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Ruthless Djoker breaks Andy’s back
Sania-Soares in mixed doubles final
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‘India can defend the World Cup’
MCC lecture
Drag-flicker Raghu India’s second choice goalie
Argentina’s Angel takes revenge from Germany
No decision yet on Asian Games contingent
Boxing nationals in November
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Ruthless Djoker breaks Andy’s back
New York, September 4 Having already played the longest match of the tournament in the fourth round, a bruising four-hour 19-minute battle with Milos Raonic, Nishikori had enough left in the tank to get past third seed Stan Wawrinka 3-6 7-5 7-6(7) 6-7(5) 6-4 in a four-hour 15-minute test of wills to become the first Japanese man into the last four of a grand slam in 81 years. Bidding to reach the Flushing Meadows final for a fifth straight year, Djokovic did not need five sets to tame a valiant Andy Murray 7-6(1) 6-7(1) 6-2 6-4 but the big Serb did have to dig deep to see off his longtime rival who was in obvious distress at the end of what had been a wildly enthralling stadium court encounter. While Murray and Djokovic battled their way through a 73 minute opening set, 32-year-old Williams needed just 63 minutes in total on a sultry evening to breeze past Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-3 6-2 and become the oldest player to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows since Martina Navratilova in 1991. Russian left-hander Makarova, who will take on Williams for a spot in Sunday’s final, made her best mark in grand slam singles by outslugging Victoria Azarenka, the US Open runner-up the last two years, 6-4 6-2 in a snappy 87 minutes. While the day presented plenty of intriguing matchups it was the late night clash under the Arthur Ashe Stadium floodlights between Murray and Djokovic, in a rematch of the 2012 final won by the Scotsman, that was always going to be the showstopper. The pair delivered on the promise, combining for some stunning long rallies until Murray struggled with his movement near the end and required a hot compress for his back midway through the fourth set. But he produced arguably his best tennis since having back surgery 11 months ago and gave the top seed a real scare. “I think we played a very physical match in the first two hours,” Djokovic said. “I am very glad to get through to another semifinal. We both gave our best. At times, the tennis was not that nice, we made a lot of errors but that’s due to a very physical battle we had in the first two sets. “I knew coming into the match that he was going to go for his shots and the one who was the most aggressive would win. I am glad I managed to stay fit in the end and pull through.” Unbelievable feeling
Next up for Djokovic will be the tireless Nishikori who is turning into the Flushing Meadows ironman having clocked up eight hours and 34 over his last two matches. Nishikori arrived at sun-bathed Arthur Ashe Stadium looking fresh despite having played the latest finishing match ever at the US Open a day earlier, when he walked off court on Tuesday morning at 2:26 a.m. local time. “I don’t know how I finished the game, but I’m happy,” an exhausted Nishikori, who had a medical timeout in the third set to have his right foot taped, told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. “I feel amazing. I’m very happy to come to my first semi. I hope I can recover again and hopefully I can play 100 percent tennis next round.” Williams sleepwalked through the start of her quarterfinal with Pennetta as the 11th seeded Italian broke twice on the way to a shock 3-0 lead. But the 17-time grand slam winner awoke from her slumber, storming through the next six games and romping to an easy win. “It feels so special to be back in the semis for the first time this year,” Williams, yet to lose more than three games in any set this championship, said.
— Reuters Results: Women (Quarterfinals) 17-Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) beat 16-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 6-4
6-2 Men (Quarterfinals) 10-Kei
Nishikori (Japan) beat 3-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 3-6 7-5 7-6(7)
6-7(5) 6-4 |
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Sania-Soares in mixed doubles final
The last-four contest was very close as both the teams broke each other four times and Sania and Soares won 74 points overall, only three more than their rivals. Sania and Soares are up against unseeded pair of Abigail Spears of the US and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico. It will be Sania’s fifth mixed doubles final appearance at a Grand Slam, having won Australian Open (2009) and French Open (2012) with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi. The 27-year-old had reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final this year also but ended runners-up with Romanian partner Horea Tecau. Sania also has the opportunity to reach only her second women’s doubles final at a Slam as she and partner Cara Black prepare to take on Swiss comeback queen Martina Hingis and Italian Flavia Pennetta in the semifinals. All the other Indians have already exited from the last Grand Slam of the season as Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes fell at different stages of their respective events.
