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Suzann wins Liverpool make Safeway Classic Moses third deadline day 17 signing TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 19 Get Real! Bale not worth such a fortune Page 18 NEW YORK: Serena Williams of the US plays a shot against compatriot Sloane Stephens during a 2013 US Open women’s singles match. — AFP Old order takes control at US Open Serena outguns Stephens, Djokovic yet to drop a set NEW YORK: Serena Williams easily won her round for the first time since 2006. this year, crumbled to a 6-4 6-4 defeat by to the humidity and gusting winds it was all his own serve as he raced to victory in 100 min- eagerly-awaited clash with Sloane Stephens at Murray, playing in the middle of a hot and Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova after she had won smooth sailing. “It was tough conditions. It was utes. the US Open on Sunday as normal service steamy day, needed less than two hours to see the first four games of the match. Makarova wil very, very humid,” Murray said. “I was struggling “Just doing my job, win in straight sets and resumed at the last grand slam of year. off Germany’s Florian Mayer 7-6 (2) 6-2 6-2 and play China’s Li Na after Asia’s top player account- breathing for most of the match.” spend as less time on court as possible,” he said. Williams was one of four US Open champi- advance to the fourth round. ed for Jelena Jankovic 6-3 6-0. Stephens beat Murray’s opponent in the fourth round will The Serbian’s next opponent is Marcel ons that won on Sunday, sending a clear mes- Djokovic was even more ruthless in his cen- Williams in January in the quarter-finals at be Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, who beat Italy’s Granollers, one of four Spaniards in the men’s sage to the next generation of rising stars that ter court night match against Portugal’s Joao Melbourne Park to enhance her standing as a Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-1, with Tomas last 16, who knocked the last American out they will have to wait their turn. Sousa, cruising to a 6-0 6-2 6-2 win, while 32- future leader of US women’s tennis, but was Berdych looming in the quarter-finals. when he edged wildcard Tim Smyczek 6-4 4-6 0- The 31-year-old avenged her loss to year-old Hewitt wore down Russia’s Evgeny completely outgunned by a woman bidding to Berdych, seeded fifth, made the semi-finals 6 6-3 7-5. Stephens at the Australian Open with an Donskoy 6-3 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-1. “Obviously when become the oldest to win the US Open since at last year’s US Open and has been in great Bob and Mike Bryan did give America’s men emphatic 6-4 6-1 victory to keep her title you’ve been to the top you want to keep play- tennis turned professional in 1968. form at Flushing Meadows this week, reaching some cheer when they stayed on course to defence on course. “It’s definitely difficult, espe- ing,” said Hewitt, who stunned sixth seed Juan “Obviously she’s number one in the world for the last 16 without dropping a set. achieve a rare calendar-year grand slam in dou- cially playing people that you like, that you Martin del Potro in the previous round. a reason,” said Stephens, 11 years younger than The Czech dispatched Julien Benneteau of bles after coming back to beat Canadians Daniel always want to see do well,” Williams said. “The reason you’re playing is for the majors, Williams. “I thought she played really well. France 6-0 6-3 6-2 to set up a fourth-round clash Nestor and Vasek Pospisil 6-7 (1) 7-5 6-2. “But you have to go out there and kind of and for me, Davis Cup as well. That’s the reason “All in all I thought I competed well and with Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, who The Bryan brothers have already won each of put that to the side and realize, I want to do well I’m still playing.” The biggest surprise on a day played well. That’s all you can do really.” Williams defeated Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-3 6-2 6- the last four grand slam doubles titles, starting myself and take every point as it comes.” when most results went as expected was the will play Carla Suarez Navarro in the quarter- 7 (1) 7-6 (7). with last year’s US Open, but are bidding to Defending men’s champion Andy Murray defeat of women’s third seed Agnieszka finals, the Spaniard having upset Germany’s Djokovic has yet to lose a set in the tourna- claim all four in the same calendar year. and world number one Novak Djokovic also Radwanska. eighth-seed Angelique