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Home , Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Centre Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Marion Bartoli, Serena Williams

Established 1961 13 Sports Thursday, July 1, 2021 Djokovic into Wimbledon last 32 despite more falls

LONDON: Defending champion ’s record of will be the best of three sets in the first survived a series of 24 ended in tears on Tuesday. The 39- and second rounds as organizers try to falls on Centre Court to reach the year-old was leading 3-1 in the first set get the schedule back on track. Wimbledon third round yesterday with of her first round match against a straight sets win over Kevin Anderson. of when Federer survives scare World number one Djokovic, chasing a she slipped and had to have off court Federer arrived on the back of a dis- sixth Wimbledon and record-equaling medical attention. appointing second round exit at Halle, a 20th Grand Slam title, won 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 She returned but called it quits at 3-3 tournament he all but owns having won over the 102nd-ranked South African. and walked off Centre Court in tears. “I it 10 times but said he was pumped up However, he slipped and fell on at least was heartbroken to have to withdraw for Wimbledon. The 39-year-old eight- five occasions on Centre Court, the day today after injuring my right leg,” she time champion looked to be more after suffered a tearful, said in a statement posted late evening deflated than pumped up when he tournament-ending injury on Tuesday on her account. trailed Frenchman Adrian Mannarino by due to similar slips. It is the first time in 20 appearances two sets to one. Each time, 34-year-old Djokovic that Williams has bowed out in the first However, already a break up in the dusted himself down to set up a clash round of Wimbledon. “Brutal for @sere- fourth and looking more like the Federer against either Italian veteran Andreas nawilliams but center court is extremely of old the match turned when Seppi or American qualifier Denis slippy out there. Not easy to move out Mannarino tumbled towards the end of Kudla. Despite the tumbles, the Serb there,” tweeted British star Andy the fourth set. His fall was at the same cruised to victory over the man he Murray. Williams, who also had strap- end of Centre Court which was also to : Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over South Africa’s Kevin defeated in the 2018 final without facing ping on her right thigh, hasn’t won a claim Williams. Anderson during their men’s singles second round match on the third day of the 2021 a single break point and committing just Slam since the 2017 . His 33rd birthday turned into a night- Wimbledon Championships at The All Club in Wimbledon, southwest six unforced errors. “I have a nice con- Earlier, Swiss legend and mare as he had to retire at 6-4, 6-7 London yesterday. — AFP nection with the crowd,” said Djokovic. ’s world number one Ashleigh (3/7), 3-6, 6-2. “He was the better player, “I also seem to be having a really nice Barty both progressed but only after he could have won, I got a bit lucky,” Championships went the distance just word to say about her,” said Barty of her connection with the grass. I don’t recall overcoming scares. said Federer. “That’s how it goes some- months after returning from a winning opponent. falling so much in the first two matches They at least were able to play to times, you don’t get many walkovers and fight against cancer. Russian second seed Daniil at Wimbledon previously.” their schedule due to the roof on Centre try not to have it happen to yourself.” Barty joined in the standing ovation Medvedev went through with a 6-4, 6-1, Court but those on the outside courts Barty came through 6-1, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1 for Suarez Navarro as the 32-year-old 4-6, 7-6 (7/3) win over Jan-Lennard Serena hobbles out had to kick their heels for several hours against Carla Suarez Navarro in a match left the court with the Spaniard’s mother Struff of Germany. “I was a bit surprised American legend Serena Williams’s because of rain. As a result 27 singles filled with emotion on Centre Court. Maria wiping away a tear. “She is a by the first two sets that I managed to dreams of winning an eighth matches had to be deferred to Barty’s Spanish opponent made sure her fighter, an incredible competitor and win so easy, that’s why Grand Slams are Wimbledon singles title and equaling Wednesday and men’s doubles matches 11th and final appearance at The lovely person and I cannot find one bad funny,” said Medvedev. — AFP Wimbledon courts under fire after Serena exit Serena’s record LONDON: Serious questions were self on the same part of Centre Court. being asked of Wimbledon’s fabled He too had to retire with his match hopes slipping grass courts yesterday following against Roger Federer level at two Serena Williams’s tearful, tournament- sets apiece. “I do feel it feels a tad ending injury with Australian firebrand more slippery maybe under