05252017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

We are the champions

SOCCER

Europa, Page 18

KNIGHTS TAKE GSSSA SENIOR BOYS SOCCER TITLE

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NUMBER ONE: The CV Bethel Stingrays senior girls celebrate yesterday after winning the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association soccer title.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

T

he CV Bethel Stingrays dethroned the defending champions in the semifinal and kept that momentum going yesterday in the final to take the GSSSA senior girls’ soccer title.

The Stingrays scored a 2-0 win over the CC Sweeting Cobras Wednesday at the Roscow Davies

CV Bethel Lady Stingrays win GSSSA soccer title Soccer Field to solidify their standing as the top team in the league.

Shabina Justilien and Shanyhah Bowe scored goals for the Stingrays.

In a relatively uneventful first half, the Cobras controlled time of possession but the teams remained

scoreless at the break.

Early in the second, the Stingrays squandered a pair of early scoring opportunities. After a shot from the Stingrays hit the crossbar, CV Bethel was able to maintain control for two successive following shots, the second of which came from Jus-

tilien and bounced above the outstretched fingers of the CC Sweeting keeper.

Bowe tacked on a late insurance goal on an individual breakaway effort.

SEE PAGE 17

THE CR Walker Knights rally their team and their fanbase with a chant highlighted by the phrase “to the last minute, to the last man” we fight.

The Knights did just that with a late goal in regulation and eventually emerged as the winners on penalty kicks to claim their second consecutive GSSSA senior boys’ soccer title.

The 4-3 win over the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves highlighted the pair of championship titles decided yesterday at the Roscow Davies Soccer Field.

Early in the first half, the Knights were the aggressors but had their best scoring opportunity negated due to an offside penalty. Jamal Nichols would give Anatol Rodgers the lead with the first score of the game just minutes later.

With momentum on their side, Nichols nearly scored moments later, but his strike deflected off the right post. They maintained that advantage for the remainder of the first half and much of the second before the Knights kept their championship bid alive with a late goal.

With less than two minutes left in regulation, the Knights’ Peter Julmis scored the equaliser and sent the game into extra

SEE PAGE 17

Top primary school athletes hit the track, field

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE top primary school track and field athletes in the country are making the most of their opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at the national level.

The 34th annual Frank “Pancho” Rahming National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships got underway yesterday at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium.

The meet has no overall champion, but several athletes delivered standout performances on day one which included several finals in the field, middle distances and 4x100m relays.

In the Girls’ Open category, the Queen’s College Comets’ team of Sara Hepburn, Lanique Thompson, G’Shan Brown and Nia Richards took first place in 55.90 seconds.

It was a busy afternoon for Thompson, who also took first place in the Girls’ B High Jump with a leap of 1.30m and was the top qualifier in the 200m prelims in 28.35.

Temple Christian Suns’ team of Hailey Robinson, Tedvanique Bethel, Nya Wright and Kendrea Munroe finished second in 56.09.

Bethel showed her versatile skill set with a gold medal in the Girls’ A Long Jump with a mark of 3.97 while Robinson won silver behind Thompson in the Girls’ B Long Jump and was the second fastest qualifier in the 200m.

Cleveland Eneas Primary finished third in 54.53 with the team of Bianca Rolle, Sherneka Willans, Zaria Fowler and Shawnette Florent.

ON TRACK: Primary school athletes compete yesterday on day 1 of the 34th annual Frank “Pancho” Rahming National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 16 Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff In the Boys’ Open 4x100m, Central Abaco’s quartet of Clinton Laguerre, Lovevinsky Tageny, Isaiah Baptiste and James Delia took first in 51.25.

Delia also won gold in the Boys’ A Shot Put, well ahead of the field with a throw of 11.13m.

Temple Christian’s Ryan Ferguson, Matthew Chandler, Jayden Miller and Michael Cartwright was second in 52.49 and the Columbus Primary team of Carlos Brown, Garrad Rolle, Gilbert Gibson and Keith Forbes was third in 54.01.

