Sports FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 Inspiration and momentum important — Jacklin LONDON: Match-play golf is nigh on impossible to predict could make a real difference with their foursomes and four- His finishing run of five birdies in a row gave hope to the rest and it is flashes of inspiration and key momentum shifts that balls pairings or by springing an upset with the singles order of the guys,” added the Florida-based Jacklin who is on a UK- often decide the destiny of the Ryder Cup, according to for- on the final day. “If you can get certain things to happen for wide theatre tour until Oct. 16 (www.tonyjacklin.com/theatre- mer captain Tony Jacklin. The 70-year-old Englishman, you at certain times during those three days of competition it tour). “That sort of thing can happen for a European player or Europe’s most successful skipper having registered two wins can change the whole flow of the match,” said the winner of for an American - you just don’t know. That’s what makes the and one tie in his four matches in charge between 1983-89, the 1969 British Open and 1970 US Open. Ryder Cup great because the teams are invariably well says it is the unsung heroes who regularly come to the fore in “Who you put out first in the singles for example. In 1985 I matched and it is so unpredictable. “That’s why the public get the biennial clash between Europe and the United States. put Manuel Pinero out first against Lanny Wadkins who was a drawn in to it so much. Nothing is pre-conceived and there is “On paper Europe seem very strong this time but in match cocky, confident player, and for our boys the fact Pinero nothing sure about any of the matches.” play anybody can beat anybody on any given day,” Jacklin kicked his butt was huge. “It was an inspiring moment for the Jacklin said the 14-14 tie at The Belfry 25 years ago was told Reuters in an interview as he looked ahead to the 40th others and that’s what you need to happen.” another example of how difficult the Ryder Cup is to forecast. Ryder Cup at Gleneagles that starts on Sept. 26. Jacklin, who also competed in seven Ryder Cups as a play- “We’ll be looking to our best players to deliver at Gleneagles, “That’s the reason why we don’t see match play golf er between 1967-79, highlighted other incidents involving the likes of Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose and played that much, especially in America. No one wants to see Craig Stadler and Ian Poulter to emphasise his point. Graeme McDowell, but sometimes the best players don’t the marquee player beaten on the first day and that can easily deliver,” he explained. “When we tied in 1989 Seve happen in that form of the game. “Looking at it from that TINY PUTT Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam all lost in the singles standpoint, the Ryder Cup is up for grabs. What you have to “In 1985 Stadler missed the hole completely with a tiny and it was Christy O’Connor junior and Ronan Rafferty who try and do is get the momentum on the side of your team putt on the Saturday and it gave huge momentum to our came through with the wins we needed. “There’s a lot of pres- because confidence among your players is huge.” team,” he said. “Things can change so quickly in the Ryder sure, a lot of nerves, among the players and it sums up how Jacklin said rival captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson Cup. “Look at what Poulter did two years ago on the Saturday. unpredictable the Ryder Cup is.” —Reuters China’s Li Na set to retire WUHAN: China’s two-time Grand Slam-winner Li Na is poised to retire, state media reported yesterday, in a move which would bring down the curtains on Asia’s most successful tennis career. The sports channel of state-owned CNTV cited Li’s agency, IMG, as saying the tennis star would hold a briefing on Sunday to announce the news but also said she might make an official announcement on Friday via social media. A separate report by CCTV-5, the sports channel of state broadcaster China Central Television, quoted unnamed insiders as saying Li, 32, will announce her retirement because of injuries on Friday. “According to insiders, Li Na will officially announce her retirement on September 19,” CCTV-5 said on its verified microblog. “She is reportedly retiring because she is unable to continue competing due to her physical condition,” it said. The broadcaster did not give any details about its sources. An employee at the JAPAN: Switzerland’s Martina Hingis (right) and Belinda Bencic (left) play in their women’s doubles quarter-final match Beijing office of IMG told AFP that Li’s manager was in a meeting against Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Sania Mirza of India at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament. — AFP and unable to confirm. The world number six won the Australian Open in January but her season has been troubled by injury and she has been side- Early exit for Swiss dream team lined since late July with a knee problem. She was ranked a career-high second in the world after January’s Grand Slam win, but has slid down to sixth after missing TOKYO: Former world number one Martina appearance, said: “It was fun to play with was just four years old when she first met her. a string of tournaments including the US Open. In July, Li also Hingis and rising star Belinda Bencic ended Martina.” “If we have used the chances, Her mother Melanie Molitor has trained split with her influential coach Carlos Rodriguez. their first time together as a dream doubles maybe we’d look a little bit different. A bit Bencic for 10 years along with the young- She initially planned to return at the inaugural WTA Wuhan team for Switzerland in the Pan Pacific Open unlucky as I made some stupid mistakes.” ster’s father Ivan. Recalling the “momentum Open, in her home city, which begins Sunday. The Beijing News second round yesterday. Playing as a wild card, the Swiss teen also lost and challenges here and there” in the match, reported that Wuhan Open officials had received a confirmation They bowed to the top-seeded pair of to seventh-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova 3-6, Hingis said: “To be on the same side with letter from Li dropping out of the tournament. Zimbabwe’s Cara Black and Sania Mirza of 6-4, 6-2 in the singles second round of the $1 Belinda, I really enjoyed it. Hopefully we’ll do Organisers however told AFP no letter was received and to India 6-4, 6-2 after winning their doubles million WTA event. Hingis said earlier Bencic better.” —AFP their knowledge Li was still playing. A press conference has been debut match against Japan’s Rika Fujiwara arranged for Sunday in Wuhan, AFP understands. and Taiwan’s Hsieh Shu-Ying 6-4, 6-2 in the first round. But the Swiss duo, who have Kirilenko into Korea Open quarters GRAND SLAM CHAMPION known each other for years despite the nearly Li originally played badminton after being encouraged in the 17-year age gap, said they might team up SEOUL: Russia’s Maria Kirilenko reached sport by her father who played professionally. However, she again in WTA events in China in the coming her first quarter-final of the year yesterday switched to tennis after being convinced by her childhood coach. weeks, depending on how Hingis’ usual part- when she came from behind to beat She took a break in her career early on to study journalism at ner Italian Flavia Pennetta recovers from a Czech third seed Klara Koukalova at the university only to return to tennis. Li became a sporting pioneer recent right-foot injury. WTA Korea Open. in China when she decided to break from the state sports system Hingis and Bencic broke Black’s serve in The former world number 10, who has in 2008 with a group of upcoming players, in a move dubbed by the third and seventh games of the first set. fallen out of the top 100 this year because local media “fly alone”. But they could not hold their service right of a knee injury, dropped the first set 6-7 The move meant that Li was able to choose her own coaches after each of the games. They lost their serve (4/7) but she bounced back in style. She and keep most of her winnings rather than give them to the gov- in four games in the second set of the hour- won the second set 6-4 before an emphat- ernment. The aggressive baseliner has since became one of the long match. “In the second set, we were ic 6-0 victory in the third sealed her first region’s biggest stars when she won the 2011 French Open, falling apart. But in the first set, we definitely last-eight appearance of the season as her becoming the first Asian national to win a Grand Slam singles had chances,” said Hingis, who turns 34 at the comeback gains momentum. title. She has become a poster girl for the Women’s Tennis end of this month and has won five Grand “To be honest, because I had an injury Association (WTA), which has made a concerted push into Asia by Slam singles titles and nine doubles titles.