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Diabierna 23 September 2022

Federer, Nadal to team up in doubles at Laver Cup on Friday

during the day session, and such as 21-time Slam champ
three-time major champion Novak Djokovic and Murray,
Andy Murray against Alex the Federer vs. Nadal match-
de Minaur at night, before up will go down in history as
the Federer-Nadal doubles among the greatest rivalries
match. in tennis or any other sport.

The 41-year-old Federer is They played each other 40
retiring after the Laver Cup times in all (Nadal won 26),
following a series of opera- with 14 Grand Slam match-
tions on his right knee. He ups (Nadal won 10). Nadal
hasn't competed in singles or came out on top in their
doubles since a quarterfinal classic 2008 Wimbledon fi-
loss at Wimbledon to Hubert nal, considered by some the
Hurkacz in July 2021. greatest match in history;
Federer won their last show-
Back in February of this year, down, in the 2019 semifinals
when word emerged that Fe- at the All England Club.
derer would be in London
this week, he said Nadal mes- "It could be quite, I don't
saged him last year suggest- know, a unique situation, if it
ing they play doubles togeth- were to happen," Federer said
er again. They teamed up to Thursday about the doubles
win a doubles match during pairing, before it was known
the first Laver Cup in 2017. for sure that he would be
partnered with Nadal. "For
"If we're able to possibly share us, as well, to go through a
LONDON (AP) — Roger Slam titles, and his long- competition founded by Fe- the court one more time as a career that we both have had
Federer and Rafael Nadal time rival Nadal, owner of derer's management compa- doubles pairing," Nadal said and to come out on the other
will team up in doubles at a men's-record 22 major ny was announced Thursday. in February, "then this would side and being able to have
the Laver Cup on Friday championships. will pair up be a truly special experience a nice relationship, I think,
in what Federer has an- for Team Europe against the The singles matches will be for us both at this stage in our is maybe a great message, as
nounced will be the final Team World duo of U.S. two-time Grand Slam run- careers." well, to not just tennis but
match of his long and il- Open semifinalist Frances ner-up Casper Ruud against sports and maybe even be-
lustrious career. Tiafoe and Jack Sock. Sock, and 2021 French Open While other contemporaries yond."
finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas of Federer and stars of the
Federer, owner of 20 Grand The lineup for Day 1 at the against Diego Schwartzman sport are on Team Europe,

Stewart, debuting Thomas help US beat Belgium in WCup opener

SYDNEY (AP) — It's been a still missing Las Vegas Aces players at the half. The Americans went on a icans are three wins short of match-
whirlwind week for Alyssa Thom- A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Kelsey 12-4 run to start the third quarter and ing their record 26-game run from
as. Plum. They were on their way to put the game away. 1998-2006.
Australia after celebrating the fran-
She went from losing in the WNBA chise's first WNBA championship The U.S. did a stellar job defensively Julie Vanloo scored 13 points to lead
Finals on Sunday to flying 10,000 with a parade on Tuesday. The trio is on Belgian Emma Meesseman. The Belgium.
miles to Australia a day later to play expected to be in Sydney on Friday. Chicago Sky star led the Olympics
for the United States in the World in scoring last year, averaging 26.8 "Really proud of this young team,"
Cup. Thomas had 14 points, nine as- Thomas and her Connecticut Sun points. She had four against the U.S, Meesseman said. "Sometimes we
sists and seven rebounds in her debut teammate Brionna Jones, who also which has now won 23 consecutive lacked focus but a lot to be proud of
for the Americans, who beat Belgium arrived on Wednesday, were two of World Cup games since losing in the and looking forward to the next few
87-72 in the tournament opener on six players on the roster who hadn't 2006 semifinals to Russia. The Amer- games."
Thursday. played for the U.S. in either the
World Cup or Olympics.
After finding out she'd be on the U.S.
roster, she never gave any thought to This team is much different from the
skipping the World Cup. one that won a third straight gold in
Spain in 2018. Sue Bird is retired and
"Excited to be a part of this, been Diana Taurasi is out as well. Brittney
waiting a long time," the 30-year-old Griner, who would have been on this
Thomas said. team, is in a Russian jail after being
convicted of drug possession last
U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve was im- month in a politically charged case
pressed by what Thomas accom- and sentenced to nine years in prison.
plished in the short turnaround time. The U.S. government is trying to se-
cure her release.
"It's what I expected Alyssa to do, as
it's just what she does. She's a com- These teams met in the semifinals of
petitor and knows how to (play)," the 2018 World Cup, with the Ameri-
Reeve said. "WNBA players don't cans using a big third quarter to pull
get enough credit for how well that away and win by 16.
they transition from overseas play to
WNBA play to national team play." The Americans jumped out to a quick
12-0 lead before Belgium settled
Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and down to get within one. The U.S.
Jewell Loyd also scored 14 for the lengthened the lead again behind
short-handed U.S. team, which was Stewart and Loyd and was up 48-39