In the Girls’ B 1,200m, Jasmine Mackey of Yellow Elder Primary won gold in 4:18.90, followed by Chinara Grant of St Anne’s School in 4:33.00 and Lilly Comarcho of Queen’s College was third in 4:38.74.

In the Boys’ B 1,200m, Rajah Rolle of Tabernacle Baptist was the gold-medal

winner in 4:15.46.

Bender Termius of Freeport Primary was second in 4:16.26 and Breck Kemp (home schooled) was third in 4:23.51.

All other day one finals were contested in the field. Alana Clarke of St Andrew’s School won the Girls’ C Softball Throw with her mark of 27.55m. Kamera Strachan of Andros Primary was second at 27.37m and Diamond Newbold of Cleveland Eneas was third at 23.18m.

Rohan Culmer of Temple Christian won the Boys’ B Ball Throw with his toss of 43.50m, followed by Sebastian Walcott of Genesis Academy (40.46m) and Kristian Mondesier (39.35m).

Temple Christian recorded another win in the field with Demian Brice’s first place leap in the Long Jump at 3.70m. Patrick Bethel was second at 3.32m and Keanu

Thurston of Cleveland Eneas was third at 3.29m.

Over 700 hundred athletes from more than 30 schools are participating in this year’s event.

The three-day meet, organised jointly by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, traditionally honours Rahming, who started the event to shed the spotlight on the young rising stars.

Medals are presented to the first three finishers in each event and ribbons are distributed to all of the finalists.

The meet is scheduled to continue 9am today with finals in the field in the Boys’ B High Jump, Boys C Softball Throw, Boys A Triple Jump and Girls A Shot Put. The track will feature prelims of both the 100m and 400m.

PAGE 16, Thursday, May 25, 2017

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34TH ANNUAL FRANK ‘PANCHO’ RAHMING NATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Managing Editor The “People’s Paper” is looking for a unique, dynamic individual with a proven track record of leadership, teaching and the ability to excel in leading our editorial team.

As the second-in-command (reporting to the Publisher) the Managing Editor is key leader of our team requiring an unrivalled range of professional and technical skills.

LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE: • Creating a culture of creativity, invention and productivity by encouraging feedback and ongoing performance coaching using the candidate’s skills to teach Bahamian journalists how to excel in the demanding and fast moving world of news and information, in which we now live • Establish and ensure strict adherence to all editorial standards • Implement individual development opportunities for team members; develop newsroom strategies and day-to-day tactics for efficiently managing the workflow of the organisations • Coordinate with the News Editor for the assignments, duties, writing, editing and approval of all copy; create public affairs programmes as well as support our ongoing charity events EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: • A Bachelor’s degree with previous top level managerial experience • 10+ years previous experience in a senior management post having successfully demonstrated the ability to handle the pressures of a deadline driven, breaking news-orientated company • Previous experience in managing a successful organisation - having built upon and grown its news content - while maintaining a detailed eye towards controlling costs in a highly competitive environment.

• Experience in managing projects in a fast-paced news environment; while at the same time maintaining the ambitious deadlines to the daily news cycle • Ability to write headlines and compelling articles, while possessing the ability to adapt to change to embrace new opportunities, as an integrated member of our team THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST POSSESS: • Proficiency in WordPress, HTML5, MPEG, JPG, CSS & CCI/MySQL Databases and experience with PDF and online video creation and production • Proficiency with Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Scribus or other publishing software • Knowledge of AP Stylebook, Google Analytics, and metric reporting as well as full proficiency with British grammar and laws of defamation • Capable of organising training opportunities for upcoming journalists; encourage each team member to pursue and develop their skills • Ability to travel/work nights, weekends and overtime with little or no notice • Must be “on call” 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to respond to breaking news or other unexpected events or hurricanes Please apply in writing to:

The Publisher c/o The Tribune P. O. Box N-3207 Nassau, N.P, The Bahamas

FAST TRACK: Primary school athletes compete on day 1 of the 34th annual Frank “Pancho” Rahming National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium yesterday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 25, 2017, PAGE 17

Jonquel cans 16 in Sun’s loss to Lynx

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JONQUEL Jones posted her second double-digit scoring effort in three games, but her Connecticut Sun lost yet another close finish.

