Page 18 - aruba-today-20190518

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 18 May 2019
Nadal, Djokovic advance; Federer and Osaka withdraw injured

By ANDREW DAMPF Later, Federer wrote on In-
AP Sports Writer stagram: “The fan reaction
ROME (AP) — Rafael Nadal and crowd energy dur-
put away Fernando Ver- ing my matches yesterday
dasco 6-4, 6-0 at the Italian remind exactly why I am
Open on Friday to reach still competing on the ATP
the semifinals after con- Tour.”
ceding only six games in his It’s only the fourth time in
six sets of tennis at the tour- Federer’s career he has
nament. had a walkover loss, the
Yet he ought to be a little ATP Tour said, adding the
nervous. 20-time Grand Slam cham-
Nadal has fallen in the pion has never retired in
semifinals of his last three 1,465 matches.
tournaments — all on his Osaka couldn’t immedi-
favored clay. And next up ately say how serious her
is Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom injury is or if it will affect her
Nadal lost to in Madrid last status for Roland Garros,
week. which starts in nine days.
“I know what happened She had yet to see a doc-
last week, and I (am) go- tor, but when she held her
ing to try to do it better hand up for reporters, it
tomorrow,” Nadal said. “I was clearly swollen.
have to hold the level or Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Fernando Verdasco of Spain during their quarterfinal “I woke up this morning and
increase a little bit more. If match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 17, 2019. couldn’t really move my
that happens, I (am) going Associated Press thumb,” Osaka said. “I tried
to have my chances. The hours and finished after 1 their quarterfinals because Although Osaka won both to practice and grip my
good thing is during the last a.m. local time at the Foro of injuries. of her matches on Thursday racket but I couldn’t, and I
month my feeling is every Italico. Federer reported a right leg in straight sets, Federer, 37, kept feeling this pain when
week was better than the Djokovic saved a match injury ahead of his match had to labor for more than I tried to move my hand in
previous one.” point in the second-set tie- against Tsitsipas, and Osa- 2 ½ hours to overcome Bor- different directions.”
Tsitsipas, 20, is up to No. 7 in breaker and was frustrated ka said she’d mysteriously na Coric in his second time “I didn’t feel anything yes-
the rankings. at times, receiving a warn- woken up with a sore right on court. terday. That’s why I’m kind
“Every year, we make (a) ing for slamming his racket hand ahead of her sched- Federer said after beating of confused right now be-
prediction with the team to the clay early in the third. uled match against Kiki Coric that he slid on a wet cause I literally woke up in
which player is going to be But the Serb regained his Bertens. line and his leg “was hurting the morning and couldn’t
at the top 10 at the end of composure and closed it On the women’s side, Karo- a little bit.” move my thumb,” Osaka
the season,” Nadal said. out by serving an ace on lina Pliskova rallied past for- “I am disappointed that I said. “So I was like, ‘Maybe
“I put Tsitsipas there. ... He his first match point. mer No. 1 Victoria Azarenka will not be able to compete I slept on it and maybe it
started even better than Djokovic next faces Diego 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2 and will face today. I am not 100 per- will go away.’ But it didn’t.”
what I (expected). He de- Schwartzman, who beat qualifier Maria Sakkari, who cent physically and, after Osaka also withdrew be-
serves to be where he is Kei Nishikori for the first came back to beat Kristina consultation with my team, fore a semifinal in Stuttgart,
now.” time in four tries, 6-4, 6-2, to Mladenovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. it was determined that I not Germany, last month due
Top-ranked Novak Djokov- reach his first Masters Series Bertens, who won the Ma- play,” Federer said. “Rome to an abdominal injury, and
ic outlasted Juan Martin semifinal. drid Open last week, will has always been one of my she retired from her previ-
del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 Meanwhile, Roger Federer face Johanna Konta, who favorite cities to visit and ous meeting with Bertens at
in an entertaining slugfest and top-ranked Naomi beat Marketa Vondrouso- I hope to be back next last year’s WTA Finals with a
that lasted more than three Osaka withdrew before va 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. year.” leg injury. q

Bilbao wins Stage 7; Conti keeps pink jersey in Giro

L’AQUILA, Italy (AP) — Pel- It took me a long time to Fernando Gaviria, Conti’s
lo Bilbao won the seventh get my first stage win in a teammate on UAE Emir-
stage of the Giro d’Italia Grand Tour,” Bilbao said. ates and winner of the
with a late attack while “It was a very big advan- third stage, abandoned
Valero Conti held onto the tage to have two riders in the race with pain in his
overall leader’s pink jersey the breakaway. Andrey left knee. That leaves Conti
Friday. (Zeits) pulled a lot. Dario with only five riders to help
Bilbao was part of an early (Cataldo) was our desig- him protect the lead.
breakaway and acceler- nated rider but it was such “It’s been very difficult to
ated uphill from a group a hard and complicated retain the pink jersey be-
of five riders with little more stage that eventually who cause it looked like the
than one kilometer remain- made the breakaway was whole peloton wanted to
ing in the undulating 185-ki- improvised.” break away today,” Conti
lometer (115-mile) stage Jose Rojas, who was also said. “There were strong
from Vasto to L’Aquila. part of the breakaway, GC riders like Rojas and
Tony Gallopin was second moved up to second over- Bilbao at the front. Luckily,
Spanish cyclist Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia celebrates while and Davide Formolo was all, 1:32 behind Conti, who the UAE Team Emirates is
crossing the finish line to win the seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia third, both five seconds took the lead a day earlier. very strong and dedicat-
cycling race, from Vasto to L’Aquila, Italy, Friday, May 17, 2019. behind. “It’s a really im- Giovanni Carboni is third, ed, too. I’m very happy to
Associated Press portant day for me today. 1:41 back, with Bilbao 11th. keep the lead.”q