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SPORTS Saturday 7 OctOber 2017
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Top-ranked Rafael Nadal advances

to China Open semifinals

By SANDRA HARWITT did the things that I want to Nadal saved all three
Associated Press do, and I did it well, so very break points he faced
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal happy.” against Isner. He will next
moved into the semifinals On the women’s side, un- play third-seeded Grigor
of the China Open by seeded Carolina Garcia of Dimitrov, who defeated
beating sixth-seeded John France upset third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6
Isner 6-4, 7-6 (0) on Friday. Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-2.
The French Open and U.S. (5), 7-5, 7-6 (6) in almost 3 Dimitrov spent time practic-
Open champion has won 1/2 hours to line up Petra ing with Nadal in Mallorca
five titles this season and is Kvitova in the semifinals. Si- ahead of the hard-court
closing in on the year-end mona Halep, on course to season. The two also went
No. 1 ranking. becoming the No. 1 player fishing at sea.“We catch a Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating John Isner of
“I don’t remember a lot of in the world for the first time, few ones (fish), but not very the United States during a men’s singles quarterfinal match of
mistakes,” Nadal said. “I faces French Open cham- big,” Nadal said. “But we the China Open tennis tournament held at the Diamond Court in
Beijing, China, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
went to the net very often. I pion Jelena Ostapenko. had some good dinner.” q Associated Press

Defending champ Steele, Duncan, Hoge share Safeway Open lead

By JAMES RAIA only other PGA Tour event
Associated Press was the 2015 U.S. Open.
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Bren- “There are a lot of sections
dan Steele opened his in the greens that you’ve
Safeway Open title de- got to hit into and to hit it
fense Thursday with a 7-un- into those sections from the
der 65 for a share of the rough is pretty challeng-
lead with Tyler Duncan and ing.”
Tom Hoge in the PGA Tour’s Hoge, beginning his fourth
season opener. PGA Tour season, had sev-
Lucas Glover, Chez Reavie, en birdies.
Emiliano Grillo and Jamie He had a back-nine 30 with
Lovemark were two shots six birdies.
back at 67. “I played really well the
Steele had an eagle, six whole day,” said Hoge,
birdies and a bogey. Last whose PGA Tour career
year at Silverado, he bird- best is a tie for fourth in
ied the final three holes to August at the Barracuda
overcome a four-shot defi- Open.
cit and beat Patton Kizzire “I was in a lot of fairways,
by a stroke for his second on a lot of greens and the
PGA Tour title. made a few putts.”
“A little bit of everything Steele didn’t miss a green
worked for me today,” in regulation.
Steele said. “The greens are not holding Brendan Steele follows his shot from the second tee of the Silverado Resort North Course during
“I had a really good ball- very well, you have to be in the first round of the Safeway Open PGA golf tournament Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, in Napa, Calif.
striking day. I don’t think I the fairway,” Steele said. Associated Press
missed a green, so that re- “I think this is the way that It’s right out in front of you. had five birdies and two
ally helps. And then I had a it’s meant to be played. It There are a couple of tee bogeys.Sang-moon Bae,
good putting day as well, plays really nicely this way.” shots and a couple of ap- the 2014 tournament win-
so you put that together Zach Johnson, the 12-time proaches where you have ner, shot 73. He’s playing in
and it’s going to be pretty PGA Tour winner playing to pay attention. It’s a very his first tournament since a
good. the event for the first time, classic golf course.”Phil mandatory 21-month mili-
Duncan, making his first had a 68 with five birdies Mickelson, the 42-time PGA tary stint in South Korea.
start as a PGA Tour mem- and a bogey. Tour winner beginning his John Daly, the two-time
ber, also had six birdies, an “I love it. I liked to the mo- 27th PGA Tour season, bird- major winner who won the
eagle and a bogey. ment I stepped foot on it,” ied the 18th from 7 feet for a PGA Tour Champions’ In-
“I thought the course would said Johnson, whose last 69. The 47-year-old Mickel- sperity Invitational in May,
fit my game because hit- title was the 2015 British son, playing in his 91st PGA had a 74. Daly has missed
ting the fairways is impor- Open. “You can’t fake it Tour event since his last title the cut in 12 straight PGA
tant,” said Duncan, whose around here. at the 2013 British Open, Tour events.q