Jones finished with 16 points and six rebounds in the Sun’s 80-78 loss to the Minnesota Lynx Tuesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota.

She shot 7-10 from the field and added a blocked shot in just over 23 minutes as the Sun fell to 0-3 while the Lynx remained undefeated in 4-0.

At 14.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, Jones is one of only two players in the WNBA to average a double-double, and went head-to-head with the other last night, the Lynx’s Sylvia

Fowles.

Fowles finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and five blocks.

The Sun took advantage of a slow start for the Lynx and forced 13 turnovers in the first half alone. Those turnovers led to fastbreak points and open threes as the Sun led 20-18 at the end of the first quarter and 3735 at the half.

The Lynx took control in the second half and finished the third quarter on a 21-8 run to take command.

They won the period 27-17 and took a 62-54 lead into the fourth. The Lynx controlled most of the fourth but, after several turnovers and missed opportunities at the line, the Sun had an opportunity to tie. The Sun’s Morgan Tuck made a three and after a pair of missed free throws by Minnesota’s

CONNECTICUT Sun’s Jonquel Jones (35) and Atlanta Dream’s Elizabeth Williams jump for the opening tip in the season-opener for both teams on Saturday, May 13. (AP) Lindsay Whalen, the Lynx were able to keep possession until 2.2 seconds remained on the clock.

Minnesota has won 21 straight games in the month of May since 2012. The teams will close out the week in the second game of the series, but this time the Sun will host the Lynx on Friday, May 26.

The Sun, still without starting centre Chiney Ogwumike (out for the season with an Achilles injury), saw the return of Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas.

Projected in WNBA.com preseason’s GM Survey to be this year’s breakout player, Jones has garnered the attention of teammates and

opposing players.

Sun guard Alex Bentley heralded Jones’ promise.

“She has the size, she has the talent, she has it all,” Bentley said to Jim Fuller of New Haven Register.

“She is doing great now, but you all haven’t seen nothing yet so watch.”

Lynx star and former WNBA MVP, Maya Moore, said Jone’s versatility makes her a threat.

“She uses her size to get shots off and she goes, gets those o-boards,” she said.

“She is dangerous by the rim and she is really embracing that with how she is crashing the offensive glass.

We have to be super mindful of her because she is being super intentional about getting those boards.”

Jones finished her rookie campaign for the Sun last year, averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1

LADY STINGRAYS FROM PAGE 15

KNIGHTS TAKE GSSSA SENIOR BOYS SOCCER TITLE

Jackson Brennen, head coach for CV Bethel, said his team overcame a slow start to the season and progressed as the year went on, culminating in their best game when it mattered most.

“It was slow, we started slow but as the league progressed we got better and better.

This was probably our best game and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results,” he said. “After that first half I told them they had to relax, not be nervous, but to take their time and do what we have been doing in practice. They did the things they were supposed to do – play the ball, keep it on the ground, run into the open spaces and do what we had been doing all season.”

In the semi-final, CV Bethel girls dethroned the defending champions CR Walker Knights 2-1 in extra time.

The Stingrays run was stopped short in the semi-final last season, but look to continue the trend of contending next year.

“Quite a few of the girls are graduating, but a lot are first time players and we had to develop them over a four-week period, so they have come a long way,” Brennen said.

“We know what we have to work on for next season and we can continue to develop players. I’m confident we can do that again. I know we will be competitive, I won’t guarantee a championship but we will definitely be competitive.”

FROM PAGE 15 time. Neither team was able to take advantage of scoring opportunities and left the decision to penalty kicks.

Julmis, Marc Ville and Brandon Adderley made good on penalties to give the Knights the win and back-to-back titles.

Kellon Lewis, Knight’s head coach, said that despite the bleak outlook late in the half, his team remained steadfast on living up to their rallying chant.

