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Saturday 28 May 2022

Rafa vs. Uncle Toni: Nadal to meet Auger-Aliassime in Paris

By HOWARD FENDRICH men in the Open era, and
AP Tennis Writer No. 59 might come next
PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal week.
knew this was bound to Asked earlier in the tourna-
happen. So, too, did his ment about that “pretty
uncle, Toni Nadal, who good lefty in your quar-
coached Rafael to most ter of the draw,” Djokovic
of the nephew’s men’s-re- played dumb and joked:
cord 21 Grand Slam titles. “I don’t know who you are
Also well aware this mo- talking about.”
ment would come, of Also on their half of the
course, was Felix Auger-Ali- bracket: No. 6 Carlos Al-
assime, the promising play- caraz, a 19-year-old who
er who brought aboard the leads the tour with four
man known to many simply titles in 2022 and became,
as Uncle Toni for some extra at the Madrid Open this
assistance last year. month, the only player in
Once Toni and Rafael end- history to beat both Djokov-
ed their professional part- ic and Nadal at the same
nership, and once Auger- clay-court event.
Aliassime hired Toni to work Alcaraz was facing
in tandem with full-time 21-year-old American Se-
coach Frederic Fontang, bastian Korda on Friday
they all figured that some- Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp during their third night in Court Philippe Cha-
round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Friday, May 27,
where, sometime, their 2022 in Paris. trier, with the winner to play
paths would cross. Now Associated Press No. 10 Cameron Norrie or
it’ll happen in the French No. 21 Karen Khachanov in
Open’s fourth round: Nadal He’s my uncle. I don’t think he expected Uncle Toni to “But nobody Toni, Fred or the fourth round. Another
vs. Auger-Aliassime. Which he will be able to want me sit in a neutral spot in the me has the answers,” he Sunday match will be No.
in some ways is also a to lose, without a doubt, stands, rather than being said. 3 Alexander Zverev vs. Ber-
matchup of Nadal vs. Nad- but he’s a professional and forced to choose between On the horizon is the pros- nabe Zapata Miralles, a
al. he’s with another play- one player’s guest box or pect that if Nadal wins, he qualifier who edged No. 23
So, the 13-time cham- er,” said the fifth-seeded the other. could find yet another fa- John Isner of the U.S. in five
pion at Roland Garros Nadal, who has dealt with As for what sort of insights miliar face in the stadium sets.
was asked, might there chronic foot pain and a rib Toni might reveal about for the quarterfinals: de- Three American women
be some awkwardness injury this season but also his former player to his cur- fending champion Novak reached the fourth round:
there? Probably no way won the Australian Open in rent one, Auger-Aliassime Djokovic. 18-year-old Coco Gauff,
you’ll be chatting with your January. smiled. Both the top-seeded 20-year-old Amanda Anisi-
uncle ahead of Sunday’s “It’s not a story at all for Not too many unknowns Djokovic, who beat Aljaz mova and 2017 U.S. Open
meeting against the ninth- me. I know what the feel- about Rafael at this point, Bedene 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 on Fri- champion Sloane Ste-
seeded Auger-Aliassime, a ings are that we have be- not at age 35, not after so day and now takes on 15th- phens.
21-year-old from Canada, tween each other. I know many years on tour. seeded Diego Schwartz- Gauff, the youngest player
right? he wants the best for me. “I know him. I’ve seen him man, and Nadal have won left in the field, was a 6-3,
Nadal shook his head and Now he’s helping another play. I know what he does all nine sets they’ve played 6-4 winner against the old-
said he already had spo- player,” he said. “But hon- well. We all know,” said Au- on the red clay of Paris so est, Kaia Kanepi of Estonia,
ken to Toni straight after estly, for me, it’s zero prob- ger-Aliassime, a 2021 U.S. far. And both have ceded who at 36 is twice her age.
beating 26th-seeded Botic lem.” Open semifinalist who ad- just 23 games total. Kanepi won the French
Van De Zandschulp 6-3, Auger-Aliassime, mean- vanced Friday by defeat- They have played each Open junior title in 2001 —
6-2, 6-4 on Friday. while, resolved one little ing Filip Krajinovic 7-6 (3), other 58 times already, three years before Gauff
“For me, it’s very simple. bit of intrigue, saying that 7-6 (2), 7-5. more than any two other was born.q

Dodgers to retire Gil Hodges’

No. 14 in June

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gil He joins Walter Alston, Roy During his 16 years with
Hodges, who helped the Campanella, Don Drys- the Dodgers in Brooklyn
Dodgers win World Series dale, Jim Gilliam, Sandy and Los Angeles, Hodges
titles in Brooklyn and Los Koufax, Tommy Lasorda, helped the team win World
Angeles, will have his No. Jackie Robinson, Duke Series titles in 1955 and ‘59.
14 jersey retired. Snider, Don Sutton and Pee He was an eight-time All-
The pregame ceremony Wee Reese among Dodg- Star. From 1949-55, he
will take place on June ers players and managers drove in over 100 runs per
4, when the New York to have their numbers re- season.
Mets visit Dodger Stadium. tired in left field. Hodges died in 1972 at age
Hodges played his final two Hodges will be inducted 47, when he was manag-
New York Mets’ Gil Hodges smiles in March 1963. Gil Hodges, seasons with the Mets in into the Baseball Hall of ing the Mets.
who helped the Dodgers win World Series titles in Brooklyn and 1962 and ‘63. His 96-year- Fame on July 24. He guided the team to the
Los Angeles, will have his No. 14 jersey retired. old widow, Joan, still lives in He was voted in by the vet- 1969 World Series title.q
Associated Press Brooklyn. erans committee.