TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019 16 Thiem upsets Federer Dominic Thiem rallies to deny Roger Federer sixth ATP Indian Wells Masters title Federer fails to win title• No 101 as out-of- form Thiem becomes first Austrian since Thomas Muster to lift Masters 1000 title AFP | Indian Wells ominic Thiem denied Roger Federer a record Dsixth Indian Wells title, beating the Swiss great 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 crown. The 25-year-old Austrian, ranked eighth in the world, had fallen in two prior Masters fi- nals, both in Madrid. But he rallied for a third career Dominic Thiem holds his winners trophy and Roger Federer holds his runner-up trophy after the finals Dominic Thiem hits a shot during his final victory over Roger Federer win over Federer in five meet- ings, his first over the Swiss on off of Federer drop shots to give title match. ‘Double-good’ Federer responded with another hard courts. himself a break point which he Federer, fresh off a remarka- hard-won break for a 5-3 lead “It feels just unreal what hap- converted with a stinging fore- ble 100th career title in Dubai, “It’s tough against Roger, Rafa and captured the set with a ser- pened in this 10 days,” Thiem hand winner. He stayed cool under remains tied with Novak Djok- (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic),” vice winner. said. “I came from a really bad “He stayed cool under pres- pressure there. When ovic for the most Indian Wells Thiem said. “Because you have Coming into the contest form in all categories, and now sure there,” Federer said. “When victories with five. to beat not only the player but Federer had won 20 straight fi- I’m the champion of Indian he got up to the ball, stayed calm, he got up to the ball, Thiem claimed his 12th career somehow also the great aura nals when claiming the opening Wells. made the shot.” stayed calm, made the title -- as he noted at the trophy they all have, all these titles they set. But Thiem was not about to “It feels not real at all,” add- Thiem sealed the match af- shot ceremony when he acknowl- have won. go quietly, saving break points ed Thiem, the first Austrian to ter two hours and two minutes ROGER FEDERER edged Federer. “So you have to play somehow for a 2-1 lead in the second and win a masters 1000 title since when Federer’s backhand found “I think it’s not my right to double-good to beat them.” breaking for a 3-1 lead as the Thomas Muster at Miami in the net and will now return to congratulate you, you have 88 Thiem was under attack early, Swiss suddenly couldn’t put a 1997. a career-high ranking of fourth more titles than me,” Thiem saving three break points before first serve in. Thiem earned the crucial in the world, bumping Federer Indian Wells final. In 2018 he told Federer as he accepted the succumbing on a fourth in the “I think that was a really break in the 11th game of the down to fifth. missed out on three champion- trophy, calling it a privilege to second game as Federer raced to important five minutes in the final set, connecting on two It was the second year in a row ship points as he fell to Argenti- play against the 37-year-old su- a 3-0 lead. Federer led 4-1 before match,” Federer said. “It was sharply angled passing winners that Federer was denied in the na’s Juan Martin del Potro in the perstar. Thiem clawed a break back, but crucial.” Canadian teen Andreescu topples Kerber Matic urges Man United not to let top four slip to win Indian Wells WTA title away after FA Cup exit AFP | Indian Wells AFP | London everything. There is a lot to play for. We have eight games anadian sensation Bianca emanja Matic says Man- to play in the Premier League CAndreescu became the first Nchester United must not and we are fighting for the top wild card to win the WTA title at blow their bid for a Premier four. Indian Wells on Sunday with a KNOW WHAT League top-four finish after “We have the Champions gritty 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over they were dumped out of the League as well. We will see Wimbledon champion Angeli- FA Cup in their second consec- what we are able to do and que Kerber. Andreescu follows utive defeat under Ole Gunnar how much quality we have. Andreescu, 18, shook off fa- in the footsteps of Solskjaer. We have to learn from this type tigue and rallied from a break Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup quar- of game.” Marcus Rashford down in the third set to topple 2018 champion Naomi ter-final defeat at Wolves fol- scored an injury-time conso- the eighth-ranked German, who Osaka, who won her lowed a 2-0 loss in the Premier lation after Raul Jimenez and hasn’t won a title since she beat first WTA title at Indi- League Arsenal last week, the Diogo Jota had put Wolves 2-0 Serena Williams in last year’s an Wells to launch a first league reverse under the up in the second half. Wimbledon final for her third stellar season that has Norwegian interim boss. Solskjaer said it was the Grand Slam crown. seen her capture the Fifth-placed United are just worst performance of his reign Ranked 60th coming into the US Open and Australi- a point ahead of Chelsea but Matic expects the boss tournament, Andreescu will rise and two points adrift of to put it right. to 24th in the world with her an Open titles and rise Arsenal after Sol- “I am sure he (Solsk- first WTA title. to number one in the skjaer turned jaer) will turn this sit- When she finally convert- world the season uation around and we ed her fourth match point she Bianca Andreescu of Canada poses with the trophy after winning the final around fol- will do better,” he kissed the sun-baked court and els, including qualifying and wasn’t feeling too well. I fought forehand before Kerber ended lowing the said.“After the inter- flopped spread-eagled on her challenger circuit wins -- but till the end. I managed to pull things with a ball into the net. sacking of national break we back. Sunday’s triumph was a cut through.” “She did a good job then at Jose Mour- will see. The first above. She broke Kerber in the next the end, especially the last three inho, win- game back after ‘It’s crazy’ She had held for 2-1 in the game, taking a 15-30 lead with games,” Kerber said. ning 14 of a break is always “If you believe in yourself, third when she received treat- a lovely drop shot-lob combina- Andreescu’s run to the fi - his 19 games difficult, especial- anything is possible,” Andreescu ment on her right arm and tion, and giving herself a break nal included rallying from 3-1 and taking them ly for a team who said as she hoisted the crystal shoulder and looked to be flag- point with an overhead winner down in the third set to beat to the Champions has so many play- trophy as the youngest player ging when she was broken in the before converting with another Irina-Camelia Begu in the first League quarter-fi- ers away in the na- ever to win one of the WTA’s fifth game. forehand winner to launch a round and a 6-0, 6-1 rout of for- nals. tional teams. Almost prestigious Premier Mandatory Urged by her coach at the run of three straight games for mer world number one Garb- But Matic everybody at Unit- tournaments. change over to push through, a 5-3 lead. ine Muguruza of Spain, with a knows United ed is on duty. “It’s crazy. Crazy is the word Andreescu dug deep. Andreescu had to call on her three-set win over sixth-ranked must not let the top “We spoke after of the tournament for me. Just “After I spoke to my coach I last reserves as Kerber saved Elina Svitolina putting her into four slip away. the game and said crazy.” just let it all out there,” she said. three match points in the next the title match. “We have to give our we have to be fo- It’s another giant step in a “I was really tired, so I went for game on the way to earning a She showed no sign of nerves best now to reach the cused for the next breakout season for Andreescu, my shots more,and that obvi- break. as she opened the match with a top four. We cannot let it one and stick to- who finished 2018 ranked 178th ously worked. But Andreescu broke Kerber break of Kerber’s serve. It would go like this. We are not happy gether and get the in the world. “The next couple games I did for the third time in the set to be all she needed to take the set with the game,” he said after top four, which is She has racked up 28 match the same thing. And I just fought seal the victory, giving herself without facing a break point the Molineux defeat. the main target for Nemanja till the end, because physically I a break point with a blistering herself.