Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Friday 3 November 2017
A23
No. 1 Nadal remains

on track for first

Paris Masters title

By JEROME PUGMIRE ranking for the fourth time.
AP Sports Writer A maiden victory here
PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal would give him a record
remains on track for an elu- 31 Masters titles, one more
sive Paris Masters title after than Novak Djokovic.
beating Pablo Cuevas 6-3, In the late match, No. 3
6-7 (5), 6-3 to reach the Marin Cilic faced No. 14
quarterfinals on Thursday. Roberto Bautista Agut.
He has not reached the Earlier in the third round,
final since losing to David Juan Martin del Potro
Nalbandian in his first ap- moved closer to securing
pearance 10 years ago. the last spot for the finals
Nadal improved to 4-1 by beating Robin Haase
overall against Cuevas and 7-5, 6-4.
next plays Serbian qualifier Del Potro, who lost to Roger
Filip Krajinovic for the first Federer on Sunday in the
time. Swiss Indoors final, is in 10th
“He had a very success- place in the race to qualify Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns the ball to Robin Haase of the Netherlands during the
ful season, winning a lot of for the tournament. Only third round of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France, Thursday,
challengers, and now he’s the top eight players will Nov. 2, 2017.
playing well on the tour,” compete in London and Associated Press
Nadal said of Krajinovic. there is one place left, to
“When you’re winning a be taken in Paris.“I would Dominic Thiem went out in the fourth round of the ments.Verdasco next plays
early again, falling to Fer-
U.S. Open, the fifth-seeded Sock. Krajinovic advanced
lot of matches you’re in a love to reach London once
good dynamic.” again. It could be a fantas- nando Verdasco 6-4, 6-4. Austrian has won only two with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win
Since losing to Del Potro matches in five tourna-
against Nicolas Mahut.q
Cuevas competed well tic moment for me,” said
in spells against a nervy del Potro, who was way
Nadal, who was erratic on back in 47th place in the Kim Meen-Whee shoots 6-under 65 to
serve and made countless race before the U.S. Open.
unforced errors in a gritty “I’m excited to keep im- take lead in Las Vegas
contest. proving for this kind of sur-
One of the most glaring prise.” LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kim fans were really happy. ... only a few feet off and had
came at 5-5 in the second- Del Potro has a tough chal- Meen-Whee birdied two Yeah, it’s nice. I think I’m in a good look at the hole lo-
set tiebreaker, when Nadal lenge next, against big- of his final three holes for a really good position on cation, whatever it was. I
hit an easy forehand into serving American John Is- a 6-under 65 and a one- Thursday right here in Las was missing it on the right
the net to give Cuevas a ner.The ninth-seeded Isner, stroke lead Friday in the Vegas. I feel really comfort- side.”
set point. After a brief rally, last year’s runner-up to PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospi- able. Just happy. Billy Horschel was two
Nadal hit a backhand long Andy Murray, hit 25 aces as tals for Children Open. Huh birdied four of his last strokes back at 67 along
and Cuevas leveled the he beat sixth-seeded Grig- The 25-year-old South Kore- six holes and had only 24 with Bryson DeChambeau,
match. or Dimitrov of Bulgaria 7-6 an player birdied all three putts. Jason Kokrak, Daniel Sum-
Nadal had some strapping (10), 5-7, 7-6 (3). par-5 holes at TPC Summer- “Any time you putt un- merhays, Peter Malnati,
under his right knee be- Seventh-seeded David lin, Nos. 13 and 16 on his first der 30, I think it’s a good Kevin Chappell, Kelly Kraft,
fore the deciding set, then Goffin of Belgium was nine and No. 9 on his sec- round,” Huh said. “That’s Patrick Cantlay and Brett
raced into a 3-0 lead be- through to the finals in Lon- ond nine. the key that I was able to Stegmaier.
fore the jitters came back. don, despite a surprise loss “I had a really good put- shoot 5-under par today. Horschel is coming off a
“It’s not the moment to talk to unseeded Julien Benne- ting all day,” Kim said. Spaun rebounded from seven-week break.
much about the knee,” he teau 6-3, 6-3. The French- “Didn’t miss any putts. I consecutive bogeys to “I’ve worked really hard on
said. He also was elusive man reached the quarters think I didn’t do any stupid birdie three of the last four. my game,” Horschel said.
about whether it might of a Masters for the first mistakes all day. I think that “I feel like it’s more not try- “Todd Anderson and I have
prevent him from playing time since Shanghai in 2014 was key. The greens were ing to press so early on in a done some really good
in the season-ending ATP in his final tournament be- a little slower than what I tournament,” Spaun said. work. You’re always a little
Finals next week in London. fore retiring. expected like the last two “You feel like as a rookie apprehensive coming out
“Anything can happen Goffin will have waited years. But it was still fast and you’ve got to come out to your first event, and also
in one week and a half,” nervously on the result of firm.” guns blazing, and you’ve on top of the work, seeing
Nadal said. “But if nothing Frenchman Lucas Pouille’s John Huh was at 66 with got to tear it up right away. how is it going to translate
strange happens then I’m result against Jack Sock. J.J. Spaun, Ryan Blaum and Fortunately, today I kind of over from practicing. It’s
going to be there.” But Pouille’s 7-6 (6), 6-3 loss Alex Cejka. Jimmy Stanger did that, but I wasn’t forc- been really nice all week. Is
Nadal was not moving to the American sent him also was 5 under with three ing it. It was just kind of stay- it exactly where I want? No.
with his customary speed through, at Pouille’s ex- holes left when play was ing patient.” But it’s a lot better than it’s
around court in the third pense, making him the first suspended because of Blaum hit 17 of 18 greens in been for the last year and
set but held comfort- Belgian to qualify for the darkness. regulation. a half.”
ably enough for 5-2. He season finale. Kim was fourth two weeks “The iron play was solid,” Charley Hoffman opened
clinched victory on his first “I would have preferred ago in South Korea in the Blaum said. “I put a new his hometown event with
match point when Cuevas to have qualified by win- PGA Tour’s CJ Cup. driver in the bag this week a 68. He eagled the par-4
sent a return wide. ning and Lucas is a friend,” “It’s a nice start. I feel more and it was working well off 15th after driving to 6 feet.
Nadal is guaranteed to fin- Goffin said. “But I am still so comfortable,” Kim said. “I the tee. Even when I was “I was able to make the
ish the year with the top happy to have qualified.” played really good and my missing the fairway, I was putt,” Hoffman said. q