Sharapova Knocked
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 18 Federer out of US Open the second and third sets, but to seize a two sets to one lead. searing afternoon heat seeming get through in three sets in the match at 5-4 in the third, but Five-time champion troubles with his serve infected When the Swiss great broke more of a problem than his Por- blazing sunshine on Louis Arm- managed to prevail 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. • his entire game and 77 unforced for a 4-2 lead in the fourth the tuguese opponent. strong Stadium. Nishikori will fight for a Federer knocked out errors doomed the 20-time Ashe fans were on their feet. “You can’t do anything but try After racing through the semi-final berth against Croa- by Aussie Millman Grand Slam champion in the But he gave the break back in to be tough and survive, find a first two sets against Germa - tian Marin Cilic, who beat him face of a determined attack from the next game after slamming an way to win,” Djokovic said. ny’s Philipp Kohlschreiber he in the 2014 final. Millman to meet Millman. overhead into the bottom of the Kei Nishikori, runner-up in dropped his serve while Seventh-seeded Cilic, who Djokovic• in quarter final “It was very hot,” said Feder- net on game point. 2014, was also pleased to serving for needed eight match er, whose shirt and shorts were They went to the tiebreak- points in a five-set wringing wet with sweat most er, where two of Federer’s 10 marathon against AFP | New York of the night. double faults, followed by a Australian teenag- “I felt I couldn’t get any air backhand into the net and a John Millman er Alex de Minaur ive-time champion Rog- and I was sweating more and wayward forehand gave Mill- spilled into Sunday er Federer crashed out of more and became more and man a 6-1 lead. morning survived Fthe US Open on Monday, more uncomfortable. Federer, looking all of his 37 some tense mo - stunned by 55th-ranked Austral- “John dealt with it better,” years, clawed his way through ments to get past 10th- ian John Millman who booked a Federer added. “He’s from Bris- two match points before slap- ranked Belgian David quarter-final clash with Serbian bane, one of the most humid ping yet another forehand Switzerland’s Roger Goffin 7-6 (8/6), star Novak Djokovic. places in the world!” wide as Millman celebrated. Federer walks off court 6-2, 6-4. Millman’s 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), Millman said he was feeling “Today he was definitely 7-6 (7/3) triumph scuppered a the nerves of his first Grand not at his best,” Millman said. blockbuster last-four meeting Slam fourth round match as he “But I’ll take it.” between Federer and two-time surrendered the first set with a And he’ll face another hero US Open champion Djokovic, single break of serve. in Djokovic for a place in the who had advanced with a 6-3, “I felt like a bit of a deer in the semi-finals, trying to become 6-4, 6-3 victory over Joao Sousa. headlights to begin with,” said the first Australian man to win But Federer suffered his earli- Millman, whose career has been a Grand Slam since Lleyton est US Open exit since he fell in slowed by a string of injuries and Hewitt won Wimbledon straight sets to Tommy Robredo three surgeries. in 2002. in the fourth round in 2013. “The feet weren’t moving. “Last time I played It was also 20-time major win- Roger had it on a string, he was him I got three games at ner Federer’s first loss against a manipulating me around court.” Queens,” Millman said. player outside the top 50 in 41 Although Federer broke first “Let’s hope I get a few meetings at the US Open. on the way to a 5-3 lead in the more.” “I’m probably in a little bit second, Millman won the last of disbelief,” Millman, 29, said four games, breaking Federer Try to survive after three hours and 35 minutes twice as Federer wasted two set Djokovic, who end- in the cauldron of Arthur Ashe points in the 10th game. ed a 54-week title Stadium. Federer upped his game in drought with his “I have so much respect for a tight third set, and had the 13th Grand Slam title Roger and everything he’s done first chance to claim the set at at Wimbledon, said for the game. He’s been a hero 6-5 in the tiebreaker. He netted he was relieved to get of mine.” a service return, and Millman past 68th-ranked Sou- Federer had set points in both converted his second set point sa in straight sets, the Murray opts out of Glasgow Davis Cup date Sharapova AFP | Glasgow Murray wrote. “I have genuinely loved com- n emotional Andy Murray peting in this Davis cup format Ahas apologised to Scottish I have genuinely over the course of my career knocked out tennis fans after the former and have had some of the most world number one decided not loved competing in memorable and special mo - to play in Great Britain’s Davis this Davis cup format ments of my career competing Cup tie against Uzbekistan in over the course of for my country. Glasgow. my career and have “With this possibly being my With the change of Davis had some of the last chance to compete in Scot- Cup format meaning fewer most memorable and land as a professional I really home ties, next week’s clash wanted to be there with team could have been the Scot’s final special moments of and found this decision emo- chance to play a competitive my career competing tionally quite challenging. match in his own country. for my country “If I don’t get the chance to Two-time Wimbledon winner ANDY MURRAY compete in Scotland again I just Murray, who crashed out of the Andy Murray want to say thank you so much current US Open in the second to all the fans who have come round, will instead stay in the gles to return to peak form fol- the tournament. along to watch and support the United States for further reha- lowing his long injury lay-off. “I just wanted to write a quick team over the years. You have bilitation on his right hip. In a long message on Insta- message to apologise to the Brit- created some incredible atmos- The 31-year-old has played in gram, Murray, who won the ish davis cup team and all the pheres for me and the team to only one Grand Slam since last Davis Cup with Britain in 2015, fans who are coming to watch play in and I will always remem- year’s Wimbledon as he strug- said sorry for his absence from in Glasgow and support on tv,” ber that. Maria Sharapova walks off the court after losing to Carla Suarez Navarro AFP | New York brated her 30th birthday Mon- day, was a quarter-finalist in aria Sharapova was New York in 2013. French gamble on Paire for Nadal Davis Cup date Mknocked out of the US “Maria has played here at Open in the fourth round on night many times so I knew AFP | Paris the September 14-16 hardcourt Monday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to I needed to be aggressive, fo- semi-final in mind. Spanish birthday girl Carla cussed and play solid,” said rench Davis Cup coach Yan- “He’s really up for it,” Noah Suarez Navarro who inflicted the 30th seeded Spaniard after Fnick Noah raised eyebrows said. the Russian’s first ever night- clinching a second win in six yesterday when he unexpect- “Benoit’s style is interesting time loss at the tournament. meetings with Sharapova. edly named Benoit Paire along- when you consider the oppo- Sharapova, the 2006 cham- “I told myself to run and side Lucas Pouille and Richard nent,” he explained. “I’ve been pion who was trying to reach fight -- that’s the way I can Gasquet for their mouth-water- wanting to play him for a while. the quarter-finals for the play really good tennis.” ing semi-final against Spain in “He gives us plenty of options first time since 2012, hit 38 She will face 2017 runner-up two weeks’ time. as a number three when you unforced errors and dropped Madison Keys for a place in the The 6ft 5in (1.96 metres) Paire are playing a typical Spanish serve six times. semi-finals. has never played for France, is team with (Rafael) Nadal and The defeat ended the for- “Madison is from the United 56th in the ATP standings and the others,” he said. mer world number one’s per- States so I guess all the crowd has a reputation for being flashy Spain and France have met fect record of 23 wins -- 22 of will be for her. and taking risks but has great twice previously in Davis Cup them on Arthur Ashe Stadium “I have played her a few spin and a powerful double - semi-finals, with the Spanish -- in night sessions at Flushing times. She has a great serve handed backhand. winning in both 2004 and 2011 Meadows. and plenty of experience on Noah said the selection was and going on to win the Davis Suarez Navarro, who cele- this court.” made with the opposition for Benoit Paire is the surprise inclusion on the French Davis Cup semi-final team Cup both times..