Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Wednesday 1 november 2017
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Van Niekerk out for months after

injuring knee in rugby game

By GERALD IMRAY South Africa and New Zea- The clinic in Colorado was
AP Sports Writer land. “No. 1 for knees,” manager
CAPE TOWN, South Africa He left the celebrity game van Zyl said.
(AP) — South African run- after falling but van Niekerk Van Zyl said he couldn’t
ner Wayde van Niekerk didn’t think he’d injured give an exact period for
was forced to put his hon- himself so seriously at the how long van Niekerk, who
eymoon on hold to have time, and it took him a is also a two-time world
surgery Tuesday in the Unit- couple of days before he champion, would be out
ed States on a serious right realized he needed scans, of action, but he would
knee injury he sustained his manager, Peet van Zyl definitely miss the Com- In this Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 file photo, South Africa’s Wayde
while playing in a celeb- said. monwealth Games in Gold van Niekerk celebrates after taking the silver medal in the Men’s
rity tag rugby game three Van Zyl confirmed the di- Coast, Australia, in April. 200m final during the World Athletics Championships in London.
weeks ago. agnosis to The Associated Van Zyl said they were ten- Associated Press
The Olympic champion Press and said van Niekerk tatively scheduling a re- Van Zyl said they held back the possibility that he could
and world-record holder in will have surgery at the turn for van Niekerk in July news of van Niekerk’s injury win major titles in the 100,
the 400 meters is expect- Steadman Clinic in Vail, or August but it would de- because of the athlete’s 200 and 400 meters after
ed to be out of action for Colorado, later Tuesday. pend on the surgery and wedding in South Africa on his silver in the 200 at the
around 6-9 months and will “This is sport and these things his rehabilitation. Sunday. He then flew to the worlds in August. He is the
miss the Commonwealth happen,” van Niekerk The 25-year-old van Niekerk U.S. on Monday. only athlete to run under 10
Games in Australia in April. said in a statement from will stay in Colorado for 2-3 Van Niekerk delivered per- seconds for the 100, under
Van Niekerk tore his ante- his management compa- weeks before heading to haps the most resounding 20 seconds in the 200, and
rior cruciate ligament and ny. “I trust that the team I Doha, Qatar, for his reha- performance of the 2016 under 44 seconds in the
meniscus cartilage when have around me, includ- bilitation. Rio de Janeiro Olympics 400.
he slipped and fell in the ing the medical profession- “I have faith that, God when he won gold and He was going to run the 100
rugby game at a stadium als, will make this process willing, I’ll be able to race broke Michael Johnson’s and 200 at the Common-
in Cape Town, South Africa as smooth as possible.”He again later next year,” he world record in the 400 in wealth Games. Although
on Oct. 7. He was appear- also tweeted: “Thanks to all said. “Full recovery is going a breathtaking wire-to-wire he called the injury “unfor-
ing in a tag game made up for the kind wishes! Sadly I to be crucial, so I’ll be pa- run from lane eight. John- tunate timing,” van Niekerk
of South African celebrities announce now that I’ll be tient, but I will work as hard son’s mark of 43.18 seconds does have a year with no
ahead of the international off the track for a while. Will as I can to get back on the had stood for 17 years. Olympics or world champi-
rugby match between be back stronger!” track as soon as possible.” Van Niekerk has also raised onships to recover.q
Fifth-seeded Thiem grinds past Gojowczyk at Paris Masters

By JEROME PUGMIRE fourth round of this year’s to reach London is over. Edmund, who had 10 aces, last achieved the feat in
AP Sports Writer U.S. Open. He next faces Overcoming an early break next faces 16th-seeded 2013, with Novak Djokovic
PARIS (AP) — Fifth-seeded either U.S. Open runner-up of serve, Mahut took the American Jack Sock. and Andy Murray holding
Dominic Thiem needed Kevin Anderson of South first set with a forehand win- There were also first-round the top ranking since then.
four match points to beat Africa or Spaniard Fernan- ner down the line, breaking wins for Pablo Cuevas, Del Potro, a runner-up
lucky loser Peter Gojowc- do Verdasco in the third Carreno Busta’s serve for Diego Schwartzman, Feli- to Roger Federer at the
zyk of Germany 6-4, 6-7 (3), round. the second time. ciano Lopez, Adrian Man- Swiss Indoors on Sunday,
6-4 in the second round of In Tuesday’s other second- The 35-year-old Frenchman narino, Borna Coric, Joao is in second-round action
the Paris Masters on Tues- round matches, Frenchman saved five break points but Sousa and Verdasco. against Sousa. The 13th-
day. Nicolas Mahut secured an secured a double break In Wednesday’s second- seeded Del Potro needs to
Having missed three upset 6-4, 6-1 win against on the Spaniard’s serve to round matches, Rafael win here to reach the Finals
chances to close out the eighth-seeded Pablo Car- move 4-0 up in the second Nadal can guarantee fin- in London next week.
match on his own serve, the reno Busta of Spain, and set.Querrey dropped his ishing the year as No. 1 for Federer skipped Paris to
Austrian finally won at close another surprise reverse usually reliable serve three the fourth time in his career stay fresh for London,
to midnight when Gojowc- saw No. 10 Sam Querrey of times against the 77th- if he beats Hyeon Chung of where he will aim to win his
zyk — serving to stay in the the United States losing 6-4, ranked Krajinovic, who next South Korea. The Spaniard eighth title of the year.q
match — whipped a fore- 6-4 to Serbian qualifier Filip meets Mahut.
hand that sailed just long. Krajinovic. In remaining first-round
Thiem, a two-time French The defeat dents Carreno play, Britain’s Kyle Edmund
Open semifinalist, has Busta’s chances of qualify- rallied from a set and 3-0
dropped in form consider- ing for the season-ending down and saved match
ably since losing to Argen- ATP Finals in London — he is point before beating Evg-
tine Juan Martin del Potro dependent on other results eny Donskoy of Russia 5-7,
in a five-set thriller in the here — while Querrey’s bid 7-6 (7), 6-3.