07112018 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

Wimbledon, Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018

Hield looks to redeem himself at CAC Games IAAF U-20:

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER turning in a sub-par performance at the Commonwealth Games in April that resulted in a first round exit in the Gold Coast, Australia, Carl Hield is looking to redeem himself when he travels to the Central American and Caribbean Games next month in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Hield, the country’s top amateur boxer, is expected to be the lone competitor carrying the flag in the boxing ring when the games are staged from July 19 to August 3. However, the Bahamas Olympic Committee, which is responsible for the team, has not yet announced who will travel to compete.

Still in Cuba, Hield is in a training camp with boxers from Trinidad & Tobago, Colombia, Guatemala, Germany and the

Cuban national teams but my training hasn’t as they prepare for the changed,” Hield said. “It’s games. just that the referee at the “My training has been Commonwealth Games going good. I’m getting didn’t allow me to get into in some quality sparring my rhythm and so every and you could see the time I tried to perform, difference,” Hield said. she stopped me. I haven’t “I’m just looking at going changed my training from to Colombia and getting then to now. another medal.”

“I am still looking forHIELD Hield, 31, lost a 5-0 ward to putting on the decision to Terry Nicholas same type of performance. from Australia in the first round of But I’ve gotten in more sparring 32 in the men’s 69 kilogram class. and so I hope I won’t have a judge The bronze medallist in the 2010 like the one in Australia, who was games in New Delhi, India, said he new on the scene. I am looking forfelt that the referee didn’t give him ward to going to Colombia and put a chance to establish himself in the on a show. I want to get to the final fight. again and hopefully win another Having qualified for the CAC medal.”

Games at a tournament in Tijuana, Before he leaves on July 20, Mexico in March, Hield said his Hield intends to come home for goal is to go back to the games and a few days to work out all of the win another medal. details with the BOC and the “The Commonwealth Games, Bahamas Amateur Boxing FederI feel, has prepared me for CAC, ation, headed by Vincent Strachan.

While his coach in Cuba, Steven Cellular, will be in Colombia, Hield said he’s not sure yet who will travel from the Bahamas.

Whoever makes the trip, Hield said he hopes that they will be able to collaborate on his technique before he goes into the ring because it will be important to be on the same page, so there would be minimum disruption in his plans for the games.

“From the Commonwealth Games, I haven’t stopped training.

That’s why I believe I am 100 per cent ready for CAC,” Hield said.

“From I came back, we had a lot of boxers from the other countries here so I was able to get that good glove work that I needed. I got more sparring this time, so I am more prepared.”

Hield said he’s so prepared that he won’t allow anything to distract him because he wants to go to Colombia and accomplish his ultimate goal of winning a medal.

Ayton explodes for double double

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

n the eve of the Bahamas’ 45th Independence anniversary on Monday night, National Basketball Association No.1 draft pick Bahamian Deandre Ayton got a morale booster against one of his high school and new NBA rivals as he helped the Phoenix Suns blow out the Orlando Magic 71-53.

In the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Ayton exploded for a game high 17 points, 13 rebounds and a block shot in 25 minutes over Orlando’s Mohammed Bomba, who was limited to four points, five rebounds, five blocks and two steals in 22 minutes in the much anticipated match-up of two of the top big men in the recent draft.

“With all of the excitement and all the fans coming out here, it really made me a lot more comfortable and I just wanted to put on a show for them,” said Ayton during an interview with former Orlando shooting guard Dennis

O

Scott, now a commentator, on NBA TV after the game.

“To be honest, I just want to win as many games as I play.”

In their third straight game in the Summer League in Las Vegas, the performance of the 7-foot, 1-inch, 250-pound centre from the University of Arizona enabled Phoenix to remain undefeated.

Ayton, 19, said their relationship goes all the way back to high school where Bamba became a winner. Bamba, 20, starred for Westtown School in Westtown, Pennsylvania, averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds and six block shots per game, compared to Ayton’s 26 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks for the Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

“This is my first win against him. So when we were shaking hands, he said ‘you finally got one hey?’ I said ‘yeah, finally got one’”, Ayton recalled.

“We always been matched up against each other, so yeah, we’ve always been matched up

SEE PAGE 3

JOHNSON ADVANCES TO NEXT ROUND

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS the Bahamas began competition at the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s Under-20 Track and Field Championships in Tampere, Finland on Independence Day, Joel Johnson was the first athlete from Team Bahamas to advance to the next round in their event.

