Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 sports
Monday 6 august 2018
Zverev beats de Minaur for 2nd consecutive Citi Open title

By HOWARD FENDRICH a dominant performance Minaur, whose body lan-
AP Tennis Writer on a steamy afternoon guage often told the tale
WASHINGTON (AP) — Al- with the temperature hit- of how things were going.
exander Zverev became ting 90 degrees. The sun With both at the net early in
the first man in nearly a de- was a contrast to all of the the second set, Zverev took
cade to win consecutive rain during the week that the point with a crisp vol-
titles at the Citi Open, over- jumbled the schedule and ley, and de Minaur rolled
powering Alex de Minaur led to Andy Murray’s with- his eyes. A couple of points
6-2, 6-4 in the hard-court drawal before what was later, de Minaur pushed a
tournament final Sunday. supposed to be a quarter- forehand long, dropped
Zverev hit six aces, topping final against de Minaur. He his head and screamed
130 mph, and never faced broke de Minaur’s serve in at himself. After a 125 mph
a break point en route to the opening game and ace flew past, de Minaur
his ninth career ATP title again to lead 4-0 after all nodded, as if to say: “Yep,
and third of 2018. of 15 minutes, while they that’s good.”
“You really deserved it,” would go on to play for Zverev was a lot less de-
de Minaur told Zverev dur- another full hour, the out- monstrative, although
ing the trophy ceremony. Alexander Zverev, of Germany, celebrates his win over Alex de come seemed rather clear when he struck a down-
“Played too good today.” Minaur, of Australia, in the men’s finals in the Citi Open tennis from that moment. the-line forehand pass-
He improved to 16-2 for tournament, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, in Washington. Zverev won 26 of 29 points ing shot to break for a 2-1
his career at Washington’s Associated Press when he put a first serve in, edge in the second set, he
tuneup for the U.S. Open. phies will be in your hands ray). De Minaur is 5-foot-11, and 37 of 48 serving points looked toward the spot in
Juan Martin del Potro won very soon,” Zverev told de ranked 72nd and yet to win in all. Of the 11 he lost, four his stands where the man
the event twice in a row in Minaur. a tour-level title of any sort. came via double-faults. He who taught him tennis and
2008-09. Even though Sunday’s final- “Sascha Zverev is the fu- finished the first set with a still coaches him — his fa-
Germany’s Zverev is 21, ists are close in age, Zverev ture of pro tennis,” said flourish, smacking a pair of ther, Alexander Sr. — was in
and Australia’s de Minaur is held quite an advantage in tournament co-founder aces at 123 mph and 114 a front-row seat and yelled,
19, making for the youngest size and experience. and chairman Donald Dell, mph. When de Minaur was “Let’s go now!” while shak-
final on the ATP World Tour He is 6-foot-6, ranked No. 3 using Zverev’s nickname. serving, meanwhile, Zverev ing his right fist.
since 20-year-old Rafael and one of only five active “He’s chasing Federer and generated 11 break points, Soon enough, the victory
Nadal beat 19-year-old players with at least three Nadal for the No. 1 spot.” converting three. was complete, the latest
Novak Djokovic at Indian Masters titles (the others Zverev — who beat his Zverev’s booming ground- step Zverev has taken in a
Wells, California, in 2007. are Nadal, Djokovic, Roger older brother, Mischa, in strokes were often too steady march toward the
“I’m sure these kind of tro- Federer and Andy Mur- the third round — put on much to handle for de top of his sport.q

Dutch win 8th Women’s World Cup field hockey title

LONDON (AP) — Ireland’s Graham Shaw’s Ireland
first Women’s World Cup began brightly but did not
field hockey final ended in manage a shot at goal
defeat as the Netherlands until the final quarter and
retained the title with an the Netherlands, which
emphatic 6-0 victory on lifted the trophy on home
Sunday. soil four years ago, soon
Ireland, the second-lowest showed its superiority.
ranked country in the tour- Welten put Alyson An-
nament, was unable to nan’s team ahead in
produce a fairy-tale end- the seventh minute, turn-
ing at Lee Valley Hockey ing to hit a powerful shot
Center. through a crowded circle
Goals from Lidewij Welten, and past Irish goalkeeper
Kelly Jonker, Kitty van Ayeisha McFerran at the
Male, Malou Pheninckx, near post.
Marloes Keetels and Caia Jonker found the bottom-
van Maasakker capped left corner to double the
a dominant performance lead in the 19th, while su-
from the Dutch as they perb blocks from Irish pair
won the competition for a Shirley McCay and Roisin The Netherlands team celebrate winning the Women’s Hockey World Cup Final match
record eighth time. Upton following penalty between the Netherlands and Ireland, at The Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, in London,
The Netherlands team corners prevented further Sunday Aug. 5, 2018.
hasn’t lost since the Olym- goals. Associated Press
pic final two years ago. The free-scoring Dutch, eighth of the competition by the world’s top-ranked Spain went 2-0 ahead in
This was Ireland’s first World who registered 29 goals in from close range and, team and powerless to 14 minutes with goals from
Cup since 2002, and its five matches to reach the moments later, Pheninckx stop Keetels tapping Maria Lopez and Berta
previous best result was final, put the result beyond was allowed too much home a fifth and Van Bonastre.
11th in 1994. Ranked 16th, doubt with two quick space to fire the ball high Maasakker adding anoth- Kathryn Slattery pulled
Ireland topped a group goals in the final stages of into the net. er from a penalty corner. one back for Australia
including Olympic cham- the second period. Shaw called for his players Earlier Sunday, Spain beat in the 40th before Alicia
pion England and was first Tournament top scorer to “be proud” at halftime Australia 3-1 in the bronze- Magaz extended Spain’s
into the quarterfinals. Van Male smashed in her but they were outclassed medal match. lead in the 51st.q