Sports Wednesday, April 17, 2019 17

News Djokovic overcomes in brief Colombian cyclist Jarlinson Pantano fails EPO test

Paris: Trek-Segafredo’s Colombian Jarlinson Pantano has failed an out of competition doping test for the blood booster Kohlschreiber fright EPO, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Monday. “In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the af- fair,” the UCI said on Monday. American outfit Trek is one of road cycling’s top teams, and Argentine Pella delivers a second-round blow to seventh seed Cilic have riders such as Australia’s Richie Porte and Germany’s John Degenkolb on their books. EPO is a doping product which helps deliver oxygen by boosting the amount of red blood cells. It has been the culprit in high profile cases such as the ac- tion against former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The 30-year-old, who won a Tour de France stage in 2016, was provisionally also suspended by his team, on news of the out of competition test.

Retired Nowitzki could see himself as coach in a few years

BERLIN: Retired NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki, who spent 21 seasons at the Dallas Mavericks, could see himself returning to basketball as coach or manager in a few years time, the German said. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer ended his sparkling career last week after more than two decades at the Mavericks with whom he was crowned NBA champion in 2011 and was a 14-time All Star. “After one or two years I can see myself being happy... as a coach or a manager,” Nowitzki told Germany’s Die Zeit newspa- per in an interview to be published on Wednesday. “I would like to be a mentor for a young player and... ac- company them through their career in my very own way.” For now, Nowitzki is content to put his feet up and enjoy a glass of wine and a slice of cake, something he could not do for years as a professional player.

2020 Giro d’Italia to start in Hungary

Budapest: The 2020 Giro d’Italia will begin in Budapest with another two stages also being held in Hungary, organisers an- nounced on Monday. It will the 14th time that the race will start outside of Italy with Athens, Amsterdam as well as Belfast among those cities to have hosted the Grande Partenza. Last year’s edition started in Jerusalem -- the first time one of cycling’s three major races began outside of Europe -- with two more stages held in Israel before a return to Italy. “After Israel we wanted to bring it back to a wonderful Eu- Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his second-round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap ropean city, and Budapest has been becoming more and more Martin, France, on Tuesday. (EPA-EFE) popular for Italian visitors and tourists,” race director Mauro Regni told reporters. AFP needed to move, this kind of results knew I had chances,” the world rie was impressed with the Organisers said further details, including where the stages Monte Carlo match can be expected. It was number 35 said. “But I had to dramatic setting of the iconic will be held, will be given in June. probably good for me to spend Results from the third day of the ATP Monte play well. Monte Carlo Country Club This year, the Giro -- the first of the year’s three Grand Novak Djokovic was se- so long on the court.” Carlo Masters on Tuesday “I was a bit nervous at the venue which overlooks the Tours -- starts in Bologna on 11 May and finishes on 2 June in verely tested before securing a Djokovic was able to avoid (x denotes seeding): start, it was my first time on Mediterranean from a cliff. Verona. 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Philipp a second straight loss to Kohls- 1st round this court. But playing here is “I like the conditions here. Team Sky’s Chris Froome won last year’s Giro but the Briton Kohlschreiber to survive his chreiber after the 35-year-old Taylor Fritz (USA) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) a dream -- it’s unreal.” Everything is kind of on top of will not defend his title focusing instead on becoming only the 6-4, 2-0 retired fifth rider to win five Tour de France crowns. opening match at the Monte beat him last month in the In- Cameron Norrie (GBR) bt Adrian Mannarino Cilic was playing here for each other,” he said. Carlo Masters on Tuesday. dian Wells third round. (FRA) 6-4, 6-3 the 11th straight year, with “It’s pretty sick kind of The winner of the last three Djokovic, who lives in the Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Fernando quarter-final showings in three playing on the side of a Grand Slams made eight dou- Principality, is playing his Verdasco (ESP) 6-4, 6-4 of the previous four editions. mountain with a water view.” Kerber doubtful for Germany’s Fed Cup ble faults, dropped serve four ‘home’ event for the 13th time Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Alexei Popyrin (AUS) Left-hander Pella came to Canadian revelation Fe- relegation tie with Latvia times and smashed a racquet in 14 years, winning it in 2013 7-5, 6-1 the European clay with a title lix Auger-Aliassime advanced after losing the second set to and 2015 and losing in the final Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) bt Juan Ignacio this season in Sao Paulo. He into a second-round contest Riga: Germany are sweating on the fitness of three-time grand his German opponent in the on two other occasions. Londero (ARG) 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) now stands 13-3 on the surface with third seed Alexander slam winner Angelique Kerber ahead of the Fed Cup relegation match with Latvia which begins in Riga on Friday. second-round encounter. Kohlschreiber lost his 12th 2nd round in 2019. Zverev after beating Argentine The world number one match from 13 played against Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Philipp Pella moved into a winning qualifier Juan Ignacio Londero “At the moment I think it looks like we will not get Angie was relieved to avoid defeat top-ranked opponents, but Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 position as he broke Cilic for 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). fit,” team chief Jens Gerlach told dpa on Tuesday. in his first match of the clay gave as good as he got against Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) bt Karen Khachanov the eighth time of the after- The 18-year-old Auger- The 31-year-old Kerber faces a race against time to recover season. an out-of-sorts Djokovic, who (RUS x8) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 noon, winning a six-minute Aliassime, who reached last from a cold. “It was a difficult match, needed five match points to go (ARG) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x7) 6-3, game before serving out the month’s Miami semi-finals as a Gerlach has called up Mona Barthel to the squad but at there were lots of breaks (a run through. 5-7, 6-1 upset, saving a break point in qualifier, now boasts a ranking 90th in the world she is not in the same class as the fifth- of eight straight during the sec- the final game and wrapping of 33rd -- up from 175th when ranked Kerber. ond and third sets),” Djokovic Pella pounds Cilic , where he up victory as Cilic fired wide. he played here a year ago. Julia Goerges, Andrea Petkovic and doubles specialist said. Argentine Guido Pella went out in the fourth round. “I’m very happy to win my Anna-Lena Groenefeld round out the German team for the “There were lots of ups and dealt a second-round blow to Pella, who won his first Norrie wins debut match first match after Miami, be- indoor hard-court contest. downs. It was not the prettiest seventh seed Marin Cilic, beat- career match at the event in In the first round, Briton cause I didn’t know what to Latvia also have squad issues with world number 13 Ana- of matches. ing the Croatian 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. the first round on Sunday, Cameron Norrie advanced in expect,” he said. stasija Sevastova injured leaving winner Jelena “He played well, but a win Defeat in just over two emerged a winner as he played his debut match at the event, Italian qualifier Lorenzo Ostapenko to lead their bid for a first ever place in the world is a win. This was a tough first hours left 2014 US Open win- on the idyllic centre court for with the 23-year-old defeating Sonego beat Russian eighth group. Germany must win to extend their six-year run in the match of the clay season. ner Cilic with just one win from the first time. Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3. seed Karen Khachanov 7-6 elite eight countries of women’s tennis. “I had to figure out how I six matches since January’s “This is my best surface, I The 56th-ranked Nor- (7/4), 6-4. Clippers stage biggest comeback in playoff history