— PTI |
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‘India can defend the World Cup’
Mumbai, September 4 “Coming back to the greatest compliment that I have received in my life was without any doubt was from Sir Don,” Tendulkar said while speaking at a sporting event in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot at the Cricket Club of India. “In 1994-95 he told his wife that my batting style resembles his. It was the greatest compliment that I have received from him and the icing on the cake was when he picked me to be a part of his all-time Test playing eleven. That was a special moment for me in life. I have the photograph of the playing eleven framed at my place which I would treasure,” he added. The 41-year-old also sent warning signals to all the cricketing playing nations, saying that India were all prepared to defend their World Cup title next year, when the action unfolds in Australia and New Zealand. “I know that the World Cup will be played next year in Australia and New Zealand, and I have got some fond memories of 1991-92 tour when we played in Australia and New Zealand. Just a gentle reminder to everyone that the defending champions are ready to defend,” said the Master Blaster. The legendary batsman, meanwhile, reminded the youngsters to play the game in the right spirit. “You guys need to remember that you got to compete in the right spirit on the field and respect your opponents. I believe that sport teaches you a lot in life. It champions fitness, improves your health, improves your concentration level. You are able to focus longer and harder. I have also said earlier that something that sport teaches you cannot be learnt in classrooms or boardrooms. Sport has also taught me whenever I had to face defeat, to get on to my feet again and compete in the right spirit,” said Tendulkar. Former Australian wicketkeeper and Gilchrist said that statistically Tendulkar is the greatest batsman to play the game. “One of the great discussions around the cricketing world is ..... who is the best — Tendulkar or Bradman. I think it is a fair comparison and fair discussion to have. I am not sure that it will work out who is. Certainly, statistically Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer to play the game. He is a true gentleman,” Gilchrist said. Meanwhile, Kings XI Punjab and an Australian university signed an MoU to train varsity students.
— PTI |
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India look for a clean sweep
Leeds, September 4 After the first game was washed out, world champions India have asserted their supremacy in the ODI format by taking 3-0 lead to pocket the five-match series, which is their first bi-lateral win in England since 1990 when they took the Texaco Trophy 2-0. The common thread between that series win and the current one is Ravi Shastri. While he was playing for India in 1990, this time around he has been involved as a team director. The other point of reference being that Mohammad Azharuddin was captain of the Indian team back then, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni has just gone past his record for the maximum ODI wins as Indian captain. Both Shastri and Dhoni will look to end this series on a winning note then. And they should be successful in their bid because England haven't really put up a worthy challenge in any of the matches. So much so that the hosts' 2015 ODI World Cup plans lie in tatters. To make matters worse, their captain Alastair Cook doesn't want to accept that selection or strategy is at fault in this defeat.
— PTI Live on Star Sports (3pm) I was determined to convert a start into a big score: Rahane
Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane joined the bandwagon of Indian players, who have attributed Team Director Ravi Shastri for bringing about a turnaround in team’s fortunes with his technical inputs in the ongoing ODI series after their dismal show in the Test matches. “It hurt the team’s chances that I was not converting my starts. Ravi Shastri was very helpful during this phase. He asked me to play the way I was playing and just asked for a little extra focus between 40 and 50. He said, ‘Once you cross 50, your instinct will take over’,” Rahane said at the pre-match press conference. “In the third ODI I focussed a bit harder once I crossed 40, at least for those 10 next runs. After that I backed my instinct,” he added. “I was batting well in the first two matches, but got out on 45 and 41.” Talking about his maiden ODI hundred, Rahane said,”It was really special. After two 40s in the first two ODIs and the way I got out, I was really hurt. I couldn’t sleep after the Cardiff game because the way I got out stumped. I was really determined.”
