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SPORTS Thursday 9 November 2017

Stephens provides boost for U.S. in Fed Cup

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — first time in 17 years, while China last week. the doubles points against played Aryna Sabalenka,
Sloane Stephens is back in Belarus is playing in the final Vandeweghe, in her first the Czech Republic in the Aliaksandra Sasnovich,
the United States team for for the first time. week at a career-high No. semifinals. Vera Lapko or Lidziya Ma-
the Fed Cup final, and Vic- Stephens hasn’t played in rozava.
toria Azarenka is missing for the Fed Cup since the 2016 “I feel like I’m coming in
Belarus. quarterfinals, but she said with wool over my eyes
That alone gives the early it’s been “no problem at a little bit,” Vandeweghe
advantage to the Ameri- all” slipping back onto the said.
cans. squad. Azarenka, a two-time Aus-
Stephens, who won the “Obviously, I’ve known tralian Open champion, is
U.S. Open this year for her these girls since I was 12-13 not playing in the final be-
first major title, missed the years old, so we’re all really cause of an ongoing cus-
opening two rounds of the good friends,” Stephens tody dispute with the father
international team com- said. “It’s easy to be with of her infant son.
petition because of a foot girls you like, girls you have If U.S. captain Kathy Rinal-
injury. fun with and girls you’ve di wins the title, she would
But she is back and will be been around for a really be the first female to do so
playing alongside CoCo long time.” since Billie Jean King led
Vandeweghe, Shelby Rog- Stephens didn’t play from the Americans to the last of
ers and Alison Riske in the the 2016 Olympics through their record 17 titles in 2000.
best-of-five series this week- Wimbledon in 2017 and un- Sloane Stephens, of the United States, smiles during a press “It would be a great honor
end in Minsk. derwent foot surgery dur- conference prior to the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final matches to be named as another fe-
“I’m happy to be back ing that period. She arrived between Belarus and USA, in Minsk, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. male (champion) captain
The matches will take place Nov. 11 - 12, 2017.
playing and happy the in Minsk after not winning Associated Press alongside Billie Jean,” said
team made the finals,” the any of the four matches Rinaldi, who is in her first
13th-ranked Stephens said she’s played since her sur- year as captain.
Wednesday. “It’s awesome prise U.S. Open victory. 10 ranking, won two Fed But the U.S. Open semifi- “I spoke to Billie Jean be-
I can be on this team.” She retired with a knee in- Cup singles points against nalist said she knows very fore I came over. She had
The United States is looking jury from her last match Germany in the quarterfi- little about this weekend’s some very inspiring words
to win the Fed Cup for the against Barbora Strycova in nals, and two singles and competition, having never for me.”q

Sock’s Surge “They were all, obviously,

goals of mine. They all
Continued from Page 17 Thiem, Grigor Dimitrov and mean a lot in their own
David Goffin. way,” Sock said. “For it all
“That’s hitting a bunch of That Sock is in London at to happen at the same
forehands, using his speed all, instead of already start- time is pretty special.”
and using his intangibles,” ing his offseason at home He gives some of the credit
Berger said. “His ability to in Kansas City, Kansas, is for this recent surge to a
come forward, his hands significant, regardless of mental adjustment helped
at the net, his ability to how he fares. along by Berger, who start-
use his touch, his ability to He grabbed that spot by ed working with Sock in
hit pretty dynamic shots in rising to a career-high No. July.
very uncomfortable and 9 in the rankings thanks to For a time, Sock said, he
difficult positions. And to his first Masters Series title, would experience “dips in
have fun. The No. 1 thing at Paris last week. That matches (or) get too de-
for us was also to have made him the first U.S. man fensive.” In this Nov. 5, 2017, file photo, Jack Sock reacts after he
fun out there. I told him, to win a tournament at the And now? defeated Filip Krajinovic, of Serbia, during the Paris Masters
‘We’re going to have a level right below the ma- “There’s a belief in my tennis tournament at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France.
good time, win or lose.’” jors since Andy Roddick in shots. I’m going to win Associated Press
In Wednesday’s draw for 2010. Sock is also the first or lose a match playing
the round-robin format, American to qualify for the on my terms, playing my “I saw an unbelievable Paris, sure, but also when
Sock was put in a group eight-player season-end- game, which is big and ag- amount of racket-head Sock teamed with Melanie
with Federer, 2014 U.S. ing finals since Mardy Fish gressive and trying to dic- speed. ... I really saw a lot Oudin to win the U.S. Open
Open champion Marin Cil- in 2011. And Sock will finish tate points,” he said. “Not of the same stuff that I see mixed doubles title as a
ic and Alexander Zverev. a season as the highest- shying away from that.” now,” Berger said. “And he teenager.
The other group has 15- ranked man from his coun- Berger recalled watching has an incredible ability to And when he won men’s
time Grand Slam title win- try for the first time. Sock play a match at age play well in big moments.” doubles at Wimbledon in
ner Rafael Nadal, Dominic All in one fell swoop. 17. That was on display in 2014.q