22 Thursday, March 16, 2017 SPORTS

Indian Wells champion Nadal was the first break, but couldn’t do the same in afael Nadal and through, defeating fellow Spaniard the second. booked a mouthwatering Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-5. In the third, however, he raced fourth-roundR clash at the ATP Despite two “horrible” games, away with it, winning the last on Tuesday, Nadal was pleased with his five games with what he called where five-time champion Novak overall effort against Verdasco, a “probably the best I’ve Djokovic also advanced from the left-hander like himself who has played this year”. “group of death”. pushed him in the past. Kyrgios defeated Germany’s With the three superstars “I played a good match -- very 6-3, 6-4 in a drawn in the same quarter, only aggressive with my serve, serving battle of two of the ATP Tour’s Federer one - at most - can make it to the well, hitting good , good most exciting young talents. semi-finals. backhands. With the loaded bottom quarter The weeding out will start “I think I played much better the focus of attention, fourth- in earnest, when Federer meets today than the first day. I played seeded of Japan Nadal in the round of 16 in a two horrible games, terrible. quietly advanced to the fourth reprise of the That’s it. For the rest of the match round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over final in January that saw the Swiss I think I played very well.” Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. star claim an 18th The blip came after Nadal had Nishikori booked a date with crown. broken for a 2-1 lead in the second unseeded American Donald sets up “I think it’s a great thing for set. He was promptly broken to Young, who ousted 14th-seeded tennis, and it’s exciting for Rafa love himself, then Verdasco held of France 6-4, 1-6, and me,” said Federer, a four-time with a love game. 6-3. Indian Wells winner. “It’s a tough But Nadal gained the break he American saved four draw, but rankings are not the needed for a 6-5 lead in a game match points in a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 priority for both of us. Verdasco book-ended with double (9/7) win over Bulgarian Grigor “Anything else but a finals, faults, and served it out without Dimitrov. Sock, winner of ATP it almost doesn’t matter which a hitch. titles in Auckland and round it would be,” he Federer edged American Delray Beach Nadal added of what will be the 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 this year, 36th meeting between (7/4) in a match in which next faces the two -- their first neither player was able to Tunisia’s before the quarter- break. Malek finals since they Federer failed to convert Jaziri, a 6-4, launched their rivalry his four break chances, but 3-6, 6-3 winner in 2004. was pleased enough at not over 19-year-old Three- facing a break point himself. American Taylor time “I was very happy how I played Fritz. (AFP) Indian because I thought he played a clash Wells really good match,” said Federer, who gave up just six points on his first serve in the encounter. Djokovic downs del Potro Djokovic made it past dangerous Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who shocked the Serb star in the first round of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year en route to singles silver. Djokovic eked out the first set despite going down an early of Serbia cel- ebrates break- ing Juan Martin Del Potro of Roger Argentina in the Federer of of serves thrid set Switzerland against Fernando returns a Verdasco of Spain shot to Steve in their third Johnson round match

Ranchi their efforts to broker peace between decision after ustralian the top two-ranked Test teams. being given skipper Steve Kohli’s accusations last week had out lbw -- a clear ASmith accused his plunged the teams’ often tense ties back breach of the DRS rules. Indian counterpart into crisis mode, with Australia’s board While Smith called the Smith raps Virat Kohli of calling his comments “outrageous”, incident on the fourth and final talking “absolute rubbish” prompting an equally robust response day a one-off, Kohli said after Wednesday despite efforts to bring from the Indian camp. Speaking to the match that it had been an end to the arch rivals’ bitter war reporters ahead of the third Test in going on for days. of words. After Kohli said on the Ranchi, Kohli said his focus was now Asked on Wednesday Kohli for eve of the third Test that he had on the cricket but he refused to back about Kohli’s latest no regrets over accusing Australia of down on his claims against Smith. comments, Smith said he systematically abusing the decision “I don’t regret anything that I have was keen to move things on review system (DRS) in their last said but at the same time it’s very but still snapped back at his match in Bangalore, Smith angrily important not to be stupid and go on counterpart. denied that he was guilty of more than about the same thing on a daily basis,” “Virat obviously stuck by his ‘talking a momentary lapse. said Kohli. comments. From my point of While the International Cricket India were furious when Smith was view they are completely wrong. Council is set to hold clear-the-air spotted looking up at his dressing- I obviously came out of the game talks between the two men, the new room for guidance in Bangalore on and said I made a mistake,” Smith Indian cricket team rubbish’ exchanges are likely to complicate whether to seek a review of the umpire’s told reporters. (AFP) captain Virat Kohli