WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021 11

Teenage star Greenwood commits to Man Utd with new deal Djokovic follows Williams, Osaka into Australia semis Williams to face ‘incredible’ Osaka after statement win over Halep

Djokovic battles• injury to overcome Zverev KNOW WHAT AFP | Melbourne Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (L) and Mason Greenwood react after a match (file photo) Aslan Karatsev became AFP | London ovak Djokovic smashed his racquet to bits and the first man in the Nthen swept Alexander Open era to reach a ason Greenwood com- Zverev out of the Australian semi-final on his Grand Mmitted himself to Man- Open as the defending cham- Slam debut, and just chester United till 2025 yes- pion followed Serena Williams the second qualifier to terday with the club’s manager 4 and Naomi Osaka into the goals were scored by do so at the Australian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying it Mason Greenwood in 29 semi-finals yesterday. Open after Bob Gilti- is his responsibility to ensure appearances across all It was a patchy performance the winger “reaches his phe- from the world number one, nan in 1977 competitions this term Novak Djokovic hits a return to Alexander Zverev nomenal potential”. who is nursing an abdominal The 19-year-old’s new and injury and drew deeply on his little bit drained, honestly.” best match I have played this minutes. improved deal which includes mental fortitude to win 6-7 The Serb remains on track tournament, for sure,” said the “I told myself just to be really a one-year extension option skjaer. (6/8), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6). for a record-extending ninth 10th seed. intense from the beginning,” comes after a series of impres- “He has made great progress Djokovic will be hot favourite Australian Open title and 18th “Obviously I had to, going up said the Japanese star, the reign- sive performances since he this season, showing real ma- to reach Sunday’s final when he Grand Slam trophy, nipping at against the number two in the ing US Open champion. broke into the first team. turity and adaptability to his plays Russian qualifier Aslan the heels of rivals Roger Feder- world, so I knew I had to do Elsewhere, 114th-ranked Kar- Greenwood has been with game which has seen him Karatsev, who continued his er and Rafael Nadal, who both better.” atsev became the first man to the club since the age of seven develop into one of the best dream run with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, have 20. reach an Open-era Grand Slam and gone on to make 82 first- young players in the country. 6-2 win against injured Bulgar- Earlier, Williams took a step ‘Intense’ Osaka semi on debut when he ousted team appearances and earning “Whilst it is easy for people ian Grigor Dimitrov. towards a record-equalling 24th Their semi-final promises a hobbling Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, himself one England cap. outside of the club to forget After destroying his racquet Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 6-3 much after Osaka, the reign- 6-1, 6-2. Solskjaer handed Green- that Mason is just 19, it is our as he slipped behind in the third, dismantling of second seed Si- ing US Open champion, looked The 27-year-old has knocked wood his debut against Paris job as coaches to ensure he Djokovic recovered brilliantly to mona Halep, her nemesis in the in formidable touch in her 6-2, out three seeds as he became the Saint-Germain in the Cham- reaches his phenomenal po- take the set and he was ice-cool 2019 Wimbledon final. 6-2 win over Taiwan’s Hsieh lowest-ranked player to reach pions League in March 2019 tential and every step we take on the big points, drilling an ace Williams, 39, said her level Su-wei. a major semi-final after world and has been delighted with is to help him along that path.” to seal the decisive tiebreaker. was improving ahead of her Displaying great focus against number 125 Goran Ivanisevic at his progress. Greenwood for his part said “Down to the very last shot it meeting with Japan’s Osaka, the awkward Hsieh, ranked 71 Wimbledon in 2001. “Mason is a fantastic talent it was thanks to the United was anybody’s match,” said the who came out on top in their and playing her first Slam quar- “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” and yet another fine example Academy he had realised his 33-year-old Serb. tempestuous 2018 US Open title ter-final aged 35, Osaka hit 24 said Karatsev, whose career so of the type of player that our dream of playing first team “A lot of nerves out there, a lot match. winners and was detained on far has been badly compromised academy produces,” said Sol- football. of pressure. Emotionally I feel a “Definitely think this is the Rod Laver Arena for only 66 by injury.

