CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 2 CRICKET | Page 7 Aru wins fi ft h Root ‘excited’ to stage, while lead England in Froome series opener grabs yellow against SA Thursday, July 6, 2017 FOOTBALL Shawwal 12, 1438 AH Messi to stay at GULF TIMES Barcelona until 2021 under new deal SPORT Page 3 TENNIS Murray, Williams through, Kvitova exits Wimbledon Nadal blazes past American Donald Young, while Nishikori and Konta advance too as players battle flying ants AFP London ndy Murray comfortably overcame everything the unorthodox Dustin Brown served up yesterday as the de- fending champion breezed into the Athird round at Wimbledon, where players bat- tled sizzling temperatures and fl ying ants. Venus Williams, Kei Nishikori and Johanna Konta ground out victories to make the last 32, while new mum Victoria Azarenka continued her comeback bid for Grand Slam glory. Rafael Nadal continued his imperious run of form as he swept aside American Donald Young 6-4 6-2 7-5. The two-times champion was rarely troubled by an opponent ranked 43rd in the world who chose to slug it out from the back of the court against the supreme Spanish baseliner. However, Petra Kvitova, the two-time Wim- bledon champion and favourite for the 2017 ti- tle, was knocked out in the second round. The Czech 11th seed lost 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to Madison Brengle of the United States. Kvitova, who is playing in her second Grand Slam since recovering from a terrifying knife at- tack in her home, needed to call for medical as- sistance during the third set. Brown, the dreadlocked German with Ja- maican roots, knocked out Nadal in the second round two years ago at the All England Club. However, world number one Murray was not caught out by his extrovert drop shots, racing to Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova receives medical a ruthless 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Centre Court. attention during loss to Madison Brengle of the “Once I got the break in the fi rst set, I felt the Great Britain’s Andy Murray in action during his second round match against Germany’s Dustin Brown at the All England Club yesterday. (Reuters) US yesterday. (AFP) momentum was with me. I started to see the shots he was going to play a little but quicker ousted Czech 22nd seed Barbora Strycova, in Watson who downed Latvian 18th seed Anas- fresh from winning a historic 10th French Open, Tsonga was one of several players bothered by and that allowed me to get to some of the drop Friday’s third round. tasija Sevastova. was facing fellow left-hander Donald Young of an invasion of fl ying ants. volleys,” the British star said. Former world number one Azarenka, playing the United States. “That was strange... it was in my nose and in Next up for Murray is a clash with colourful her fi rst Grand Slam tournament since giving BIG DAY FOR BRITS Nishikori dug deep to keep his Wimbledon my ear,” he said. Italian 28th seed Fabio Fognini in tomorrow’s birth to fi rst child Leo in December, knocked out British sixth seed Konta reached the Wimble- hopes alive as the Japanese ninth seed ground Sam Querrey said: “I almost wanted to stop third round. Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3. don third round for the fi rst time with a mara- out a 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win over because they were hitting you in the face when US fi ve-time champion Williams survived a The 2012 and 2013 Australian Open cham- thon 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 10-8 win over Donna Vekic Ukrainian qualifi er Sergiy Stakhovsky. you were trying to hit balls.” scare against Chinese rising star Wang Qiang, pion, 27, could become the fi rst mother to win which left her opponent in tears. He next faces Spanish 18th seed Roberto Querrey and fellow seeds Marin Cilic, Gilles eventually winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. the Wimbledon singles since Evonne Goolagong Konta and Watson’s victories made it the fi rst Bautista Agut. Muller, Steve Johnson and Karen Khachanov Williams is trying to concentrate on tennis Cawley in 1980. time that two British women have reached the France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 12th seed, made it through, however Lucas Pouille was against the backdrop of impending legal action “Travelling is a little stressful for me, travel- last 32 at their home Grand Slam since Jo Durie made short work of Italian qualifi er Simone knocked out by Jerzy Janowicz, a 2013 semi- back home over a fatal