the roof,” and sliding away Nick Kyrgios branding them “a joke”. said Federer. “You do have to move Williams, the seven-time very, very carefully out there. If you LONDON: Serena Williams’s innocuous slip Wimbledon champion, slipped and push too hard in the wrong moments, that ended her Wimbledon campaign at the hurt her heavily-strapped right leg you do go down. I do feel it’s drier first hurdle symbolized the manner in which before quitting her first round tie after during the day. With the wind and all her powers have been steadily sliding away. just six games against Aliaksandra that stuff, it takes the moisture out of The question is whether the “heartbroken” Sasnovich. The American superstar the grass.” LONDON: US player Serena Williams reacts as she withdraws from her women’s 39-year-old American legend wants her fans’ twice fell to the floor of Centre Court, singles first round match against Belarus’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich on the second last memory of her on a stage where she has struggling to get back to her feet on ‘More slippery, soft’ day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in won seven singles titles to be that of her eyes- the second occasion. However, Federer, who has won Wimbledon, southwest London, on Tuesday. —AFP filled with tears as she limped off. In tears, she waved to all sides of eight Wimbledon titles and played 115 “I feel sad for Serena,” said 2013 the court prompting speculation that matches at the tournament, insists the ier to move on.” set. “It’s a joke. Try watering it. Make it Wimbledon champion on the she had played her last Wimbledon courts are no different from other Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, playing a again.” BBC after Williams was forced to quit her singles match. “I was heartbroken to years. “I don’t think it plays very dif- under the roof on Court One, was also Despite the criticism, the All match with Aliaksandra Sasnovich after just have to withdraw,” said the 39-year- ferent. It’s always been like this. I feel dismissive of the conditions. “Guys, for England Club insisted that the courts six games. “I sincerely hope it is not the last old who remains one Slam short of for a lot of players, it’s super key to get you watching at home, it should be are up to standard. “The preparation time we see her at Wimbledon. The way she Margaret Court’s record of 24. through those first two rounds fast here, that’s grass court tennis,” of the grass courts has been to exactly waved at the crowd, and put her hand on the Her heart-stopping fall came not because the grass is more slippery, it Kyrgios was overheard saying before the same meticulous standard as in heart to show her appreciation, I hope it is not long after French player Adrian is more soft. As the tournament pro- his match with Ugo Humbert was sus- previous years,” the club said in a a farewell.” Mannarino had slipped and hurt him- gresses, usually it gets harder and eas- pended for the night at 3-3 in the final statement. — AFP The problem for Williams is the target of equaling Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles looks more remote than ever. Back in 2017, when she won Cavendish on fire after first Tour Open to move to within one of the controversial Court’s tally, she looked odds on to achieve that and more. de France stage win in five years Even after taking time out that year to have FOUGERES: Mark Cavendish broke long,” said Cavendish, inching closer her baby daughter Olympia she was expected down and wept after sprinting to his to Belgian cycling legend Eddie to return as dominant as before with few likely first Tour de France stage victory in Merckx’s record of 34 individual rivals on the horizon. However, since then it five years on Tuesday, taking his tally stage wins between 1969-75. has been a tale of regression by degrees from of wins to 31 on the world’s greatest “There has been a lot of talk about reaching four finals — two at Wimbledon bike race. Cavendish only made the my condition and I hope this gives (2018/19) and two at the US Open (2018/19) Deceuninck Tour de France roster hope to people in my condition,” said — and falling short every time. after Irish sprinter Sam Bennett pulled the 36-year-old who was diagnosed Last year, albeit one in which Wimbledon out at the last minute and was gener- in 2017 with the Epstein-Barr virus, did not take place due to the coronavirus ous in his praise of the team’s crucial which can cause persistent fatigue. pandemic, her fortunes dipped even lower as role in his return to the top. Conversely there was heartbreak for for the first time since 2006 she failed to The signs looked good early on in Belgian rookie Brent Van Moer as the reach a Grand Slam final. Despite the hits the fourth stage when Cavendish won 23-year-old Lotto rider was caught Williams remained outwardly confident at the intermediate sprint, his maximum just 150 meters from the finish line least that she was still capable of equaling 70-point gain on the day handing him after leading