— PTI |
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Cricket would be better off without IPL, says Botham
New Delhi, September 4 “I’m worried about the IPL — in fact, I feel it shouldn’t be there at all as it is changing the priorities of world cricket. Players are slaves to it. Administrators bow to it,” Botham said while delivering the 2014 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s last night. “How on Earth did the IPL own the best players in the world for two months a year and not pay a penny to the boards that brought these players into the game? “I know this has been modified to a degree, but it is still an imbalance. The IPL is too powerful for the long-term good of the game.” The 58-year-old former England skipper also expressed his concerns about IPL’s impact on corruption in the game. “Corruption is enough of a problem in itself, but the IPL compounds that problem given it provides the perfect opportunity for betting and therefore fixing,” he said. “We have seen a few players exposed, but does throwing the odd second XI player into jail solve it? To kill the serpent, you must cut off its head. The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) must pursue the root of the problem and if necessary expose the big names,” Botham said. Botham’s lecture came merely 24 hours after England slumped to yet another humiliating ODI loss as India took an invincible 3-0 lead in the five-match series with an emphatic nine-wicket win in the fourth ODI at Edgbaston. Botham, who termed England’s performance in ODIs as a “joke”, did not make specific reference to any player but raised questions about central contracts that are awarded to English players now. He feels the long and lucrative central contracts, which were not there during his playing days, have made cricketers complacent. “Central contracts are brilliant, but it has now become so essential to the England player that the sharpness goes,” he said. “A long contract is a cosy contract. To play international sport, above all else — above even freshness and rest — you must have desire. It is not enough to want success. You must need success. If you want it, that’s fine, but you must need it as a player. Hunger is still the most important attribute for any sportsman,” he said. — PTI KP disagrees, attributes India’s ODI success to IPL
Kevin
Pietersen, the former England player who has been a regular in the IPL, has diametrically opposite views on the
IPL. Even as Botham sees nothing but evil in the Indian league, Pietersen is all praise for it. Immediately after India walloped England at Edgbaston to clinch the match and the series, KP took to twitter, and attributed the success of the Indian side to their experience in the
IPL. “You are seeing a young Indian side here in which the players are being schooled every year in the
IPL. Playing with and against other internationals for six weeks a year benefit every player… they smash the likes of
Steyn, Johnson, Starc and others every week, which gives them a collective confidence to do it in international cricket. Asked if he thought England players should be playing more in the
IPL, he said, “Yes, that’s what I've been saying for years.” — Agencies |
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Drag-flicker Raghu India’s second choice goalie
New Delhi, September 4 But, this time, he is experimenting with India’s most trusted and skillful drag-flicker VR Raghunath just days ahead of the forthcoming Asian Games. In a curious turn of events, Walsh has chosen Raghunath as a second choice goalkeeper, in case PR Sreejesh, the regular goalie, gets injured. The move could either develop Raghunath into a better player or could seriously compromise his drag-flicking ability, which has always been a high point for the Indian hockey team in international competitions. Walsh and Hockey India’s High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans are preparing the Karnataka player as a backup option for current goalie Sreejesh. The move to impart goalkeeping skills to Raghunath is baffling given India have another specialised goalie in Harjot Singh. “Yes, we are preparing Raghu as Sreejesh’s back up. We have been trying him as goalie in the practice games and he is gaining in confidence for any eventuality,” Walsh told reporters at the Dhyan Chand Stadium here today. India went into the World Cup and recently-held Commonwealth Games with one goalkeeper in Sreejesh, but suddenly showed this urgency to prepare Raghunath as the second choice goalkeeper. “In case something happens to our main goalie, then I expect him to come into play in his new role. There is still a lot of time and I don’t believe there is high probability about his coming into play,” coach said. Raghunath, on his part, exuded confidence that he can do justice to his new role. “Sreejesh is my coach. He is giving me all the basic tips that are needed. There is a 99.9 percent chance this situation won’t arise but if it does I am mentally prepared. The coach is using me in the practice matches in the last 10-15 minutes. I have done it (goalkeeping) before. When I was a child I was a goalkeeper. It is not easy. But if really needed, I am ready for the job,” Raghunath said. Asian Games squad
