FRIDAY 12 JULY 2019 SPORT 17 Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar defends MS It’s not fair all the time to expect TENNIS MS Dhoni to come and finish the Dhoni after India lost to TENNIS Wimbledon, second game. He has done it time and New Zealand in the first Wimbledon, first semi-final: Rafael Nadal again. World Cup semi-final. semi-final: N. Djokovic vs ACTION vs Roger Federer Bautista Agut TODAY’S Federer, Nadal renew Wimbledon rivalry REUTERS of Wimbledon folklore. Centre Men’s tennis returns to the scene of its most silverware at stake today, with With the clock ticking on LONDON Court now has a retractable roof dramatic episode today when Roger Federer and the winner likely to play their careers, today’s clash could as does Court One, for a start, and Rafael Nadal meet for a place in the final. defending champion Novak be his last chance to set the It has been a long wait but the Federer has two sets of twins. Djokovic, the Serb who could record straight, although he says most captivating modern rivalry Nadal’s knees are creakier, eventually surpass both of them Nadal is a far superior player to in men’s tennis returns to the his hair thinner and the the first Spaniard since Manolo third, and first since beatingting in thethe all-timeall-time GrandGrand SlamSlam titletitle the 2008 version.version. scene of its most dramatic sleeveless tops and pirate pants Santana in 1966 to win the men’s Tomas Berdych in 2010. haul, in the final. “Haven’t“Haven’t played each other episode today when Roger he wore as a 22-year-old22 year tyro title, proving he was not just a Since then Wimbledon has ButBut it has the feel of a inin a long, long time on this FedererFederer and Rafael Nadal havehave been repreplaced by claycourt bully but had evolved often resembled a housee of final.final. surface,”surface,” Federer meet for a placeplace in the regular tennistenn attire. his topspin game after losing horrors for Nadal with shockhock Federer,Federer, bidding to said.said. Wimbledon final.final. TheyThey have consecutive Wimbledon finals to losses to journeymen like Steveteve reachreach his 12th Wim-Wim- Much has bbothoth hhad dips Federer in 2006 and 2007. Darcis, Lukas Rosol and Dustinustin bbledonledon final, has changedchanged since and come- There have been memorable Brown. dropped two sets so that epic babacksc and clashes since -- the 2009 Aus- Irritated by being relegatedated far,far, and has SunSundayday nignightht bbothot have tralian Open final after which a to third seed behind Federer,erer, lookedlooked in finefine in 2008 when, bbeen beaten Federer shed tears and despite being ranked two,, he fettle.fettle. as the last wrwritten off the 2017 Australian final when looks fired-up to reclaim the titletitle WhileWhile much strands ofof atat titimes.m But the Swiss ended a five-year wait and has dropped just one setet so waterwater has passedpassed daylight ebbed formform is tem- for his 18th Grand Slam title. far, against Nick Kyrgios in a riv-riv- uundernder the bridge away,away, Nadal porary.pora Class They played last month in the eting second-round grudgeudge ssinceince 2008, dethroneddethroned thethe endures.endu French Open semis when Nadal match. king ofof Centre FedererFe is blew Federer away in a gale on “Playing against Rogeroger Court in a rain- apprapproachingo his way to claiming a record- always is a unique situation,”on,” hit final that will hhisi s 38th extending 12th Roland Garros Nadal said after beating Sam forever be partpart bbirthdayirthda and title. Querrey in the quarter-finals.ls. Nadal iiss 33, yet Today’s showdown will be “Excited to be back on thisthis ththeyey reremainm the the 40th meeting between the court against him after 11 years.ears. twotwo central pillars of duo with Nadal leading 24-15 “Means a lot for me and somewheresomewhere in men’smen’s tennistennis withwith 20 and and 10-3 in Grand Slams. probably for him, too. Alwaysays I the darkerdarker 18 GrandGrand SlamSlam titles Federer is seeking a ninth say the same: of course, the recessesrecesses of Fed-Fed- Rafael Nadal respectively.respectively. Wimbledon singles title which opportunities to play againstainst erer’serer’s mind will be They havehave met 22 would move him level on the all- each other every time are less,less, thethe bitterbitter imprint Roger Federer timestimes since that epicep five- time list with Martina Navra- but we are still here,” he said.d. ofof one of his most settersetter whenwhen NadalNadal became tilova while Nadal is eyeing his It is easy to forget there iiss no crushingcrushing defeats.defeats. Thomas