Kerber 4-6 6-3 7-6 (3). ment and the 26-year-old was never in any dan- The only men to have achieved the feat were won in straight sets, while 2001 winner Lleyton The Pole, who had made it to the quarter- Murray struggled to impose himself on ger against the 95th-ranked Sousa. The 2011 US the Australian pair of Ken McGregor and Frank Hewitt turned back the clock to reach the fourth finals or better at the three other grand slams Mayer in the opening set but once he adapted Open champion faced just two break points on Sedgman in 1951. — Reuters Messi slams treble as Horner back in red Isco nets fine double MADRID: American veteran Chrsitopher Horner moved back into the leader’s red jersey after winning the 10th stage of the Tour of MADRID: World Player of the Year Lionel “This is a very tough stadium to play Spain yesterday. Messi netted a first-half hat-trick as at, with the atmosphere and the intensity It was the RadioShack rider’s second stage win of this year’s Barcelona extended their winning start with which they play,” added the Spain Vuelta following his third stage success that also saw the 41-year-old to their La Liga title defence with an international. wear red for a day, before losing it to Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali. action-packed 3-2 win at Valencia on “It’s about continuing to improve, we The Astana rider finished second on the punishing mountainous Sunday. A matter of hours before they are just at the start of the season. “It’s log- 187km stage from Torredelcampo to Alto de Haza Llana, which sealed the purchase of Wales winger ical that we need to aim higher and the included 18 percent ramps in the final stages, losing 48 seconds to Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur, sooner we can find our optimum level the American with Spaniard Alejandro Valverde third at just over a Real Madrid racked up a maximum nine and stay there for an extended time the minute back. points when they beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 better.” Messi missed last weekend’s 1-0 Horner paid tribute to his time-trial specialist teammate Fabian at the Bernabeu, while Atletico Madrid win at Malaga with a bruised thigh and Cancellara for his help on the stage. “I’ve got to thank my teammate also made it three wins in three with a 2- although he fluffed those late chances Fabian Cancellara who worked for me for most of the stage,” said the 1 success at Real Sociedad. on Sunday he looked close to his scintil- SPAIN: Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (left), Barcelona’s American. “I had one worry which was seeing how to attack on such Barca were cruising in an entertaining lating best. Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos (center) and Barcelona’s midfielder a tough (mountain) pass to win the stage, especially given that in contest at the Mestalla after Messi struck It was the third treble before halftime Cesc Fabregas (right) celebrate after a goal against Valencia. — AFP the group there was Nibali, (Ivan) Basso, Purito (Joaquim Rodriguez), in the 10th and 39th minutes from Cesc of his career and at the age of only 26 he Valverde.” Horner broke clear on his own in the final five kilometres tracted by the drawn-out saga over Bale’s Bilbao threatened a comeback on a Fabregas assists before Neymar set the is now the sixth highest scorer in La Liga and quickly edged out a significant gap as the other overall con- transfer. After a subdued start at their couple of occasions before Isco picked Argentine up for his third in the 41st. with 220 goals, surpassing Quini’s 219 tenders marked each other’s responses. giant, sun-drenched arena, Karim up another assist from Benzema, again Valencia stormed back with two goals and closing in on the record of 251 held Eventually Nibali kicked for home and got clear of the other Benzema dinked a pass through to Isco whistled by the home crowd after fluff- from Helder Postiga on the stroke of half- by Telmo Zarra. chasers, but by now Horner was already well on his way to victory. in the 26th minute and the Spain play- ing a number of chances, and the 21- time, including an acrobatic volley, Messi In-form playmaker Isco earlier struck “It was hard to get back up to Horner given the heat hit us hard, maker, who joined from Malaga in the year-old found the net with a sublime uncharacteristically squandered three twice and Cristiano Ronaldo netted his but I’m very satisfied given how much racing there’s been already,” close season, drilled a shot past Bilbao 72nd-minute strike.