WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 16 No trophy, no regrets as Federer departs for Miami

ond-round opener last year after Swiss great Roger falling to Juan Martin del Potro • in the final at Indian Wells. Federer will aim to With that in mind, Federer regroup at the Miami shied away from predicting he Open after falling in KNOW WHAT would bounce back in a big way three sets to Austria’s from his loss to Thiem, with the in Miami event’s move to a new Federer is a three- venue adding to his sense of un- the final of the ATP time winner at Miami, certainty. “Now it’s totally different,” but he lost his sec- Federer said of the tournament ond-round opener last AFP | Indian Wells moving from its longtime home year after falling to on Key Biscayne to the Hard Juan Martin del Potro Rock Stadium -- home of the oger Federer departed In- in the final at Indian NFL’s Miami Dolphins. dian Wells empty-handed Wells A new stadium court inside Rfor a second straight year, the actual stadium is the center- but the Swiss great sees no rea- way leaving a tournament. piece of the new venue, which son he can’t get back on track at in action against Dominic Thiem during the final match at Indian Wells “I have been playing every sin- also features a secondary grand- the Miami Masters. gle day for the last three weeks. stand court and two smaller “Sure, it’s frustrating and dis- of fourth in the world -- bump- in Dubai last month, can afford mattered”. I can be very happy and proud show courts and practice courts. appointing and sad to some ex- ing Federer down to fifth going to take the defeat in stride -- es- “Whereas, when you’re hurt of that fact.” “Everybody’s got to get used to tent,” Federer said after falling to the second leg of the “Sun- pecially when he’s playing well and things are difficult, maybe As at Indian Wells, Federer center court or the conditions at 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Austrian Dominic shine Double” of Indian Wells and feels his 37-year-old body is those hurt more. could meet fellow Swiss Stan the new site,” Federer said. “I’m Thiem in Sunday’s final. and Miami. fully fit. “I’m going to Miami. The body Wawrinka in the third round in eager to find out how it’s going Thiem, 25, denied Federer a But Federer, the 20-time “It’s just not as dramatic,” he is perfectly fine. That also al- Miami. to be like. There are stil a lot of record sixth Indian Wells title winner who claimed said of falling to a player who ways keeps me upbeat, and I feel Federer is a three-time winner open question marks. Right now and returned to his career-high a remarkable 100th career title was “just a bit better when it it’s a privilege when I feel this at Miami, but he lost his sec - I feel really good.”

Sanchez wants to bring ‘joy’ to Big win for PSG as Xavi says 48-team Qatar World UEFA financial probe Manchester United fans dropped AFP | London love for football. I know what Cup would be too long I can do. I have belief in my AFP | Paris anchester United for- ability,” he told Inside United Reuters | Madrid tar, it will not be good in my four-times Mward Alexis Sanchez magazine. opinion,” he told reporters on champions aris Saint-Germain is determined to succeed at “United are such an impor- ormer Spain midfielder Monday. Japan to Pwon a major victo- the club and says he still be- tant club, not only in England FXavi Hernandez says FIFA “It’s still for the organisers win this ry Tuesday when the lieves in himself despite a dis- but on a global level, should abandon a proposal to to decide, but for now Qatar is year’s world’s top sports appointing first year at Old and I would love to increase the number of teams doing everything to prepare for Asian Cup court backed the Trafford. help bring a trophy to at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar 32 teams and it will be difficult and Xavi French champions The Chile international, the supporters.” to 48 from 32. to change it for more teams. was not against European who is likely to be sidelined “Obvious- The World Cup will feature Also, it’s good for football to surprised football’s governing body for another month with a knee ly, I want to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, have 32. That’s more than by their UEFA over club finances. injury, has endured a frustrat- make the to be co-hosted by the United enough.” break- The Court of Arbitration ing time since his move from United