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SPORTS Diasabra 21 November 2020

Rublev beats already-qualified Thiem at ATP Finals

(AP) — The lights went the intensity alive.” in a breakthrough season. “I semis. I wish him good luck is and he deserves to win the
out unexpectedly at the think he (was) focused on the — he deserves to be where he title.”
O2 Arena, causing the Thiem said the loss to Rublev
start of the match be- was “not painful at all.”
tween Dominic Thiem “I'm focused on Saturday
and Andrey Rublev at the now,” he said.
ATP Finals to be delayed Tsitsipas and Nadal will meet
Thursday. later Thursday to decide who
advances along with Thiem.
The already-qualified Thiem
was short of energy, too, Rublev played like some-
when play eventually began. one with nothing to lose,
overwhelming Thiem with
The U.S. Open champion his serve and fierce ground-
lost to Rublev 6-2, 7-5 in a strokes to take the Austrian’s
contest that had little real first two service games and
consequence for either play- clinch the first set in less than
er, with Thiem assured of be- 26 minutes. He dropped only
ing the winner of the group three points on serve and had
after previous victories over no unforced errors in that set.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael The second set was much
Nadal and his Russian oppo- closer, though Rublev was on
nent unable to qualify for the top and serving at 4-3 when
semifinals after back-to-back he lost eight straight points to
losses. get back on serve.

“It was difficult to keep that Rublev regrouped, broke
amazing intensity like I had Thiem after a long next game
in the first two matches,” featuring some intense ral-
Thiem said. "I wanted to win lies, then served out the
the match, 100%, but the match for his first win in his
first two matches were pretty debut at the season-ending
tough, pretty long. tournament.
“So with the fact I was already “It was not easy for Dommy,”
qualified, in the back on my said Rublev, who has won five
mind it was difficult to keep events on the tour this year

Italy's national team smiling again under Roberto Mancini

(AP) — Almost exactly from the excited players. when the Napoli winger time as coach he has com-
three years after Italian Contrast that with the scenes “In two years they have done inexplicably played only 15 bined being able to get the
soccer’s darkest moment, in 2017 when the players really great work and they minutes of the two-leg play- best out of the already-es-
the country's national slumped to the ground in have been fantastic.” off, and out of position. tablished players and bring-
team is full of smiles again. disbelief after losing to Swe- Mancini has turned things ing through youngsters who
den in the playoffs and failing around by focusing on tactics The 29-year-old Insigne was have rejuvenated the squad
The Italy players yelped in to qualify for the World Cup. and style of play. Italy’s free- one of Italy’s best players with fresh energy and enthu-
delight as they celebrated in Gian Piero Ventura was fired flowing system is in contrast against Bosnia and was un- siasm.
Sarajevo after securing a spot as coach after that match and to the soccer the team played fortunate not to cap a stellar
in the final four of the Na- Mancini replaced him a few during Ventura’s tenure and performance with a goal fol- That means Mancini will
tions League, despite coach months later. even had one commentator lowing a fantastic first touch have a deep pool to choose
Robert Mancini self-isolating on Wednesday enthusiastical- and finish which skimmed from for the three tour-
in Rome after testing positive “I can only thank all the lads ly exclaiming “it’s like watch- the outside of the post. naments coming up in an
for the coronavirus. and the staff,” Mancini said ing Brazil.” 18-month period.
in a television interview via “The coach wants us to play
A member of his staff held webcam after the match. “Since we rarely see each our soccer wherever we go The Nations League Final
up a phone and, via video “The guys that were there other, we only work on tac- and that is the mentality Four will take place in Italy
chat, Mancini congratulated today and also the guys that tics and technique when we’ve really embraced. He’s in October, with the match-
the players for the 2-0 win weren’t, that like me had to we train and not on fitness helping us grow,” Insigne es likely being held in Mi-
in Bosnia-Herzegovina. That stay at home, that contribut- because they arrive already said. “Here in the national lan and Turin. And that will
was met by raucous cheers ed to arrive at this point. having done that with their team, all the staff are putting come shortly after the rear-
clubs,” Mancini said. us in the right condition for ranged European Champi-
“It’s going well but they are us each to get the best out onship and a year before the
the ones to congratulate for of ourselves. We’re commit- 2022 World Cup.
that because it’s not easy. ted to that because we want
We’re trying to focus on that to take Italy back to the top “In the last four-five months
but we mustn’t forget that where it deserves to be.” several more young players
Italy won four World Cups Italy’s performance against have come through and they
playing in a different way. Bosnia — and against Poland are proving themselves to be
But soccer has changed now.” and Estonia last week — was great players,” Mancini said.
all the more impressive given “That’s good thinking about
His players feel he is being the problems it has had over the World Cup, but choosing
too modest, especially since the past week. More than 20 the group for the Euros will
he is getting the best out of players from the initial squad be a big problem.
several who failed to shine were unavailable because of “It was already hard enough
under Ventura. Lorenzo In- the virus and injury. before ... But it’s better to
signe became one of the ex- have that problem than not
amples of Ventura’s failings But throughout Mancini’s to have it.”