Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20210329

A31
sports Dialuna 29 Maart 2021

John Isner wins two tiebreakers to advance at Miami Open

(AP) — John Isner never “I’m going to have to play
had a break-point oppor- well if I’m going to have any
tunity and won anyway, chance of beating him,” Is-
which is the kind of feat ner said. “He’s too solid if I
typical of John Isner. don’t.”
Isner, who won the biggest
The big American with the title of his 14-year tour ca-
big serve hit 16 aces Sunday reer in Miami in 2018, took
and edged No. 11-seeded Fe- the court at midday in sunny,
lix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (5), warm, muggy weather — the
7-6 (5) in the third round of sort that seems to bring out
the Miami Open. his best tennis.
That made it four consecu-
tive sets Isner has won by “These conditions are good
tiebreaker against Auger-Ali- for me,” he said. “I knew at
assime in Miami. The score the very worst I was going
when they met in the 2019 to be able to make it a close
semifinal was 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4). match and make it come
In the rematch, neither play- down to a few points, and
er had a break point, which that was the case.”
meant the outcome was de- In the second tiebreaker, the
termined by a handful of 6-foot-10 American bent
shots. Isner likes such match- down to hit a deft drop volley
es — sometimes. for a winner to make it 5-all.
“I enjoy it when I win,” he round at Miami for the first in February 2020, and she Kontaveit, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2. No. With Auger-Aliassime serv-
said. “It’s frustrating when time in her career when earned her fourth Grand 29 Jessica Pegula defeated ing at 5-6, Isner prevailed in
you lose a match that comes qualifier Nina Stojanovic Slam title at the Australian No. 6 Karolina Pliskova for a 13-shot exchange — a rar-
down to point here or there, withdrew from their match Open last month. But in Mi- the third time this year, 6-1, ity in the serve-dominated
and a lot of times that’s how shortly before the scheduled ami, where she is making her 4-6, 6-4. match — when the Canadian
it is for me. I could very easily start because of a right thigh fifth appearance, she has pre- In other men’s play, No. 7 sailed a forehand long.
be talking now as a loser and injury. viously made early exits. Roberto Bautista Agut ral- Only five other rallies lasted
be going home.” Osaka, ranked No. 2, has She’ll next face No. 16 Elise lied past No. 31 Jan-Lennard 10 shots or more.
On the women’s side, Naomi won 22 consecutive matches Mertens, who won a seesaw Struff 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Bautista “One of the best points I
Osaka advanced to the fourth since her most recent defeat match against No. 22 Anett Agut will face Isner next. played all match,” Isner said.

Kane, Mount score, England beats Albania 2-0 in WC qualifier

England coach Gareth South- Southgate decided to again ponderous.
gate has fierce competition play two holding midfield- England was much better
for the midfield and attacking ers — this time Declan Rice after the opening goal, with
places, but Mount appears and Kalvin Phillips — despite Kane wasting a great chance
to be guaranteed to feature the limited opposition, in an for a second goal when he
in the team heading into the approach that has its critics. It met a cross from Raheem
European Championship. did mean England was hardly Sterling with a side-footed
“He is a very good player troubled in defense, where effort on the half-volley that
but I was saying that in the Shaw and John Stones start- powered against the crossbar
autumn,” Southgate said ed after long absences from and rebounded clear.
of Mount. “I suppose now the squad, although England In the second half, Phil
Thomas Tuchel picks him, struggled to produce any Foden had a shot tipped onto
probably everyone will agree. free-flowing football until the post by Berisha.
When it was Frank, it didn’t Kane’s goal. England faces arguably its
count for some reason. Some of that might be put biggest threat in the group on
“He is an exceptional player. down to the slow nature of Wednesday when Poland vis-
He finds space intelligently, the pitch, with the long grass its Wembley Stadium.
(AP) — If captain Harry Rooney. Kane hadn’t scored he manipulates the ball very affecting the pace of Eng- Later Sunday, Poland plays
Kane is the first name for England in 16 months — well, he creates chances and land’s passing and making Andorra and Hungary is
on England’s team sheet, since before the outbreak of scores goals.” the team’s buildup appear away to San Marino.
then blossoming mid- the coronavirus pandemic.
fielder Mason Mount isn’t Kane has added a more cre-
too far behind. ative aspect to his game this
season at club level, and that
Both players highlighted their was on show for the second
importance to the national goal in the 63rd when he fed
team by scoring the goals in Mount with a neat pass to his
England’s 2-0 win over Alba- left.
nia in World Cup qualifying The Chelsea midfielder bore
on Sunday, which added to down on goal and lifted his
the 5-0 victory over San Ma- angled finish over goalkeeper
rino in midweek that opened Etrit Berisha.
the Group I campaign. Mount started a seventh
Kane’s diving header from straight game for England,
Luke Shaw’s cross in the 38th having also established him-
minute was the striker’s 33rd self as a regular at Chelsea this
goal at international level, season — under both Frank
leaving the 27-year-old Tot- Lampard, who was fired in
tenham star just 20 off the all- January, and his replacement
time record held by Wayne Thomas Tuchel.