Packers beat Battle for control Seahawks of Barca 17-9 to take NFC overshadows heavyweight13 match Juventus15 reunion TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 Champions League returns with Real Madrid the team to beat Page 14 NEW YORK: Kevin Anderson of South Africa and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose with USTA President Katrina Adams during the trophy ceremony after their Men’s Singles Finals match on Day Fourteen of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. — AFP Nadal wins US Open for 16th major title NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal against Kevin Anderson in the appearances, so when he won his semifinal on Friday, nents ranked in the top 20. In New York this time, the the ball was in play than any particularly dominant serv- US Open final shaped up as quite a mismatch - and he climbed into the stands to celebrate. bracket was weakened by the injury withdrawals of ing. With Nadal standing way back to receive serves, that’s exactly what it was. His game at a high level at the There would be no such joy for him on this day. three of the top five men: past champions Andy Murray, nearly backing into the line judges, he neutralized end of an unusually easy path through a Grand Slam Nadal simply dominated every facet of the 21/2-hour Novak Djokovic and Wawrinka. Anderson’s most effective skill. Anderson came in hav- field, Nadal overwhelmed first-time major finalist final. “I know we’re the same age, but I feel like I’ve been Plus, Nadal did not need to deal with Federer: The ing won 103 of 108 service games across six matches, Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win his third cham- watching you my whole life,” said Anderson, who is less potential for a semifinal, which would have been their but Nadal accumulated break points at will from the pionship at Flushing Meadows. than a month older than Nadal. “You really have been first US Open meeting, was dashed when Juan Martin get-go - two in a six-deuce game at 1-all, another two in It is the No. 1-ranked Nadal’s second Grand Slam title an idol of mine. And it’s tough playing you. You proved del Potro eliminated Federer in the quarterfinals. Nadal a five-deuce game at 2-all. of the year and 16th overall. Among men, only Roger it again tonight.” then beat del Potro , the 2009 champion but now Anderson began trying to end points quickly with a Federer has more, with 19. Each of those two longtime Nadal added to his US Open triumphs in 2010 and ranked 28th, in the semis. volley. Two problems with that: Anderson is not usually rivals won two of the four majors in 2017, marking a 2013 and improved to 16-7 in Grand Slam finals. For the Much like Nadal’s 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 win against Wawrinka a serve-and-volleyer and so is no expert at that tactic; return of both to the heights of their sport. first time since 2013, he appeared in three in a single at Roland Garros, the only beauty of this match was not Nadal is superb at summoning passing shots at extreme Not only didn’t an injury-hampered Nadal win a season, losing to Federer at the Australian Open in in its competitiveness - not by a long shot - but in an speeds and angles, especially when facing the sort of Grand Slam tournament in 2015 or 2016 - his first such January, then beating Stan Wawrinka for his record 10th appreciation for one participant’s absolute superiority. target provided by the 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) Anderson, shutouts since 2004, when he was still a teenager - but French Open trophy in June. Forehands whipped up the line. Two-handed back- the tallest Grand Slam finalist in history. he didn’t even make it to a final in that span. Seems safe hands ripped cross-court with ferocity. The spinning, It was only a matter of time until Nadal capitalized on to say that, at age 31, he is once again the Nadal of old. BIG VICTORIES back-to-the-net returns of serves that darted in at him a chance. Anderson let him do just that at 3-all, 30-all, “Personally, it’s just unbelievable what happened this Nadal’s career haul also includes two trophies from at more than 130 mph (210 kph) and helped him break double-faulting to offer up Nadal’s fifth break point of year,” Nadal said, “after a couple of years with some trou- Wimbledon and one from the Australian Open. All of his Anderson four times. the match, then badly pushing a cross-court forehand bles, injuries, some moments playing not good.” At No. big victories have come while being coached by his He even came up with some terrific volleys, winning wide. That only made the score 4-3 , but the statistics 32, Anderson was the lowest-ranked US Open men’s uncle, Toni, who is now stepping aside. The US Open the point on all 16 of his trips to the net. Anderson, were telling: Anderson had 21 unforced errors, Nadal finalist since the ATP computer rankings began in 1973. was the last Grand Slam event of their partnership. meanwhile, finished 16 for 34 in that category. Another just four. A pattern had been established. When Nadal The 31-year-old South African never had been past the Not since Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2000 had a difference-maker: Nadal never faced a break point, broke to lead 4-2 in the second set , that was pretty quarterfinals at any major tournament in 33 previous man won a Slam tournament without facing any oppo- although that was more a reflection of his talent once much that. — AP De Boer fired by impatient Hardened Joshua ready Palace after only 4 games for Pulev challenge LONDON: The impatience and short-term thinking future,” but he won’t be part of it. British media LONDON: Britain’s Anthony Joshua said without taking too much punishment.” in modern-day soccer was highlighted yesterday- reported that former England coach Roy Hodgson, yesterday he is looking forward to show- Pulev, 36, lost his only previous world when Frank de Boer was fired by Crystal Palace who is 70, was in line to take over at a club where casing the lessons he learned from his title fight to Klitschko inside five rounds only four Premier League games into his task of he was a youth-team player in the 1960s. stunning win over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014. changing the ingrained playing style of the English While De Boer was gaining plenty of sympathy when he puts his world heavyweight Joshua, who is also the WBA heavy- team. for his plight, critics of the decision to fire him title on the line. weight champion, says he is taking Hours after Palace chairman Steve Parish called placed the blame on those who hired him in the for “some sense” regarding the speculation sur- first place. Why ask a manager to implement a new Joshua, 27, will face his IBF mandato- nothing for granted ahead of the rounding De Boer’s position, the club’s board playing approach and not give him a decent ry challenger Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria fourth defence of his IBF title. “I decided to end the Dutchman’s 77-day stint in opportunity to see the change through, especially under a closed roof at Cardiff’s learned that sometimes you can watch charge and thanked him for his “dedication and after only one transfer window when De Boer was Principality Stadium on October 28 after a million videos of your opponent and hard work.” unable to bring in the kind of attacking players to his hopes of a Las Vegas rematch with prepare for something,” Joshua said at Palace has lost all four of its league matches suit the new style? Klitschko were ended by the Ukrainian’s the first press conference to promote under De Boer, without even scoring a goal. “You try to ask a bit of time for your work,” retirement. the Pulev fight. The last team to make such a start in England’s Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said yesterday, Joshua won the brutal Wembley clash “But it is always different when you top flight was Preston in 1924. Still, it was undeni- when asked about Palace’s decision. “To finish this in April by an 11th-round stoppage after step into the ring. I always prepare for able that De Boer needed time to implement a experience after only four games, I’m sorry for him.” being knocked down earlier in the fight. an improved fighter from what I have more expansive and entertaining style of play De Boer was in charge of Inter Milan in his previous He has won all of his 19 bouts to date seen on video.” Pulev (25-1) said requested by the club’s hierarchy, which is a giant job for just 84 days before being fired early last sea- but he still intends to draw on that mem- Joshua should be wary of streetfight- leap from the pragmatism, directness and counter- son. He didn’t even last that long in his first foray Frank de Boer orable contest as he builds towards an ing skills he learned in his native Sofia.