22 Monday, January 1, 2018 SPORTS Alex De Minaur stuns Garcia Steve Johnson retires in first Alex De Minaur (file pic) Brisbane two. ustralian teenager Alex De Minaur is one of a group De Minaur claimed the of highly promising young Abiggest scalp of his career in the Australians and he reached round opening round of the Brisbane the Wimbledon junior final in Brisbane continue and retired in tears. International. 2016. ourth seed Caroline Garcia left “I’ve always had some issues with my The 18-year-old wild card, There was also an upset in the the court in tears after a lower back,” Garcia told reporters. ranked 208th in the world, other first-round match played backF injury forced the Frenchwoman She was hopeful the injury would not knocked out 44th-ranked on Sunday, with Alexandr to retire from her first round match affect her Australian Open prospects next American Steve Johnson 7-6 Dolgopolov knocking out sixth against Alize Cornet at the Brisbane month. (9/7) 6-4 and will play fourth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-4 International yesterday. “I mean, it’s in two weeks, so it’s a seed Milos Raonic in round 7-6 (7/3). (eurosport) The 24-year-old, who struggled long time... with the back it’s always with a back injury last season, claimed complicated,” she added. “Especially mine, the first set 6-3 before Cornet prevailed it’s really something I take care of, so it’s by the same score in the second to kind of surprising for it to show up like Australia beat Canada force the decider in the all-French this. But we’ll do the best that we can.” encounter. Cornet will met Mirjana Lucic-Baroni Garcia appeared to be suffering in the second round after the Croatian, in Hopman Opener from some discomfort and took a who travels full-time with her daughter, medical timeout before the final set. overcame Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-4 Caroline Garcia reacts She tried to hit a couple of serves 4-6 6-0. before deciding she “I’m very could not sorry for Caroline. I know FIRST ROUND RESULTS what it’s like Anastasija Sevastova beat Samantha Stosur 6-1 6-3 to have back Ana Konjuh beat Kiki Bertens 6-1 6-2 pain,” Cornet, who went down to Ajla Tomljanovic beat Destanee Aiava 6-1 6-4 Karolina Pliskova in last Aleksandra Krunic beat Carina Witthoft 7-5 7-6(2) year’s final, said in a courtside Mirjana Lucic-Baroni beat Tatjana Maria 6-4 4-6 6-0 interview. (Reuters) Murray looking at the bigger picture London Murray is one of a number ndy Murray admits a more of top players alongside Rafael Thanasi Kokkinakis (file pic) considered approach to his Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Stan Aplaying schedule will be the way Wawrinka who have suffered Perth points at 3-2 before sealing the forward as he looks to make his from injuries lately. aria Gavrilova beat Eugenie straight-sets victory. return from six months out from And he concedes that taking Bouchard in straight sets “The first set was great but the game. more breaks from the ATP tour Dbut Thanasi Kokkinakis was I definitely felt some nerves at After the highs of 2016 will be a necessity for him going made to work harder to edge out the end. I was going for it all too which saw him rise to number forwards. Vasek Pospisil and give Australia much. It bodes well and it was one in the world, win a second “Certainly, when you miss a a winning start to their Hopman nice to win again,” the world Wimbledon crown and defend period, you realise how lucky Cup campaign against Canada number 25 told reporters. his Olympic singles title, the last you are to be doing this as a job,” yesterday. “I was very happy with the 12 months have been more of he said. Gavrilova gave the hosts a start. I was very physical from a struggle for the Brit, with a “Giving yourself breaks, flying start in the round robin the beginning, made it tough persisting hip injury restricting especially as you start to get stage of the eight-nation mixed for her out there from the very his fitness. older, I think, is very important team event, beating former first point.” The 30-year-old last played and something that I’ll certainly world number five Bouchard Kokkinakis needed to take a competitively at Wimbledon be looking to do for however 6-1 6-4 at the Perth Arena. longer route for his 6-4 3-6 6-3 back in July and has dropped to long I keep playing. The nimble-footed triumph. 16th in the world since. “For tennis as a sport, it’s Australian raced to a 5-0 lead After dropping the opener, With the Australian Open not good when so many of the in the opener but faced more of Pospisil dug deep to force a looming in January, he is set to top players are injured and for a challenge in the next, despite decider and went toe-to-toe make his return to the court at extended periods. claiming the first three games with the Australian until the the Brisbane International next “I certainly think it’s something of the second set against the sixth game when he staved week, where he will play either that should be looked at and to Canadian. off three break points before Ryan Harrison or Leonardo understand why, what the reason Gavrilova held firm as Kokkinakis capitalised on Andy Murray (file pic) Mayer in the second round. for that is.” (Sportsbeat) Bouchard mounted a comeback the fourth to make the vital attempt, saving three break breakthrough. (Reuters)