Sports Sunday, March 24, 2019 17 Serena survives scare to advance in Miami afp and managed to break down Miami Williams’s serve to take the match into a deciding set. survived As the South Florida sun an “irresponsible” second set began to lower, Williams ap- lapse on Friday to see off Swe- peared to struggle with her den’s Rebecca Peterson 6-3, ball toss. 1-6, 6-1 in her second-round “It was interesting, be- opener of the WTA and ATP cause first of all it was dark . out there, which was really “I wasn’t really happy with odd,” Williams said. “I wasn’t my performance,” admit- sure if there should be lights. ted the 23-time The shadow was so intense it champion, who is playing in was actually dark. just her third tournament of “Then there was light, ’s Julian Alaphilippe (centre) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win, ahead of Belgium’s 2019 having lost in the Aus- but only on my side. That Oliver Naesen (2nd left) and ’s Michal Kwiatkowski (left), the one-day classic cycling race Milan - San tralian Open quarter-finals was weird because I literally Remo on Saturday. (AFP) before retiring in the second couldn’t see. set of her third-round match “But I need to just move against Garbine Muguruza on and really focus on playing with a viral illness at Indian better or not being in the tour- Alaphilippe claims first Wells last week. nament much longer.” “Had to take a lot of time Williams, 37, is still seek- off the last week,” she said. ing a first title since the birth “It’s definitely not easy at all. of daughter Alexis Olympia. ‘Monument’ victory in But I’m through it. That’s that. She admitted it was some- I’ve just got to get my game times hard to stay patient, al- back to where I know it can be. though she believes returning Milan-San Remo “I told myself at the end of to the top 10 after her extend- the second set that I could not ed maternity leave qualifies as afp stages of the Tirreno-Adriatico had total confidence in me,” lose this match. “extremely successful”. San Remo, Italy in recent weeks. said the French rider. “In the “I knew that I could play a Serena Williams returns a shot to Rebecca Peterson during Day 5 of “It’s just a step at a time,” The rider from the moun- sprint all I was thinking about lot, lot, lot better. I just had to the Miami Open at in Miami on Friday. (AFP) she said. “Just because my France’s Julian Alaphilippe tainous Auvergne region in was not to make a mistake.” be better. At this point it was level of success is so much won a sprint finish to the Mi- central France had missed out In the sprint, Alaphilippe irresponsible to be playing the will meet ’s 63rd-ranked Swede, despite higher than what’s natural, I lan-San Remo on Saturday, in the 2017 race in San Remo emerged from behind Slove- way I was playing in the sec- who thrashed Britain’s Jo starting strongly and easing have to take these moments claiming his first victory in behind Kwiatkowski and Sagan. nian Matej Mohoric, before the ond set.” Konta, the 2017 Miami Open into a first set lead. and say, ‘You’re doing great,’ one of cycling’s ‘Monument’ But since he has pow- last 200 metres. Williams, an eight time champion, 6-4 6-0. Peterson, however, who encourage myself in a positive classic races. ered to two stage wins in last “I will need some time to winner in Miami, was just The former world number lost in the first round in In- way so I can get that success The Deceuninck Quick- year’s Tour de France, where realise what I have achieved to- relieved to make it through one was certainly rusty in her dian Wells, produced some that I want to have since com- Step rider finished ahead of a day,” he continued. to the third round where she first ever match against the excellent in the second ing back from the baby.” small group of riders, who had “We made the race hard broken away near the end of and I stayed focused. I followed the 291km race under the sun- Mohoric at 600 metres. I made shine through north-western I was protected, the team no mistake. It’s unbelievable.” Italy, for his seventh win of had total confidence in me. A breakaway group of ten the season. In the sprint all I was riders, representing second-di- Pacquiao polls Twitter on next opponent The 26-year-old thinking about was not to vision teams invited by the or- Alaphilippe went for the line make a mistake. I will need ganisers, had opened the road afp the choices. to