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SPORTS Tuesday 6 OcTOber 2020
Emotions flood back for Kvitova, No 1 Djokovic rolls on

By JEROME PUGMIRE Rogers.
PARIS (AP) — Petra Kvitova "That match was really
stood wide-eyed and per- tough. Even I play great, I
fectly still, scarcely believ- mean, I didn't just make it,"
ing she was through to her she said. "It happen to me
first French Open quarterfi- after such a long time that
nal in eight years after win- I didn't win the match from
ning against Zhang Shuai the match point. Especially
6-2, 6-4 on Monday. in a Grand Slam, right? It
When the chair umpire was really painful."
climbed down and point- Kvitova's two Grand Slam ti-
ed to the mark confirming tles were won on the green
her two-handed backhand grass of Wimbledon in 2011
landed just in, she released and '14.
her emotions. The seventh- Since making the semifinals
seeded Czech player here eight years ago, her
looked up in the air, then best result at the French
blew kisses and waved to Open was only the fourth
the small crowd gathered round in 2015.
on Court Philippe Chatrier, "It's been a miracle for me
the tournament's main sta- to make the semifinal here,"
dium. Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates winning her fourth round match of the French she said. "I'm really happy
"Yeah, I got a bit emo- Open tennis tournament against China's Zhang Shuai in two sets 6-2, 6-4, at the Roland Garros for that, that I'm still able to
tional last two points of my stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. play on all surfaces."
match," she said. "My mem- Associated Press Her next opponent, Laura
ories, happy memories. Siegemund, had never
When I made my come- ros by beating 15th-seeded think we were equal on the left hand. previously been beyond
back here in 2017, when I Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3, points." "It's been a long ride defi- the French Open second
step on the Philippe Chatri- 6-3, with the roof shut on The top-ranked Serb next nitely. Everything came round and never beyond
er, I couldn't really imagine Chatrier to keep out the plays No. 17 seed Pablo to my mind," she said. "My the third round at any ma-
me to be in the quarterfinal persistent rain. Carreño Busta or qualifier whole family, people who jor tournament.
of this slam. Everything just The 17-time Grand Slam Daniel Altmaier. I loved to help me through In other men's action, No.
came back to me." champion has not dropped Earlier, Kvitova spoke the tough, tough time. Ev- 5-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas
Reaching the last eight a set so far, but his face about her emotional reac- erything came back." and No. 13 Andrey Rublev
was less poignant for No- looked flushed after some tion. Roland Garros was Then there were some reached the last eight here
vak Djokovic, considering heavy exchanges with- where the two-time Grand match-point nerves to deal for the first time.
he has done so every year standing the Russian slug- Slam champion made her with against Zhang. Tsitsipas won against No.
since 2010. ger's huge forehand. comeback three years ago At the U.S. Open last 18-seeded Grigor Dimitrov
He made sure of an 11th "It was more difficult than after she was attacked by month, at the same stage 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-2, and Rublev
straight French quarterfinal maybe the result shows," a knife-wielding robber in of the competition, Kvitova beat unseeded Marton
and extended his Open- Djokovic said. "The result her Czech home and suf- wasted four match points Fucsovics 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4,
era record at Roland Gar- is three sets to love, but I fered serious injuries to her in a loss to American Shelby 7-6 (3).q

Thomas dropped as Nibali moves up in volcanic Giro stage

ETNA, Sicily (AP) — Geraint With rain coming harder than four hours to com-
Thomas and Simon Yates and harder as the rid- plete the 150-kilometer (93-
were the big losers and ers climbed the barren, mile) route from Enna.
Sicilian rider Vincenzo Ni- black lava-laced slopes of Giovanni Visconti crossed
bali was among those who Etna, Yates — another pre- second, 21 seconds be-
gained precious time on race favorite — was also hind, and Harm Vanhoucke
his home roads in the wild, dropped. was third, 30 seconds be-
rainy and windy third stage Ineos sports director Mat- hind.
of the Giro d'Italia on Mon- teo Tosatto said Thomas "From this morning we had
day. went down after getting a decided that I would try to
Ecuador champion Jona- water bottle caught in his attack and go in the break-
than Caicedo won the front wheel. away," Caicedo said. "We
stage which finished up "Initially, he had some pain did it, we took a good lead
Mount Etna, after taking but as the stage continued on the peloton and then on
part in an early breakaway, he felt better," Tosatto said. the Etna climb I managed
and Portuguese rider João "However, towards the end to drop Visconti.
Almeida grabbed the pink in the final 45 kilometers Almeida and Caicedo Ecuador's Jonathan Caicedo celebrates after winning the third
stage of the Giro d'Italia, tour of Italy cycling race from Enna to
jersey. the pace increased and have the same exact over- Etna, Sicily, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020.
Thomas, the 2018 Tour de the climbs got steeper, he all time, with Spanish rider Associated Press
France champion who was had some pain, and had to Pello Bilbao moving up to
a big pre-race favorite, finish the stage at his own third overall, 37 seconds trial. and stay with the main fa-
crashed before the stage pace. Now we'll check him behind. "Cannot describe this feel- vorites for the GC."
began and then dropped over and get a verdict from Almeida, who rides for the ing," said Almeida, who fin- Nibali, who crossed seventh
behind before the climb our medical staff." Deceuninck-Quick-Step ished 11th in the stage, 1:03 in a small group of over-
and was left out of conten- Caicedo, who rides for the team, finished second in behind Caicedo. "I tried to all favorites, moved up to
tion. EF team, required more the opening stage time do my best on the climb sixth, 55 seconds behind.q