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sports Diahuebs 16 Juni 2022

Pliskova edges Andreescu to reach Berlin Open quarterfinals

(AP) — Karolina Pliskova qualifier Wang Xinyu for a
edged Bianca Andreescu place in the quarterfinals.
6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7) at the Ber-
lin Open on Wednesday to Daria Kasatkina rallied to beat
reach her second quarter- Russian compatriot Ekaterina
final of the year. Alexandrova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 for
her quarterfinal place. The
The fourth-seeded Pliskova, sixth-seeded Kasatkina next
who hit 17 aces against Kaia faces the second-seeded Ma-
Kanepi in the first round, ria Sakkari, who defeated
added 12 more against An- Daria Saville 6-1, 7-5 for her
dreescu, though she had to sixth quarterfinal of the sea-
fight back from a break down son.
in the third set before prevail- Kasatkina has won all four of
ing in 2 hours, 11 minutes at their previous matches but
the grass-court tournament. this will be their first meeting
on grass.
The 30-year-old Pliskova is
bidding for her first title of Also, Belarusian player Aliak-
the year. She was the runner- sandra Sasnovich ended
up at Wimbledon a year ago. home favorite Andrea Pet-
The seventh-seeded Coco kovic's participation with a
Gauff got off to a winning 6-4, 6-4 win. Petkovic upset
start with a 6-2, 7-6 (2) first- American Ann Li. Gauff hit five aces and con- point opportunities. She next Garbiñe Muguruza on Tues-
round victory over fellow verted five of her 10 break faces 20-year-old Chinese day.

Blatter, Platini face 20-month suspended jail sentences

(AP) — Prosecutors in the criminal proceedings against and lesser charges relating to rity taxes in Zurich. FIFA asked Zurich prosecu-
fraud trial of former FIFA him in a separate complaint a FIFA-approved $2 million tors to look at the $140 mil-
president Sepp Blatter filed by soccer's world body payment to the France great Both have long denied lion renovation of a down-
and vice president Michel in 2020. in 2011. At the time, Platini wrongdoing and claim they town Zurich building for a
Platini asked Wednes- was UEFA president, a FIFA had a verbal deal in 1998 museum long seen as a pet
day for both men to get Blatter and his longtime vice president and was ex- for Platini to get extra sal- project of Blatter that opened
20-month suspended pris- right-hand man, former FIFA pected to succeed Blatter, ary that FIFA could not pay in 2016. The loss-making
on sentences. secretary general Jérôme likely in 2015. at the time. Platini signed a museum is tied to a longterm
Valcke, are now formal sus- Platini said in a statement contract in August 1999 to FIFA rental of apartments
Blatter and Platini, a former pects in an investigation of published after the court ses- be paid 300,000 Swiss francs and offices on the site owned
France national team captain alleged mismanagement re- sion that he was "serene and ($300,000) annually. by insurance firm Swiss Life.
who was president of Euro- lating to the FIFA World confident." Lawyers for Blatter said 18
pean governing body UEFA, Football Museum project in "The indictment of the pros- Their defense previously months ago the museum al-
faced sentences of up to five central Zurich. The new de- ecutor today is devoid of any failed at the FIFA ethics com- legations are "baseless and are
years for financial wrongdo- tails were first reported by a basis," Platini said. "The de- mittee, which banned them vehemently denied."
ing but actual jail time was Swiss financial news website. bates of the trial proved that from soccer and removed
considered to be unlikely this criminal procedure had them from office, the FIFA Federal prosecutors includ-
ahead of their 11-day trial. Earlier Wednesday at the no reason to exist." appeals committee, and ing Hildbrand are also in-
Verdicts are expected on July Swiss federal criminal court later in separate appeals at vestigating a FIFA loan of
8. in Bellinzona, prosecu- The prosecution argued the Court of Arbitration for $1 million in 2010 to the
tor Thomas Hildbrand also there was no legal or con- Sport. Trinidad and Tobago soc-
The 86-year-old Blatter's asked the three judges for tractual basis for FIFA to pay cer federation. The suspects
legal jeopardy increased Platini to pay FIFA more than Platini's invoice for working Blatter has said FIFA ac- are Blatter, Valcke and for-
Wednesday when prosecu- 2.2 million Swiss francs ($2.2 as a presidential adviser in counted for the money prop- mer FIFA finance director
tors in FIFA's home city Zu- million) in compensation. Blatter's first term between erly, and Platini has claimed Markus Kattner, who testi-
rich confirmed to The Asso- 1998 and 2002. FIFA also the allegation came to light in fied in court Tuesday about
ciated Press they had opened Blatter and Platini deny fraud paid $229,000 of social secu- September 2015 to block him the Platini payment.
from campaigning to be FIFA
president. The loan was later waived
and effectively gifted soccer
In June 2015, Blatter an- money to Jack Warner, then
nounced his plan to resign a FIFA vice president, weeks
early as president in fallout before he was a candidate in
from a sprawling American the Caribbean islands' gen-
corruption investigation. A eral election. Warner then be-
separate but cooperating case came a government minister.
by Swiss prosecutors led to
the Platini payment being in- Valcke is also awaiting a fed-
vestigated. eral appeals court verdict in
Blatter and Platini testified Bellinzona after a retrial in
last week and both are ex- March on charges linked to
pected to make closing state- use of a Qatari-owned villa
ments at the end of the trial in Sardinia and World Cup
on June 22. broadcast rights. The three
Two federal criminal pro- defendants include soc-
ceedings and one at canton cer and broadcast executive
(state) level are now ongo- Nasser al-Khelaïfi, the presi-
ing against Blatter and also dent of French champion
Valcke. Paris Saint-Germain.