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Home , Sydney International, Thanasi Kokkinakis

Established 1961 13 Sports Sunday, January 14, 2018 Kerber issues warning with triumph

Medvedev fights off De Minaur to win first ATP Tour title

SYDNEY: of Germany holds up the trophy after beating Ashley Barty of in the SYDNEY: of Russia kisses the trophy after beating of Australia in the women’s singles final at the Sydney International tournament in Sydney yesterday. — AFP men’s singles final at the Sydney International tennis tournament in Sydney yesterday. —AFP

SYDNEY: Former world number one Angelique Kerber In the men’s draw, Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev good, but I want to win some rounds in Australia. “And Down 4-1, the young Aussie appeared well out of the continued her 2018 resurgence with a 6-4 6-4 win over fought off tigerish Australian youngster Alex de Minaur it’s going to be very tough to get back again on the contest, but two double-faults handed de Minaur a in the Sydney International final yester- to win his first ATP Tour title at the Sydney International court, especially against Thanasi, I’m sure the crowd will break point and Medvedev surrendered serve when he day, giving herself a welcome boost ahead of next week’s yesterday. Medvedev completed a all-conquering week be crazy in Melbourne for him. “It’s a five-set match, so I sprayed a forehand long. Fired up young de Minaur Australian Open. The German two-time to hit back from losing the opening set to extinguish de just need to do my best at recovery to be good on worked away at Medvedev’s lead amid the din inside Ken champion, currently ranked 22nd in the world after a dis- Minaur, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.It Tuesday.” Rosewall Arena. Medevdev held a match point in the appointing 2017 campaign, registered her ninth win in as was 21-year-old Medvedev struggled ninth game, but when serving for the title at 5-4, de many matches this year with another clinical perform- Medvedev’s seventh win in the opening set as the Minaur broke serve to send the crowd roaring. But with ance against the local favorite. this week, giving him solid 167th-ranked de Minaur the match beyond two hours, the 18-year-old Aussie It was the first individual final since Monterrey in preparation for next grew in confidence and began to show signs of fatigue and it was his errors that April last year for the 29-year-old left-hander, who won week’s Australian Open in Former world was willed on by a sup- handed Medvedev another chance to serve out for the the Australian and US Open titles in 2016. “Thanks to my Melbourne where he portive home crowd. title at 6-5. team for believing in me and supporting me, we had an faces another Australian number one The longer the rallies the The 84th-ranked Medvedev also came back from a excellent week. I am really looking forward to the rest of Thanasi Kokkinakis in the more dangerous de set down to upset Italian fourth seed 2-6, the year,” Kerber said in a court-side interview after first round. continues her Minaur became and he 6-4, 6-1 in the semi-finals of the tournament. It has been claiming a first title since her US Open triumph. “I am “I’m the kind of per- claimed the opening set a sensational fortnight for 18-year-old de Minaur. He playing amazing tennis again and I am just feeling great.” son, the more emotions I 2018 resurgence after winning six games beat Frenchman Benoit Paire to reach the Sydney final After some tight early service games, Barty double- feel, the less I show them, on the trot. But after upsetting to advance to the Brisbane faulted to hand Kerber the first break and a 3-2 lead, and actually, especially if they Medvedev found his way International semi-finals last week before losing to the German served out the opening set with little trouble. are good ones,” back in the second set, American . “It’s been a roller coaster, and I The second set witnessed an early exchange of Medvedev said. “After the match, I didn’t fall down or breaking serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead honestly wouldn’t have it any other way,” de Minaur said. breaks before Kerber broke the Australian to love to anything, but I’m really happy. I mean, to make it through and went on to level the match at a set apiece. Winners “I have enjoyed every second of it. It’s been a thrill, and I move 4-3 ahead and picked up her 11th career title when the quallies, there were so many circumstances.” flowed from the Russian’s racquet with a running back- just want it to keep on going. “I’m tremendously proud. I Barty found the net after yet another powerful Kerber Looking ahead to the Australian Open he added: “I need hand crosscourt passing shot he played for a 3-0 lead an put in all the hard yards, and it’s great to see the results forehand. to be humble with this, because to win this tournament is outstanding moment. coming through.” —Agencies