Competing along with Adrian Curry in the preliminaries of the men’s 100 metres yesterday at the Ratina Stadium, Johnson posted the fifth fastest qualifying time of 10.34 seconds to advance to the semifinal today after he placed second in the sixth heat behind Jamaica’s Michael Stephens, who had the second fastest time of 10.30.

JOEL JOHNSON

PHOENIX Suns’ Deandre Ayton dunks against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA summer league basketball game in Las Vegas.

(AP Photo/John Locher)

The fastest time posted in the first round was 10.30

by Lalu Muhammad Zohri from Indonesia in heat one.

In that heat was the other Bahamian, Adrian Curry, who got sixth in 10.70 for 31st overall as he failed to move on.

In today’s semi-final, Johnson will run out of heat two in lane four, sandwiched between Stephens in three and Henrik Larsson of Sweden in five. The top two in each heat and the two fastest losers will clinch their berth into the final. Also today, two more Bahamians will compete in the preliminaries of the Boys’ 110m hurdles with Denvaughn Whymns running out of lane seven in heat two with a personal and season’s best of 14.01 and Oscar Smith will be in lane five in the fifth heat with his PB and SB of 13.75.

The first three in each heat and the next three fastest losers will go onto the semi-final.

And Jaide Knowles will be competing in the preliminaries of the Girls’ 100m as well today. She will be in lane six in the last of five heats. The first four in each heat and the next four fastest losers will qualify for the semi-final. The championships wrap up on Sunday.

Holowesko wins the 45th Independence Cycling Nationals

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AS the Bahamas Cycling Federation honoured one of its former competitors/executives, one of the future stars emerged as the champion of the 45th Independence

SEE PAGE 2

National Cycling Championships Road Race.

The gruelling 74.1 mile race held around the western end of the island on Sunday was named in honour of the late Keith Lloyd, who passed away as he celebrated his 50th birthday on November 11, 2017 at his home. His wife, Petrell, along with his children, Keith Jr, Keitra and Keiron, were all on hand for the special occasion.

As for the overall race, Liam Holowesko also had his family present as he sped away with the coveted title, clocking three hours and 14 minutes and 44 seconds to hold off veteran Lee Farmer, who was second in 3:17.21.

Chad Albury, another seasoned competitor, came in third in 3:17.23.

Rounding out the top 10 in order were Kelly Kramp (4th), Randall Underwood (5th), Mark Holowesko (6th), Patrick Paul (7th), Felix Neely (8th), Lorin

PETRELL Lloyd stands next to senior winners Lee Farmer (2nd), Liam Holowesko (1st) and Randall Underwood (3rd).

Sawyer (9th) and Corey Pinder (10th).

Federation president Roy Colebrooke said the event turned out to be another exciting competition on and off the race course, based at the Clifton Heritage Park.

“I think it was a great event. We had a multitude of competitors who participated and spectators who showed up,” Colebrooke said. “What was also very great was the amount of Family Island support that we got from Spanish Wells, Grand Bahama and Exuma to participate. I think that speaks volumes about where we are headed.”

Colebrooke said the federation was delighted to join with the New Providence Cycling Association, headed by Barron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove, in recognising the late Lloyd for his contribution to the sport as one of the top

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Wednesday, July 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

FRANCE’S SAMUEL UMTITI, 2nd right, scores the opening goal yesterday during the semi-final match against Belgium at the World Cup in the St Petersburg Stadium in St Petersburg, Russia.

(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

FRANCE TOPS BELGIUM 1-0, ADVANCES TO WORLD CUP FINAL

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — France is back in the World Cup final for the first time since Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt in 2006.

Twelve years after one of soccer’s most infamous moments, Samuel Umtiti used his head to score from a corner kick in the 51st minute and earn France a 1-0 victory over Belgium yesterday in the first of the all-European semi-finals.

The French danced on the field after the final whistle and shook the hand of Thierry Henry, who helped Les Bleus win the World Cup in 1998 but had been hoping to eliminate his native country as Belgium’s assistant coach.

France’s fans sang in the stands long past the end of the match, surrounded by yellow-clad security.

They certainly hope to keep the party going on Sunday in the final in Moscow. France will face either Croatia or England, who play today at the Luzhniki Stadium in the Russian capital.

