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SPORTSFriday 28 August 2015
Tennis’ Djokovic Serena Williams could face
has new title _ UNICEF Sharapova in U.S. Open semifinal
goodwill ambassador U.S. Open final, are in the
other half of the draw.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In this March 7, 2014, file pho- U.S. Open tennis defending champion Serena Williams speaks On the men’s side, second-
Top-ranked tennis star No- to, Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during a press conference at the USTA Billie Jean King National seeded Roger Federer and
vak Djokovic has a new speaks during a news confer- Tennis Center in New York, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. No. 3 Andy Murray could
title — goodwill ambassa- ence at the BNP Paribas Open meet in one semifinal,
dor for the U.N. children’s tennis tournament in Indian Associated Press with No. 1 Novak Djokovic
agency, UNICEF. Wells, Calif. and No. 4 Kei Nishikori, last
The world No. 1 men’s play- RACHEL COHEN ing off her first WTA title in year’s runner-up, in the
er has worked on children’s Associated Press AP Sports Writer Washington this month. other.
issues for UNICEF in his na- NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Another up-and-coming Djokovic could face Ra-
tive Serbia since 2011. UNI- the sport’s all-time greatest Williams could face Maria U.S. player, 19th-seeded fael Nadal, who’s seeded
CEF has now appointed players. He is a favorite to Sharapova for her second Madison Keys, could await just eighth, in the quarter-
him a global goodwill am- win New York’s U.S. Open, straight major semifinal in the fourth round. finals. Nadal has a tough
bassador. which begins next week. as she seeks to complete And in the quarterfinals, first-round match against
UNICEF Deputy Executive “The early years of life are the Grand Slam at the U.S. one potential opponent is fast-rising 18-year-old Bor-
Director Yoka Brandt said crucial,” Djokovic said. Open. her sister, 23rd-seeded Ve- na Coric of Croatia, who
Wednesday Djokovic’s “When well nurtured and Thursday’s draw filled the nus Williams. Another possi- just missed out on a seed
new job recognized his cared for in their earliest top-ranked Williams’ quar- ble quarterfinal foe is 12th- with a ranking of 35th in the
work in Serbia to improve years, children are more ter of the bracket with seeded Swiss teen Belinda world and last year won
the lives, particularly of likely to survive, to grow in Americans, nine in all. Bencic, who recently upset their only head-to-head
marginalized children, and a healthy way ... and be- In the third round, Williams Williams in Toronto en route meeting.
to promote early child- come productive and suc- could face 29th-seeded to a breakthrough title. Murray has an intriguing
hood education. cessful citizens of society.” Sloane Stephens, who Williams is seeking to com- opening match with an-
“Novak Djokovic is a true Djokovic joins a VIP list of beat her in the 2013 Aus- plete the first Grand Slam other young player who
champion for children UNICEF goodwill ambassa- tralian Open and is com- since Steffi Graf in 1988. just missed out on a seed,
around the world,” she dors that has included en- She beat Sharapova in the 37th-ranked Nick Kyrgios.
said. “He has shown that a tertainers Danny Kaye, Au- semifinals of Wimbledon The 20-year-old Australian
powerful voice and pow- drey Hepburn, Katy Perry, for her 17th straight victo- comes into the U.S. Open
erful actions can make Sir Roger Moore and Shaki- ry over the Russian on the with controversy swirling
a difference for children, ra, soccer star David Beck- way to her second “Serena around him, facing a provi-
especially when they are ham and women’s tennis Slam” — four major cham- sional suspension from the
very young.” star Serena Williams. q pionships in a row, but just ATP for comments made to
Djokovic grew up in Serbia not in the same year. Stan Wawrinka in Montreal.
during the Balkan wars and Second-seeded Simona During their match Aug. 12,
became a top tennis play- Halep and fourth-seeded a courtside microphone
er there. He has gone on Caroline Wozniacki, who picked up Kyrgios saying
to win nine tennis majors lost to Williams in last year’s that fellow Australian Tha-
and is considered one of nasi Kokkinakis had slept
with a player who report-
edly is now Wawrinka’s girl-
friend.
Kyrgios has given Murray
little trouble on the court,
losing in straight sets in
this year’s Australian and
French Opens.
Nishikori could face de-
fending champ Marin Cilic,
who’s seeded ninth, in the
quarters in a rematch of
last year’s final.q