Novak Djokovic can’t wait to Asia fight back relight the ‘fire’ to lead Europe MELBOURNE: Six-time Australian Open champion says he’s excited to be back after a long injury- enforced break, admitting he has missed the “fire and pas- in EurAsia Cup sion” of competitive tennis. The Serbian former world num- ber one has been out of action for six months, and while he KUALA LUMPUR: Asia staged a dramatic come- enjoyed having his first real break since turning profession- back against defending champions Europe to hang al, he is ready to get back to business. “I’m just glad to be on to a one-point lead yesterday in the second day of back playing tennis, having an opportunity to compete yet the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia. The result in the four- again in the big tournaments. I’ve missed it,” he said yester- some matches sets up a tense showdown for today’s day at Melbourne Park. Djokovic has been sidelined with an singles, with Indian captain Arjun Atwal’s team fight- elbow injury that had been progressively getting worse over ing for Asia’s first ever victory in the Ryder Cup-style the past few years. He said it got to the point where the pain match play tournament. Europe were firmly in con- on his serve was becoming unbearable, with a sustained trol in the early stages yesterday and Asia, who start- period of rest the only cure.”It hasn’t been 100 percent yet ed the day a point ahead, saw their lead vanish as healed. But right now it’s at the level where I can compete, skipper Thomas Bjorn’s side won the first three and every day is getting better,” he said. “Throughout the matches. But victory for Yuta Ikeda of Japan and tournament, I don’t know how it’s going to behave. Even if Malaysia’s Gavin Green proved the turning point for it’s 100 percent healed, after six months of no competition, Asia, and they went on to win the final two games you never know how you’re going to react.” and end the day on 6 1/2 to Europe’s 5 1/2. But despite slipping down the rankings and only seeded Atwal praised his team, saying they had “hung in 14 at the opening Grand Slam of the year, his confidence is there” in the face of an onslaught from Team Europe. high and he warned he could still go far. “I still know what MELBOURNE: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return during a practice session ahead of the Australian I’m capable of, and I believe in my own abilities to win Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. —AFP “If you asked me if I’m surprised or shocked, I’m not. against the best players in the world,” he said ahead of his My guys are all champions,” he said. But he insisted opening round clash against American Donald Young. “I his 12-man team were not cruising towards an easy know that if I get myself to the desired level of perform- absence in 2016 came back with all guns blazing last year, can think about and where I can sort of, say, direct my win in the $4.8 million tournament: “It’s almost any- ance-mental and physical-that I can actually have a good winning another two Grand Slams, including Australia. energy is in the present moment.” Djokovic suggested body’s game tomorrow.” Europe thrashed Asia at the chance to go far in the tournament. “Now, whether my “Roger and Rafa’s year last year has shown age is just a recently that might still be playing at 40, and he said any- last EurAsia Cup in 2016 while the inaugural edition approach is different to this year’s Australian Open to oth- number, especially in Roger’s case,” said Djokovic, 30. “I thing was possible so long as he still enjoyed what he was in 2014 ended in a tie. Bjorn-who is also Europe’s er previous years, probably yes. It’s different circum- mean, he’s (Federer’s) a great example of someone that man- doing. “I love this sport, I really do. As I said, I’ve been Ryder Cup captain-conceded the day’s play had stances. But it is exciting. Honestly, it’s a good place to be.” ages to take care of himself, knows how to prepare well and quite content with my body, mind, spirit so far throughout “turned on its head in the end”. peak at the right time. “He won a couple more Grand Slams. my career,” he said. “The fire, passion, and love for the “But we live to fight another day,” he added. Race Young inside Who would predict that after his six months of absence, so sport still burns inside. I have great support from my family to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood and Sweden’s The 12-time Grand Slam winner is taking inspiration from everything is possible really. “I don’t know how my body’s and close ones and people around the world. I do feel Henrik Stenson gave the Europeans a strong start by his old rival , who at 36 and after an injury going to behave this year or any other year. Right now all I young inside, you know.” —AFP beating Indian duo Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia 3-2. Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, both noticed the duo during an appearance at the Asian for the athletes as well as their coach and a federation from England, put Team Europe ahead with a 2-1 vic- Olympics: Canadian Winter Games in Japan last year, where they placed official, a former skater who would also act as translator tory over Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and South third. Marcotte made contact with the North Korean since neither the skaters nor their coach spoke English. Korea’s An Byeong-Hun. A 3-2 victory for England’s delegation to offer encouragement to the pair. Matthew Fitzpatrick and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters coach impressed by “They have very classical lines while skating to mod- ‘Really good energy’ against Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and South Korea’s ern music, so it’s a nice mix,” Marcotte told AFP this As coach of South Koreans Kim Kyueun and Alex Kang Sung-hoon extended Team Europe’s lead to North Korean duo week. “They’re very charismatic in the way they skate- Kam, as well as competitors from several other coun- two points. a lot of emotion and a great connection with each other, tries, Marcotte was happy to take on the challenge. But the tide turned in favor of the Asians with a VANCOUVER: North Korean figure skaters Ryom so my eyes were drawn to them right away.” That initial Ryom, 18, and Kim, 25, gleaned insights from Canada’s dramatic victory for Green and Ikeda at the Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik may need a helping hand from contact prompted further talks a few weeks later, fol- two-time world champions Eric Radford and Meagan Glenmarie Golf and Country Club near Kuala the International Olympic Committee if they are to lowing a 15th place finish at the World Championships Duhamel-who is married to Marcotte-during their stay. Lumpur. The pair notched up three birdies on the realize their dream of competing in the Winter in Helsinki, when a North Korean federation represen- “I brought them to the off-ice classes I do since they final four holes for a one-hole victory over Spaniard Olympics next month. But experienced Canadian tative and the skaters’ coach tapped Marcotte about were very interested in that. They wanted to be Rafa Cabrera Bello and Alexander Levy of France. coach Bruno Marcotte is in no doubt that if the prom- the possibility of the pair travelling to Canada to train. stronger, so I took them to my pilates class,” Duhamel Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Japan’s ising duo do end up taking part in the February 9-25 The couple had trained in Canada before, having said. “They look up to us, but it was really fun for us to Hideto Tanihara beat Ireland’s Paul Dunne and Alex Games in Pyeongchang, they will be fully deserving of spent time in Toronto when they first began to skate as train with them. They had a really good energy every Noren of Sweden, and Asia’s comeback was com- their place. Marcotte was granted a rare glimpse of a pair three years ago. The North Koreans-who train day and they worked really, really hard. “The same as plete with a 3-1 victory for China’s Li Haotong and Stalinist North Korea’s sporting culture last year after for around four hours a day in Pyongyang - requested us, they wake up and they want to train every day. They Malaysian Nicholas Fung. The pair’s impressive win coaching Ryom and Kim during eight weeks between coaching and choreography assistance from Marcotte want to be the best athletes in the world and represent featured six birdies. —AFP June and August in Canada. The 43-year-old had first during the camp. Marcotte was required to find lodging their country at the Olympics.” —AFP