States, Mexico and Canada, Should FIFA and Qatari or- through for Sport upheld PSG’s ap- Arsenal in January 2018. fans re- but FIFA President Gianni ganisers agree on a proposal to success. peal against a UEFA deci- He has managed just five ally hap- Infantino said last week increase the number of teams, “I thought sion to reopen a probe into goals in 41 appearances for py,” the increasing the number of it would be put to a vote at the the football the club’s compliance with the club, with only two in 23 30-year- teams for the 2022 tourna- FIFA Congress in Paris on June there was the Financial Fair Play regu- in this current injury-troubled old added. ment was “feasible”. 5. worst when I lations. season. “I want to Former Barcelona great Xavi, who was in Mumbai first went there,” UEFA had originally But with the team’s fortunes score goals. Xavi, who won the World for a promotional event for the 39-year- cleared PSG of wrongdoing transformed since caretaker I want to Cup with Spain in 2010 and Generation Amazing, a legacy old said. “But in June following an inves- manager Ole Gunnar Sol - bring them is seeing out his career in Qatar programme initiated by Qa- they’ve im- tigation triggered by PSG skjaer replaced the sacked joy. I want with top-flight club Al Sadd, tar 2022 organisers, also ex- proved a lot and splashing out 400 million Jose Mourinho in December, to win sil- said 48 teams would not be the pected Qatar to acquit them- very quickly since euros ($454 million) to buy Xavi Sanchez is looking towards a verware. right option for 2022, however. selves well on the field at the then, everybody Brazilian superstar Neymar Hernandez better future. “It’s too much and too tournament. saw it at the Asian and French phenomenon “I want to keep showing my Alexis long. Imagine 48 teams in Qa- The tiny Gulf state stunned Cup.” Kylian Mbappe. Sanchez arrives with unlikely Indian Wells triumph AFP | Indian Wells Williams in 1999 and just the It’s the kind of triumph An- fourth unseeded player to lift the dreescu has pictured before, in ianca Andreescu’s vision be- trophy after Williams, a return- her daily practice of creative Bcame reality in the Califor- ing in 2005 and I’ve watched all these visualization which she uses to nia desert, where the Canadian Japan’s last year. players play on TV so maintain her calm and focus. 18-year-old’s Cinderella run to a Reminded that Osaka’s break- many times, so it’s But when the moment arrived first WTA title put her among the through 2018 win was swiftly surreal to be able to for real, she said, it was “sur- elite of women’s . followed by two Grand Slam play against them in real”. “Crazy,” Andreescu herself titles and a rise to No. 1 in the front of amazing crowds “I’ve watched all these play- called it, after gritty 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 world, Andreescu was asked if ers play on TV so many times, victory over three-time Grand she found that inspirational. at such prestigious so it’s surreal to be able to play Slam champion Angelique Ker- “No pressure,” she said with tournaments against them in front of amazing ber made her the first a smile. BIANCA ANDREESCU crowds at such prestigious tour- to win the prestigious Indian “It’s totally fine,” she said of naments.” Wells WTA title. the comparison. “It’s definitely Noting that in March of 2018 “Bianca Andreescu just made an inspiration seeing her claim Bianca Andreescu reacts during her match againt Garbine Muguruza eighth in the rankings as she she was competing in a low - history. Congratulations,” Ca- the trophy last year and winning searched for a first title since she er-level International Tennis nadian Prime Minister Justin Grand Slams right after that has don’t want to take anything for Florida for the this won Wimbledon last year, was Federation 25K event in Japan, Trudeau tweeted shortly after been amazing to see. But I don’t granted. week, where she will be unseed- up a break in the third set when “struggling a lot with my tennis the landmark triumph. really want to focus on the fu- “You never know what the ed. Andreescu powered through fa- and with my body. Andreescu is the tournament’s ture right now. I just want to next week brings,” added An- Kerber, a former world num- tigue and cramping to seize the “It’s crazy, what a year can do,” youngest winner since Serena enjoy this moment because I dreescu, who now heads to ber one who had slipped to victory. she said.