22 Sunday, October 22, 2017 SPORTS Dimitrov reaches

StockholmStockholm all I can ask for,” Dimitrov forehand side. finalthe baseline rigor Dimitrov continued said. “It’s very tricky playing That cost him dearly in the to which his march toward a against Fabio. After such a fourth game of the opening Fognini extended his Gmaiden Nitto ATP Finals good first set from me, he set as after a quick start — responded FedEx ATP appearance with a 6-3, 7-6(2) took the lead in the second, so he earned two break points with a drop shot into the net. Head2Head series victory over sixth seed Fabio I had to uplift myself a little in the third game — Fognini But the Italian began to cut advantage over the Fognini yesterday to advance bit, trying to stay as positive conceded serve with a loose down on his mistakes to battle Italian to 4-2, winning Grigor Dimitrov (file pic) to the Intrum Stockholm as I can, and it was a great tie- service game that he lost with back into the match, breaking for the fourth time in Open final. break as well.” a wild forehand into the net. back and then moving ahead their past five matches. The seven-time ATP World Dimitrov did not have it After Dimitrov held to close a break himself with a 4-2 It was the end of a Tour titlist has reached three easy against Fognini, though. out the opener, dropping just lead. But Dimitrov hit a week of valiant efforts finals this season, and gone The flashy Fognini made it one point on serve, he looked tremendous backhand down for Fognini and two on to capture the trophy at clear from the first ball that he to be in complete control the line winner to get back match points on Friday each event (Brisbane, Sofia, wanted to control the pace of when he broke to begin the on serve and would not slip against third seed Jack Cincinnati). play from the baseline, being second set with a running up again, closing it out in Sock in the quarter- “It’s another final. That’s especially aggressive on the forehand from deep behind straight sets. The Bulgarian finals. (atpworldtour) Refreshed Muguruza Tsonga surges to fourth final braces for big hitters Antwerp The Frenchman ended the I played pretty good. Ruben Schwartzman started slow o-Wilfried Tsonga will play run of home favourite Ruben had played a few good matches in both sets, falling behind a Jin his fourth ATP World Bemelmans yesterday 6-3, 6-3 before and he was pretty break. But the World No. 26 in Singapore Tour final of the season at the in 73 minutes. confident, so it was not easy. rallied to reach back-to-back Singapore White Group opener between European Open in Antwerp. “Today was a good match. I played well and had to play European Open finals. “I think arbine Muguruza feels Czech Karolina Pliskova and my best tennis to win,” Tsonga I took every chance I had fit and fresh ahead of the American Venus Williams. said. today,” Schwartzman said. “I GWTA Finals with the Spanish “Honestly, I had no Tsonga broke twice in both returned really well.” world number two keen to preference about who I played,” sets, converting all four break Schwartzman fell in last bank on her experience of the 24-year-old told reporters points, and erased two of three year’s title match to Frenchman previous visits to Singapore of the draw yesterday. break points to roll past the Richard Gasquet. The 5’7” to emerge from a group “Lately I have been playing Belgian, who was playing in his Argentine won his maiden containing the tour’s hardest with the big hitters and first ATP World Tour semi- title last year at the TEB BNP hitters in the round-robin I felt a little bit better than final. Paribas Istanbul Open. It phase. maybe in the past, because Today will mark Tsonga’s will be his first FedEx ATP The Wimbledon champion every aggressive player is first title match since May, Head2Head meeting against starts her campaign today complicated to face. when he won the Open Parc Tsonga. against Latvia’s French Open “But I have improved that Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon. “It’s going to be a really winner Jelena Ostapenko, the side of my game, and, yeah, The right-hander will tough match for me. Tsonga pair taking to the Singapore it’s good that I’m going to play meet Argentine Diego is a big player, big guy. He Indoor Stadium court after a with them again.” (Reuters) Schwartzman, who ended the has played in a lot of finals. career-best run of 19-year- He has won many titles in his old Stefanos Tsitsipas of career,” Schwartzman said. Greece with a 6-3, 7-5 win. “I’m going to enjoy the match Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (file pic) The #NextGenATP Greek was here again in the final, try to playing in his first ATP World win and try to play good tennis. Tour semi-final. (atpworldtour) Julia Goerges lifts Kremlin Cup title Moscow this moment here, and I’m just Goerges put on a clinical consecutive game, Kasatkina he fourth time was the so happy and so emotional display in the first set, utilizing had a quick consultation with charm for Julia Goerges now. And at the same time, her powerful forehand to race her coach, and was able to use thisT season. it means a lot that I can share to a huge early lead. The that advice to quickly hold her After three unsuccessful this moment with Dasha.” German broke Kasatkina service and get on the board finals earlier in the year, the With the victory, the World for 2-0 with a for 5-1. (wtatennis) German claimed her first No.27 will re-enter the Top forehand winner singles title of 2017 at the 20 next week, which will also on break point, VTB Kremlin Cup yesterday, qualify her for the WTA Elite and assumed a dispatching Russian hope Trophy Zhuhai. She also hit double-break Daria Kasatkina, 6-1, 6-2. four aces during the match, advantage at 4-0 Goerges captured the third making her only the third when another singles title of her career, and player ever to serve over 400 strong forehand her first in over six years. aces during a single season forced an error. Goerges was overcome with since 2008. After Goerges tears of joy after the victory, Goerges will also move into held to which she sealed with her position as the top-ranked win fourth ace of the match. “It German player on Monday, her just feels amazing,” she said displacing Angelique Kerber, fifth during her on-court interview. who has held that spot Garbine Muguruza (file pic) “It’s been six years now, and since May 14, 2012 -- 284 I’ve been working hard for consecutive weeks. Julia Goerges kisses her trophy