15 MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2019 sports Nadal wins 12th French Open History man Rafael Nadal sweeps to 12th French Open and 18th Grand Slam title The the future. had seven fewer winners and seven 33-year-old “It’s a dream to win again, an incred- more unforced errors in the final. Spaniard be- ible moment. When I first played here “Rafa, well done. You are an amazing comes the first in 2005 I never thought I would be still champion and a legend in our sport. I want to say player, man or playing here in 2019. “I am happy that you are playing. To congratulations to woman, to win the “It’s very special for me.” win 12 times, it’s unreal.” same Slam 12 times Yesterday’s triumph confirmed the “I will try again, for sure.” Dominic. I feel sorry as after seeing off a ‘Big Three’ stranglehold on the Grand In a 53-minute first set of brutal hit- he deserves to win it as brave challenge from Slams having shared the last 10 between ting and raw physicality, it was Thiem well. But he has every a weary Thiem in a re- them. who broke first for a 3-2 lead. chance in the future. He peat of the 2018 final. It also gave Nadal an 82nd career title But the 25-year-old’s joy was short- has unbelievable talent Nadal is now just and 950th match win. lived as Nadal retrieved the break in the Rafael for the sport and I want two behind Roger “It’s very tough. I gave everything sixth game before racing away with the to encourage him for the Nadal Federer’s all-time re- these last two weeks,” said Thiem, who next three games to pocket the opener. cord of 20 majors and Thiem, who had beaten his opponent future three ahead of No - four times on clay in his career, failed to RAFAEL NADAL vak Djokovic who was claim a single point off Nadal’s first five knocked out by Thiem service games of the second set. Thiem, bidding to become just Aus- in the semi-finals. However, the dogged Austrian tria’s second Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal beats The world number two also took his pushed and pushed, forced Nadal into after Thomas Muster won in Paris in • Paris record to an astonishing 93 wins KNOW WHAT three rushed groundstrokes and, from 1995, had played four successive days Dominic Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 and just two losses having previously nowhere, broke to take the second set. to reach yesterday’s final and the toll won the title in 2005-2008, 2010-2014, It was the first set he had managed was slowly telling. AFP | Paris 2017 and 2018. Rafael Nadal is only to take off Nadal at Roland Garros after He wasted break points in the first “I want to say congratulations to three previous defeats. and third games of the fourth set and afael Nadal swept to an historic Dominic. I feel sorry as he deserves to two behind Roger Nadal was riled by the insult. Nadal pounced to stretch to 3-0. 12th Roland Garros title and 18th win it as well,” said Nadal. Federer’s record of 20 He swept the first 10 points of the That was soon 5-1 and the relentless RGrand Slam crown yesterday “But he has every chance in the fu- major titles third set, carving out a double break barrage continued with Nadal taking with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory over ture. He has unbelievable talent for the for 3-0 before sweeping to a third break the title on a second match point when Austria’s Dominic Thiem. sport and I want to encourage him for for the set. Thiem fired a return long. BOC calls to develop Bahrain to celebrate cue sports Vettel grabs dramatic pole ahead of Hamilton Olympic Day hopefully I’ll have a better race TDT | Manama Vettel outdoes from my side tomorrow. TDT |Manama • “We are strong on the long ahrain Olympic Com- championship run pace and hopefully it will ahrain will join other Bmittee (BOC) secre- leader Hamilton on be the same tomorrow and we Bparts of the globe later tary general Mohammed final lap in Q3 can have a good run.” this month in celebrating Al Nusuf has asserted the - Pulsating battle - the 2019 Olympic Day, the importance of put as much Max Verstappen Vettel beamed as he talked to Bahrain Olympic Commit- efforts as possible to further • a congratulatory Hamilton after tee (BOC) announced. develop cue sports in the out in Q2 after Kevin the session. The event, organised by Kingdom of Bahrain. Magnussen crash Vettel clocked a best lap of the committee, has been This statement was an- one minute and 10.240 sec - scheduled for June 29 at the nounced at his reception AFP | Montreal, Canada onds to beat Hamilton’s lap in Water Park of