15 SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 sports Federer ready for Isner shoot-out for Miami crown Roger Federer was too good for Denis Shapovalov in semi-final of the ATP Masters 1000 event AFP | Miami world thanks to this impressive South Florida with their heads oger Federer is gearing run, enjoyed some much bet- held high. up for a Miami Open final ter moments in the second set Auger-Aliassime’s dream run Rshootout with John Isner and looked more relaxed, al - finished with the youngster from on Sunday after blowing away though the match was never in Montreal competing confidently young-gun Denis Shapovalov in his hands. in the biggest match of his career straight sets. He hit just eight winners in even if he will rue the chanc - Federer produced a 6-2, 6-4 response to Federer’s 30 but will es that escaped him after being masterclass at Hard Rock Stadi- learn from this. broken while serving for the first um to leave up-and-coming star “It’s kind of surreal, being on and second set. Shapovalov, who grew up idoliz- the court against Roger,”admit- “Unusual,” Isner called it. “It ing the Swiss, chasing shadows ted the Canadian who joked the could have been a little bit of during a difficult first set. only enjoyable moment for him inexperience and maybe a little The Swiss was superb in dis- was the warm up. bit of fatigue, also.” mantling the 19 year-old’s game, “Obviously I wasn’t trying to but knows with huge serving Is- focus on the fact that it’s him on ner lying in wait in what will be the other side. the former world number one’s “I was just trying to play as BETTER 50th ATP Masters final, the key good as I can, but he played an will be to defuse the reigning excellent match. I wasn’t able Miami Open champion’s mon- stay at his level. I’m just going to KNOW ster service game. Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot to Denis Shapovalov of Canada try to learn from this and move Isner used it to great effect in forward.” his 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4) win over quarter-finals, winning the first uncomfortable situations time The Canadian displayed un- Federer, assessing his own Felix Auger Aliassime Shapovalov’s friend and compa- set to love. and time again, and at the end derstandable nerves early on, performance, said he played is the youngest-ever triot Felix Auger-Aliassime earli- “Sometimes you go with mo- somehow you find a way.” a struggle with his first serve “very well”. male semi-finalist in er in the day, smashing down 21 mentum. Sometimes you go with Federer had no such challenge proving as much in a 10 minute “I had to because when you let Miami aces. He’ll be looking for more of feel. Sometimes you guess may- from Shapovalov, playing his opening game which he even- Denis play, he’s got some serious the same against 20 time Grand be a little bit and sometimes you fifth ATP Tour semi-final. Even tually won. power and he gets rhythm going. Slam champion Federer. see it. It’s a combination of all though the Swiss was standing Yet it didn’t settle him down He can really put you in uncom- Despite the disappointment “Playing a big server like John sort of things. in his way of a first final, the 19 and when another horribly loose fortable situations.” etched all over Auger-Alias - is like being in a penalty shoot- “You just hope that the stars year-old stressed beforehand backhand flew long, Federer This was the first time since sime’s face at the end, his run out in soccer, but I enjoy it,” said align, that you pick the right that it was a “dream” to take on pocketed a vital early break and 2007 that two teenagers have here will give him great confi- number four seed Federer who side, that he picks the wrong Federer. stayed in the driver’s seat. reached an ATP Masters semi-fi- dence moving forward as he, and coped brilliantly with Kevin An- side, that maybe he misses a It quickly, however, turned Shapovalov, who will jump nals and although both suffered Shapovalov, aim to prove their derson’s dangerous serve in the serve, that you can put him in into a nightmare. to a career best 20th in the disappointing defeats, they leave Grand Slam credentials. BTA junior tournament begins Man City back on top, Huddersfield TDT | Manama final rounds. In the 10-and-under catego- equal record for earliest relegation atches in the 8-and-under In the 8-and-under semi-fi- ry, eight players earned them- Mand 10-and-under cate- nals, Talal Ibrahim defeated selves a place in the following AFP | London gories of the BTA Junior Ten- Abdulla Al Jeeb 12-4 while day’s quarter-finals by topping nis Tournament, organised by Marcos Hadjigeorgiou defeat- their respective groups. Mahdi anchester City swept Bahrain Tennis Academy (BTA), ed Antoine Dalaise 12-8. In the Al Ibrahim, Isak Texmo, Ab- Mback to the top of the ta- took place at the Dilmun Club, play-off for third and fourth dulrahman Al Dosseri, Ahmed ble with a stylish 2-0 win at Saar. Players initially took part place, Abdulla overcame An- Murtadha, Faisal Maseeh, Fulham, while Huddersfield in a round-robin competition, toine 7-4, 7-6. Then, in the final Hashim Al Toobli, James Hurt- equalled the record for the ear- after which the top two players match, Talal claimed the title rez and Ahmed Riyaan will all liest Premier League relegation in each group progressed to the with a 7-3, 7-5 win over Marcos. return to play for the trophies. after defeat at Crystal Palace yesterday. Amid the drama at the top and bottom, Manchester Unit- ed celebrated Ole Gunnar Sol- skjaer’s first match as perma- nent manager with a 2-1 win over Watford to climb into fourth place. Bernardo Silva’s fifth-minute Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scores their second goal strike from the edge of the area was followed by Sergio Ague- ry, but there will be far tougher games by losing 2-0 at Palace. ro’s cool finish as City effective- tests in wait than struggling Huddersfield are only the ly wrapped up the points in the Fulham, who are 16 points second club to be relegated first 27 minutes. adrift of safety with just six from the Premier League in 8-and-under players with tournaments organisers City lead Liverpool by one games left. March after Derby went down point with seven games remain- “The way we started was with 11 points in 2008. ing for both sides, but Jurgen amazing. They surprised me They survived just one day United celebrate Solskjaer’s appointment by returning to top four Klopp’s men can regain pole po- again, the first 15-20 minutes longer than Derby in 2008 and sition with victory over third- was exceptional,” Guardiola equalled their unwanted Pre- AFP | Manchester goal for the visitors -- took them target and more corners, but it placed Tottenham at Anfield said. mier League record of relega- le Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign above Arsenal and level on was needed after successive de- on Sunday. “Every game we have to win tion after 32 games. Already Oas permanent Manches- points with third-placed Tot- feats against Arsenal in Premier Pep Guardiola’s side remain if we want to be champions. We destined for the drop, Jan Siew- ter United manager began on a tenham, who play at Liverpool League and Wolves in FA Cup. on course for an unprecedented have tough opponents, but that ert’s side had their fate sealed victorious note with a 2-1 vic- on Sunday, boosting Solskjaer But it was a good reminder, quadruple of Premier League, is the challenge.” due to their result and wins for tory over Watford to move into hopes of achieving his first goal if one was needed for new per- Champions League, FA Cup Bottom-of-the-table Hud- Burnley and Southampton. fourth spot in Premier League. of securing Champions League manent manager, that there is and League Cup, which they dersfield’s two-season stay in Luka Milivojevic’s 76th-min- Goals by Marcus Rashford football for next season. plenty of hard work ahead if retained last month. the top flight came to an end at ute penalty put Huddersfield and Anthony Martial -- Abdou- It was not vintage United Solskjaer wants to make United A potential 14 games now Selhurst Park as they slumped behind after a foul on Palace laye Doucoure getting a late as Watford had more shots on contenders for the title again. stand between them and histo- to a 24th defeat in 32 league winger Wilfried Zaha..