22 Monday, September 25, 2017 SPORTS Wozniacki retainsTokyo Wozniacki after winning her firsttitle and Gabriela Sabatini with three efending champion tournament since Hong Kong in Pan Pacific Open crowns. Caroline Wozniacki October last year. Martina Hingis holds the Jelena Ostapenko lifts the trophy rompedD to a 6-0, 7-5 “Obviously I’ve won here in the record with five. victory over Russia’s past and it has great memories Wozniacki, who destroyed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for me, so I’m happy I was able world number one Garbine Ostapenko bags yesterday to win her third to stay focused and aggressive,” Muguruza 6-2, 6-0 in the semi- Pan Pacific Open. she added. finals, never gave Pavlyuchenkova The Danish former world “Everything was going my way a chance in their first meeting Korea Open number one needed only 75 in the first set. The second set since 2012. Seoul minutes to complete the rout was tricky but I managed to stay There were early warning op seed Jelena Ostapenko clinched victory at under the Tokyo sunshine, positive and it feels great to win signs for the Russian after the Korea Open yesterday, defeating Brazil’s capturing her first title of the year the title again. It was awesome.” Wozniacki pulled off an BeatrizT Haddad Maia in a closely contested three- after losing in six finals. Wozniacki, who finished outrageous backhand from way set final. The 20-year-old French Open champion Third seed Wozniacki stormed as year-end world number one outside the court that flashed from Latvia rallied from a set down to beat the through the first set in just 22 in 2010 and 2011 but has since past the net post and nibbled debutante finalist 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4, in a match that minutes, blazing winners past a slipped back to sixth in the the line to give her a 3-0 lead in lasted two hours and 15 minutes. stunned Pavlyuchenkova, who rankings, turned her focus to the first set. “I’m really happy to win my second title here was firing blanks up to that point. winning a first grand slam title As she slumped dejectedly and in my career,” Ostapenko said after the match. The Russian saved a match point next season. in her chair, Pavlyuchenkova “I enjoyed playing here and to also see so many in the 10th game of the second set “Hopefully if I stay healthy I squabbled with coach Simon Latvian flags is amazing.” before Wozniacki converted on can put myself in position,” said Goffin. Yesterday’s win was Ostapenko’s first hardcourt her third opportunity, fizzing a the two-time US Open finalist. Despite being told not to by title since her upset victory over third-seed Simona backhand pass down the line to “When you go on a roll and her coach, the world number 23 Halep at the French Open in June. claim the 26th WTA singles title play great tennis, you’re going to continued to sulk as Wozniacki Despite her defeat, Haddad Maia said competing of her career. give yourself opportunitites.” produced an exquisite drop in her first Women’s Tennis Association finals had “It was my seventh final this Wozniacki, also Tokyo winner volley to take the next game and been a good experience. year and obviously after a while in 2010 and runner-up in 2014, a crunching backhand to claim “This match today was really tight. Both of us it gets harder and harder,” said joined former greats Steffi Graf the set. (AFP) were playing very well,” she said. (AFP) Caroline Wozniacki holds the trophy Dzumhur beats Laver Cup: Federer leads Europe to maiden title Fognini for Prague orld number two Roger Laver Cup results maiden ATP Federer handed Team EuropeW the maiden Laver Team Europe 15 Team World 9: Tour title Cup title after beating Team John Isner/Jack Sock (World) bt Saint Petersburg, Russia World’s Nick Kyrgios in a Tomas Berdych/Marin Cilic (Europe) amir Dzumhur battled super tie-break thriller in 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6) back from a set down to Prague yesterday. Alexander Zverev (Europe) bt Sam beatD Italian third seed Fabio Federer, this year’s Querrey (World) 6-4, 6-4 Fognini in St Petersburg Australian Open and John Isner (World) bt Rafael Nadal yesterday and become the first Wimbledon champion, won (Europe) 7-5, 7-6 (7/1) Bosnian to win an ATP Tour 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 11/9 to give Roger Federer (Europe) Nick Kyrgios title. Team Europe an unbeatable (World) 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 11/9 The 25-year-old Dzumhur 15-9 lead. Played Saturday: prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to chalk But the 36-year-old Swiss Roger Federer (Europe) bt Sam up his first win over Fognini in legend struggled against the Querrey (World) 6-4, 6-2 their third meeting. 20th-ranked, 22-year-old Rafael Nadal (Europe) bt Jack Sock “I was very nervous in the Australian and his flawless (World) 6-3, 3-6, 11/9 first set and couldn’t find my serve, losing the first set on a Nick Kyrgios (World) bt Tomas game, while Fabio played single break. Berdych (Europe) 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 10/6 good,” Dzumhur said. When he finally broke Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal (Europe) “But I tried to stay in the Kyrgios halfway through set bt Sam Querrey/Jack Sock (World) game and that helped me to two, he yelled “Come on!” in 6-4, 1-6, 10/5 take the second set. In the relief, only to lose his serve deciding set I found my rhythm again in the next game. one Rafael Nadal missed his and played well while Fabio But Federer capitalised on chance as he lost to big-serving went down. Overall it was a the system of the tournament John Isner in straight sets. great day for me.” he had founded -- forcing Sock and Isner beat Berdych Fiery Italian Fognini, who Kyrgios into longer exchanges, and Cilic 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6) with was playing his first tournament he edged him in the second-set Roger Federer of Team Europe kisses the trophy of the Laver Cup yesterday in Prague Sock’s vicious forehand leading since being kicked out of the tie-break, then came back from briefly kneel on the court in a demonstration against doubles rubber. the charge on the American’s US Open for launching into a 8-5 down in the decisive super in a gesture which sparked racial inequality. Yesterday, the winner of each 25th birthday. sexist tirade against a female tie-break. speculation that he was joining Team Europe, the odds-on rubber earned three points, In the day’s second rubber, umpire, broke twice to take the “I was ready to go. The boys the ongoing protest against US favourites with five of the world’s against one on Friday and two a break in each set was all opening set in 42 minutes. played fantastic all weekend,” President Donald Trump. top seven players, entered on Saturday. German youngster Zverev, the But Dzumhur forced a said Federer. “We knew it was A host of NFL players chose Sunday with a 9-3 lead which Alexander Zverev then took world number four, needed to decider before cruising through going to be tough.” to kneel in games across the US narrowed as Jack Sock and Europe within sight of the trophy beat 16th-ranked American the third set as 2012 runner-up The start of their clash saw on Sunday during the playing John Isner beat Tomas Berdych by beating Sam Querrey in Querrey 6-4, 6-4 in their first- Fognini wilted. (AFP) the controversial Kyrgios of American national anthem and Marin Cilic in the opening straight sets, but world number ever encounter. (AFP).