“Vive la France! Vive la Republique!” France forward Antoine Griezmann shouted during the postmatch celebrations.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a great save in each half, denying the potent Belgian attack of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku the chance to advance the country to its

FRANCE’s Samuel Umtiti celebrates after scoring his sides 1st goal of the game during the semi-final match against Belgium at the World Cup in the St Petersburg Stadium in St Petersburg, Russia.

(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) first major final. Belgium reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 World Cup and the European Championship in 2016 but has yet to fulfil its lofty expectations.

The world now gets to see France’s luxury squad, collectively valued in excess of $1 billion and headlined by teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, in another major final.

Two years ago at home, the French surprisingly lost to Portugal 1-0 in the Euro 2016 title match. In 2006, they were beaten in a penalty shootout by Italy in a World Cup final that was overshadowed by Zidane headbutting opposing

player Marco Materazzi in the chest in extra time.

Zidane was sent off in what was his final match.

In a tournament dominated by goals from set pieces, France took the lead from a corner. Griezmann curled in the ball from the right and Umtiti got in front of tall Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini to knock in his header at the near post. “It’s me that scored,” Umtiti said, “but we all delivered a big game.”

Up in the corporate seats, French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the goal by shaking the hand of King Philippe of Belgium as FIFA president Gianni

Infantino watched on between them.

The goal capped an impressive display by Umtiti, who helped to shut out the most productive attack in the World Cup with 14 goals, and meant three defenders have now scored on France’s route to the final. Benjamin Pavard and Raphael Varane scored in previous matches.

In search of the equaliser, Belgium repeatedly sent over crosses from both wings but Umtiti and Varane, both centre backs, used their bodies cleverly to hold off Fellaini and Lukaku. Varane, in particular, was outstanding.

World Cup 2018 results TUESDAY Semi-finals France Samuel Umtiti 51’

1

0

Belgium

France coach Didier Deschamps has faced some criticism for being too pragmatic and functional despite having so many stars in his squad, but the organisation of the team was superb and Belgium was largely restricted to only minor chances that were kept out by the flying Lloris.

Deschamps now has the chance to become the third person to win the World Cup as a player and a coach, after Germany great Franz Beckenbauer and Brazil’s Mario Zagallo. As France captain, Deschamps won soccer’s most prized trophy in 1998.

With Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar no longer in Russia, Eden Hazard and Mbappe have taken over as the stars of the World Cup and there was a buzz every time either got the ball.

Yet while Hazard — Belgium’s captain — faded after a strong opening 30 minutes, Mbappe was a constant threat.

His first touch was after 10 seconds and, after receiving the ball on the right wing, he sped past Jan Vertonghen and then Mousa Dembele in a thrilling run.

At 19, Mbappe wasn’t even born when France won the World Cup for the first and only time with a squad that is just as diverse as the one Deschamps is leading 20 years later.

Lloris is the captain and he played a key role against Belgium, diving to his right midway through the first half to claw away Toby Alderweireld’s shot and then getting in front of Lukaku to punch away one of substitute Dries Mertens’ many crosses.

“Unfortunately for us, the difference is just a deadball situation, a set play,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. “The game was, as you can imagine, very close, very tight, and it was going to be decided (on) maybe the one that it could find that final touch in the box.”

Instead of a trip to Moscow, Belgium will return to St Petersburg for the third-place match.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 11, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Yankees split doubleheader with Orioles BALTIMORE (AP) — Brett Gardner had four hits, homered and drove in three runs to help the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-2 Monday night for a doubleheader split.

In the opener, Danny Valencia snapped an 0-for25 skid with a three-run homer off CC Sabathia, and Baltimore ended a sixgame losing streak with a 5-4 victory.

The split left the Yankees a 4-4 record against Baltimore and dropped them 2½ games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.

The first game ended with Gardner grounding out as a pinch hitter with the potential tying run on third base.

He returned in the nightcap to torment the Orioles at the plate and in center field, where he made several fine, running catches.

RED SOX 5, RANGERS 0 BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 28th home run, Steve Pearce added a two-run shot and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched 5 2/3 innings to lead the Red Sox to a victory over the Rangers and their seventh straight win.

The Red Sox won for the 14th time in 17 games to end the day with their biggest lead over the Yankees in the AL East since April.

Boston led New York, which lost the opener of a doubleheader in Baltimore, by three games pending the outcome of the nightcap.

DODGERS 8, PADRES 2 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings, and Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner each had three hits as Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Diego.

Kershaw (3-4) improved his career mark to 18-6 against the Padres as the Dodgers moved a halfgame behind the idle Arizona Diamondbacks for

the National League West lead. Los Angeles won for the 33rd time in 48 contests.

