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A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 10 OctOber 2018
Djokovic too hot

again for Chardy at

Shanghai Masters

By SANDRA HARWITT nic Thiem 6-4, 6-7 (8), 7-6
Associated Press (4) in a nearly three-hour
SHANGHAI (AP) — Novak encounter.
Djokovic, the hottest play- The win over the seventh-
er on the men's tour in the ranked Thiem is the best
second half of the year, of the 51st-ranked Ebden's
never faced a break point career.
on serve in putting away Thiem has played in Shang-
Jeremy Chardy of France hai four times and has nev-
6-3, 7-5 at the Shanghai er advanced to the third
Masters on Tuesday. round.
Djokovic's second-round A couple of champions
victory improved his per- from last weekend also
fect record against the progressed.
41st-ranked Chardy to 12-0 Nikoloz Basilashvili, who
Seattle Sounders midfielder Victor Rodriguez, right, kicks his second of two goals in the second
half of an MLS soccer match as Houston Dynamo defender Leonardo, left, looks on, Monday, Oct. in matches played, and downed Juan Martin del
8, 2018, in Seattle. 28-0 in sets won. Potro for the China Open
Associated Press "I'm very grateful to play on title on Sunday, won his
a high level," Djokovic said. sixth straight match after
Rodriguez scores twice as "I'm very close to my best." beating Denis Shapovalov
The Wimbledon and U.S. 6-2, 6-2 to open his Shang-
Sounders down Dynamo 4-1 Open champion, Djokovic hai account.
is hoping to win a record Up to a career-high rank-
fourth Shanghai title this ing of 23, Basilashvili nev-
week. er faced a break point
SEATTLE (AP) — Victor Rodri- lead with two goals in a He responded by scor- Fifth-seeded Marin Cilic on his serve. The Geor-
guez and Will Bruin haven't nine-minute span. ing his seventh goal of the became the highest seed gian earned his first win in
played as many minutes as The first of Rodriguez's goals season in the 18th minute, toppled in Shanghai when Shanghai after qualifying in
they would have liked in came in the 64th minute. drilling a 13-yard shot from 48th-ranked Nicolas Jarry 2015 and 2017.
the past few months. Both Kelvin Leerdam, playing just behind the penalty of Chile rebounded for a Daniil Medvedev, who up-
were on the field for all 90 to the right of the penalty spot and into the back left 2-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5 second- set Kei Nishikori to win the
Monday night and made area, passed the ball into corner. "I've scored goals round win. Japan Open on Sunday,
the most of their opportu- the middle of the box and every year in this league. Cilic served for the match struggled but beat Chinese
nity. Rodriguez buried a shot in As the league brings in at 5-4 in the third set but wild card Zhang Ze 3-6, 7-6
Rodriguez scored two goals the back left corner from higher quality players, a lot couldn't. Jarry won the next (6), 6-4.
in the second half as the about 8 yards out. of them are attackers, and two games to advance to Also, French qualifier Ben-
Seattle Sounders defeated Rodriguez scored again in I have to kind of evolve the third round. oit Paire upset 15th-seeded
the Houston Dynamo 4-1. the 73rd minute when he my game as well," Bruin Australian Matthew Ebden Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3,
Bruin and Cristian Roldan found space between two said. "And I think I've done upset sixth-seeded Domi- 6-4.q
added first-half goals for Dynamo defenders and that throughout the years.
Seattle, which moved clos- again scored from 8 yards Whenever I get opportuni-
er to an MLS playoff spot in front. He has four goals ties, I'm going to do my job
with the win. this season. and try to score goals."
The Sounders (15-11-5) are "He has just found a really Roldan made it 2-0 in the
trying for their 10th straight good run of form - we saw 34th minute his fourth of the
postseason berth. The loss it coming a while back," year.
eliminated Houston (9-14-8) Sounders coach Brian DaMarcus Beasey scored
from playoff contention. Schmetzer said. "He has in the 87th minute for Hous-
Rodriguez has been limited put a lot of work and effort ton, his first of the year. The
to just 16 games due to in- into his rehab when he has Dynamo thought they had
juries. He went the distance been injured. He's reap- a goal from Darwin Ceren
and scored a goal in a 4-0 ing the benefits of being a late in the first half. But the
rout of Colorado on Sept. good pro now, and we're whistle had blown for a foul
29 in Seattle, then followed happy it's happening at the on a Houston player in front
up with another full game tail end of the season when of the Seattle net before
and Monday's two goals. he can be at his peak and Ceren took his shot.
"I'm very happy for to- help us tremendously." "If you go into halftime and
day and for the goals. I've Bruin, whose playing time it's 2-1 (instead of 2-0), it's to-
worked a lot every day," has diminished since the tally different," said coach
Rodriguez said. "For me, the midseason signing of Ligz Wilmer Cabrera, whose
situation was complicated, Mx star Raul Ruidiaz, got team was missing 11-goal
but I feel better. Now I've the start on Monday with scorer Alberth Elis to inter-
had a great performance Ruidiaz having been called national duty. "We were re-
and have to keep working." up to the Peruvian national ally poor defensively, and
With Seattle leading 2-0, team for an upcoming pair you pay for it. It has been a
Rodriguez doubled the of international friendlies. tough year for us."q