25 Sports Sunday, January 6, 2019 Federer wins record third Hopman in dramatic fashion Swiss beat German pairing of Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber

PERTH: Roger Federer has become the Federer who served out the match in the “I am happy I was able to maintain the most successful player in Hopman Cup his- third set tie-break, having been unable to do good, high quality tennis I showed all week,” tory after leading Switzerland to a 2-1 win in so earlier in the set, when after an extended he said. “It is good to finish on a singles per- an enthralling final of the mixed teams tour- rally Zverev dumped a backhand into the net formance like this, I was able to come up nament in Perth yesterday. In what is tipped to hand the Swiss victory. with some good serve and volley and it all to be the final edition of the unique tourna- worked out today.” ment, the best was saved for last as Federer HIGH-OCTANE World number two Kerber appeared set became the first player to win three Hopman In the men’s singles, Federer bounced for an easy win in her singles match against Cups, teaming with Belinda Bencic for the back from a November loss to Zverev in Bencic, taking the first set and then claiming duo’s second consecutive title. London to beat the big-serving German 6- an early break in the second. The German For the second year in a row, the Swiss 4, 6-2 and make it a clean sweep of his sin- served at 5-4, but the match took a sudden beat the German pairing of Alexander gles matches in Perth for the second year twist as Bencic broke back, only for Kerber Zverev and Angelique Kerber by claiming a running, less than two weeks before he to immediately break again. deciding mixed doubles rubber loaded with defends his Australian Open title. For a second time Kerber was unable to drama. It was Switzerland’s fourth title over- It was a high-octane match, with plenty serve out the match, as Bencic forced it to a all, behind only the United States with six. of big serves and clean winners, but Federer tie-break. Kerber had two match points at Federer first won the Hopman Cup back in was able to answer everything the 21-year- 6-4, but Bencic again hung on grimly and 2001 when he teamed with Martina Hingis. old threw at him. He broke Zverev in the won the next two points. It wasn’t until The 37-year-old gave the Swiss the early 10th game of the first set and then tightened Kerber’s third chance that a backhand win- ascendancy with a straight sets win against the noose on the German, with two more ner secured the 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win. Zverev, before Kerber squared the tie by breaks in the second set. Critical was Kerber’s ability to convert all beating a dogged Belinda Bencic to set up Federer, who also beat Zverev in three four of her break points during the match, the mixed doubles decider. sets in last year’s Hopman final, clinched the while Bencic was only successful on two of PERTH: Roger Federer and his mixed doubles partner Belinda Bencic of Switzerland Federer was a dominant figure in an match with a typically crisp forehand volley. seven. Kerber praised Bencic’s tenacity, say- with the Hopman Cup after defeating runners-up Alexander Zverev and Angelique extraordinary doubles match as the Swiss He was pleased to maintain his unbeaten ing she was always a determined opponent. Kerber of Germany in the final on day eight of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament in claimed the abbreviated format 4-0, 1-4, 4-3 singles record during the week, during “She was fighting until the last one (point),” Perth yesterday. —AFP (5/4) to clinch the title. Fittingly, it was which he never dropped his serve. she said. — AFP

with not playing well. “I was sulking a little Tsurenko defeats bit, and like there are moments that I tried not to do that, but then the ball wouldn’t go in, and then I would go back to being, like, Osaka to book childish and stuff. “I feel like last year I did a lot of that,” Nishikori powers Pliskova final she added. “I’m trying to change it more, and I think I have.” But Osaka said yester- through to day’s loss was probably a better learning BRISBANE: Reigning US Open champion experience than if she had made the final. Naomi Osaka said her poor attitude cost “I think today I learned... what I can do Brisbane final her during her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Lesia to improve the situation,” she said. The 29- Tsurenko in yesterday’s Brisbane year-old Tsurenko, who will now rise to a BRISBANE: Japanese star Kei Nishikori was in International semi-finals. Osaka went into career-high world ranking of 24, said she superb form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy 6-2, the match as firm favourite but looked flat had adopted a new game plan during the from the outset as Tsurenko raced through off-season. “I feel better with my serve and 6-2 in the Brisbane International semi-finals yes- the match in just 65 minutes. that I am moving well,” she said. “I feel terday. The 29-year-old gave his French opponent The Japanese star, who burst to promi- more strong