that route. But the unbeaten with 600m remaining, before right out of Milan. Manila The poll, also linked to Mayweather, officially retired, raising his arms in triumph some time to realise what I They held firm until after Pacquiao’s Facebook wall, has has been non-committal. after a narrow victory on the have achieved today. the area of the “Capi” -- small Philippine boxing legend 18 more hours to run. It did Many Facebook users Via Roma in the Italian Rivi- Julian Alaphilippe hills going into the final hour Manny Pacquiao took to so- not indicate how the voting urged Pacquiao, who has 61 era resort, with Belgian Oliver of racing. cial media to poll millions of had gone so far. wins including 39 knockouts Naesen (AG2R) second and Italian Fausto Masnada fans on who they think should Pacquiao, who has 2.51 against seven losses and two Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski he claimed the top climber’s had led for almost 260km, be his next opponent, having million followers on Twitter draws in a 24-year career, to (Sky) in third. jersey, and won the Fleche before being caught on the brushed off calls to hang up and 11.76 million on Face- fight Mayweather. Three-time world cham- Wallonne and Clasica San Se- Cipressa, the penultimate ob- his gloves after turning 40. book, is known to have been “Floyd of course then re- pion Peter Sagan of Slovakia bastian. stacle heading down towards “Who should I fight angling for a rematch with tire,” Carlos De Luna Lagun- finished fourth with last year’s All that was missing was the coast. next?” the world’s only eight- Mayweather, who beat the Fil- sad added. Manny Pacquiao winner Vincenzo Nibali of Italy a win in one of cycling’s five “In the group, there were division champion asked in ipino on points in the world’s But another fan urged crossing in eighth place, after ‘Monument’ one-day classics, very strong riders, Trentin a Twitter survey that drew richest prize fight in 2015. the 40-year-old to face Inter- between two previously unde- over seven hours in the saddle. and he lived up to his status was to watch but finally eve- 27,380 votes after five hours Pacquiao’s decisive victory national Boxing Federation feated boxers on Saturday. Alaphilippe has been the as pre-race favourite in a race rything is back in order,” said and listed Floyd Mayweath- over American fighter Adrien welterweight champion Er- “Show this young guys in-form rider at the start of which his Deceuninck team Alaphilippe, after his 25th vic- er, Keith Thurman, Danny Broner in January was sup- rol Spence, who easily beat why u r a living legend,” Meg the season, winning the Strade perfectly controlled. tory, and the most important of Garcia and Shawn Porter as posed to have opened the door challenger Garcia in a match Osh Tin Oniuqa said. Bianche in Tuscany, and two “I was protected, the team his career.

Quick read Silver and bronze medals for Qatar Elvira takes two-shot lead into final round in Malaysia at Arab Boxing Championship afp Elvira had been in con- about it too much. I like the ing a six-year title drought af- Nacho Elvira of Kuala Lumpur tention after he joint-led with way things are right now ter another consistent plays a shot during the Khartoum: Qatar’s boxing team won a silver medal and Marcus Fraser on Thursday. with my swing.” showing for a 69. The third round of the 2019 a bronze medal in the second Arab boxing championship, Nacho Elvira edged closer Coming into the third Two-time European Tour South African sits Maybank Malaysia which took place in Khartoum, Sudan. to a maiden European Tour round, Elvira of Spain winner Lipsky will be hoping only four strokes Golf Championship on Coach of the national team Juan Carlos praised the trophy after he posted a trailed Thomas Pieters by a to add a third after he fin- away from Saturday. (AFP) achievement, and said it was a great result given the lack six-under-par 66 to gain a single shot in stiflingly hot ished the day with a 67 de- Elvira at of experience of the boxers. He noted that some of the two-shot advantage over Da- conditions, but gained the spite two bogey flaws. nine-under- athletes were participating for the first time in an Arab vid Lipsky at the Maybank advantage courtesy of his “It’s a tricky course so par 207. championship. He expressed his hope that the team can Championship penultimate seven birdies. you are going to make