an escape for the majori- FOUGERES: Stage winner Team Deceuninck Quickstep’s Mark Cavendish of Great Court’s mark even after withdrawing from her the green jersey awarded to the sprint ty of the attack. Britain celebrates after crossing the finish line of the 4th stage of the 108th edi- second round match at the 2020 . points leader. In the sprint on this rel- tion of the Tour de France cycling race, 150 km between Redon and Fougeres, on “I’m pretty good at it still and I’m so close to atively short stage Cavendish showed ‘I had fire in my eyes’ Tuesday. —AFP some things, so I feel like I’m almost there,” all his savvy, biding his time to edge Cavendish hailed world champion she said. “I think that’s what keeps me going.” ahead with 50 metres to go and even- Julian Alaphilippe, from whom he the road and we couldn’t get them said of the years when his career ‘Still the greatest’ tually finishing ahead of French inherits the green jersey, after the going. But I had fire in my eyes,” said seemed to have stalled. “It’s not about sprinter Nacer Bouhanni. Frenchman gave everything to get an emotional Cavendish. proving anyone wrong. I knew I could However, as injuries mount up on her those Known as the “Manx Missile”, the Cavendish into position. “I didn’t think “It’s not easy winning a Tour de do it, I just need someone to believe in who have been down that route themselves rider from the Isle of Man shook his we were going to catch him,” France stage, the hardest thing has me and that was Patrick Lefevere, and say the player may not wish to accept that in disbelief as he pulled on the Cavendish admitted. “The GC (overall been people not understanding how my wife at home, those are the people time has run out. “The last thing a champion green jersey. “It’s been five years too standings) guys were ahead blocking hard it was to win those stages,” he I wanted to believe.” — AFP like Serena wants to do is to go out in a walkover,” three-time Wimbledon champion told the BBC. Olympic program during the heyday of her great “But you have got to get used to the fact Barty, Kyrgios mentor and role model . she is past 30 — I won’t put a number on her “Yeah, it is (a source of pride to be the first indige- age! — and now this means another year of lead Australia’s nous Australian to be on the tennis team),” she said. coming back from injuries. It is sad to see but “I know that we’ve got a really good group, big unfortunately time waits on no man or group, of Australian indigenous athletes in our (over- woman.” Olympic tennis team all) team. I know for me it’s a first for tennis, but there One thing that could keep Williams plug- ging away is the fluidity of the women’s game : World number one con- have certainly been a lot of Olympic athletes that have paved the way for me in an indigenous sense, kind of and the lack of a dominant successor to her firmed she will compete at the Tokyo Olympics — she is still ranked in the top 10. Bartoli Tuesday, headlining an 11-strong Australian tennis showing me there is a pathway, that it is possible.” The Australia team comprises six men and five remains convinced the elusive Grand Slam team for the Games that includes firebrand Nick title will come her way. “I still feel she can win Kyrgios. Barty’s announcement comes just a day after women, including former US Open champion Sam Stosur who will be going to her fifth Olympic Games that 24th major, she has it inside her,” said four-time gold medalist Serena Williams revealed she Bartoli. “The amount of injury and bad luck of at the age of 37. World number 15 Alex de Minaur is would be skipping the Games, which will also be sliding is such a shame.” the top-ranked Australian man, with the volatile without Spanish great . Williams said in her pre Wimbledon press Kyrgios likely to be one of the highest profile male The champion Barty, 25, said conference she has always had an “X on her she intended to compete in both singles and doubles players in the draw, despite his modest ranking of 60. back” since she won her first US Open in at the Games. “I’m proud,” she said after winning her Both will play singles with De Minaur also featuring 1999. Her fans both inside and outside the first round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday. “I’m in the doubles. In contrast to veteran Stosur, Barty, De game will pray she does not prolong her bloody proud to be able to be a part of an Australian Minaur and Kyrgios will all be making their Olympic career in the style of other sports stars who Olympic team. It was always a dream of mine. To be debuts in Tokyo. “It’s super special being able to rep- fear they will miss the fix of the adulation of able to be officially named is awesome.” resent your country in one Olympics let alone five,” the crowd when they return to the banality of Barty is the first indigenous Australian to be said Stosur, who also competed at Athens 2004, Ashleigh Barty domestic life. — AFP selected for tennis — the sport was not on the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016. — AFP