Reyes makes PBA coaching comeback with TNT Guardiola backs ‘exceptional’ Klopp to bounce back TDT | Manila AFP | London

ulti-titled coach Vincent anchester City manag- M“Chot” Reyes is back in Mer Pep Guardiola offered the Philippine As- his support to Liverpool coun- sociation (PBA)! terpart Jurgen Klopp after the And the 57-year-old, eight- Reds’ downturn in form led time champion bench taskmas- to rumours the German could ter is back with Talk ‘N Text walk away from the Premier nearly a decade after he left the League champions. ballclub. Klopp dismissed those claims Reyes is taking over the TNT on Monday and denied any Tropang Giga as its head coach suggestion he needs a break – his second tour of duty with to recharge his batteries after the ballclub – when the league five-and-a-half years in charge kicks off its 46th season. at Anfield, during which time It will be a homecoming for he has restored Liverpool to Reyes with the Manuel V. Pan- their former glories. gilinan’s flagship franchise, Reyes ... back in his second tour of duty with TNT ballclub Guardiola said he had “a lot” Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s German which he helped capture four forward to this new challenge.” of sympathy for Klopp. “What manager Jurgen Klopp (L) embrace after a match (file photo) league titles from 2009-2012, Reyes takes over from TNT he has produced in football win some games you give more the last one in the 2011-2012 active consultant Mark Dickel, is exceptional. I said it many credit or value to what you have season Philippine Cup, becom- Coaching again in the who ran the team along with times, now, in the last season done or are doing.” ing the most dominant fran- PBA provides me an coach Bong Ravena for the last and the previous seasons when City’s bid to win an unprec- chise at the turn of the decade. couple of years. he was in Germany. What he has edented quadruple of trophies excellent platform to produced in football “It’s like a homecoming for advance this advocacy. Dickel was asked to stay with “His philosophy makes foot- continues when they travel to Chot. He is a coach that gave the team, but declined the offer ball entertaining for all spec- is exceptional. I said Everton in the Premier League us four championships. We I have spent the best to look for new opportunities tators. He always wants to it many times, now, on Wednesday. look forward to a successful years of my career as elsewhere. produce joy to the fans, to play in the last season Guardiola’s men return to relationship with Coach Chot,” a ka-Tropa, and I look Ravena will remain with attacking football. and the previous Champions League action said Ricky Vargas, TNT’s repre- forward to this new the team as an assistant coach “We all have good moments seasons when he was against Borussia Moncheng- sentative to the PBA board of challenge and will be joined by Sandy or bad moments. There is no in Germany ladbach in the last 16 next governors, in which he is the VINCENT “CHOT” REYES Arespacochaga, , club or manager than can sus- week, face Tottenham in the chairman. Josh Reyes, Ranidel De Ocam- tain seasons and seasons of PEP GUARDIOLA League Cup final in April and Reyes also led Gilas Pilipinas’ My passion has always been po, and Yuri Escueta. winning, winning, winning, visit Everton again in the quar- renaissance in the international coaching and building teams, Reyes has had a long coach- winning.” Liverpool have suffered three ter-finals of the FA Cup. scene, coaching the Philippine whether in sports or business. ing career starting in 1993 when Guardiola and Klopp have consecutive defeats to slip to An English top-flight run team to its first FIBA World Cup And my purpose is to further he became head coach of the battled for supremacy for the sixth, but Guardiola sees simi- of 16 consecutive wins in all appearance since 1978. the advancement of Filipino Purefoods franchise where he majority of their time in Eng- larities between their struggles competitions has largely been In making a return to the pro coaches, so we can, in turn, help tasted early success, winning land together with City and Liv- as City’s own dip in standards achieved without Kevin De league, and reuniting with his develop the next generation of two titles in the 1993 All-Fili- erpool the Premier League’s last season left them 18 points Bruyne, who is sidelined with former team, Reyes expressed Filipino leaders,” said Reyes, a pino and 1994 Commissioner’s two dominant sides for the past adrift in second. a hamstring injury. his excitement to be doing five-time PBA Coach of the Year. Cups. four seasons. “From my personal point of But the Belgian could feature something he is truly passion- “Coaching again in the PBA He then won the 2002 All-Fil- City look set to win their view, sometimes it is good to for the first time in a month at ate about. provides me an excellent plat- ipino and 2003 Reinforced Con- third title in four years after lose,” added Guardiola. “Four Goodison Park tomorrow. “Throughout my career, I form to advance this advocacy. I ferences with Coca-Cola before opening up a seven-point lead seasons are good enough to re- “He’s really getting better. have always tried to live accord- have spent the best years of my chalking up for more titles with at the top of the table with a alise how difficult everything is. Today he did all training with ing to my passion and purpose. career as a ka-Tropa, and I look TNT from 2009 to 2012. game in hand to come. When you come back and try to the group,” said Guardiola.