bo- The local crowd carry out more training camps in the future ahead of future round on Saturday. “I’m very happy with a geys out there, you have just will also pay at- competitions. The title, however, re- 66. It was tough with the got to make your share of tention to Nich- Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdullah al Banai who won the mains up for grabs with Aus- heat and humidity today. I birdies. If I can keep mak- olas Fung on the bronze medal said he was pleased with his result, espe- tralian Scott Hend, Germa- stayed patient and it paid ing birdies like I am, I think final day on Sun- cially given that his weight category has some of the best ny’s Maximilian Kieffer and off in the end,” he said. “It I’ll be alright,” the American, day after the Ma- boxers in the Arab world and even internationally. Thai stalwart Jazz Janewat- would be great to start here who shot seven birdies, said. laysian ended the tananond only three shots (winning on the European Crowd favourite Ernie Els day tied-13th, seven off Elvira. Tour but I really don’t think will also be confident of end- shots off the pace. Lakers’ James eliminated from NBA postseason picture afp “For me personally, you do the coaching staff. Hopefully the front office under fire. Los Angeles the work and see what you can I can be in as many games as “I played a lot basketball do to help.” possible down the stretch.” over the last 16 years. So for Legendary superstar LeB- James had 25 points, 14 Joe Harris scored 26 me to go into an offseason as ron James will miss the NBA assists and nine rebounds, but points and former Laker healthy as possible will give playoffs for the first time since it wasn’t enough to get the vic- D’Angelo Russell tallied 21 me time to recalibrate my 2005 as the Los Angeles Lak- tory in a tight contest that fea- points and 13 assists for the body and recalibrate my mind ers were officially eliminated tured 23 lead changes. Nets, who boosted their play- and get ready for next sea- with a 111-106 loss to the The last time the NBA’s off hopes with their second- son,” James said. Brooklyn Nets. best player wasn’t in the post- straight win during a seven With the struggling Lakers The four-time league MVP season was in 2004-05, his game road trip. limiting James’ minutes down also had his eight-year run to second season with the Cleve- JaVale McGee had career the stretch, the forward had the NBA finals snapped on land Cavaliers. James shot highs of 33 points and 20 re- sat out two of the past three Friday night as the loss takes eight-of-25 from the floor in bounds along with six blocked games heading into the Nets’ the lowly Lakers out of the 35 minutes of action as the shots to lead the Lakers. game. playoff picture for a franchise- Lakers are now 2-11 in their When James signed with Three-time champion record sixth straight season. last 13 games. the storied franchise, few James was doing his part by “It is a tough season for “I took a pretty nasty fall expected him to extend his averaging 27.5 points, 8.5 re- all of us,” James said. “It is when I slipped. Hopefully I streak of finals appearances bounds, and eight assists this not what we signed up for. will feel better tomorrow,” to nine straight, but not many season, but he hasn’t gotten Throughout the year things said James, who missed a thought it would be due to a consistent help from an inex- happen, suspensions, injuries. three pointer and committed a failure to get into the playoffs. perienced supporting cast. “You don’t even try to wrap turnover in the final seconds. It has been a season of “One thing you can’t con- your head around it. Just keep Asked how much more blown opportunities, broken trol is injuries. Throughout pushing see how you can get he wants to play this season, promises and with the Lak- the whole season we just had better. The playoffs is never a James said, “With us being of- ers now officially out of con- bodies, bodies, bodies be LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a pass during an NBA game against the Boston Celtics at promise. You got to come out ficially eliminated, I will prob- tention late in the season, it down. It is hard to get chemis- TD Garden in Boston, recently. James fails to make NBA playoffs for first time since 2005.(AFP) and do the work. ably have a conversation with leaves the coaching staff and try on the floor,” he said.