Scott wins at Socceroos hold 18Colonial 19South Africa TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 Hamilton will come back stronger, says Button Page 19 PARIS: Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves the ball to compatriot Ksenia Pervak during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium. (Inset) Serbia’s Novak Djokovic eyes the ball as he returns during the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Portugal’s Joao Sousa — AP Nadal, Djokovic and Sharapova shine PARIS: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova “It’s always a pleasure and an honour to play at Roland looked comfortable under the cloudy conditions on Chatrier, where he was broken 10 times, hit 10 double faults and com- shrugged off the Paris gloom yesterday to reach the French Garros, on Chatrier, Lenglen or any other court. This place has breaking her opponent five times. mitted 40 unforced errors. Open second round as Japanese ninth seed Kei Nishikori given me unforgettable emotions.” Sharapova will next face Bulgaria’s 2010 Wimbledon semi- Left-handed Klizan, 24, one of six former junior champions became the tournament’s first major casualty. Second seed Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up who is seeking a finalist Tsvetana Pironkova. “First matches at Grand Slams are in the main draw, goes on to face Robin Haase of the Eight-time champion Nadal, bidding to become the first first Roland Garros title to complete a career Grand Slam, always tough, no matter how prepared you are, no matter how Netherlands.”It sucks,” said Nishikori. man to win five Roland Garros titles in a row, beat US wildcard brushed aside Portugal’s Joao Sousa, the world 42, in straight many matches you’ve played,” said Sharapova, now 13-1 on clay After rain delayed the start of yesterday’s programme by and world number 279 Robby Ginepri 6-0, 6-3, 6-0. sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. During a match interrupted by rain, the 27- in 2014 with titles in Stuttgart and Madrid. more than an hour, play was halted again barely two hours later It was Nadal’s 60th win at the French Open against just one year-old Serb was at his charismatic best, delighting the “There is always a bit more tension in that type of Grand at 1230GMT for a further hour and a quarter. loss. World number one Nadal kicked off his campaign on the Philippe Chatrier crowd by sharing a drink with a ballboy as Slam atmosphere. It’s certainly more special, especially when Seven matches on the schedule were cancelled until today. secondary Suzanne Lenglen court while title rivals Djokovic and they sheltered beneath an umbrella. you walk out on court.” But there was still time for Dominika Cibulkova, the Slovak Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka were handed top Djokovic, widely regarded as the favorite to dethrone Nadal Nishikori was left feeling as miserable as the Paris weather, ninth seed, to beat France’s Virginie Razzano 7-5, 6-0 and Italian billing on the main Philippe Chatrier arena. It was a decision having beaten the Spaniard in Rome two weeks ago, next faces clearly still suffering from his recent back injury. Nishikori, 24, 12th seed Flavia Pennetta to see off Austria’s Patricia Mayr 6-2, blasted as “bizarre” by one fellow professional even though French hope Jeremy Chardy. and coached by 1989 champion Michael Chang, was the first 6-2. Nadal himself had criticised the state of the newly-laid clay on “I played for most of the match quite solid. The end of the Japanese man in 75 years to make the fourth round in Paris in German 16th seed Sabine Lisicki, last year’s Wimbledon run- Chatrier after a weekend practice session. match was not so nice from my side because I dropped my 2013. But yesterday, there was never any sign that he would ner-up and who is coached by former world number one Despite the controversy, it was business as usual for Nadal serve twice,” said Djokovic. “It was very heavy conditions. The repeat that feat as he went down 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-2 to Slovakia’s Martina Hingis, defeated French wildcard Fiona Ferro 6-1, 7-5. who fired 27 winners past Ginepri, a semi-finalist at the 2005 US court is not that great, or in a great condition at this moment.” Martin Klizan. Also going through was Austria’s Tamira Paszek whose 6-2, Open whose challenge was undone by 41 unforced errors. Sharapova, seeded seven and the 2012 champion, needed Nishikori won the Barcelona claycourt title last month but 7-6 (7/5) win over Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck was her first at “It doesn’t matter where I play,” said Nadal who next faces just over an hour to beat fellow Russian, Ksenia Pervak, the then had to quit the Madrid Masters final against Nadal with a Roland Garros for seven years. Italy’s 17th seed Roberta Vinci either Paul-Henri Mathieu of France or highly-rated Dominic world’s 156th-ranked player, 6-1, 6-2. back injury that also forced him out of the Rome Masters. slipped up, however, losing to France’s Pauline Parmentier 3-6, Thiem of Austria. The 27-year-old, who lost last year’s final to Serena Williams, The world number 10 looked distinctly half-fit on Court 1 6-3, 6-2. — AFP Hunter-Reay Jimmie Johnson’s title defense is on after win wins Indy 500 CONCORD: Jimmie Johnson’s run at another Chase,” he added. “Granted, tonight simplifies Sprint Cup title is on and could bring him a things.” piece of NASCAR history. And gives crew chief Chad Knaus the ability INDIANAPOLIS: The finish was worth the wait ner. Kurt Busch, also in a Honda for Andretti, Johnson’s victory in the Coca-Cola 600 on to take a few chances to prepare for the playoffs for Ryan Hunter-Reay, who used a series of was sixth in his first race of the day. He left daredevil moves to deny Helio Castroneves a immediately after the race to fly to North Sunday night all but locked him into the new, the rest of the season. Not that he has to as the chance at history. Carolina for Sunday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup expanded championship Chase format. If the team approaches a stretch of tracks where they Hunter-Reay became the first American race, where he his attempt to become the sec- 38-year-old Johnson pulls it off, it’ll be his sev- know success. since 2006 to win the Indianapolis 500, passing ond driver to complete 1,100 miles (1770 kilo- enth series crown to tie the NASCAR mark Next week comes Dover where Johnson Castroneves at the Yard of Bricks as the two meters) in both races on the same day ended shared by Richard Petty and the late Dale owns a record eight victories, then Pocono bright yellow cars raced wheel-to-wheel under when his car blew an engine late. Earnhardt. where Johnson’s won three times. the white flag in a thrilling final lap. As Hunter- Three other drivers made the attempt, but NASCAR leaders changed the emphasis in When Johnson broke through for his first Reay surged ahead down the backstretch, only Tony Stewart in 2001 completed The qualifying, putting more of a premium on wins crown in 2006, he and Knaus used the formula Castroneves took one final look coming out of Double. Stewart was sixth at Indy and third at over the steadiness of points racing. That’s led to add four more in one of the series’ most dom- Turn 4 but couldn’t pull off the pass. Charlotte Motor Speedway. to a flurry of drivers taking the checkered flag - inant stretches. After Johnson finished sixth in Hunter-Reay won by 0.060 seconds - the sec- “All in all, I’m very pleased. I cannot believe 10 of them through 12 races - all gleefully cele- 2011 and third in 2012, he was back on top last ond closest finish in race history since Al Unser the execution of this team,” Busch said before brating their near-assured spot in the 10-race season and moved one step closer to the record Jr. beat Scott Goodyear by 0.043 seconds in hustling away to a helicopter ride to his waiting championship run at the end. Johnson had with two drivers who were part of NASCAR’s 1992. “I’m a proud American boy, that’s for sure,” plane. “I tried to enjoy it. My throat’s real dry been on the outside of that until his record- first Hall of Fame class five years ago. Hunter-Reay said in Victory Lane. “I’ve watched because I was smiling the whole time and the breaking seventh career win at Charlotte Motor Johnson, who had a Hall of Fame vote as this race since I was sitting in diapers on the fresh air was coming in my mouth.” Speedway. He outlasted second-place Kevin Sprint Cup champion, isn’t thinking much about floor in front of the TV. This is American history, Marco Andretti appeared to have a shot at Harvick and Matt Kenseth in third to pick up his that yet. The 38-year-old star is eager to build on this race, this is American tradition.” the win, but never could mix it up with Hunter- fourth victory all-time in NASCAR’s longest race. his dominant showing in Charlotte. Castroneves, trying to become the fourth Reay and Castroneves as the two leaders “The first goal is to make the Chase,” Johnson Johnson took his first pole of the season driver to win a record fourth Indianapolis 500, swapped position four times in the final five said.