22 Wednesday, January 25, 2017 SPORTS SPORTS Wednesday, January 25, 2017 23 Melbourne two hours, 15 minutes for his eighth in a Grand Slam, so we’ll see. Most Tsonga, “You’re the one who’s tan Wawrinka feels he is ready to Grand Slam semi-final appearance and important is that I step on the court and looking and talking to me” and Wildcards Semerge from the shadow of the has Federer blocking his way to a fourth I play my best tennis.” then, “Relax, it’s just a tennis from Melbourne Pacquiao says great Roger Federer and make his own major final. Either Federer or Wawrinka will get match.” statement in their semi-final showdown So often Wawrinka has been pushed an unexpected shot at the Australian The exchange follows an at the Australian Open. into the background by the dazzling title following the sensational early exits incident at the 2014 Davis Cup final The big-hitting Wawrinka achievements of 17-time Grand Slam of world number one Andy Murray and when the French team confronted mastered former finalist champion Federer, but he gets one of six-time winner Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka over a comment he made Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his rare chances for a prestige victory It was a consummate performance during Switzerland’s victory in straight sets to reach his on Thursday. from Wawrinka against Tsonga in an Lille. (AFP) third Australian Open “Yeah, for sure now I’m more at-times feisty encounter, with three semi-final and set up the confident with myself. When I step on service breaks from three break points, all-Swiss semi-final with the court, doesn’t matter who I play, 41 winners, 21 of them on the forehand, Federer. I know what I have to do if I want to and just 28 unforced errors. ‘nothing The world number win,” Wawrinka said. There were some tense moments four won 7-6 “For sure, against Roger, it’s always between the two with an extraordinary Vote of thanks (7/2), special because he’s so good. He’s the squabble breaking out after Wawrinka 6-4, best player of all time. He has an answer took the opening set in a tiebreaker. o-Wilfried Tsonga was delighted to receive 6-3 for everything. During the terse conversation in a letter from a ball girl he helped from the i n “But I have managed to beat him French, Wawrinka was heard to tell Jcourt at last year’s Australian Open, after she had been dazed by being struck in the face with a ball. “Dear Mr. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga,” the letter read. “I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for helping me out on court during your round 2 match. I’m not sure if you remember me but I was the ball girl you escorted off court.” Tsonga commented: “It was nice to have this letter. I didn’t do something final’ really special, to be honest. I just saw her last on next fight year. She was struggling. I saw that she needs Ecclestone some help. The only thing I did is I took her and Manila confirmed this. Wawrinka I bring her to outside of the court, and that’s it. BO welterweight world The Philippine boxing I didn’t save the world at all. But it was really champion Manny hero, who parlayed kind to receive something after that.” PacquiaoW said yesterday the his sporting fame details of his next fight have into election to the France’s Jo-Wilfried yet to be determined, despite influential Senate last Tsonga hits a return OUT widespread reports he will face year, also reiterated against Switzerland’s Paris Australian Jeff Horn. his willingness Stanislas Stanislas Wawrinka ernie Ecclestone, ousted as Formula Asked in an interview with to fight mixed ready to Wawrinka of One chief by its new American ABS-CBN television about a martial arts Switzerland owner,B transformed grand prix racing Horn fight, Pacquiao, said “not star Conor Results he Age newspaper reported some unusual into one of the most profitable sports and yet done, the negotiation is not McGregor if Men’s singles Tgoings-on regarding media at the Australian made himself a billionaire powerbroker. yet done”. his potential Quarter-finals Open. One European journalist was found A former second-hand car salesman, “We are still negotiating superfight Stan Wawrinka (SUI x4) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) 7-6 (7/2), sleeping rough under a bridge and moved on by Ecclestone, now 86, ran Formula One about that. Nothing is really with Floyd 6-4, 6-3 security, the paper said. It added that a Chinese with an iron fist for more than four final, the date, who is the Mayweather Roger Federer (SUI x17) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 