“It’s on our chant, that’s what we pride ourselves on, we play to the last minute and that’s what it’s all about. The guys were always optimistic that they were going to score and we were just able to pull it off,” he said. “You have to give Anatol Rodgers credit, they pushed us. We played in the earlier rounds, we got the win but that was not easy. They came out and showed why they are finalists, they pushed us to the last minute and it had to take penalties to separate the two teams. It’s great to repeat,

BALL IN PLAY: CR Walker Knights senior boys take on the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff it’s hard to do so, we are grateful that we can do it a second time and hopefully we can do it a third time.”

The Knights advanced to the championship game with 3-1 win over the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins. The Knights got goals from Romario Santil, who got the scoring started, Julmis and Ville to secure the win.

Lewis said with a strong foundation at its core, the team looks to add a third consecutive

Calling All High

SCHOOL STUDENTS

Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year.

In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands.

We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.

Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded

7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).

How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format.

By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau.

By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2017 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022380 or 502-2391.

title next season. “We have a programme where it’s all about keeping the machine going.

We are losing players but we have some good young players returning. Some of the players leading the team they are actually in grade 10 and 11, not the 12th graders,” he said. “So it’s hard to lose some of my better players but we just have to keep putting in the work and hopefully those guys will be just as good or better than the guys we have leaving.”

blocked shot in just over 14 minutes per game. She shot 53 per cent from the field and 33 per cent from threepoint range.

“I am happy that they are trusting me to make plays,” Jones said. “I just want to be able to be there for my team. We have great scorers and the team doesn’t necessarily need me to score double digits every game but I can get on the boards and (play solid defence) so if I can get those things done, I put them in a position to be successful.”

WNBA CAPSULES FEVER 93, SPARKS 90 ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Elena Delle Donne had 21 points and eight rebounds in her return to Chicago and the Washington Mystics beat the Sky 82-67 yesterday.

The 2015 MVP asked to be traded in the offseason after four seasons with the Sky. She opened the scoring with a turnaround jumper from the free throw line and finished 7 of 15 from the floor.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Washington (2-2.)

Cappie Pondexter led Chicago (1-3) with 17 points and 10 assists.

FEVER 93, SPARKS 90 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Marissa Coleman made five 3-pointers and scored 19 points and Indiana overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Los Angeles.

Candice Dupree added 18 points for Indiana (2-2). Nneka Ogwumike scored 24 points for Los Angeles (2-1), and Candace Parker had 19.

PAGE 18, Thursday, May 25, 2017

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Cavaliers remain humble with a chance to closeout Celtics tonight

By KYLE HIGHTOWER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — It took 10 games and halfway through the third round of the NBA playoffs before the Cleveland Cavaliers finally encountered their first true dose of resistance this postseason.

After cruising to a 2-0 Eastern Conference finals lead over Boston, the Cavs were humbled at home in a Game 3 loss, and needed a 42-point night from Kyrie Irving to battle back from a 16-point hole and win Game 4.

The chatter about an NBA Finals’ matchup of two teams with unblemished playoff records is gone, but the challenge from the Celtics has sharpened the focus of the defending champs. Cleveland is expecting another unflinching effort in Game 5 from a Celtics team that isn’t backing down despite facing a 3-1 deficit in the series.

“The closeout game is always the hardest and Boston is going to make it even harder,” said LeBron James, who rebounded from a playoff-low 11 points in Game 3 to score 34 in Game 4.

James had been saying that he felt like the Cavs needed to go through some

adversity after a blistering 10-0 start to the postseason.

The way they responded Tuesday night — particularly on the defensive end — is a good sign for their prospects of wrapping up their third straight Eastern Conference crown tonight.

Boston shot 47 per cent from the field and 35 per cent from the 3-point line in the first half of Game 4 on their way to building as much as a 16-point lead.

While Irving’s scoring ignited the Cavs’ comeback, it was made possible thanks to Cleveland’s defensive effort over the final 24 minutes. Cleveland limited the Celtics to 41 per cent from the field and 29 per cent from beyond the arc.

