Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
SPORTS Monday 15 May 2017

CHILD’S PLAY

Spain’s Rafael Nadal bites the
trophy as poses for photogra-
phers after winning the final of
the Madrid Open tennis tour-
nament in two sets, 7-6 (10-8),
6-4, against Austria’s Dominic
Thiem in Madrid, Spain, Sun-
day, May 14, 2017.
Associated Press
Nadal beats
Thiem in

Madrid, wins
3rd straight title

TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) — Rafael
Nadal continued his im-
pressive form heading into
the French Open, winning
his third straight title on clay
Sunday with a 7-6 (8), 6-4
victory over Dominic Thiem
in the Madrid Open final.
Nadal withstood a tough
challenge from the ninth-
ranked Thiem, converting
on his fourth match point to
earn his 15th straight victo-
ry and tie Novak Djokovic’s
record of 30 career titles in
Masters 1000 events.
The triumph at his home
tournament gave Nadal his
72nd career title, and 52nd
on clay. It will also move
him from fifth to fourth in
the rankings, ahead of
Roger Federer.
“To try to win Roland Gar-
ros, you don’t need to be
No. 4 or No. 1 or No. 5, what
you need is to play ten- South Korean rising star Kim wins Players title
nis very well,” Nadal said.
“I don’t think it changes a
lot for me. What I’m really
happy about is to achieve Si Woo Kim of South Korea, right, is hugged after winning The Players
Championship golf tournament Sunday, May 14, 2017, in Ponte Vedra
a title like this here in Ma- Beach, Fla.
drid. Associated Press
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