Goalkeeper: PR Sreejesh (vice-captain) Defenders: Gurbaj Singh, Birendra Lakra, Rupinder Pal Singh, Kothajit Singh, VR Raghunath Midfielders:
Dharamvir Singh, Sardar Singh (captain), Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Manpreet Singh Forwards:
Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Nikkin Thimmaiah |
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Argentina’s Angel takes revenge from Germany
Melbourne, September 4 Despite the absence of injured captain Lionel
Messi, Argentina ran circles around the World Cup winners on their home turf in the first match for both teams since Germany’s 1-0 extra-time victory in the final in Brazil. So impressive was the performance of the Argentine winger, who had missed the final through injury, in the Duesseldorf arena that even many of the German fans applauded his performance when he was replaced late in the match. Germany coach Joachim Loew put only four of the starting 11 that won Germany’s fourth World Cup on the pitch in the warm-up match for their Euro 2016 campaign that starts on Sunday against Scotland. The inexperienced Germany defence could not contain new Manchester United signing Di Maria in the first half but also left lots of open space for lightening counter-attacks by moving deep into Argentina's
territory. Di Maria set up the first goal in the 21st minute with a pinpoint lob to the penalty spot where Sergio Aguero slipped away from his marker and beat Manuel Neuer with an unstoppable volley from point-blank range. Nineteen minutes later Di Maria broke free on the right near the goal line where he lofted a cross back to Erik
Lamela, standing in for the injured Lionel Messi, who smashed a fine volley past a frustrated-looking
Neuer. Central defender Federico Fernandez headed the third two minutes after the intermission from Di Maria's free kick before the winger made it 4-0.
— Agencies ROONEY SINKS NORWAY
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No decision yet on Asian Games contingent
New Delhi, September 4 "The minister will take a call in a day or two. I have sent my recommendations to him. It’s now up to him to put his stamp of approval on the list," said sports secretary Ajit M Sharan. The need to drop some of the disciplines arose after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sent a jumbo list of 935 athletes and officials (662 athletes) for the Asian Games. At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, the Indian contingent had 625 athletes. "We are planning to send around 625 athletes and officials to Incheon. SAI had stuck to its recommendation of dropping 14 disciplines, but some of these disciplines might be sent at 'no cost to government," another ministry official said. It has also been learnt that the Ministry might clear the men's and the women's football teams at government cost after the AIFF president met Sonowal on Wednesday. |
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Boxing nationals in November
New Delhi, September 4 Boxing India had issued a veiled threat to its member affiliates not to attend any such proposed meeting by the
IOA, but the representatives from 19 state units defied its orders and discussed the conduct of National Championships, which have not taken place since December 2012 following AIB’s suspension of IABF on December 5, 2012. The
IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee announced that senior men's national championships will be held in the first week of November in
Uttarakhand, preferably in Haridwar or Dehradun, and the women's championships will be held in Delhi in the last week of the same month. Nine state units — UP, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh,
Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim and Kerala — could not attend the meeting. |
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Serena Williams and Ekaterina Makarova sprinted into the semifinals of the US Open on Wednesday, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and marathon man Kei Nishikori were forced to take the long road into the last four.
A brilliant performance from Angel Di Maria spurred Argentina to a crushing 4-2 friendly win over world champions Germany on Wednesday in an entertaining rematch of July’s World Cup final.
Despite the absence of injured captain Lionel Messi, Argentina ran circles around the World Cup winners on their home turf in the first match for both teams since Germany’s 1-0 extra-time victory in the final in Brazil.
New York, September 4
Recollecting the moment when he held Bradman's bat that he used in the 30s-40s, Tendulkar said, “I remember in 2007, I was playing a match at Sydney where I actually got to hold Sir Don's real bat. We obviously had to be careful. I had to wear gloves and all sorts of things. But it was an exciting moment for someone who 30 years ago was checking the autograph of Sir Don to progress to actually hold his real bat that he used in the 30s and 40s,” remembered Tendulkar.
