17 MONDAY, JULY 16, 2018 sports Djokovic races to Wimbledon title Serbia’s beats Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), wins 13th career crown

AFP | London

ovak Djokovic raced to a Djokovic eats grass to fourth Wimbledon title Nand 13th career Grand celebrate victory Slam crown yesterday when he defeated a battling but exhaust- ed Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3). World number 21 Djokovic added the 2018 title to his wins in 2011, 2014 and 2015 as he be- came the lowest-ranked cham- pion since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.It also took his Slam total to within one of Pete Sampras and just four behind the 17 of who he defeated in the semi-finals. Anderson, the eighth seed, was the first South African in the final in 97 years and was bidding to become the first man from his country to be crowned Wimble- don champion. Djokovic eats some grass from the court -AFP However, he had spent 21 AFP | London in over a decade. hours on court getting to the “The grass tasted really well. final and that marathon effort ovak Djokovic celebrated I had a double portion this came back to haunt him at the Nhis fourth Wimbledon ti- year to treat myself,” said the worst possible time despite a late tle -- by munching on the Cen- 31-year-old. rally when he had five set points tre Court grass yesterday. The sight of Djokovic snack- in the third set. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic poses kisses the winners trophy -AFP He also took his Grand Slam ing on the Centre Court grass Victory was 31-year-old Djok- total to 13 after a year which has become a Wimbledon tra- ovic’s first at the majors since point to beat in he had defeated only once in six hours at the tournament already, had seen him struggle with dition since the Serb first did he completed the career Grand the last-eight. previous meetings and that was was broken on a double fault in form and confidence, sending it after beating Rafael Nadal in Slam at Roland Garros in 2016. He then played six hours and 10 years ago. the first game. his world ranking to its lowest the 2011 final. It also came just a month after 36 minutes to defeat Having arrived in the final That set the tone and Djokovic he threatened to skip Wimble- in the semis in the second long- with 172 aces to his name, An- broke again in the fifth game on don after a quarter-loss exit in est singles match ever played derson managed just 10 on Sun- his way to securing the opener. chances looked slim when he -- which included the Duke and Paris and with his ranking at its at a Grand Slam. It was hardly day. He also failed to convert any The Serb conceded just three called for treatment on his upper Duchess of Cambridge, Prime lowest in over a decade. surprising that he suffered a dra- of his seven break points. points on his serve. In the first right arm during the changeover. Minister Theresa May as well as Weary Anderson had need- matic power failure in the first Anderson, sluggish in the Wimbledon final featuring two It was far from the spectacle actors Hugh Grant and Benedict ed five sets and saved a match two sets against a player who 30-degree heat having played 21 players over 30, Anderson’s that the crowd and Royal Box Cumberbatch -- had anticipated.

Bahrain celebrates World Cup replica Pacquiao rolls back years to knock out Matthysse AFP | Kuala Lumpur Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The 35-year-old Argentine, who anny Pacquiao rolled back the came in with a reputation as a big Myears as he stopped WBA wel- puncher, had no answer to Pacquiao’s terweight champion Lucas Matthysse blistering speed and he dropped again yesterday -- the 39-year-old Filipino in the fifth. icon’s first knockout win since 2009. When a right-left combination thud- It was a dominant, devastating dis- ded home to send Matthysse crashing play as “smoking hot” Pacquiao regis- down for a third time in the seventh tered the 60th win of a fabled 23-year round referee Kenny Bayless stepped career that now looks certain to extend in to save him from further punish- beyond his 40th birthday in December. ment. Pacquiao knocked down the “It was a long time ago since I’ve big-puncher from Argentina as early done that. I came out smoking hot,” as the third round with a stunning left said Pacquiao who extended his record uppercut that thudded around the to 60 wins, seven losses and two draws.

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