AFP field and eight-of-10 from the done on it on Tuesday. fans’ booing in game one of Los Angeles free throw line. “It is a significant quad the series, delivered a triple- Game three is Thursday in injury,” said Kerr without go- double of 18 points, 12 assists The Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles. ing into detail. “We will get an and 10 rebounds. delivered the biggest come- The stretch drive featured MRI done tomorrow. He is go- He joined Wilt Chamber- back in NBA playoff history the Clippers’ consistent mid- ing to be out a while. It is sig- lain and Charles Barkley as on Monday, rallying from a range game against the War- nificant.” the only Sixers to get multiple 31-point deficit for a shocking riors’ inconsistent three-point Williams drained a key triple-doubles in the postsea- 135-131 win over the two-time shooting. But fouls and inju- jump shot over Klay Thomp- son, and this time he left to defending champion Golden ries also worked against the son with 46 seconds remain- a standing ovation from the State Warriors. Warriors in game two of the ing after Curry had put the home fans. Lou Williams scored 36 first round series. Warriors ahead 131-128 on a Philadelphia grabbed com- points and Montrezl Harrell Warriors coach Steve Kerr three-pointer 12 seconds ear- mand of the contest with a nailed a couple of clutch late described it as an epic melt- lier. 51-point third quarter, a team free throws as the Clippers down. After Klay Thompson record for most points in a surprised even themselves to “Once you lose momentum missed a shot from beyond the quarter. square the first round playoff in a game, it is hard to get it arc, Clippers Landry Shamet The Sixers also set a club series at 1-1. back,” said Kerr. “We lost this hit a three pointer with 16 sec- record for most points in a Clippers coach Doc Rivers game in the middle of the third onds left for the game winner. playoff game, squaring their said he told his players at half- quarter when we stopped play- Harrell sank two free throws best-of-seven opening round time, when they were down by ing. with five seconds left to cap series 1-1. 23 points, to not give up. “We got up by 31 and we the scoring. Game three is on Thursday “I said ‘We are going to win shut down. We got exactly Elsewhere, Ben Simmons in New York. this game.’ I was honest with what we deserved.” heard cheers instead of jeers Ailing Joel Embiid fin- them. I said, ‘I don’t know The Clippers topped the LA Clippers guard Lou Williams (23) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Dray- Monday as the Philadelphia ished with 23 points and 10 how. Just hang in there with Los Angeles Lakers’ rally from mond Green (23) during the third quarter in game two of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at 76ers set a franchise record rebounds to lead Philadelphia, each other,’” Rivers said. a 29-point deficit to beat the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA on Monday. (AFP) with 51 points in the third who shot 56 percent from the “This is who we are. We Seattle Supersonics in 1989. quarter en route to a 145-123 field. Embiid was a game-time hung in there long enough. We The Clippers also came “We changed a couple out for us.” Cousins suffered a serious in- playoff win over the Brooklyn decision due to a sore left knee. found a way to win the game.” back from being 27 points things offensively and defen- The Warriors got more jury. Cousins injured his left Nets. “Everybody’s got to bring Williams also had 11 as- down in a playoff win over the sively on the fly in the third,” bad news after the game when quad in the first quarter and is Australia’s Simmons, who it,” Embiid said. “We need sists, going 13-of-22 from the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012. Rivers said. “And it worked they learned centre DeMarcus expected to have an MRI scan had criticized the Philadelphia everybody.”