Luis Perdomo (1-3) gave up six runs, 10 hits and three walks — one intentional — over seven innings in his second start since being recalled from TripleA El Paso.

REDS 7, INDIANS 5 CLEVELAND (AP) — Anthony DeSclafani allowed one run in seven innings, Scott Schebler was 4 for 5 with a homer, and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-5 on Monday night.

All-Star first baseman Joey Votto homered for Cincinnati, which took the opener of the team’s annual battle for the Ohio Cup and sent the AL Central leaders to their third straight loss.

Cincinnati improved to 9-2 against American League teams and is 37-36 since interim manager Jim Riggleman replaced Bryan Price on April 19.

RAYS 10, TIGERS 9 (10 innings) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Robertson hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and the Rays won for the 12th time in their last 13 home games by beating the Tigers.

Kevin Kiermaier had a one-out triple off Blaine Hardy (3-2) in the 10th.

After Matt Duffy walked, Robertson won it on his hit to center.

TWINS 3, ROYALS 1 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Eduardo Escobar had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh to support Jose Berrios’ strong outing as the Twins beat the Royals.

Escobar plated Joe Mauer with a seventhinning single as Minnesota took advantage of Kansas City’s struggling bullpen to win its fifth straight game.

candidacy a boost by hitting his NL-leading 23rd homer for Milwaukee.

In a matchup of worst against first, the Marlins ended a streak of five consecutive losses to Milwaukee.

Miami has the worst record and Milwaukee the best in the NL.

NEW York Yankees catcher Austin Romine, left, and relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos high-five after closing out the second game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday in Baltimore. New York won 10-2.

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Berrios (9-7), elected to his first All-Star game a day earlier, allowed one run on six hits in seven innings.

He struck out eight while throwing a season-high 111 pitches.

Fernando Rodney allowed a walk and hit in the ninth but secured his 20th save.

Tim Hill (1-3) surrendered both runs and got just one out in relief after starter Danny Duffy’s six scoreless innings. The Royals started the game with a leagueworst 5.29 relief ERA.

three of Oakland’s six hits, greeted him with his home run to left field to make it 1-0. He added an insurance run with a single in the eighth.

The Athletics have won three in a row and 11 of their last 13. The loss snapped Houston’s sixgame winning streak.

Montas (5-2) also allowed just three singles with two walks and two strikeouts in six innings to get back on track after yielding 17 hits and nine runs combined in his last two starts.

ATHLETICS 2, ASTROS 0 HOUSTON (AP) — Frankie Montas and two relievers combined for a five-hitter, Stephen Piscotty homered and hit an RBI single and the Athletics beat the Astros.

Houston starter Gerrit Cole struck out 11 and scattered three singles across six scoreless innings before Brad Peacock (1-4) took over for the seventh. Piscotty, who finished with

PIRATES 6, NATIONALS 3 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gregory Polanco drove in four runs in the first two innings and the Pirates went on to a victory over the Nationals.

Polanco hit a two-run double in the first as the Pirates started the game with four straight hits, then added a two-run home run in the second, his 13th of the season to extend the lead to 6-1.

Ivan Nova (5-6) worked around eight hits to hold the Nationals to three runs over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.

Felipe Vazquez pitched the ninth for his 19th save of the season as Pittsburgh won its second straight after a five-game skid.

Jefry Rodriguez (0-1) took 90 pitches to get through five innings, and was charged with all six runs.

MARLINS 4, BREWERS 3 (10 innings) MIAMI (AP) — Backup catcher Bryan Holaday hit a walk-off RBI single with one out in the 10th inning and the Marlins beat the Brewers.

Holaday, who came into the game batting .165, was in the lineup because the Marlins placed All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto on the paternity list before the game in anticipation of the birth of his first child. Jesus Aguilar gave his All-Star

METS 4, PHILLIES 3 1st Game 10 innings PHILLIES 3, METS 1 2nd Game NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Nola allowed one hit in seven shutout innings and lashed a threerun double that sent the Philadelphia Phillies past the New York Mets 3-1 on Monday for a split of their twinight doubleheader.

One night after being named to his first All-Star team, Nola (12-2) struck out 10 and won his sixth straight decision to become the only 12-game winner in the National League. With his teammates scuffling at the plate, he took care of the offense himself by doubling his career RBI total in the fifth.