now, so I can kind of handle no chance as he put on a commanding all court nence with her eventful US Open final win every kind of pressure on court, even when display to advance to the final for the second time over Serena Williams, made 26 unforced someone like Naomi is playing really in three years. errors and was broken three times in a dis- strong. “I can really stay there and I can BRISBANE: Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine celebrates her victory over Japan’s Naomi After his impressive straight sets quarter-final appointing display. She said after the be aggressive also.” Tsurenko will play Osaka in their women’s semi-final match at the Brisbane International tennis win over Grigor Dimitrov, Nishikori said he had set match that she didn’t know how to cope Czech Karolina Pliskova in Sunday’s final tournament in Brisbane yesterday. — AFP his sights on returning to the world’s top five after once things started to go against her. after the fifth seed beat Croatian Donna falling to 39 last April due to a wrist injury at the “If I’m being really frank, I just feel like I Vekic 6-3, 6-4. Pliskova had the edge over But the 2017 Brisbane champion said a little bit of the pressure because if I don’t end of 2017 that forced a break from the tour. had the worst attitude today,” she said. “I Vekic in a tight match and will go into the she preferred that to being the underdog. have it, I just don’t try that much,” she He showed all the qualities of a top five player in feel like I didn’t really know how to cope final as favourite. “I think I’m the kind of player which needs added. —AFP his 66-minute demolition at the Pat Rafter Arena. He only served two aces compared with the 11 sent down by Chardy, but Nishikori returned superbly and pressured the Frenchman’s serve throughout, breaking him twice in each set. AlSayer renews sponsorship with Kuwait Drift Champion Nishikori also moved around the court well, his KUWAIT: AlSayer Engineering, a subsidiary of speed not noticeably affected by the injuries that ALSAYER Holding recently renewed their sponsorship hampered him last year. “Everything was working contract with Kuwait Drift Champion Ali Makhseed for well today,” Nishikori said. “I felt like I was too fast Motul oil their franchise brand of lubricants from on the court today-I felt very good. France as well as Yokohama high performance tires. “Physically and tennis-wise I think it was per- AlSayer’s partnership comes as a title sponsor featur- fect. I served well, I returned well-I think that was ing Motul logos on Ali Makhseed’s customized and the key today-and I was moving well, that was fan- fine-tuned drift racing car Toyota FT 86 along with tastic.” Nishikori was runner-up to Dimitrov in supply of advanced Motul racing oil and Yokohama 2017 and will go into Sunday’s final against fourth tires for the competitions. seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev as firm favourite. On this occasion, a contract signing ceremony was Medvedev reached the decider with a 7-6 (8/6), held at ALSAYER Headquarters inviting Ali Makhseed Signing ceremony 6-2 win over France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. in the presence of ALSAYER members including Medvedev came back from 0-3 down in the first set Mubarak Naser Al Sayer CEO, Vivek Kohli Senior of achievements and we are confident that our partner- signing ceremony, Ali shared his positive comments then saved two set points in the first set tiebreak Manager Oil, Paint and Garage Equipment, Stephen ship will support him to achieve even better results”. about the reliable and track-ready performance of Patrick Cleary CMO, Bader Faisal Al Sayer Deputy Earlier this year, Ali Makhseed was one of the top Motul and Yokohama products provided by ALSAYER before running away with the second. Manager Advertising & Promotion, Mohammad Nasimi performers in Red Bull Car Park Drift Series Final Engineering and acknowledged the team support for The Russian, who stands at 1.98 metres, was able Senior Manager After Sales Marketing. which was held at SIRBB Circuit Kuwait recently. Ali extending the sponsorship agreement with him. to withstand the huge serving of Tsonga and out- According to Mubarak Naser Al Sayer “We are had topped the leader board among the three drifters For customers in Kuwait Motul lubricants and hit him from the baseline. “I was really nervous and pleased to support Ali for the drift racing events featur- from Kuwait who participated in the local qualifier. The Yokohama tires are available at ALSAYER he started amazing,” Medvedev said. “I didn’t do ing technologically advanced products from Motul and local Kuwaiti competitor impressed the judges to win Engineering’s wide network of five centers for tires, oils anything wrong. I managed to come back and had Yokohama, globally top performing brands. The motor the King of Smoke title. and paints as well as in authorized dealers, co-ops, more opportunities.” — AFP racing community in Kuwait recognizes Ali’s past record Speaking to ALSAYER members after the contract garages and Auto-repair shops across Kuwait.

Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 shots for and Ryan Johansen scored for the Predators. Penguins silences Colorado. Ryan Graves scored his first NHL goal late in the game. Ryan Strome produced HURRICANES 4, BLUE JACKETS 2 the lone goal for the Rangers. Alexandar Greg McKegg scored a goal and added an Jets for third Georgiev had 41 saves but allowed six goals. assist in his first game with Carolina, a victory over Columbus in Raleigh, N.C. McKegg, a STARS 2, CAPITALS 1 (OT) 26-year-old center, was playing with his fifth shutout Tyler Seguin scored a pair of goals, NHL team. Micheal Ferland, Dougie Hamilton including the game-winner at 3:37 of over- and Sebastian Aho also scored for the time, and Anton Khudobin turned away 36 Hurricanes. Aho’s empty-net goal was the PITTSBURGH: Matt Murray stopped 33 shots as Dallas defeated visiting Washington only scoring in the third period. Oliver shots Friday for his third shutout this season to secure a season sweep of the defending Bjorkstrand and Artemi Panarin scored for the and the ninth of his career as the Pittsburgh Stanley Cup champions. Khudobin stood tall Blue Jackets, who failed to record a team Penguins won their eighth straight game, through a feverish third period and in over- point for only the second time in a 10-game blanking the visiting Winnipeg Jets 4-0. time before Seguin converted a pass from span (7-2-1). Murray also tied his career best with a Alexander Radulov from behind the net for seven-start winning streak. Olli Maatta and the deciding tally. Radek Faksa assisted on DEVILS 3, COYOTES 2 (SO) Matt Cullen scored 33 seconds apart in the both goals for the Stars, who are 6-2-1 in Kyle Palmieri and Drew Stafford scored in first period, Dominik Simon added a second- their past nine games. Lars Eller had a goal a shootout as New Jersey pulled out a win in period goal, and Kris Letang scored an emp- for Washington, which got 27 saves from Glendale, Ariz. Nico Hischier and Blake ty-netter for the Penguins. Cullen also added Pheonix Copley. Coleman scored in regulation for the Devils, an assist. The Penguins, who have won 10 of who won for the fifth time in seven games. their past 11 games, reached the midpoint of RED WINGS 4, PREDATORS 3 (OT) Keith Kinkaid stopped 15 of 17 shots in relief the season with 52 points. During their eight- Dylan Larkin scored with 26 seconds of Mackenzie Blackwood, who sustained an game win streak, they have outscored oppo- remaining in overtime to give host Detroit a injury in the first period. Conor Garland and nents by a combined 32-9. Connor victory over Nashville. It was Larkin’s fourth Christian Fischer scored for Arizona, which Hellebuyck made 29 saves for Winnipeg, overtime game-winner this season, and it lost its third game in a row. Darcy Kuemper which has lost three of its past four games. snapped the Red Wings’ six-game winless made 33 saves. DENVER: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the New York Rangers advances the puck against Nathan streak. Larkin received a Filip Hronek pass at MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on Friday in Denver, Colorado. — AFP AVALANCHE 6, RANGERS 1 center ice, then weaved through the defense GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, DUCKS 2 Mikko Rantanen had two goals and an before depositing a backhander past Tomas Nosek had a goal and an assist, and assist, Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. Thomas Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves to pick up lation loss (8-0-3). Max Pacioretty and Nate Daniel Sprong and Carter Rowney scored added two assists, and Colorado ended a six- Vanek scored in his 1,000th career game for his league-leading 24th victory as Vegas Schmidt also scored goals for Vegas, which goals for Anaheim, which tied its longest los- game skid with a win over New York in Detroit. Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler moved into a tie for first place in the Pacific won its fifth consecutive game, equaling its ing streak of the season with its seventh Denver. Gabriel Landeskog also scored and Bertuzzi also scored, while Jimmy Howard Division with a victory at Anaheim. It was the season-best win streak. The Golden Knights straight loss (0-5-2). John Gibson finished had an assist, Alexander Kerfoot scored and stopped 27 shots. P.K. Subban, Craig Smith 11th straight game for Fleury without a regu- improved to 16-3-3 over their past 22 games. with 39 saves for the Ducks. — Reuters