Established 1961 Sport TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 Ariya survives rollercoaster Fans, sponsors make it a World Neuer in Germany World Cup 25round to win US Women’s Open 26 Cup with Chinese characteristics 27 squad, striker Sane left out PARIS: Serena Williams of the US plays a forehand return to Germany’s Julia Goerges during their women’s singles third round match on day seven of The Roland Garros 2018 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Saturday. — AFP Serena withdraws from French Open Nadal edges closer to 11th French Open crown PARIS: American Serena Williams withdrew from the September. Despite starting the tournament with a Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to an Anderson 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2. French Open yesterday, shortly before she was due on notional ranking of 451 and having played only four incredible 11th French Open title yesterday by seeing “The third set was very difficult, Maximilian is a good court to face Maria Sharapova in a much-anticipated matches this year, she played impressively in her three off German Maximilian Marterer in straight sets to player,” said Nadal, who has now won 37 consecutive fourth round showdown. The 36-year-old 23-times wins in Paris, beating seeds Ashleigh Barty and Goerges reach the quarter-finals. The world number one’s 6-3, sets at Roland Garros, just four short of Bjorn Borg’s Grand Slam champion, making a comeback after a in rounds two and three. 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over the world number 70 saw record set between 1979 and 1981. maternity break, told a news conference she had suf- However, on Sunday she took part in a third round him equal the record of 12 last-eight appearances at Nadal was caught cold in the opening stages as some fered a pectoral muscle injury in her third round victory doubles match with sister Venus losing 6-4 6-7(4) 6-0 to Roland Garros, which was set by Novak Djokovic the big hitting from Marterer brought him the first two against Germany’s Julia Goerges. the third-seeded pairing of Andreja Klepac and Maria day before. games. But it didn’t take Nadal long to figure out his “Unfortunately I’m having some issues with my pec Jose Martinez Sanchez. Top seed Nadal, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on opponent, reeling off four straight games en route to an muscle. Right now I can’t actually serve it’s kind of hard Her clash against twice French Open champion Sunday, is now on his own in third on the all-time list for inevitable one-set lead. The 16-time Grand Slam cham- to play,” she told a packed press room. “I’m having an Sharapova, who she has beaten 18 times in a row, had most match wins at Grand Slam events with 234 victories pion raced through the second set in just 38 minutes, MRI (scan) tomorrow, I’m going to stay here to see the received huge pre-match billing and the American said after passing Jimmy Connors. breaking his opponent’s serve twice. doctors and see as many specialists as I can. I won’t she was “beyond disappointed” that she could not take He powered 39 winners past Marterer, who pushed But Marterer — who was playing in the main draw for know (how serious the injury is) until I get those results.” to court. “I gave up so much to time with my daughter the Spaniard as hard as he could without ever threaten- the first time — moved into a 3-1 lead early in the third Williams had worked hard to get back in shape and was and my family and put everything on court for this ing an upset. Nadal will face Argentinian Diego as he threatened to become the first man to take a set off making her Grand Slam comeback at the French Open moment,” she said. “Physically I’m doing great, it hasn’t Schwartzman for a semi-final spot, after the 11th seed Nadal at Roland Garros since the Spaniard’s 2015 quar- following the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia last been easy, I sacrificed so much to be at this event. staged a thrilling comeback to down sixth seed Kevin ter-final defeat by Djokovic. — Agencies of the time, a good omen for a Warriors club seeking a never woke up and was like, ‘All right, let’s go get nine hot second, and the only way to get a shot was to keep Curry’s 3-point third crown in four seasons. threes and get the record.’ It was more so about play- going back. “I try all sorts of shots at some point or Curry, who already owns NBA 3-pointer records for ing the game the right way, having good intentions out another, but at that point it’s just feel and letting it go, a season and consecutive games among others, deliv- there on the court and good things happen.” and thankfully it went in. A big moment where we had a dazzlers lift ered deflating blows time and again to the Cavaliers. The 3-pointer with the most acclaim came after he significant lead, we could extend it a little bit and create The 30-year-old maestro scored 16 points in the fourth fumbled the ball, grabbed it, stepped back with the some separation. “It was a cool moment for sure.” Love Warriors halfway quarter, answering a LeBron James 3-pointer with shot clock about to expire and fired in a miracle with could only watch in amazement. back-to-back 3s for a 96-83 lead.“It was big,” Curry Cleveland’s Kevin Love defending. “Tough shot taker, “No matter where you are on the floor, especially to NBA title said. “Any of those moments when you can come down tough shot maker,” said Warriors forward Draymond past half court on their side, he always has a chance to and answer and keep the momentum on our side, it’s Green. “The one where he was falling away was like, make a miraculous shot,” Love said. “I felt like it was OAKLAND: Golden State sharpshooter Stephen Curry big.” Curry added an epic desperation heave as the shot ‘Oh, man, he’s really got it going.’ But we’ve seen this well contested. We played 23 1/2 good seconds of delivered a performance for the ages Sunday with an clock expired, a corner 3-pointer while being fouled and before where he completely takes the game over with defense, and he turned around and hit a moon ball. NBA Finals record nine 3-pointers powering the the record-setter with 3:30 remaining from the left wing. his scoring ability, and he did that tonight.” “It was a great night for him. It’s really tough to defending champion Warriors over LeBron James and Curry broke the old mark of eight 3-pointers in a finals Coming after a James dunk, Curry’s 30-foot stunner guard Steph anywhere out there on the floor. He’s just the Cleveland Cavaliers. game set by Boston’s Ray Allen in 2010. “That’s a pretty gave the Warriors a 103-89 edge. Cleveland never got so good at finding himself open.” Warriors guard Klay Curry’s 33 points on 11-of-26 shooting, including 9- cool deal to accomplish, knowing who has held the within 12 again. Thompson could only marvel as he watched. “He just of-17 from beyond the arc, lead Golden State to a 122- record for eight years,” Curry said. “But at the end of “I was trying to get some space,” Curry said. “I kept going backwards,” said Thompson. “But he just 103 triumph and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals the day, it’s all about trying to get a win and doing what- thought I had a lay-up at first, and I fumbled the ball threw it up and I don’t think it had any chance of going that continue tomorrow in Cleveland. Teams that win ever you can to make that happen. If we focus on that, and tried to see where the defense was. And Kevin in, but that was kind of like a dagger shot, and it gave us the first two games have won the NBA title 88 percent good things happen individually all across the board. “I Love was right on me. I actually lost the dribble for a all the momentum back.” — AFP.