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SPORTS Tuesday 10 July 2018

Roger, Serena, Rafa bring best

to Wimbledon’s Centre Court

By HOWARD FENDRICH the first game of the sec- different thing is that it’s Fe-
AP Tennis Writer ond?’” derer in front of me, and
LONDON (AP) — They His mastery was only the be- he’s a really good oppo-
roared for Roger Federer ginning of things for those nent. It makes the job hard-
just for showing up, greet- who spent 120 pounds er,” Mannarino said. “This is
ing his arrival at Wimble- (about $160) to be at Cen- what is not easy to handle.”
don’s main stadium as if ter Court and were afford- He showed up wearing a
his mere presence were ed the rare treat of watch- plain white T-shirt, bereft
enough to justify the price ing three of the greatest to of any obvious sponsor’s
of admission. ever lift a tennis racket. logos, looking like some-
They clapped and yelled Federer was followed by one out for a casual hitting
when Federer’s drop vol- Serena Williams, she of the session in a public park. At
ley capped a 16-minute seven Wimbledon trophies least it appeared to be the
tour de force of a first set in among her 23 majors, who right size. What a difference
which he won 21 of the first was hardly challenged in a from a week ago, when Fe-
23 points. 6-2, 6-2 win against 120th- derer’s debut of new duds
They eventually sent him ranked qualifier Evgeniya after splitting from Nike
back to the locker room Rodina of Russia. And Wil- drew so many headlines.
with a standing ovation, liams was followed by Ra- It took Mannarino so much
acknowledging the talent fael Nadal — two titles at toil and trouble to win one
displayed by Federer dur- Wimbledon, 17 at all Slams game, saving four break
ing a 6-0, 7-5, 6-4 victory — who dispatched 93rd- points to hold to begin the
over 22nd-seeded Adrian ranked Jiri Vesely of the second set. He was able to
Mannarino of France in the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3, tread water until 5-all, when Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates defeating Karen Khachanov
fourth round Monday, yes, 6-4. Federer returned a 123 of Russia in their men’s singles match on the seventh day at the
but also his superiority over The only other Wimbledon mph serve, quickly gained Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday July 9,
the course of a career that champion left in either control of a baseline ex- 2018.
has produced eight Wim- bracket, Novak Djokovic, change, then hopped and Associated Press
bledon championships and beat 40th-ranked Karen screamed, “Come on!” champion Jelena Ostap- way of looking at it is: It’s an
20 Grand Slam titles, both Khachanov 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 on as a backhand flew long enko vs. Dominika Cibulko- opportunity to test myself
records for a man. No. 1 Court, then said he’d for the break. Federer also va, and No. 13 Julia Goerg- against a player of Roger’s
Federer, who has won 32 like to get as much time on broke, then held to end the es vs. No. 20 Kiki Bertens. caliber,” said Anderson,
consecutive sets at the Centre Court as Federer match. On Wednesday, Federer who is 0-4 against Federer.
tournament and held serve and Nadal do. “I think,” Federer said when will play No. 8 Kevin Ander- “These are the matches we
81 games in a row, was Was Mannarino intimidat- it was over, “I can be very son, a South African who work so hard for, me and
asked whether he paused ed by playing in that hal- pleased.” was the 2017 U.S. Open run- my whole team.”
for even a moment to won- lowed arena? The women’s quarterfinals ner-up and advanced with The other matchup on the
der why he wasn’t being “The fact that it is the Cen- are Tuesday, with Williams a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 5-7, 7-6 (4) top half of the draw is No.
given more of a test. tre Court, and the fact that vs. Camila Giorgi, two-time victory over Gael Monfils. 9 John Isner against No. 13
“Not really,” said Federer, it is a lot of people in the major champion Angelique “I mean, I’m definitely go- Milos Raonic, who beat Fe-
the No. 1 seed. “I’m telling stands — it’s not changing Kerber vs. No. 14 Daria Ka- ing to have to look at it the derer in the 2016 semifinals
myself, ‘Why didn’t I break anything, actually. The only satkina, 2017 French Open right way. I think the right before losing in the final.q

Wimbledon glance: Serena Williams excited for quarters

LONDON (AP) — A quick may have remained from Goerges and 20th-seed-
look at Wimbledon: her absence, With the top ed Kiki Bertens have both
LOOKAHEAD TO TUESDAY 10 women having all been reached this stage at the
Serena Williams is excit- eliminated, No. 11 Angela All England Club for the
ed to face an opponent Kerber is the highest-seed- first time. The only fourth-
whose game she’s famil- ed player left in the tour- round match that wasn’t
iar with in the Wimble- nament. completed on Monday —
don quarterfinals. Seven- She faces 14th-seeded fifth-seeded Juan Martin
time champion Williams Daria Kasatkina, just two del Potro against French-
has won all three of her weeks after beating the man Gilles Simon — will
meetings with first-time Russian in a third-set tie- also be played to a finish.
Grand Slam quarterfinal- breaker on the grass Del Potro led 7-6 (1), 7-6
ist Camila Giorgi, with the courts of Eastbourne, ty- (5), 5-7 when play was sus-
most recent coming in ing their head-to-head re- pended because of dark- Italy’s Camila Giorgi returns the ball to Russia’s Ekaterina
the first round of the 2016 cord at 3-3. The other last- ness. Makarova during their women’s singles match, on day seven
Australian Open. Despite eight matches have 2017 STAT OF THE DAY of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Monday
the two-year gap since French Open champion 1 — Mannarino won only July 9, 2018.
their previous meeting, Jelena Ostapenko take one point on his serve Associated Press
Williams professed to hav- on Dominika Cibulkova in during the opening set cannot see myself from sure.— Kasatkina on what
ing watched 52nd-ranked a meeting of former Wim- against Federer. the side. I’m just like an art- people watching her for
Giorgi play “a lot.” Having bledon quarterfinalists, QUOTE OF THE DAY ist and I’m playing with the the first time should know
shaken off any rust that while 13th-seeded Julia “This is tough because I heart, yeah. This is me, for about her.q