18 Wednesday, January 2, 2019 Sports USADA chief Federer bests Serena in hugely urges WADA to reinstate anticipated Hopman Cup match Russia ban afp The Swiss team of Federer and Belinda Bencic eased to a straight sets victory over Williams and youngster Tiafoe Los Angeles US Anti-Doping Agency afp (USADA) chief Travis Tygart Perth, Australia Legends! urged the World Anti-Doping Agency to reinstate the ban Roger Federer took the ● With 43 Grand Slam on Russia, calling the coun- honours in the much-antic- singles titles (Williams 23, try’s return to the sports fold ipated mixed doubles clash Federer 20) and more than “a total joke”. with fellow great Serena Wil- $200 million in prize “The situation is a total liams in what the latter de- money between them, the joke and an embarrassment scribed as the “match of her two 37-year-olds had for WADA and the global career” at the Hopman Cup anti-doping system,” Tygart in Perth Tuesday. welcomed the chance to said in a statement on Tues- In the biggest mixed dou- face each other on the day, after Russia missed a bles drawcard in the 31-year court in an official match December 31 deadline to history of the tournament, for the first time. hand over data from its anti- in what is expected to be its doping laboratory in Mos- final edition, Federer teamed preparation for the upcom- cow. with Belinda Bencic to win ing Australian Open in Mel- The deadline was set in the match in straight sets un- bourne, where he will be September, when WADA lift- der the Fast4 format and win looking to win a third succes- ed a ban on the Russian Anti- the Group B tie for Switzer- sive title and seventh overall. Doping Agency, paving the land. “It’s been a great start to way for Russian athletes to With 43 Grand Slam the season for me, I found a return to competition across singles titles (Williams 23, way and I have to be happy all sports after a report which Federer 20) and more than right now,” Federer said. uncovered a state-sponsored $200 million in prize mon- “It’s about staying fit and doping programme in Rus- ey between them, the two healthy and managing the sia. 37-year-olds had welcomed game day by day.” “In September, WADA the chance to face each oth- Williams raced to an early secretly moved the goal posts er on the court in an official 3-0 lead against Bencic, but and reinstated Russia against match for the first time. then lost her way as the Swiss the wishes of athletes, gov- As it turned out, the tie number 54 gained successive ernments and the public,” was decided by the mixed breaks of serve to secure the Tygart said. “In doing this doubles, after both Federer first set. WADA guaranteed Russia and Williams won their ear- Although the American would turn over the evidence lier singles matches. was hitting more winners, of its state-supported doping A capacity crowd of she was also making more scheme by today. 14,064 turned out for the tie, errors and looked in trouble “No one is surprised this and they saw Federer and until she broke Bencic in the deadline was ignored and it’s Bencic largely capitalise on 10th game to take the set and time for WADA to stop being the mixed doubles inexperi- level the match. played by the Russians and ence of Williams’ teammate, An early break in the final immediately declare them Francis Tiafoe, to clinch the greatest selfie of all time! Serena Williams and Roger Federer take a selfie after their mixed doubles match on day four of the Hopman set to Williams was crucial as non-compliant for failing yet deciding rubber under the Cup in Perth on Tuesday. (AFP) she used her big serve to hold again to meet the deadline.” Fast4 format, 4-2, 4-3 (5/3). Bencic at bay and win 4-6, WADA personnel trav- Williams, who seemed most certainly the only, time. Federer said he was you see how focussed and was challenged early by the 6-4, 6-3. elled to Russia in December to be troubled by her right “I was so excited and lit- thrilled to play against one determined she is and I love 39th-ranked American, but “It was definitely a relief,” but were unable to extract all shoulder during the match erally it was the match of my of the few players with more that about her.” then secured the first set with Williams said of the result. of the promised data. but said it wasn’t a concern, career,” she said. Grand Slam titles. The pair posed together a break in the 10th game. “She played really well WADA said at the time was disappointed her dou- “Playing someone so “I really enjoyed playing for a selfie after the match. Federer won seven games but I knew I could play bet- its