car crash. ling with a baby. I want to make sure that every- and Anne Hobbs in 1986. Bolelli in the sizzling heat. fi nalist. The 37-year-old veteran, devastated by the thing is okay. But overall, it’s just great. It’s re- With Murray and Aljaz Bedene’s wins, four Fans shielded their faces from the sun with Romanian second seed Simona Halep reached incident, broke down in tears on Monday when ally fun that I’m able to go home and spend time British players have reached the Wimbledon towels, programmes and napkins as tempera- the Wimbledon third round with a 7-5, 6-3 win talking about the crash. with my son,” the Belarusian said. third round for the fi rst time since 1997. tures reached 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees over Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. Halep will Williams faces Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who Azarenka next faces British wildcard Heather Two-time Wimbledon champion Nadal, Fahrenheit). face China’s Peng Shuai for a last-16 spot. BOTTOMLINE Medvedev loses the plot by tossing Azarenka wants more help for tennis mothers coins at umpire’s chair A hot and bothered Daniil AFP Wimbledon champion Serena Wil- Medvedev is facing disciplinary London liams is currently away from the sport action from Wimbledon off icials after preparing to give birth for the fi rst a bizarre row with umpire Mariana time in September, but the American Alves ended with him tossing coins ictoria Azarenka has called star hinted she would return to action at the off icial’s chair yesterday. on WTA chiefs to provide in the future. The Russian, who had sensationally more support for players who Azarenka has spoken to Williams beaten US Open champion Stan return to the tour after hav- and Clijsters about the unique de- Wawrinka on Monday, suff ered a Ving children. mands of being a mum on tour. meltdown on Court 16 following his Azarenka stepped up her bid to be- “I have talked to Serena and I have 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 second-round actually don’t remember what I said come the fi rst mother to win Wim- talked to Kim, actually. Kim was com- loss to Ruben Bemelmans. during the match.” bledon in 37 years as the former world ing after my practice court and it was After shaking hands with his con- In an incident-packed clash, number one defeated Russian 15th just fun to chat,” she said. queror, Medvedev grabbed his wallet Medvedev asked a supervisor to seed Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3 in the sec- “We both agreed it’s the best thing and pulled out some coins before remove Alves from the match after ond round yesterday. that can happen to you in the world. hurling them towards the foot of the she had docked him a point. In her fi rst Grand Slam since taking a It’s nice to see some of my colleagues umpire’s chair. Medvedev admitted he was frus- year off to have her fi rst child in Decem- been already talking about this point bledon winner, has two sets of twins that have children and we have much Unsurprisingly, he was bombarded trated with a call made by Alves in ber, the 27-year-old Belarusian hopes to to some of the people in WTA,” Aza- who are often seen at his matches more in common than just tennis.” with questions about the bizarre the fifth set and that while packing become the fi rst mother to lift the Wim- renka said. “I’ll do anything to make along with his wife Mirka. Azarenka, twice a Wimbledon behaviour, with some suggesting up his belongings after the match, he bledon women’s singles trophy since that happen, because I think it’s really But, asked if she was inspired by semi-fi nalist, will play British wild that he was questioning the integrity saw his wallet and snapped. Evonne Goolagong in 1980. important. Federer’s success while being a father, card Heather Watson for a place in the of the off icial. “I don’t know why I did it. I was Azarenka has brought her son Leo “The guys do have that luxury of Azarenka made it clear it is women last 16. “In the heat of the moment, I did a frustrated to lose the match. Maybe with her to Wimbledon and has her having the nurseries and stuff at every who put in the hardest work. Regardless of her performance at bad thing. I apologise for this,” the there were some bad calls. It can partner and mother around to help. event and I think it’s time for women “Roger defi nitely has not inspired Wimbledon, Azarenka’s love of par- 21-year-old Russian said. happen in sports,” he said. But she believes it is time the wom- to have the same benefi t.