silences Hamilton aims to bounce back doubters as Teuns with record sixth home victory wins Stage 6 at Tour AFP AFP seconds. Alaphilippe put in a SILVERSTONE Kubica hopes LA PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES heroic defence of his lead, but missed out due to the bonus Lewis Hamilton is aiming to updates can Defending Tour de France seconds over the final two bounce back from a rare Mercedes’ kick-start champion Geraint Thomas summits saw the young Italian weekend of disappointment by British driver defied his doubters yesterday as edge ahead of him. winning his home British Grand Lewis Hamilton Williams’ Belgian Dylan Teuns won Stage The stage ended up as a Prix for a record sixth time this smiles 6 and his breakaway partner battle not only for the stage and weekend -- and in front of the during the poor season Giulio Ciccone snatched the the overall lead but for the psy- biggest crowd at the historic drivers’ press yellow jersey by just a few chological control of the race. Silverstone circuit in nearly three conference AFP seconds on an iconic mountain This was the 2019 Tour’s first decades. at Silverstone SILVERSTONE stage. foray into the mountains a stage After suffering in the heat Motor Racing Teuns won the ultra-tough that the defending champion, and rarefied atmosphere of Aus- Circuit in Robert Kubica is hoping that mountain stage to Planche des Welshman Geraint Thomas, had tria’s Styrian Alps, where he fin- Silverstone, an upgrade package intro- Belles Filles when he and described as ‘the big day’. ished a hot-and-bothered fifth central England, duced for the British Grand Ciccone crossed the summit Chris Froome won the first two weeks ago, the defending yesterday. Prix can kick-start Williams’ finish line as the sole survivors ever finish here in 2012 to world champion and his Mer- season and herald this week- of a mass breakaway. confirm his potential before he cedes team are expected to revel end’s celebrations of Frank “It was so steep, but I love went on to win the 2013 Tour, in the gentler undulations and Williams’ 50 years in charge. these kind of finishes,” said and Thomas must have sensed wider mix of corners in cooler The Pole, who has Teuns. something special. conditions in central England. returned to Formula One this “It was a good big Just behind the breakaway A sixth victory overall and most incredible few days. It is points adrift of Hamilton in the year after recovering from breakaway group,” said Teuns. pair, Thomas gave food for fifth in six years at a track he difficult to count what you gain title race. career-threatening injuries “That helped keep us out thought to those who had called loves would also be his seventh from all that positivity -- every- Victory in Austria lifted Ver- following a rally accident, ahead, five of us were Belgians him a one-hit wonder after his in 10 races this year and extend one’s energy is priceless.” stappen ahead of the German said it is important the too.” 2018 win, who raised eyebrows his 31-point lead ahead of team- If he wins, Hamilton will and he and Red Bull, based at upgrades work to help “When it came down to the when he lost a few seconds on mate Valtteri Bottas in the move clear of fellow Briton Jim nearby Milton Keynes, with big determine the team’s two of us, we stayed calm, we a climb at Epernay earlier in the drivers’ championship. Clark and Frenchman Alain local home support, may also be progress. talked about it,” said the winner, week and who had tipped Ineos “This is the race that has Prost, with whom he shares the a major threat to Hamilton’s “I hope, and this is the hinting the pair did a deal for a team-mate Egan Bernal. become the most anticipated current record of five wins. home-coming dream after flying plan, that this is a first step,” win-win instead of risking it all “I don’t listen to tips,” said event of the season for me and After suffering their first in from Los Angeles. he said. “We hope they will by not collaborating. Thomas. it is the weekend I always enjoy defeat after an unprecedented “Max has been the best in the work well and give us a step Ciccone was less calm about “I felt pretty good. I thought the most,” said Hamilton, who run of eight victories, Mercedes world, arguably, over the last 12 forward. Although it will not his feat. it would be more of a solid day.” was quick to celebrate Wednes- are keen to restore their months,” said his team boss be big, it’s still important.” “It’s just unbelievable,” said “I was feeling good but I was day’s confirmation of a new five- supremacy in the team’s home Christian Horner.