Friday 43 Sports Friday, September 21, 2018 ‘Italian job’: Giorgi ends Wozniacki’s Tokyo reign Azarenka thrashes Australia’s Barty TOKYO: Italian Camila Giorgi dashed Caroline ings following a lengthy custody battle over Wozniacki’s hopes of a winning a third consec- baby Leo, will be the fresher of the two play- utive Pan Pacific Open title with a stunning am- ers. Currently ranked 63rd and competing as a bush of the top seed yesterday. Giorgi, ranked wildcard, she clinched the opening set with a 35 places below Wozniacki at 37th in the world, thumping pass that was too hot for Barty. completed a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 upset in Tokyo to set Azarenka raced to a 4-1 lead in the second and up a quarter-final with another former number closed out proceedings by jamming up Barty one, Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka thrashed Aus- tralia’s Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 6-2 as the Belarusian seeks a return to the top echelons of women’s tennis after becoming a mum in late 2016. Croatian Vekic Giorgi reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals beat Britain’s earlier this year and showed exactly why as she took just 38 minutes to take the first set with Johanna Konta some brutal hitting. The Italian sealed the advan- tage with a looping forehand that nibbled the back edge of the baseline, wrong-footing Woz- niacki, who cut a forlorn figure as she trudged back to her seat shaking her head. with a vicious kick serve into the ribcage on Wozniacki hit back to take the second set, the her second match point. “That makes me feel a Australian Open champion leveling with a fero- little old,” said the 29-year-old when informed cious backhand that forced Giorgi into a wild she had reached the quarter-finals for the first shot. But Giorgi dug in and broke for 4-3 in the time since 2012. “I’m just trying to look day by decider with another murderous forehand before day and see what happens.” Czech Barbora delivering the coup de grace in a little over two Strycova won a tempestuous encounter with hours with a fizzing backhand that Wozniacki Estonian Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 and could only waft into the net. “It was a good match, next faces Japan’s newly crowned US Open TOKYO: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hits a return against Camila Giorgi of Italy during their nice court, it was fun,” said Giorgi, who will hope champion Naomi Osaka. women’s singles second round tennis match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in for more of the same against Azarenka today. “I’ll Eighth seed Strycova took the first-set Tokyo yesterday. — AFP just try to focus on my game plan as always and tiebreak 7-5 but both players screamed in frus- hope to play very consistently, like today.” tration at their wastefulness in a contest that points with a passing shot that replays showed Elsewhere, Croatian Donna Vekic beat Britain’s lasted well over three hours. Having used all her missed the line by some margin. But the Czech Johanna Konta 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the last Custody battle challenges, Strycova huffily staged a sit-down returned to her task and closed out the match eight, where she faces second seed Caroline Azarenka, who has tumbled down the rank- protest after Kontaveit saved one of eight match when Kontaveit whiffed a drive-volley long. Garcia of France. — AFP It will be his ninth Ryder Cup appearance, hav- Garcia looks for ing won 22.5 points since becoming the event’s youngest-ever player as a 19-year-old in 1999. “I don’t need to show anyone. The only lift-off at Ryder thing I have to do is go out there and help Djokovic to provide fire power Team Europe-my team-mates and my captain Cup tune-up and vice captains-not only with the game on the golf course but outside, in the team room for Team Europe at Laver Cup and everything,” he said. “There are things CHICAGO: The second installment of the Laver “We’re here to defend our title,” Borg said, LISBON: Sergio Garcia will hope to use this that are important to have in a team. I think Cup comes at just the right time for 14-time “And we’re going to keep the cup in Europe.” week’s Portugal Masters as the springboard that is one of the reasons why Thomas picked Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic who is Jack Sock, Nick Kyrgios, John Isner, Frances for a successful Ryder Cup after a difficult me, not only because of the game he knows I back in top form after winning the US Open. Tiafoe, Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartz- season that has seen the Spaniard record just can play, but what I can bring outside of the Djokovic is making his debut in this week’s man are representing Team World. McEnroe one top-10 finish since April. The 38-year-old golf course into the team room and stuff.” Eu- three-day team event which has been dubbed sees the partisan crowd as a key to Team was selected as one of four captain’s picks by rope are unbeaten on home soil since 1993, the Ryder Cup of tennis although it lacks the World’s success. “I’m very much looking for- European skipper Thomas Bjorn for the Sep- but they were beaten 17-11 by the US at tradition of golf’s premier event. “I would like ward to coaching this team,” said McEnroe. tember 28-30 showdown against the United Hazeltine two years ago. to play with (Djokovic),” said event founder “We’re excited about getting the home-court States at Le Golf National just outside Paris. The Americans will bring a power-packed and Team Europe star Roger Federer. “I hope advantage, hopefully, in Chicago, which is a “I told Thomas, ‘if you end up picking me, I’ll line-up to France, with Jim Furyk able to call he feels the same way.” great sports town. I think we’re looking forward make sure that I play something coming into upon nine major champions-including the The exhibition event will take place on US to showcasing our talents this weekend. “We the Ryder Cup’,” Garcia said on Wednesday, resurgent Tiger Woods-in his 12-man team. soil for the first time this week when 12 of the have four of the six core guys from last year. ahead of the tournament at the Algarve resort Only Phil Mickelson, appearing at his 12th world’s top players square off against each We’re hopeful that the crowd is as involved or of Vilamoura. Ryder Cup, has more experience than Garcia other in a three-day team event in Chicago. The more than they were last year.” The inaugural “I didn’t want to be without playing for four across the two teams at this year’s competi- tournament begins today and pits a team of six tournament took place in Prague in September or five weeks coming into such a big and amaz- tion. “Everyone knows how much I love the of the best ATP Tour players from Europe which Team Europe won 15-9. The format calls ing event. “Portugal seemed like a good fit and Ryder Cup, and that hasn’t changed, so I’m re- against a six players from the rest of the world. for shorter matches. If the players split sets, they I’m happy that I decided to come here. Obvi- ally excited about it,” said Garcia. “Being the Bjorn Borg’s favored Team Europe will try to go straight to a 10-point tiebreaker. The event ously the course is nice, it’s going to be a good top points scorer in European history doesn’t defend their crown against Team World which marks a bit of a homecoming for the South test and I’m excited for it.” Garcia, the 2017 really matter to me. What I want is to get the will be captained by the legendary John McEn- African-born Anderson as the world No.9 spent Masters champion, has dropped to 28th in the cup back, that’s the important thing. “If I can roe. Federer, Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, two years at the University of Illinois. “My wife’s world rankings, but his Ryder Cup pedigree help by winning a lot of points, that’s great, but Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin and Kyle Ed- family is from just 20 minutes north of here,” counted strongly in his favor with Bjorn as the at the end of the day the most important thing mund will play for Team Europe. said Anderson. — AFP leading points scorer in Team Europe history. is to get the job done.” — AFP .