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SPORTSSaturday 24 October 2015

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic returna a ball to Grigor
Dimitrov of Bulgaria, during the quarterfinal in the Stockholm
Open tennis tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, Friday, Oct. 23,
2015.

Associated Press

Defending champ In this Sept. 9, 2015 file photo, Devlin D’Zmura, a tending news manager at DraftKings, a daily
fantasy sports company, works on his laptop at the company’s offices in Boston.

Associated Press

Tomas Berdych Massachusetts reviewing Boston-
advances to semis based fantasy sports, others

DAVID GERGES RODRIQUE NGOWI added that the Legislature for regulation during its next
Associated Press Associated Press could also potentially con- meeting on Thursday, and
Defending champion Tomas Berdych advanced to the BOSTON (AP) — If fanta- sider issues related to taxa- expects to offer “construc-
semifinals of the Stockholm Open after a straight-sets vic- sy sports websites are al- tion of the industry. tive advice” to the Legisla-
tory over Grigor Dimitrov on Friday. lowed to continue operat- Stephen Crosby, chairman ture, Crosby added.
The top-seeded Berdych beat Bulgaria’s Dimitrov 7-5, 6-4 ing in Massachusetts, they of the Massachusetts Gam- Healey has made clear her
in a repeat of last year’s final. would likely have to do so ing Commission, revealed reservations about legal-
After edging the first set, Berdych broke for a 5-4 lead in under a “robust” regulatory earlier this week that the ized gambling in the past
the second. The Czech saved one break point while serv- framework, state Attorney panel has been asked by and has supported an un-
ing for the match, and moves one step closer to reclaim- General Maura Healey said legislative leaders and Re- successful effort to ban
ing his title. Friday as her office contin- publican Gov. Charlie Bak- casinos in Massachusetts,
“My serve was working well today and in the tough mo- ued an examination of the er to also review the sports- but she has insisted those
ments I was able to help myself a lot with the serve,” sites that have also drawn fantasy sites. The commis- positions won’t impact any
Berdych said after landing 86 percent of first serve points. scrutiny from other states. sion licenses and regulates recommendations about
He next faces Marcos Baghdatis who needed three sets Healey has given no time- casino gambling and horse fantasy sports sites.
to overcome the eight-seeded Gilles Muller, 7-6 (5), 4-6, table for completing her racing in the state. DraftKings, which has said it
6-3. report and said in an inter- Crosby said he wasn’t at welcomes the state review,
Second-seeded Richard Gasquet came from one set view with The Associated all surprised by the rapid confirmed recently that
down to beat Jeremy Chardy 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Press that her focus is on growth in the popularity of it asked former Attorney
In an all-French quarterfinal, it was the sixth-seeded Char- consumers, particularly fantasy sports sites. General Martha Coakley
dy who edged ahead before Gasquet responded in the those who struggle with “No, I think this is the world to serve as an outside ad-
second. He twice broke Chardy to lead 5-1 in the second gambling addiction. we live in now,” he said in viser on legal and regulato-
before getting across the line in a tight third. Companies like Boston- a separate AP interview. ry matters. Healey worked
Gasquet was leading 5-3 in the decider and serving for based DraftKings and New “You know, the Internet is a under Coakley before win-
the match, when two double faults handed Chardy a York-based FanDuel con- disruptive technology and ning the office in last No-
lifeline. The 28-year-old Chardy capitalized and forced a tend their sites aren’t gam- it disrupts every industry. It vember’s election when
tiebreak. A trademark single-handed winner eventually bling, are legal, and were disrupted the music indus- Coakley ran unsuccessfully
put Gasquet into the last four. exempted from a federal try, it disrupted the movie for governor.
“It was a little difficult, but I tried to fight and played very online gambling prohibi- industry, it disrupted the re- Coakley’s role with DraftK-
good in the tie-break and didn’t make a mistake. It was a tion in 2006. Players pay an tail industry, now it’s disrupt- ings was “completely irrel-
good match for me,” Gasquet said. entry fee to compete for ing ... the gambling world.” evant” to her own review
“Jeremy has a very good serve and very good forehand cash prizes in games involv- The five-member panel will of fantasy sports, Healey
so I need to play my best tennis to win.” ing college or profession- discuss the possible need said.q
Gasquet next faces American Jack Sock who beat al sports. “I firmly believe
Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-4. that, if this is permitted to
That victory avenged his loss to Simon in Rome earlier in go forward here, that we
the year. need (a) strong, robust reg-
“I played more aggressive tennis in the middle of the sec- ulatory framework in place
ond to get it back. With my style I try to come forward as to protect consumers, to
much as I can and I was able to do that there at the end protect young people,”
of the second,” Sock said.q Healey said. The Democrat