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Roger joins Novak in quarterfinals CINCINNATI—Roger Federer engineered a 6-1, 6-1 rout in less than an hour, outclassing the bigserving Kevin Anderson to join Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Thursday. Switzerland’s Federer swept the first set in 21 minutes and began the second set with a break of South African Anderson. “I’m pleased with a rock-solid performance,” said the six-time champion. “I know it’s only the quarters but I’m playing great tennis. I hope I can keep it up tomorrow.” While the second seed was able to make it all look easy, it was a slog for an exhausted Andy Murray as the third-seeded Montreal title-winner needed a shade under three hours to put down Grigor Dimitrov 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5. Dimitrov led a set and two breaks before Murray hauled the second set back. The Bulgarian then owned the third 5-2 but could not close it out despite getting to match point. Murray gathered the last of his reserves to take the win, his 26th at the tournament which he won in 2008 and 2011. Djokovic also survived a scare in the pursuit of a first career Cincinnati title, with the top seed holding off David Goffin 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Djokovic, aiming to become the first man to win all eight Masters 1000 events, nearly found himself on the sidelines as his 13th-seeded Belgian opponent won the second set and went two breaks up in the decider. AFP
Poland’s Weronika Wedler and Marta Jeschke jump as they pose on the podium during a practice session ahead of the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium in Beijing. AFP
Bolt, Farah eye history books as world athletics’ meet starts BEIJING—Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt makes his bow in the 100m heats on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships on Saturday, when Briton Mo Farah will bid for an unprecedented six consecutive global track distance titles in the 10,000m. Bolt’s appearance at Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nest stadium comes seven years after he stormed to treble gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, a period during which he has dominated sprinting. “Beijing was where it all started for me at the Olympic Games in 2008,” the tow-
ering 29-year-old said. “I have great memories of this city and the stadium. It’s great to be back here, I’m looking forward to getting on the track on Saturday.” After missing six weeks of competitive sprinting because of an early-season injury, Bolt rebounded with back-to-back winning times
of 9.87sec at last month’s Londond Diamond League meet. “I’m in great form and I’m ready to go,” he said. Farah, who came through the youth and junior ranks alongside Bolt, has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent months, with his American coach Alberto Salazar accused of violating several anti-doping rules. Salazar has strenuously denied all the accusations against him and Farah, who was not accused of any wrongdoing, has vowed to stick by his coach unless any allegations are proven. Since losing to Ibrahim Jeilan in the Daegu worlds in 2011, Farah has won five global track distance titles in a row. He rebounded to win the 5000m in Daegu, and followed up with 5000m-10,000m doubles at both the London 2012 Olym-
pics and the 2013 world championships in Moscow. Should Farah triumph in the 10,000m in Beijing, he will have strung together an unprecedented six consecutive global track distance titles (with a chance to make it seven in the 5000m). Farah will undoubtedly face a tough challenge from the Kenyan and Ethiopian trios, with US training partner Galen Rupp, fastest in the world last year and silver medallist behind the Briton at the 2012 Olympics, also expected to be in the mix. One notable absentee from Saturday’s action, featuring three medal events, will be New Zealand’s four-time world champion Valerie Adams, who misses the women’s shot put after failing to regain her form sufficiently after complicated double surgery on her shoulder and elbow. AFP
Smith back as a Cav CLEVELAND—JR Smith, who opted out of the final year of his contract after the NBA finals, said Thursday that he is re-joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. Smith tried but failed to land a another deal with a different NBA team so is now headed back to Cleveland. The 29-year-old Smith came to the Cavaliers last season after three years with the New York Knicks and averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 70 games. “Happy to say that I am returning to the Cavs! It’s been a long ride this summer but I can say for sure, well worth the wait,” Smith posted on his social media Instagram page. AFP
Rugby fans remember Wilkinson, Mandela
Nelson Mandela hands the Webb Ellis Cup to South Africa captain Francois Pienaar during the 1995 Rugby World Cup
AS THE world eagerly awaits the start of Rugby World Cup 2015, a new report from MasterCard has unveiled what rugby fans across 13 leading rugby nations believe are the most Priceless moments throughout the history of the Tournament. According to the report, Nelson Mandela handing South Africa captain Francois Pienaar the Webb Ellis Cup after South Africa’s victory over New Zealand in 1995 (23%) was voted one of the most priceless moments in the history of Rugby World Cup. Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal in 2003 was the only moment to narrowly top this with 24% of the votes, whilst Ireland’s shock victory against Australia in 2011 (13%) made up the top three. The “Priceless Moments Report” from MasterCard, the Official Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, also revealed the best tries ever scored throughout the Tournament’s
history. New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu’s second try against England in the 1995 semi-final, renowned for its display of physical dominance over English backs Mike Catt, Will Carling and Tony Underwood took the crown with over 27% of the votes. Fellow New Zealander John Kirwan’s length of the field try against Italy in 1987 (15%) ran a close second, only narrowly surpassing Stephen Jones’ outstanding team try for Wales against England in 2003 (14%). The Southern hemisphere domination continued when the report revealed that over a quarter of respondents (27%) voted New Zealand’s 2011 squad as the best team to ever compete at a Rugby World Cup. Martin Johnson’s winning 2003 England Rugby World Cup squad (18%)was the only Northern hemisphere team to make the top five, as the 1987 New Zealand climbed above Australia’s 1999 line-up
to round-off the top three. The survey also uncovered which nations rugby fans would like to see lift the Webb Ellis Cup if not their own. New Zealand proved the most popular nation with 27% of the votes, a trend backed by Japan where almost half (44%) of respondents opted for New Zealand. Surprisingly over a quarter of English rugby fans would actually like to see their old rivals Wales lift the Trophy. With just over one month to go until Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks-off, rugby fans around the globe have tipped MasterCard ambassador Dan Carter to be the stand-out player at this year’s Tournament in England. Other players expected to make an impact include Welsh speedster George North (14%) and Ireland’s talisman Jonny Sexton (13%). Meanwhile, Canadian rugby fans have tipped Scottish fullback Stuart Hogg to steal the headlines.