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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 13 sepTember 2018

Djokovic Grand Slams against them,
what it takes for me to ac-
tually kind of improve and
Continued from Page 17 develop my game to be
able to challenge them,
“Years ago, I would say to be able to start winning
that Rafa and Roger went against them when it mat-
too far from him, you know? ters the most. I think that
Too (far) ahead of him with was one of the most impor-
the Grand Slams. Now I tant, so to say, moments
have a feeling he’s (catch- and periods of my life, my
ing) up with them,” Vajda tennis career, my develop-
continued, slapping the ment. I owe it to them.”
back of his right hand on The other beneficiaries:
his left palm for emphasis. tennis fans.
“He’s so close now, three And now the world gets
from Rafa and six — OK, six to watch the next phase
is still unbelievable — away of this and wonder: How
(from) Roger.” many more majors can Fe-
“Amazing” is a perfect derer, 37 and coming off
word for this trio, which is a fourth-round exit at the
rightfully back atop the U.S. Open, add to his to-
rankings for the first time in tal? What about Nadal, 32,
3½ years, with Nadal at No. Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, celebrates after defeating Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, in the who retired from his semi-
1, Federer at No. 2 and, as men’s final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in New York. final at Flushing Meadows
of Monday, Djokovic at No. Associated Press because of pain in his right
3. managed to collect. he does,” Djokovic said. have made me the player knee, a problem off-and-
They have combined to And now? Sampras has “To actually be here, it’s a I am, have shaped me into on for years?
win 47 of the past 55 major been equaled or surpassed dream come true.” the player I am today,” After Djokovic, 31,
championships, dating to by three players — and it’s Agassi, who finished with Djokovic said, his shiny silver watched them increase
the 2005 French Open. only 16 years later. eight majors, and Sampras U.S. Open trophy resting their advantages over him
That’s 85 percent. Quite Matching him was mean- used to credit each with a few feet away. “I have while he went more than
a contrast to the cur- ingful to Djokovic, whose making the other better. utmost respect for what two years without a major,
rent state of the women’s earliest memories of tennis Same goes for the Big 3 of they have achieved on the hampered by an injured
game, where eight players involve watching Sampras today (with all due respect court, but also the cham- right elbow that required
won the past eight majors. on TV at Wimbledon. to Andy Murray, he of the pions, role models, they surgery in February, he is
Here’s another way to think “There is a lot of signifi- three majors plus two Olym- are off the court. I think we now got his game in or-
about it all: When Sam- cance of me being, now, pic singles gold medals, it have pushed each other to der. He showed off all of
pras beat Andre Agassi in shoulder-to-shoulder in really isn’t a Big 4). the limit every time we get his court-covering, foe-frus-
the 2002 U.S. Open final, terms of Grand Slam wins “Maybe 10 years ago, I to play each other. For me, trating, defense-to-offense
in what would turn out to with him. It’s truly incredible would say I’m not so happy that was always an ultimate skills down the stretch on
be Pistol Pete’s last profes- when you think about it. I to be part of this era with challenge: to play Nadal the way to his third U.S.
sional match, it not only es- watched him win one of his Nadal and Federer. Actual- or Federer anywhere,” Open title, claiming the
tablished a new record for first Wimbledon champion- ly, today I am. I really am. I Djokovic continued. “I had last 16 sets he played.
men’s Slam trophies at 14, ships, and I grew up play- feel like these guys, rivalries to figure out early in my ca- As Vajda put it: “Back at his
it also was two more than ing and thinking that one with these guys, matches reer, when I was losing most best.”
anyone else in history had day I’ll be able to do what with Federer and Nadal, of the big matches @ the Let the chase begin.q

Evian bids farewell to September,

and hopefully its weather

By GRAHAM DUNBAR, AP overlooking Lake Geneva, storm before all scores were
Sports Writer after Wednesday’s final struck and a Friday restart
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France practice was held in sun- was ordered. Twice in its
(AP) — The Evian Champi- shine and 83-degree (28 five years as a major, Evian
onship will bid farewell to C) heat. “It deserves to became a 54-hole event.
September, and hopefully be played in great condi- Evian is also the last chance
its bad weather, when the tions,” defending cham- for the United States to win
final women’s golf major of pion Anna Nordqvist said a women’s major this sea-
the season starts Thursday. Wednesday. “It’s really one son. The previous four went
It’s the final edition of Evian of the best events we have to Europe or Asia: The ANA
before it reverts to its former all year.” Nordqvist won her Inspiration to Pernilla Lind-
July slot in 2019, a move second career major last berg of Sweden, the U.S.
that players hope will avoid year in a playoff through a Women’s Open to second-
more weather-hit days like hailstorm that was chilling ranked Ariya Jutanugarn of
last year’s opening round even to a native Swede. Thailand, the U.S. Women’s
— which was wiped out by “Everyone who has grown PGA to top-ranked Sung
a severe storm. up in Europe knows that Hyun Park of South Korea,
Marina Alex holds the trophy after winning the LPGA Cambia However, rain and possible September can be a little and a crowd-pleasing
Portland Classic golf tournament in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Sept. thunderstorms are forecast sketchy. The 2017 edi- English win for Georgia
2, 2018. for the first round at the tion saw Thursday’s round Hall at the British Women’s
Associated Press picturesque hillside course stopped because of the Open.q