team could not complete bles experience didn’t give great and that you admire so against Serena, what an hon- In his singles match, in succession and eight of the ter.” its mission “due to an issue the Americans the edge. much in a match that actually our and pleasure,” he said. Federer scored successive last nine as Tiafoe dropped If Switzerland beats raised by the Russian author- However, even a rare de- means something. “I was nervous returning wins to start the new season away. Greece on Thursday they will ities that the team’s equip- feat couldn’t take the gloss “It is really great and spe- because people talk about her with an impressive 6-4, 6-1 It was another encour- be through to the final, where ment to be used for the data off the experience of facing cial to go against the greatest serve so much. It was great victory over Frances Tiafoe. aging performance from they will defend the title they extraction was required to be Federer for the first, and al- of all time.” fun, she is a great champion, The world number three Federer as he builds his won last year. certified under Russian law”. Body first, ranking later, says Nadal after ankle surgery

afp Murray upbeat after Brisbane, Australia winning start in Brisbane Spanish superstar Rafael Na- dal insisted Tuesday he is not Andy Murray was upbeat after chasing the world’s top ranking making a winning start to 2019 as he prepares to make a come- with a straight sets victory over back from ankle surgery, with James Duckworth in the Brisbane taking care of his body a key International on Tuesday. Murray, Petra Vlhova reacts during the Women’s Giant Slalom race at the FIS priority. who didn’t appear hampered with Alpine Skiing World Cup, recently. (EPA-EFE) The current world num- his movement, said he could feel ber two has not played a main his touch returning as the match tour event since a knee prob- progressed. Vlhova beats Shiffrin and Schwarz lem forced him to retire during “It wasn’t particularly good denies Ryding in Oslo city race his US Open semi-final against tennis at the beginning, but I Juan Martin del Potro in Sep- think one of the positive things tember. for me was kind of instinctively I dpa spot in Austria. Swiss Wendy The 32-year-old had sur- came up with some shots where Berlin Holdener was third. gery on his ankle in November I was kind of reading the game “She pushed me to the limit to remove a loose intra-articular quite well, which is positive for a Petra Vlhova beat superstar in the first run. In the second body and only resumed training first match,” he said. Mikaela Shiffrin in her spe- I said you have to do it, and three weeks ago. He played the Murray said that while he ciality discipline and Marco when I crossed the line I was opening round at an exhibition was still playing in some pain, Schwarz denied Dave Ryding a just so happy,” Vlhova said in event in Abu Dhabi last week, his hip wasn’t an issue. “I didn’t first-ever skiing World Cup win a first stadium interview. Shif- where he lost to South African Rafael Nadal speaks during a press conference at the Brisbane International tennis tournament on feel particularly apprehensive... for Britain in action packed city frin however maintains a huge Kevin Anderson, and gets his Tuesday. (AFP) about my hip as such today, just races in Oslo on Tuesday. World Cup lead with 1,114 season proper under way in the because I’ve trained on it more Slovakia’s Vlhova had fin- points, 446 ahead of Vlhova. second round of the Brisbane make me feel alive, you know, collection. He said he wanted to that my body is not going to and been here playing practice ished second behind the Ameri- Ryding ousted men’s World International on Thursday. for the things that motivate me. ensure he could take care of his get worse every year. Really my sets with guys, and I’ve just had a can Shiffrin in all four slaloms Cup leader Marcel Hirscher as The 17-time Grand Slam “So I will not (chase) the body to allow him to keep play- only goal is to keep doing the lot longer to get used to it.” and the first parallel race in St 12 months ago in the quarter- winner said he hadn’t been wor- number one because it’s not my ing as long as possible because things that makes me happy, “When I was playing in June, Moritz but finally turned the finals and 2018 race winner ried about the world rankings main goal. Of course, I prefer to of his love for the game. and today playing tennis makes July last year, my hip was pretty tide at the famous Holmenkol- Andre Myrer of Sweden in the for the past two years. be number one than number “The thing that I don’t want me happy, and I want to do it sore. I hadn’t really practised len ski centre. semis before having to settle for “My goal is just to be happy two, and I prefer to be number to do is suffer more than what I the best way possible and as much. I hadn’t played matches Vlhova won the first heat second as in a 2017 slalom in doing what I am doing and be two than number five, that’s ob- did last year, because if you do long as possible.” for a long time, and psychologi- by 0.21 seconds and even ex- Kitzbuehel, just missing out on competitive all the weeks that I vious,” he added. (suffer injuries two) years in a In the second round Na- cally it was difficult. I was concen- tended the final advantage over history for Britain. am playing,” he said. Nadal was forced to retire row, that mentally kills you,” he dal will play either Jo-Wilfried trating more on that than actually the 2018 race winner to 0.39 Austria’s Schwarz kept his “I want to feel myself com- during matches at two of the said. Tsonga or local hope Thanasi playing the match or my tactics, seconds in the second heat, cool, took the first heat by 0.28 petitive every week that I am on four Grand Slams in 2018, but “I really believe that I have Kokkinakis, two players who whereas, today I didn’t really think her sixth career victory coming and won when Ryding skied out court and I want to keep fight- still added a record-extending to keep having tennis to play have also been troubled recently about it -- I just concentrated on a week after a giant slalom top in the second run. ing for the things that really 11th French Open crown to his in my career, and I really feel by injuries. the match.” (AFP) Red-hot Harden lifts Rockets, Westbrook bounces back And with his eighth nine points with 1:26 to play. he was letting his teammates Curry made five of his nine Curry flurry for straight game with at least 35 A free throw from P.J. down, bounced back in a big three-point attempts as the points and five assists he set Tucker and a layup by Austin way with 32 points, 11 assists Warriors connected on 14- Warriors; Spurs an NBA record -- bettering Rivers helped rebuild the lead and 11 rebounds. of-28 from beyond the arc in Oscar Robertson’s two such as the Rockets continued to Paul George added 22 their 17th straight victory over tame Celtics seven-game streaks. win despite the injury absence points and Jerami Grant the Suns. More important for Harden, of point guard Chris Paul. chipped in 16 for the Thunder, In San Antonio, the Spurs afp the Rockets -- who made a sput- “Offensively and defen- who never trailed. connected on 76 percent of Los Angeles tering start to the season -- won sively guys are stepping up,” their shots in a 46-point third for the 10th time in their last 11 Harden said. “We’ve got a long Warriors eclipse Suns quarter to put away the Bos- James Harden posted a games to improve to 21-15. way to go, but we’re heading The two-time defending ton Celtics 120-111. 43-point triple-double on an- That’s a better measure, in the right direction.” NBA champion Golden State LaMarcus Aldridge scored other record-setting night Mon- he said, than individual ac- The Oklahoma City Thun- Warriors closed out 2018 with 12 of his 32 points in the third day to lead the Houston Rockets complishments, as “bringing a der rode point guard Russell a 132-109 victory over the and San Antonio won for the to a 113-101 NBA victory over championship to the city is the Westbrook’s triple-double to a Suns in Phoenix. 11th time in 13 games to con- the Memphis Grizzlies. important thing.” 122-102 home victory over the Stephen Curry scored 34 tinue their rise in the Western Harden, the reigning NBA Harden drained six three- Dallas Mavericks, a day after points and pulled down nine Conference. Most Valuable Player, added 13 pointers and made 21 of his 27 falling to the Mavs in Dallas. rebounds. Kevin Durant added Derrick White contributed Houston Rockets James Harden (right) dribbles the ball against assists and 10 rebounds for his free throws and the Rockets Westbrook, who said after 25 points and Klay Thompson a career-high 22 points for San Memphis Grizzlies Mike Conley during the second quarter of their NBA fourth triple-double of the sea- led by as many as 24 before his disappointing nine-point chipped in 15 for the Warriors, Antonio, one of six Spurs play- game at Toyota Center in Houston on Monday. (USA TODAY Sports) son and 39th of his career. Memphis sliced the deficit to performance in Dallas that who led by as many as 30. ers to score in double figures.