“We have to go in with a bunker mentality that we had in Game 1 and Game 2, to go out and do what we do, but we have to defend,” James said. “We have to execute offensively. We have to have low turnovers, and we have to try to make them miss because some of those guys play a lot better at home. That’s just how the game be played.”

Everyone will have one eye on Irving’s left ankle.

He rolled it late in the third quarter of Game 4 when he stepped on Terry Rozier’s foot. Irving stayed on the floor and finished the game, but with a day off between

CLEVELAND Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) goes up for a shot against Boston Celtics’ Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers won 112-99.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) games there will be interest in how tender his ankle is at tipoff.

If the Celtics were playing with house money heading into the series, they are flush with it again as they return to the Garden.

They’ve given themselves a chance to erase the sting of their 44-point loss in Game 2. The Celtics are also guarding against ending their season by having to watch the Cavs celebrate a conference title on their

home floor.

Boston lost All-Star Isaiah Thomas for the remainder of the postseason to a hip injury in Game 2, forcing coach Brad Stevens to shuffle his lineup and rotations in Games 3 and 4.

In addition, Jae Crowder suffered a strained left thigh in the third quarter of Game 4 as well, but returned to play the entire fourth quarter.

It’s an indication that despite still being in a dire 3-1 hole, the resolve inside Boston’s locker room remains strong.

“We owe our fans a better performance, and we know that, and we’re going to play hard,” Celtics guard Avery Bradley said. “You’re going to see a team playing hard, very hard, the entire game.”

It’s also why Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said that his team must keep all thoughts of being on the cusp of a return to the NBA Finals at bay for now.

“You can’t (think about it). As much as you want to, it’s not over,” he said.

If nothing else, Lue said their recent taste of adversity should help them remain humble heading into Game 5.

“I think it is making us better. And it’s making us tougher. It’s making us work,” the Cavs coach said.

“Because they got a tough group over there. (Terry) Rozier is tough, Avery is tough, (Marcus) Smart’s tough. Crowder. So, they got a lot of tough guys that are going to compete so they’re making us compete, which is good for us.”

Man United defeats Ajax 2-0, wins Europa League

By STEVE DOUGLAS Associated Press STOCKHOLM (AP) — Manchester United gave its grieving home city a moment to cheer by winning the Europa League yesterday, beating Ajax 2-0 in the final thanks to goals by Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Pogba pointed to the sky as he was mobbed by teammates after his 18thminute opening goal. The game was played two days after 22 people were killed in a bomb attack at a concert in Manchester, and 12 days after the death of Pogba’s father, Fassou Antoine.

Mkhitaryan scored the second goal in the 48th minute, hooking the ball in from close range from a corner.

The win earned United the bonus prize of a place in next season’s Champions League and meant coach Jose Mourinho finished his first season at England’s biggest club with two trophies. United also won the English League Cup in February.

United’s players flew to Sweden in somber mood and with heavy hearts following the tragedy at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday, and were determined to produce a display that served as a tribute to the victims and their families.

That they succeeded in doing so was a testament to their strength of character.

“Yesterday morning, we were devastated,” United midfielder Ander Herrera said, dedicating the win to the victims, “... but the manager told us the only thing we could do was to win this for them. That’s what we’ve done. It’s just a football game, just a trophy, but if we can support them with this just one per cent, it’s enough for us.”

Mourinho said his players “put a wall in front of their eyes” to get through the match.

“If we could, we’d change obviously the peoples’ lives for this cup. We wouldn’t think twice,” Mourinho said.

“Does this cup make the city of Manchester a little bit happier? Maybe.”

The planned pre-match one minute’s silence rapidly turned into 60 seconds

ANDY MURRAY (AP)

ANDY MURRAY LOOKS TO FRENCH OPEN TO REDISCOVER HIS FORM

By DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press

MANCHESTER United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan, left, celebrates scoring with teammate Paul Pogba during the Europa League final against Ajax at the Friends Arena yesterday.

(Anders Wiklund/TT via AP) of applause, during which United’s fans chanted “Manchester, Manchester” for the first time.

