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SPORTS Thursday 11 July 2024
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Lorenzo Musetti reaches his first Grand Slam semifinal at

Wimbledon and will face Novak Djokovic

By HOWARD FENDRICH a lob there, plenty of slices
AP Tennis Writer than Fritz did.
LONDON (AP) — Lorenzo “I just felt like it took a lot to
Musetti threw his head finish the point,” Fritz said.
back and spread his arms Djokovic had knee sur-
wide to celebrate reaching gery less than a month
his first Grand Slam semi- before the start of play at
final at Wimbledon, then the All England Club. But
covered his face with both despite limitations on his
hands. movement, the 37-year-
His 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 old Djokovic has dropped
victory over Taylor Fritz on only two sets so far facing
Wednesday was a big a qualifier in the first round,
deal, to be sure. After all, a wild-card entrant in the
the 25th-seeded Musetti, second and only one seed-
a 22-year-old from Italy, ed player, No. 15 Holger
never had made it past Rune.
the third round at the All Instead of going up against
England Club or past the No. 9 de Minaur on Wednes-
fourth round at any major day, Djokovic will get three
tournament until this fort- full days off before meeting
night. Musetti. The other semifinal
“He probably knows, bet- Friday is defending cham-
ter than me, the surface Lorenzo Musetti of Italy celebrates after defeating Taylor Fritz of the United States in their quarterfinal pion Carlos Alcaraz against
and the stadium, for sure,” match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Daniil Medvedev.
Musetti said with a chuck- Associated Press Djokovic and Musetti have
le, aware he’ll be making et was made even easier nerves. But an early break in “I feel more mature on the played each other six times
his Centre Court debut on when the man he was sup- the second set helped alter court, more mature off the previously. Djokovic has
Friday. “Jokes apart, he’s posed to play in the quar- the course of the evening. court, and more mature as won five of those, including
a legend everywhere, but terfinals Wednesday, Alex “Immediately, I changed a player, as a father, as a a five-setter at this year’s
especially here in Wimble- de Minaur, pulled out with my mind. I changed my at- person.” French Open that conclud-
don.” a hip injury hours before titude,” he said. “And that Playing at a sun-swathed ed after 3 a.m.
This will be Djokovic’s re- their match was scheduled probably made the differ- No. 1 Court against Fritz, an It was in Djokovic’s follow-
cord-tying 13th semifinal at to begin. ence.” American who is one of the ing match in Paris that he
Wimbledon alone equal- Musetti was forced to work Musetti’s son, Ludovico, sport’s biggest servers but tore the meniscus in his right
ing Roger Federer and 49th for his spot in the final four: was born in March, and fell to 0-4 in major quarter- knee.
Slam semifinal overall, ex- His 3 1/2-hour victory over he said Wednesday that finals, Musetti managed “We know each other
tending a mark he already the 13th-seeded Fritz was helped him rededicate to accumulate 13 break pretty well. They’ve always
held. As Musetti pursues his the 37th five-setter at the himself to his sport and points and convert six. been a huge fight so I ex-
first major championship, All England Club this year, strive to no longer “throw With Queen Camilla, the pect a big, big fight. It’s go-
Djokovic seeks a 25th, in- the most at any Grand away matches.” wife of King Charles III, in ing to be one of the tough-
cluding what would be an Slam tournament. “Instead of me teaching the stands and joining fans est challenges on tour,”
eighth at the All England Musetti acknowledged he him, he’s teaching me. … in doing the wave, Musetti Musetti said, “but I am an
Club. Djokovic’s smooth trip didn’t get off to an ideal Having a child makes you did far more to vary his ambitious guy and I like to
through this year’s brack- start, in part because of reflect a lot,” Musetti said. strokes a drop shot here, be challenged.” q

Former Browns QB great Bernie Kosar reveals health challenges

CLEVELAND (AP) — For- magazine there is a more ing a Browns home game
mer Cleveland Browns star than 90% chance Kosar will against the New York Jets.
quarterback Bernie Kosar need a new liver. “I really felt like I wasn’t go-
has been diagnosed with Kosar said he was also di- ing to make it home from
cirrhosis of the liver and Par- agnosed with Parkinson’s the Jets game. I sucked it
kinson’s disease, accord- by an independent NFL up, though, and continued
ing to a story in Cleveland doctor in February. to avoid the doctors until
Magazine. The Youngstown, Ohio, na- the new year.
The 60-year-old former tive recalled being both- “Then I went into the hos-
player is on the list for a ered by liver-related issues pital and got a massive
liver transplant, though Uni- for years but brushed them blood transfusion. It was
versity Hospitals hepatolo- off because he wasn’t sure like: ‘How are you alive?
gist Anthony Post told the of the source. A diagnosis How are you moving? Be-
magazine that Kosar has of cirrhosis about 16 months cause your hemoglobin
improved since the year ago confirmed the speci- levels are so low.’”
started. At the same time, ficity and severity of his Kosar became sick again
he warned that liver dis- condition. while traveling to the Su- Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar gives a
ease can fluctuate. “My body gave out on me,” per Bowl in Las Vegas and high-five before an NFL football game between the Cleveland
Another doctor, Cleveland Kosar told the magazine, was hospitalized for several Browns and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in
Clinic chief wellness officer recalling an episode last days.q Cleveland.
Michael Roizen, told the December while attend- Associated Press