Page 15 - aruba-today-20220706

A15
sports Wednesday 6 July 2022
2 sets down, Djokovic wins 26th consecutive Wimbledon match

By HOWARD FENDRICH to 37-10 in five-setters. That
AP Tennis Writer includes a 10-1 mark in
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) matches that go the dis-
— It says a lot about Novak tance at Wimbledon, in-
Djokovic that a two-sets-to- cluding nine straight victo-
none hole at Wimbledon ries; the lone loss came in
on a day he was hardly at 2006.
his best never seemed in- “He’s been in this situation
surmountable. Not to him. many times,” the 20-year-
Not to anyone watching. old Sinner said. “That defi-
Says a lot about his history nitely helps.”
of overcoming that sort of Tuesday’s match brought
deficit. A lot about his abil- Sinner’s major quarterfinal
ity to adjust, to adapt and appearance total to three,
to right himself. A lot about which is exactly 50 fewer
his preeminence at the than Djokovic’s.
All England Club in recent Sinner has shown enormous
years. potential, reaching the
Djokovic spotted 10th- quarterfinals at the 2020
seeded Jannik Sinner of It- French Open before los-
aly the huge lead Tuesday, ing to Rafael Nadal and
then worked his way back the 2022 Australian Open
to win 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 before losing to Tsitsipas.
at Centre Court, earning Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts as he plays Italy’s Jannik Sinner in a men’s singles quarterfinal As for grass? Sinner was
an 11th semifinal berth at match on day nine of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, July 5, 2022. 0-4 until last week. But he
Associated Press
Wimbledon with his 26th got win No. 1 at Wimble-
consecutive victory at the ently — well, not differently, all earned the right to make began in 1968. The others? don by eliminating three-
grass-court Grand Slam but in a way that he likes,” their debuts in a Grand Quite a list: Martina Navra- time major champion Stan
tournament. Sinner said. Slam semifinal. tilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Wawrinka and then beat a
“I always believed,” said Djokovic was responsible “Can’t enjoy it too much Evert, Serena Williams and pair of seeded foes: No. 20
Djokovic, who faces ninth- for just one of Wednesday’s now,” said Norrie, 26, who Venus Williams. John Isner and No. 5 Carlos
seeded Cam Norrie of Brit- comebacks: In all four was born in South Africa to “I always believed that I Alcaraz.
ain next, “that I could turn singles quarterfinals on a British parents, grew up in have something inside,” With his wide wingspan,
the match around.” sunny day, the player who New Zealand and played said Maria, who only once and a Djokovic-style abil-
Among men, only Roger dropped the first set ended college tennis at Texas before reached as far as ity to slide into strokes, the
Federer has made more up victorious. Norrie edged Christian University. “Just the third round. “That I can 6-foot-2 (1.88-meter) Sinner
semifinal appearances at David Goffin of Belgium 3-6, get ready for Novak in a do this.” gets to balls that appear
Wimbledon with 13 and 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; No. 3 Ons couple days.” Djokovic, a 35-year-old out of reach and is able
won more championships Jabeur of Tunisia beat Ma- The 103rd-ranked Maria is, from Serbia, managed to reply with considerable
(eight) than the seven rie Bouzkova of the Czech at 34, the oldest first-time his seventh career come- power. That allows him to
Djokovic could reach by Republic 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; Tat- women’s semifinalist at a back in a match in which lengthen exchanges and
lifting the trophy Sunday jana Maria defeated Jule major and only the sixth he trailed by two sets — he make even a consummate
for what would be a fourth Niemeier 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in an woman at least that old to last did it in the 2021 French baseliner like Djokovic put
year in a row. all-German matchup. get this far at Wimbledon in Open final against Stefanos in extra work to earn a
“He makes you play differ- Norrie, Jabeur and Maria the professional era, which Tsitsipas — and improved point.q

Van Aert wins Tour stage 4 in style and

extends overall lead

CALAIS, France (AP) — Bel- Blanc-Nez at a gradient of The Jumbo-Visma rider
gian rider Wout van Aert 7.5 % — about 10 kilometers flapped his hands like a
won the hilly fourth stage (6 miles) from the end. bird’s wings as he sat up
of the Tour de France and He said he felt an early at- on his bike. He crossed the
extended his overall lead tack was the best way to line eight seconds clear of
after attacking strongly on avoid a mass sprint at the countryman Jasper Phil-
the day’s final climb on line. ipsen of the Alpecin–Fenix
Tuesday. “I didn’t want to take the team, with Jumbo-Visma
The Belgian rider kept the risk of losing anymore. It teammate Christophe La-
leader’s yellow jersey for was quite obvious that we porte taking third place in
the Jumbo–Visma team were trying something with a sprint finish. Belgium’s Wout Van Aert, wearing the overall leader’s yellow
after taking it for the first the team,” he said. “I went “This jersey gives wings. jersey celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth
time on Saturday. He also full gas to see what would It was definitely a tough stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers
extended his lead in the happen. I went all out.” climb but this stage was (106.6 miles) with start in Dunkerque and finish in Calais, France,
green jersey contest for The 27-year-old Van Aert is very likely going to end up Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
best sprinter. considered one of the best in bunch sprint,” Van Aert Associated Press
Van Aert shook up the multi-skilled riders in the said. “It was difficult to fin-
peloton when he surged world and is a former three- ish alone, but thanks to the Van Aert picked up a overall standings and 32
ahead up the last of the time cyclo-cross world work of my teammates, I 10-second time bonus and seconds clear of two-time
five climbs — a 900-meter champion and a one-day did it. It was up to me to fin- is now 25 seconds ahead defending champion Tadej
ascent up Cote du Cap classics specialist. ish it off.” of Yves Lampaert in the Pogacar.q