Both teams wore black armbands for the match in another mark of respect and both sets of fans came together, mingling happily outside the stadium and in the city centre before the match.

The game was billed as a clash between the pragmatism of Mourinho’s United against the swagger and youthful exuberance of an Ajax side featuring six players aged 21 or under and in the club’s first European final in 21 years.

It came as no surprise that United’s players handled the big occasion better, and were able to impose themselves over such inexperienced opponents as much through their physicality as their game management.

“I haven’t seen the Ajax that I am used to,” Ajax coach Peter Bosz said.

“They are not used to play a final. It was all new for them.”

Pogba — the world’s most expensive player — stood out although his crucial first goal had a huge element of fortune to it.

Marouane Fellaini — a regular outlet because of his height and physical presence — laid the ball off to Pogba at the edge of the area, and the France midfielder allowed it to run across him before sending in a low left-footed shot

MANCHESTER United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan celebrates scoring during yesterday’s match. that wouldn’t have troubled goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The ball struck Davinson Sanchez’s outstretched leg and looped up, spinning into the net past the wrong-footed Onana.

Mkhitaryan’s goal was much prettier, although it came from a direct route.

A right-wing corner was headed down by Chris Smalling, and Mkhitaryan reacted quickest by hooking the ball high into the

net from close range.

United had little trouble keeping Ajax at bay in the closing stages and the celebrations were euphoric after the match. Mourinho was thrown up in the air by his coaching staff and rolled around on the ground with his son; Pogba danced in front of United’s supporters.

It was United’s sixth European trophy and the only major piece of silverware missing from its collection.

PARIS (AP) — After months of disappointment and a lack of motivation, Andy Murray is counting on the French Open to turn his season around.

In November, Murray became the first British man to reach world No. 1 since the rankings were introduced in 1973.

The Wimbledon champion also became the first player to win a Grand Slam, the ATP World Tour Finals, the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and a Masters 1000 title all in the same calendar year.

Not surprisingly, it’s been a tough act to follow.

“I got to No. 1 in the world at the end of last year and there’s been some times this year where it’s been difficult to keep up the motivation and set new goals,” Murray said yesterday.

Murray ended last year with 24 consecutive wins, but since then he has made early exits at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid in the worst start to a year by a world number one since Pete Sampras in 1999.

“The last few months have been difficult for sure,” Murray said.” I haven’t played so well and I also had a few physical issues with my elbow around February, March time. So it’s been a difficult few months.

But over the last seven, eight years of my career I always wanted to perform at my best and play my best tennis at the Grand Slams and that’s still the case now.

“I always feel extra motivation when I come to a Slam, even if I’ve been playing badly. I’m excited to get out there and compete.

Hopefully I’ll get four or five good days of practice and preparation and I’ll have a good tournament.”

With the French Open starting on Sunday, Murray doesn’t have much time to rediscover his best form.

But the 30-year-old Scot is confident he can once again overcome adversity.

“I’m ranked No. 1 in the world, I’ve been in worse positions than this,” Murray said. “I had my back surgery which was very difficult for me. There were times when I was younger when I was struggling at lot more than this.

“For sure, the last few months have been difficult.

But I believe I can turn it around and I hope it starts here in Paris.”

Murray will also be facing some stiff challenges from the younger players on the tour.

For the first time, the top five players in the rankings are over 30, but there are several youngsters who could win their first Grand Slam in Paris.

The 20-year-old Alexander Zverev beat Novak Djokovic to win the Italian Open on Sunday, while the 23-year-old Dominic Thiem also impressed in the tournament, defeating Rafael Nadal.

“The way tennis has been going the last 10, 12 years or so it has looked like players are starting to play better as they get older, which wasn’t the case in the past, but I would say it is a bit surprising,” Murray said.

“I’m sure that will start to change soon and I’m sure the young players will break through very shortly,” he added. “But hopefully I’ll still have a few more years in the top few spots in the rankings.”

PAGE 20, Thursday, May 25, 2017

THE TRIBUNE