Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

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Saturday 4 auguSt 2018
Sibling rivalry: Alexander Zverev beats brother Mischa in D.C.

By HOWARD FENDRICH Mischa, who turns 31 in a from either. And not much
WASHINGTON (AP) — For few weeks, while Alexander cheering from spectators,
brothers Alexander and is 21. "Because we've been who maybe had a hard
Mischa Zverev, this was, in playing against each other time picking which one to
many ways, just like many in the backyard in our mini- pull for. Instead of using
another day on the pro- tennis court and imagining simply a last name to re-
fessional tennis tour: They that we would play against fer to a player, the normal
warmed up together at a each other, like, in a Grand practice, the chair umpire
tournament. Slam final." used first names, too. As in:
The difference on Thursday This was not quite Zverev vs. "Game, Sascha Zverev," us-
at the Citi Open, where Zverev for the Wimbledon ing Alexander's nickname.
Alexander is the defend- trophy, as the two Germans The most interaction be-
ing champion and seeded had first dreamed about tween the siblings came
No. 1? For the first time af- a decade or so ago. Still, during a 15-minute rain de-
ter one of those practice it was a unique moment, lay in the second set, when
sessions, the two Zverevs with their father, Alexander they exchanged a few
faced each other in an ATP Sr. — the man who taught words about whether or not
main-draw match. both how to play tennis Alexander Zverev, of Germany, smiles as he hugs his brother play should resume — and
Seems safe to say Alexan- and coaches them to this Mischa Zverev, of Germany, foreground, after defeating him then when the last point ar-
der has never hugged an day — sitting in a front-row 6-3, 7-5, during the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, rived. Alexander hit a short
opponent quite the way he seat in a corner of the sta- Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. shot that Mischa chased
did No. 15 seed Mischa af- dium. Their mother was in but put into the net. Mischa
ter beating his older sibling the stands, too. his quarterfinal Friday. to go out and play anoth- continued around to the
6-3, 7-5 to reach the quar- "I just enjoyed it out there," Murray, who is working his er match, which he lost to other side and walked up
terfinals at the hard-court Alexander said. way back into shape after Rublev. to Alexander for a lengthy
tuneup for the U.S. Open. The day began with a rain having hip surgery in Janu- The Zverevs had met twice embrace.
And Mischa has never delay of about 3 1/2 hours, ary, is to face 19-year-old before in qualifying match- They shared some words,
beamed after a loss quite and by the time everything Alex de Minaur next. The es, most recently in 2014, then walked off the court
the way he did on this oc- wrapped up just past 3 other quarterfinal match- but never during the real together, and Mischa
casion — or dealt with the a.m. on Friday, three-time ups are Alexander Zverev rounds of a tournament. grabbed Alexander by the
emotions he experienced major champion Andy Mur- vs. No. 7 Kei Nishikori, who Their match Thursday was scruff of the neck.
beforehand. ray had won his third con- defeated No. 9 Denis the first between brothers "A big day," Mischa said. "A
"A lot of different feelings. secutive three-setter, 6-7 Shapovalov 7-6 (1), 6-3; No. on tour since Gerald and big match."
First of all, happiness; I was (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4) over 93rd- 3 David Goffin vs. No. 10 Jurgen Melzer played two Alexander is ranked No. 3,
proud. When we were at ranked Marius Copil, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, and No. years ago. Mischa No. 42. Alexander
the coin toss and then took sobbed into a towel after- 16 Andrey Rublev vs. Denis The dynamics were a bit dif- is a righty, Mischa a lefty.
the picture and I walked ward. They hadn't started Kudla. ferent from a usual match. Alexander is 6-foot-6 (1.98)
back to the baseline, I had until midnight, and Mur- No. 2 John Isner was elimi- The Zverevs know each and prefers baseline ex-
to, like, a little bit fight my ray complained afterward nated 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the sec- other's on-court strengths changes, while Mischa is
tears, because I felt like, 'It about how it will be impos- ond round on Thursday by and weaknesses so well. 6-foot-3 (1.91 meters) and
just finally came true,'" said sible to recover in time for Noah Rubin, who then had There wasn't much emotion likes to go to the net.q

Bogey-free Pornanong leads

Women's British Open after 2nd 67

the 18th green but that nugarn was seven shots Hall (68) was in the tie for
didn't get her down. She back after rounds of 71 second place along with
was 10 under par overall. and 70, No. 6 Shanshan Higa, who was leading by
"I've had a game plan," Feng (71-71) was one two strokes on 11 under
Pornanong said. "I try to stroke further back, and when she lost her ball in a
plan every shot, every No. 2 Inbee Park (76-74) gorse bush at No. 17 and
Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum plays THE 15th Green during day
two of the Women's British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes hole." missed the cut. wound up with a double-
Golf Club in Lytham, England, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. It's given her a great Only six players were inside bogey 6.
Associated Press chance of winning a first five shots of Pornanong. Third-ranked Park Sung-
major title, and claiming They have pedigree, hyun, who won the Wom-
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, Eng- Minjee Lee and Mamiko a first victory on the LPGA though. en's PGA Championship
land (AP) — Pornanong Higa encountered prob- Tour. Her last win was on In a three-way share of last month, is lurking in sixth
Phatlum of Thailand is lems down the stretch at the Asian Tour in January second place on 9 under place on 7 under after
standing out at the Wom- a rainy Royal Lytham to 2015 and she has only one is Lee, who was clear at rounds of 67 and 70. Sev-
en's British Open for more give up two-shot leads on top-10 finish all year. 12 under before she dou- enth-ranked Ryu So-yeon,
than just her pink golf ball. Friday, Pornanong played Pornanong's only top-10 at ble-bogeyed No. 16 and a two-time major champi-
The 97th-ranked player has a steady hand and put a major was a tie for sev- dropped another shot at on, is on 6 under after two
yet to drop a shot in two her pink ball in all the right enth at the U.S. Women's No. 17 to post a 70. rounds of 69.
straight rounds of 5-under places — explicitly, out of Open in 2014. Lee, the Australian at a Brooke Henderson of Can-
67 that will give her a one- the many bunkers that de- She has already put some career-high ranking of No. ada aced the par-3 ninth
stroke lead heading into fine the course. distance between many 8, was runner-up on the hole on her way to a 70,
the weekend at the year's The 28-year-old Thai missed of the big names in wom- Gullane links in the Ladies which put her in a six-way
fourth major. a 10-foot putt for birdie in en's golf. Scottish Open last week. tie for eighth place on 5
While first-round leader front of the clubhouse on Top-ranked Ariya Juta- Home favorite Georgia under.q