Returning Djokovic Could Be a Threat, Admits Nadal
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22 Tuesday, April 24, 2018 SPORTS 2018 could be my Returning Djokovic could toughest title fight, says Hamilton London ewis Hamilton says 2018 be a threat,London admits Nadal the first time in 12 years, entering world championship ovak Djokovic is a potential as a wildcard after the momentum victoryL would mean more than threat to Rafael Nadal’s hopes and confidence gained from his his previous Formula 1 titles ofN collecting more clay-court titles, wins in Monte Carlo - which Ivo Karlovic beats given that Mercedes might the Spaniard has himself admitted. snapped a three-game losing streak currently only be the third- Nadal claimed the 54th title after coming back from an elbow Tommy Robredo fastest team behind Ferrari and of his career on his favoured red injury. Red Bull. surface in Monte Carlo on Sunday But Nadal is wary that Djokovic, Last season Hamilton when he beat Kei Nishikori to and Grigor Dimitrov could offer made it clear how much more remain world No 1. some resistance to his hopes of satisfying it was to be fighting The 31-year-old now looks a clay-court clean sweep across a driver from another team, to retain another title as he Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and as he went head to head with travels to his homeland for Roland Garros. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel after the Barcelona Open. Asked whether it was only three years of battling previous But there, he has Dimitrov or Djokovic that could Mercedes team-mate Nico admitted the returning down him on his favoured clay Rosberg. Djokovic - who won surface, Nadal replied: “I don’t Mercedes has yet to win a back-to-back games in know. I don’t think that much. grand prix in 2018, with Red Monaco before losing out I just think about my opponent Bull also now in the mix and to Dominic Thiem - could every day on the other part of the Kimi Raikkonen raising his be a threat. net. game for Ferrari too. The Serbian has been “Of course, I know there are Asked what it would mean drawn in the same quarter more dangerous rivals than others. to beat two rival teams to a which could see them go head- The ones you mentioned, one won title, Hamilton replied: “Who to-head in the last eight, 12 Grand Slams, the other one won Ivo Karlovic (file pic) knows what the season holds? with Nadal likely to three. Of course, these two players Madrid If it continues the way it is, it’s face Nishikori once can beat me. Of course, there are roatia’s Ivo Karlovic hit 29 aces as he beat going to be very tough to win. again in the third other ones that can beat me, too. Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-7(5) 7-6(8) 6-4 in “But if there’s an opportunity, round. “But you mentioned two great theC first round of the Barcelona Open yesterday. and we were to finish on top, Djokovic is in players. Of course, Nishikori is The Croatian, both the oldest and tallest player at it would mean even more, as Barcelona for another great player. Dimitrov, the clay court tournament at 39 years old and 211 it’s even a tougher season than No. 5 of the world. I don’t know, centimetres, used his cannonball serve to beat the before.” [Alexander] Zverev No. 4. Of former champion at the club he has trained at since Hamilton admitted that his course, when you play against the he was 14. difficult weekend in China had best players of the world, you can Karlovic will face another Spaniard in eighth seed emphasised that Mercedes does lose. (express.co.uk) Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday in the round of not have the fastest car at the 32. moment. Pablo Cuevas, Rogerio Dutra Silva, Guillermo “My goal is obviously still Garcia-Lopez, Marcel Granollers, Malek Jaziri, the same, but it is clear from Rafael Nadal Leonardo Mayer and Stefanos Tsitsipas all progressed the weekend that we are not the in straight sets. quickest,” he said. Dusan Lajovic beat Pedro Martinez 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3, “We’ve lost performance while Benoit Paire squeezed past Nicolas Jarry 7-6(4) since Melbourne, and maybe 6-7(3) 6-4. (Reuters) more so even [at Shanghai].” (Autosport) Rosberg creates new young driver academy London x-Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg has created his ownE driver development programme, aimed at being able to “find and support new talent in motorsport”. Rosberg has recruited two kart racers for the launch of the Rosberg Young Drivers Academy, with backing from Mercedes F1 partner Petronas. Rosberg has joined forces with his former karting mentor Dino Chiesa, who ran the ‘Mercedes-Benz-McLaren’ MBM team for Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in 2000-01. “Dino is the best in the karting world and I believe in the performance of Dino’s own Nico Rosberg recruited two kart racers for the launch of the Rosberg Young Drivers Academy Kart Republic Chassis which international karting years. “We have been friends ever (13) and Italian Lorenzo karting world together”. about engineering, marketing we will be using,” said Rosberg, The most successful year was since, so it is special to now Travisanutto (18) are the Chiesa added: “Today the and media. who launched the project in when Lewis and I were in Team join forces to support the stars first two drivers to be signed development of a driver is not “That’s why I believe that Italy last weekend. MBM and Dino lead us to great of the future.” up, with Rosberg adding “we only turning the steering wheel. Nico and I are a good mix to “He was my boss in all my successes. British racer Taylor Barnard look forward to taking on the It’s more than that. It’s more support talent.” (Autosport).