Bahrain Bay of President of Bahrain Bil- 1:10.446. “He’s bloody good in in Manama, where a set of liards, Snooker and Darts qualifying,” said Vettel, pointing sports and entertaining pro- Federation Dr Saeed Al ebastian Vettel ended to Hamilton. “Hard to crack ... I grammes have been lined Yamani, at the committee Mercedes’ run of early-sea- really enjoyed it.” up. Among activities to take “You know what, the feeling offices in Seef. Sson qualifying supremacy Lewis Hamilton congratulates Sebastian Vettel after the German took pole place is kids competition, as Al Nusuf welcomed Dr on Saturday when he claimed a position in Montreal in the car when it just keeps well as a color run. The date, Al Yamani and members of dramatic late pole position for coming and the feeling - it felt so venue and programme was the federation, noting the Ferrari in a crash-hit showdown sition triumph of the season, outpaced by Vettel in the dying good. I enjoyed it and I’m very recently finalized by the or- efforts they are making to at the Canadian Grand Prix. his first pole in 17 races since seconds. happy and happy for the team ganising committee, headed improve their march and “I feel so very, very happy for last year’s German Grand Prix “We’re certainly very happy over the last few races, it’s been by BOC secretary general achieving more successes. the team,” Vettel said. “I am full and a signal that Ferrari’s su- and the entire weekend here we very tough.” Mohammed Al Nusuf. He focused on the neces- of adrenaline and the last few perior straight-line speed was have been performing ok so this Hamilton said: “I don’t feel Other set of activities sity to put all hands togeth- weeks have been tough for us. well-suited to the track. is a positive surprise for us,” said disappointment. We gave it include a demonstrating er to further boost national The car felt very good and now “Seb did a stunning lap and Ferrari team boss Mattia Binot- everything I had got. They were shows as well as health, cul- competitions by signing up I hope we can carry that into he deserved to be on pole,” to. “The track will improve. It faster and in the last sector they tural and special corners sponsorship deals with the the race.” said Mercedes team chief will be a lot hotter on Sunday so were killing us, the timing was for kids will be presented private sector. The four-time champion re- Toto Wolff. “Lewis picked up it will be a tough race.” right, procedures were perfect, on spot. The BOC secretary general peated his 2018 success, when a couple of mistakes in the Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate we had P1 for a second, but we But the highlights of the was also briefed on the pro- he won from pole, by outpac- hairpin.” Charles Leclerc claimed third knew they were quick. day will be a swimming grams and activities that the ing championship leader Lewis Defending five-time champi- place on the grid. “I’m glad I was able to split race in open water, a sail- federation plans to imple- Hamilton of Mercedes by two- on Hamilton of Mercedes had “I don’t really know how I the Ferraris. The weather is fan- ing competition, kayak race ment soon. He also stressed tenths of a second at the Circuit appeared to be on course for his struggled with the car and the tastic, we’ve got some great fans and rafting, in addition to a the keenness of the BOC to Gilles Villeneuve. record seventh Canadian pole set-up,” he said. “Congratula- here so hopefully we can put on 2km run. support the federation. It was Vettel’s first pole po- until the final laps, when he was tions to Seb. He deserves it and a great show.” The Olympic Day is cele- brated all around the world On 23 June when hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, get moving England take Nations League third place on penalties and participate in sporting and cultural activities, such AFP | Guimaraes, Portugal Wilson saw a late goal ruled out by VAR World Cup. as runs, exhibitions, music and Yann Sommer made a string of Southgate made seven changes to the and educational seminars. ngland deservedly claimed the con- saves. side that started Thursday’s 3-1 semi-fi- The event was introduced Esolation prize of third place at the England were faultless from the spot, nal defeat to Netherlands with six of in 1948 to commemorate the Nations League 6-5 on penalties yester- scoring all six of their spot-kicks be - those involved in last weekend’s Cham- birth of the modern Olym- day after a 0-0 draw against a limited fore Josip Drmic was denied by Jordan pions League final returning.