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Friday 3 March 2017
Djokovic rallies to beat Del Potro in Acapulco

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Novak can Sam Querrey, who
Djokovic rallied to beat Ar- beat fifth-seed David Gof-
gentinian Juan Martin Del fin 6-2, 6-3 of Belgium.
Potro in three sets 4-6, 6-4, Querrey served seven aces
6-4 early on Thursday to and finished off Goffin in
advance to the Mexican just over an hour. Goffin,
Open quarterfinals. 11th in the ATP rankings,
Djokovic, playing in his was coming off a strong
first tournament since his performance in Rotter-
shocking loss in the second dam, where he lost the fi-
round of the Australian nal to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.
Open, struggled to beat Croatia’s Marin Cilic also
Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. beat countryman Bor-
Open winner, who ousted na Couric 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to
the Serbian 7-6 (4), 7-6 reach the quarterfinals for
(2) in the first round of the the second tournament in
Olympic Games in Rio de a row. He will play Ameri-
Janeiro. can Steve Johnson, a 7-6
It was the first match be- (5), 6-3 winner over coun-
tween them since. tryman Ernesto Escobedo.
“Every time you play On the women’s side,
against Delpo, there’s a lot Puerto Rico’s Monica
of tension, emotions and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro during the Mexican Puig, the fourth seed, beat
quality of play,” Djokovic Open tennis tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Slovakia’s Daniela Han-
said. “I’m happy I was able Associated Press tuchova 6-4, 6-4. Also, the
to beat him this time.” Ukraine’s Lesia Turenko
The 29-year-old Serbian, The Serbian star will play 12-match winning streak in Nishioka, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 win- led Julia Goerges 6-1, 2-0
ranked No. 2, suffered an against Australian Nick Kyr- the event. ner over Australia’s Jordan when the German retired.
unexpected loss to Uzbeki- gios, who qualified with a “Unfortunately, I will lose Thompson. Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic
stan’s Denis Istomin on the 6-2, 6-4 victory over Ameri- eventually,” Nadal said. Nadal is playing in his first also retired from her match
Australian Open. can Donald Young. “But the harmony with tournament since losing to against Belgian Kirsten Flip-
Djokovic, making his debut Spaniard Rafael Nadal the crowd and the court Roger Federer in the Aus- kens, who was winning 7-5
in Acapulco, was losing routed Italian Paolo Lorenzi is amazing. With all of the tralian Open final. after the first set.
4-3 in the third set, but he 6-1, 6-1 earlier to move on support from the people, it “I played a complete In a match between Amer-
broke Del Potro twice and to the next round. Nadal gets easier.” match today and I*m feel- icans, Christina McHale
was able to preserve his won the tournament in The 30-year old Spanish star ing great after a month beat Taylor Townsend 6-1,
serve to get the victory. 2005 and 2013 and has a will face Japan’s Yoshihito without playing,” Nadal 7-6 (5), and third-seeded
said. Jelena Ostapenko of Lat-
Another player on a win- via advanced with a 7-5,
ning streak in Acapulco is 6-4 victory over American
defending champ Domi- Madison Brengle.
nic Thiem, who downed France’s Pauline Parmenti-
Adrian Mannarino, of er beat eighth-seeded An-
France, 7-5, 6-3 to reach drea Petkovic of Germany
the quarterfinals. 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, and Kristina
It was the Austrian*s sev- Mladenovic, from France,
enth consecutive win of defeated Heather Watson,
the season and also his from Britain 7-6(4), 6-7(5),
seventh in Mexico. 7-5 in a match that lasted
Thiem, who won his eighth 3 hours, 32 minutes — four
career title last week in Rio minutes shy of the longest
de Janeiro, will play Ameri- WTA match of the year.q

Gigi Fernandez to coach
New York Empire tennis team

NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of can won two Olympic gold
Famer Gigi Fernandez has medals in doubles for the
been hired as coach of the U.S.
New York Empire of World The Empire will play at the
TeamTennis. Billie Jean King National
The league said Thursday Tennis Center this summer.
she is succeeding Patrick They were at the West Side
McEnroe. Fernandez is the Tennis Club in their debut
only female coach in the season.
six-team league, whose The Empire pick first in the
season runs from July 16 to roster draft March 14. John
Aug. 2. Isner, Eugenie Bouchard
Fernandez won 17 Grand and Mardy Fish were ac-
Slam doubles titles from quired in the marquee
1983 to 1997. The Puerto Ri- draft last month.q