Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Friday 11 May 2018

Nadal breaks McEnroe’s mark

of straight sets won on surface

MADRID (AP) — Rafael on clay at Rome last year. Nadal went up a break at
Nadal broke John McEn- “On this surface, (Thiem) is 4-2 in the first set after back-
roe’s record of 49 straight one of the most danger- to-back errors by Schwartz-
sets won on the same sur- ous players you can face,” man, including a missed
face by beating Diego Nadal said. “Tomorrow is a smash.
Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4 in the key match in the tourna- Nadal then struck a fore-
third round of the Madrid ment.” hand winner on the run to
Open on Thursday. While Nadal marched on, break Schwartzman again
Nadal extended his win- the top women’s players in the second set. Schwartz-
ning streak to 50 consecu- continued to struggle in the man broke back, but two Rafael Nadal from Spain celebrates his victory over Diego
tive sets on clay, eclipsing Spanish capital after top- straight double-faults gave Schwartzman from Argentina during a Madrid Open tennis
the mark McEnroe estab- ranked Simona Halep and Nadal a third break en tournament match in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 10, 2018.
lished on carpet in 1984. Maria Sharapova both lost route to the win. Nadal won 6-3, 6-4.
“When my career is over, in the quarterfinals. The 16-time Grand Slam Associated Press
these are things that are Also on the men’s side, champion is seeking his his excellent run by ousting Pliskova gave the Roma-
going to be there for al- second-seeded Alexander sixth title in Madrid after eighth-seeded David Gof- nian no chance, breaking
ways. It’s difficult to be able Zverev brushed aside Leon- taking his trophy hauls at fin 6-4, 6-4. Edmund, an un- her serve four times and hit-
to win 50 sets in a row,” ardo Mayer 6-4, 6-2 and Monte Carlo and Barcelo- seeded Brit, defeated for- ting 20 winners.
Nadal said. “Well, it’s done. will meet John Isner after na to 11 apiece. mer No. 1 Novak Djokovic “I think I played one of my
It’s over. Let’s not talk he edged Pablo Cuevas in Also, Dusan Lajovic fought in straight sets on Wednes- best matches this year for
about that any more and a hard-fought match that back from 0-4 in the de- day. sure, and for sure on clay
let’s continue on what we needed tiebreakers to de- cisive tiebreaker to stun Edmund will face 19-year- in my life,” the sixth-seeded
have ahead which is what I cide all three sets. fourth-seeded Juan Martin old Denis Shapovalov, after Pliskova said. “I feel amaz-
am concerned about.” Isner prevailed 6-7 (9), 7-6 del Potro 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) for he bettered Milos Raonic ing since in the last six
The world No. 1’s focus is (3), 7-6 (4) in 2 hours, 21 his first career win against a 6-4, 6-4 in an all-Canadian matches I lost to her.”
trained on his next match minutes. top-10 ranked player. clash. Halep got off to a positive
against Dominic Thiem, a The top-ranked Nadal, who Lajovic moved on to meet Halep lost to Karolina Plis- start by breaking Pliskova
rematch of last year’s final. improved to 18-1 overall on sixth-seeded Kevin Ander- kova 6-4, 6-3, ending her for a 2-0 lead, only for the
Thiem, who outlasted Borna the season, has won 38 of son, who eliminated Philipp bid to become a three- Czech to take the break
Coric 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, is the his last 39 matches on his Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6 (7). time consecutive champi- right back to swing the
last player to beat Nadal favored clay. Kyle Edmund continued on in Madrid. match in her favor.q

Yates moves into overall lead of Giro, Chaves wins stage 6

ETNA, Sicily (AP) — Simon the line, 26 seconds behind and attacked on the final
Yates took the overall lead the leading duo. climb with five kilometers
of the Giro d’Italia on Thurs- “It was a crazy day with a remaining, and swiftly built
day after the British rider lot of attacks going at the a significant advantage.
finished second on stage beginning. As Esteban was Yates made his move with
six, just behind Mitchelton- at the front with a pretty 1.5K remaining and surged
Scott teammate Esteban big group, it made me sit into the lead before indi-
Chaves on the summit of back. cating to Chaves he should
Mount Etna. I could save some energy. take the win. The duo
Yates overtook Chaves in It worked out perfectly,” hugged each other in cel-
the final meters but sat up Yates said. “I felt good so ebration immediately after
on the approach to the fin- I took my chance to ride crossing the line.
ish line and told his team- across. Esteban had been Yates, who won the young
mate to cross first after the out all day so he deserved rider classification at last
Colombian had spent the the win. I said to him as year’s Tour de France, re-
whole day in the break- soon as I caught him that places Rohan Dennis in the
away. he could take the stage leader’s pink jersey and has
Thibaut Pinot was third on because if I had enough a 16-second advantage
the 164-kilometer (102-mile) time then I would take the over defending champion
route from Caltanissetta. jersey.” Colombia’s Esteban Chaves, left, celebrates as he crosses the Tom Dumoulin.
finish line ahead of Britain’s Simon Yates to win the sixth stage
The Groupama-FDJ rider Chaves had been out front of the Giro d’Italia cycling race, from Caltanissetta to Mt. Etna, Chaves is third overall,
led Chris Froome and most as part of a 28-man break- Thursday, May 10, 2018. 26 seconds behind the
of the other favorites over away for most of the day Associated Press 25-year-old Yates.q