WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014 SPORTS Radwanska, Wozniacki bundled out in Sydney SYDNEY: The Sydney International contin- Australian Open by withdrawing from the ued to be a graveyard for some of the top invitational Kooyong Classic tournament in names in women’s tennis with champion Melbourne. The 32-year-old caused a major and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska and upset at the Brisbane International defeat- former world number one Caroline ing Roger Federer in the final on Sunday Wozniacki both losing in the second and he said he felt he would need the week round yesterday. Men’s champion Bernard off to recover properly for the season- Tomic, however, followed up the exploits opening grand slam. of fellow Australian Marko Matosevic, who “At the moment it’s just all about recov- earlier beat Florian Mayer 6-2 4-6 6-3, to demolish eighth seed Marcel Granollers 6- 3 6-0 in just under an hour. Radwanska and Wozniacki followed grand slam cham- pions Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone and former world number one Jelena Jankvoic as early evictees from the tournament. Radwanska’s title defense lasted just 92 minutes when she was dumped out 7-5 6- 2 by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek- Sands, while Wozniacki, who struggled in her first round match on Monday, was beaten 6-4 7-6 (9-7) by Czech Lucie Safarova. World number five Radwanska had won the Sydney title last year as part of a 13-match unbeaten streak that ended in the Australian Open quarter-finals said she was not overly concerned with her ear- ly loss. “I really had a lot of good matches last week,” the 24-year-old Pole added in reference to winning all three matches at the Hopman Cup in Perth last week. “It’s not like I’m playing bad. I’m not ery for me,” Hewitt told reporters yesterday. worried about that. I just think not my day “When you get older it gets a bit tougher SYDNEY: Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US plays a shot between her legs to Agnieszka Radwanska (inset) of Poland during their (and)... sometimes you have to lose. “I than when you were 16. “We’re going into women’s singles match at the Sydney International tennis tournament yesterday. —AP think every week is different story. You the first major and you’ve got to do what’s start over and over again. “Every tourna- absolutely right for you.” His place in the ment isn’t the same thing. You’re not win- eight-man field will be taken by compatriot ning every week every match. Normally Jordan Thompson, who will play world you just to have to start again, not really number nine Richard Gasquet in their first Father just ‘the Tomic’ think what was happening in the last matches on Wednesday. World number week.” Mattek-Sands will now face fellow eight Tomas Berdych opens the tourna- American Madison Keys in the quarter- ment against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. finals. Former Wimbledon champion Petra in Sydney despite ban Kvitova will play Safarova in the quarter- FERRER HONOURED finals after the second seed smashed Verdasco’s compatriot David Ferrer was American qualifier Christina McHale 6-1 6- given a traditional Maori welcome at the SYDNEY: The presence of his banned father 0 in a little over an hour. Auckland Open yesterday in recognition of watching from courtside boosted Bernard Wozniacki, who missed the Brisbane his contribution to the tournament. Ferrer Tomic’s game as he opened the defense of his tournament last week with a sore shoul- will be making his 10th appearance at the Sydney International title with a 6-3 6-0 demoli- der, said she was feeling fine yesterday but tournament, having won four titles, includ- tion of eighth seed Marcel Granollers yesterday. had failed to win the crucial points in the ing the last three in succession. “Thank you “Having my dad there is a very good feeling,” clash against Safarova. “I felt like it was very much for everything,” the world num- Tomic told reporters after the victory over his pretty good today. It was small things that ber three told the packed crowd at the Spanish opponent. “Obviously winning my first I didn’t win,” the Dane said. “I don’t feel Auckland Tennis Centre after being pre- title here gives a lot of memories to me. I’m hap- anything in my shoulder anymore. It’s sented with a manaia (Maori carving). py the way I played today. Having my dad there great. I’ve felt good for the last few days. “I “This tournament is very special. I hope for the first time in a while, it’s good. “I know his played two matches here then I get a few to come back for a lot more years and try to ban will finish very soon, in a few months, and days over there (Melbourne) and get to win one more time.” Ferrer will meet qualifi- back to helping me. I’m happy. I played very play a few sets as well with some of the er Donald Young in the second round on good. Felt very good. I’m happy to be back play- girls and with different types players. “I Wednesday after the American beat ing like this.” should be ready for Melbourne.” Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 7-5 6-2. Former taxi driver John Tomic has not Former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber watched his son play since he was banned last HEWITT WITHDRAWS also advanced to the second round with a May from all ATP events, which includes next Australian Lleyton Hewitt took a differ- tough 6-2 3-6 7-5 victory over Spain’s Pablo week’s Australian Open, after he was charged ent approach to being ready for the Carreno Busta. —Reuters with head-butting his son’s former training part- ner Frenchman Thomas Drouet and breaking his nose. He was convicted and sentenced to eight month’s imprisonment by a Spanish court for assault last September though was not required to serve jail time because his sentence was under two years in length. SYDNEY: Bernard Tomic of Australia hits a forehand to Marcel Granollers of Spain MELBOURNE BAN during their men’s singles match at the Sydney International tennis tournament in While he is banned from receiving accredita- Sydney, Australia yesterday. —AP tion, which entitles him into official areas, he was allowed to buy a ticket as a member of the agreed to allow that to happen.” Australian that you taught me to play like this. Spent public at the discretion of the tournament Open organizers have already said he would not hours with him that I probably won’t spend director. “The ATP has banned John Tomic - as is be entitled to purchase a ticket for Melbourne with no one in my life. “He knows me the best.” public knowledge - which excludes him from Park, though the younger Tomic said that would The lanky 21-year-old, who won his first ATP getting credentials and being in other accred- not be a problem. Tour title at Sydney last year, has taken itable areas,” Sydney International director Craig “Obviously he can’t come in (at Croatian Velimir Zovko on as his new co-coach Watson told Australian media. “There is nothing Melbourne),” Tomic said. “But that’s fine. I’ll see while his father serves the remainder of the that prohibits the events agreeing to John him at home. If there is anything I need to ban. The ATP is expected to consider whether being in public areas of the ground and I’ve hear, he’ll tell me. It’s very good. “He’s the one to lift the ban in May. —Reuters Hewitt withdraws from Kooyong Classic defense MELBOURNE: Headliner Lleyton Hewitt yesterday with- drew from his defense of the Kooyong Classic title, opting instead for a practice match against world number four BRISBANE: Serena Williams of the US stumbles on the way to defeating Andy Murray on Friday. Australia’s Hewitt, back inside the Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women’s final at the Brisbane world top 50 after upsetting Roger Federer 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, in International tennis tournament on January 4, 2014. —AFP the final of the Brisbane International at the weekend, cited fatigue for the decision. “It’s obvious that this week is all about Australian Open preparation and about getting in as No limits for unstoppable a good nick as possible,” said Hewitt, ranked 43. “For the last four days in Brisbane, I played some tough matches in extreme heat. Serena, Navratilova says “I have to do what’s right for my body before the biggest event in my SYDNEY: World number one Serena number of serious injuries, including a country, I’ve always Williams shows no sign of slowing down knee injury in 2010 and cut foot that forced been looked after with age and should win more than 20 her to miss almost a year on the tennis cir- well here and I take GRENOBLE: Broadcast vans of the international media are parked yesterday in grand slam singles titles, former great cuit in 2010-2011. pride in having won front of the Grenoble University Hospital Centre in the French Alps, where Martina Navratilova has said. The 57-year- Paradoxically it was those injury- this event twice. But retired seven-time German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher old Navratilova who won 18 grand slam enforced layoffs that could be helpful in not wanting to let remains in critical condition after an off-piste skiing accident.