journalist brought his five-year-old along, and decades, building it into a global empire opponent. There are a lot of fails to emerge Women’s singles left the child unattended at the tournament’s with a cut-glass brand. offers from other countries.” materialise. play area while he carried on with his work. His rule came crashing down Monday Pacquiao’s promoter, “It could be Melbourne major title since 2008. Quarter-finals “When he returned at 7:00pm -- 10 hours later when Liberty Media completed its multi- Bob Arum, has been widely possible if there n the women’s draw, Williams’ “I try to believe. Should I look across Venus Williams (USA x13) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x24) -- to pick up the child, he was greeted by police billion-dollar takeover of the sport and quoted in international media is an intention age-defying campaign reached the net and believe the person across the 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) who sternly reminded the gentleman that the appointed American Chase Carey as as saying that the 38-year-old to negotiate (for) Inew heights as she beat Russia’s net deserves it more? Coco Vandeweghe (USA) bt Garbine Muguruza (ESP x7) 6-4, 6-0 playground was not a day-care centre,” the chairman and chief executive, elbowing Filipino dubbed “Pac-Man” the fight but definitely Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to “This mentality is not how champions report said. Ecclestone aside with title of “chairman will get into the ring with Horn in boxing, not in an become the oldest female Grand are made. I’d like to be a champion, her earlier wins over emeritus”. in April, possibly in Australia, MMA fight,” he Slam semi-finalist in 23 years. in particular this year. The mentality defending champion Typically forthright, Ecclestone saw but Pacquiao himself has not said. (AFP) Williams, 36, won 6-4, 7-6 I walk on court with is, ‘I deserve Angelique Kerber and through the corporate smokescreen, (7/3) to reach the last four this’.” Eugenie Bouchard. “I saying bluntly “I was dismissed without dropping a set and Next up for Williams is her hard- was surprised. I think today.” move towards a possible hitting, aggressive fellow American she played unbelievable. Ecclestone was the flamboyant figure ninth Grand Slam final Coco Vandeweghe, who stunned Three times we played in at the centre of Formula One since the against her sister Serena, French Open champion Garbine the past, she didn’t show 1970s, crafting it into one of the world’s 16 years after their first. Muguruza to reach her first Grand Slam this level,” Muguruza most glamorous and best known sports. “Why shouldn’t semi-final. said. “She played very But his career has not been without Raonic’s I?” said the seven- The tall, powerful Vandeweghe good. Her serve, her controversy. Melbourne time major-winner, smashed 31 winners past the Spaniard shots were there. Ecclestone paid $100 million to afael Nadal bomb serve who is thriving again and raced through the second set in just She barely German authorities to end a high-profile Rknows he must after a battle with an 28 minutes to complete a lopsided 6-4, missed.” bribery trial in 2014, which was linked to find a way to defuse the autoimmune disorder, 6-0 upset win. (AFP) the sale of Formula One’s rights in 2006 booming serve of Milos could explode when asked if she “It’s amazing to be in a semi-final. But, afael Nadal looked distinctly flustered when and 2007. Raonic today if he is to stay could win her first you know, not satisfying. I want to keep Rhe was pulled up for describing his girlfriend Although he had faced a possible on course for a dream Australian going, keep playing,” as a “wildcard” entry for the tournament. Nadal’s 10-year prison sentence if found guilty, Open final with Roger Federer. said the 35th- long-term girlfriend Xisca Perello is rarely seen many in the F1 paddock remained The chances of a ninth Grand Nadal ranked Vandeweghe, courtside, but she has finally made an appearance loyal. “F1 is what it is thanks to Bernie Slam final between the old rivals have 25. in Melbourne, where Nadal has competed 11 Ecclestone, to the way he has built this dramatically improved after the shock exits “There’s more times, reaching three finals and lifting the trophy sport over the past 35 years,” Christian of top seeds Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic things to do out in 2009. “After 10 years, finally my girlfriend gets Horner, team principal at Red Bull, said put the title up for grabs. on a tennis court a wildcard to come here,” Nadal told on-court at the time.