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SPORTS A19
Thursday 10 December 2015

Skier Fenninger eyes WCup return at start of 2016-17 season

In this March 2015 photo, Anna Fenninger of Austria competes during the first run of an alpine the season-opening giant Initially “in shock” when
slalom in Soelden. doctors informed her on
ski, women’s World Cup giant slalom race, at the World Cup finals in Meribel, France. Two-time “My recovery goes ac- the extent of her injury,
cording to plan,” Fenninger Fenninger said she tried
overall champion Fenninger says Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, she is recovering well from knee said on Wednesday, add- to look forward as soon as
ing she had been walking possible.
surgery and aims to return to the World Cup for the first race of the 2016-17 season. without crutches for one “Every day is like strength
week. “Today was the first training. I’ve lost a lot of
17 season after a year-long (AP Photo/Shinichiro Tanaka) time I woke up and forgot muscle mass and need to
that I am injured. The next build it up again,” she said
couple of months will be at a sponsor event. “To
very tough but I will keep be able to walk without
on fighting. Soelden 2016 is crutches has been the big-
my goal.” gest moment during my re-
The Olympic super-G covery so far.”
champion had surgery on The 26-year-old Fenninger
the medial collateral and won the overall title the
the cruciate ligament as past two seasons, and
well as the patellar ten- earned gold in super-G
don. Austrian team doctor and giant slalom at the
Christian Hoser said after world championships in
the operation seven weeks Beaver Creek this year. She
ago that Fenninger would has won eight medals in to-
need nine to 12 months of tal at Olympics and world
recovery before getting championships, and has
back on skis. won 14 World Cup races.q

ERIC WILLEMSEN

Associated Press injury layoff.

VIENNA (AP) — Two-time The Austrian skier was ruled

overall champion Anna out for up to 12 months

Fenninger is expecting to after damaging her right

return to World Cup skiing knee in a training crash on

for the first race of the 2016- Oct. 21, three days before

AP: Federer, Edberg coaching
deal ends, Ivan Ljubicic hired

The Associated Press extend the partnership
Roger Federer says his through this year, which
coaching relationship with I really appreciated. He
his “childhood idol” Stefan taught me so much and his
Edberg has ended, and influence on my game will
the six-time Grand Slam remain.”
singles champion will not Edberg said he knew 2015
travel with him next year. would be his last as Feder-
In a statement to the ATP er’s coach.
website, Edberg said: “After an amazing 2014,
“Roger and I had a won- I decided to continue on
derful two years together for another year, but with a
... it became very clear clear understanding that it
from the start that this was would be my last year giv-
going to be a special part- en the time commitment,”
nership, working with the Edberg said in his state-
greatest ambassador ten- ment to the ATP.
nis has ever seen.” “Roger still has a lot left to
Severin Luthi will remain Fe- give to the sport of tennis
derer’s head coach, and and is capable of winning
joining the Swiss star in 2016 the big events. Roger and
will be Croatian Ivan Ljubi- I will remain close friends
cic. and I will always feel part of
“After 2 very successful the Federer team. I hope to
years, I would like to thank try and come watch Roger
Stefan Edberg, my child- play some tournaments in
hood idol, for agreeing 2016.”
to join my team,” Federer Federer will make his 2016
said on Facebook and on debut at the Brisbane In-
his personal website. “It ternational, which begins
was a dream come true. Jan. 3. Federer reached
Although it was supposed 1,000 career match wins in
to only be for 2014, Stefan Brisbane last year en route
was great and agreed to to the title.q