playing at a higher lev- important and you just have to perience and to be able to come major title, leaving him just all must respect the office,” el and we have to make that step make sure you prepare well.” out on top and win,” he said. three short of the record held Woods said.