GIANTS 2, CUBS 1 (11 innings) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pablo Sandoval singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning a day after driving in five runs, sending San Francisco over Chicago.

Brandon Crawford loaded the bases when he was intentionally walked

by Pedro Strop to bring up Sandoval, who hit a sharp single to left against a fiveman infield.

Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Belt started the rally with consecutive oneout singles off Steve Cishek (2-1), who entered with one out in the 10th and immediately gave up Hunter Pence’s triple before working out of trouble.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 11, 2018, PAGE 5

‘This is really happening’: Serena reaches Wimbledon semi-finals

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — There are moments in which nothing at all seems different about Serena Williams, moments such as when she unleashed a 109 mph service winner to even her Wimbledon quarterfinal at a set apiece, leaned forward and yelled, loudly as can be, “Cooome ooon!”

Or when, about 10 minutes later, she stretched for a lunging backhand winner to break at love and take control of the third set, then raised a fist, figuring a berth in her 11th semi-final at the All England Club was close at hand.

And after Williams came up with a comeback to beat 52nd-ranked Camila Giorgi of Italy 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday, she headed off Centre Court with her right index finger aloft. Yes, no matter what the rankings or seedings say, no matter how long she was away, Williams still looks capable of playing like someone who’s No. 1, just about 10 months after having a baby.

“Everything right now is a little bit of a surprise. To be here. To be in the semifinals. I mean, I always say I plan on it, I would like to be there, have these goals,” Williams said. “But when it actually happens, it still is, like, ‘Wow, this is really happening.’”

So what if she’s still getting her game in gear?

So what if Giorgi wouldn’t seem to miss while moving out to that early lead?

Williams never was worried about losing.

“It’s weird. Sometimes I feel, ‘Man, I’m in trouble.’ Sometimes I feel, ‘I can fight.’ For whatever reason, today I was so calm,” said 36-year-old American, who has been wearing compression leggings as a precaution after

SERENA WILLIAMS, of the United States, celebrates winning her singles quarter-finals match against Italy’s Camila Giorgi at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London yesterday.

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis) a blood-clot scare following her daughter’s birth. “Even when I was down the first set, I thought, ‘Well, she’s playing great. I’m doing a lot of the right things.’”

Asked whether that might represent a new way of looking at things, Williams smiled.

“No. Just to be clear, that was just today. I mean, I’m hoping this is, like, a new thing,” she said. “Honestly, I highly doubt it.”

Next up for Williams as she tries to earn her eighth title at the All England Club and 24th Grand Slam trophy overall will be a match Thursday against No. 13 seed Julia Goerges of Germany, a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 winner against No. 20 Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.

“It’s pretty unreal for me,” said Goerges, who reached her first major

semi-final at a tournament where she exited in the first round each of the past five years.

The other semi-final is No. 11 seed Angelique Kerber of Germany vs. No. 12 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.

Kerber is a former No. 1 who owns two Grand Slam titles and was the runner-up to Williams at Wimbledon two years ago. Ostapenko won last year’s French Open.

Kerber needed seven match points to close out No. 14 Daria Kasatkina of Russia 6-3, 7-5 at Centre Court, while Ostapenko defeated 2014 Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-5, 6-4 at a windy No. 1 Court.

After a series of upsets made this edition of Wimbledon the first since it

began seeding players in the 1920s that none of the top 10 women reached the quarterfinals, Nos. 11, 12 and 13 are still around. And so is No. 25, Williams.

The All England Club seeded her there as a nod to all of her past success at the grass-court major, including titles the last two times she entered, in 2015 and 2016. She missed Wimbledon a year ago because she was pregnant, going about 16 months between Grand Slam tournaments, so her ranking is just outside the top 180.

That is going to change now.

Told she is guaranteed of rising to 51st next week — and higher if she reaches the final or wins the championship — Williams joked: “Got to keep trekking on, though. Serena Williams,

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, July 10, 2018

51? Eh, it doesn’t have that same ring to it. The ‘1’ part does, but not the ‘5.’”

Williams is 3-0 against Goerges, winning in straight sets each time. “Every match starts from zero,” Goerges said. “Everybody has the same chances to win that match, and I’m looking forward to it.”

After their most recent meeting, in the French Open’s third round last month, Williams pulled out of that tournament, citing a chest muscle injury that made it too painful to serve.

She went a couple of weeks without practicing serves, and the rest did wonders. She hit one at 122 mph against Giorgi, delivered six of her seven aces in the final set, and won 44 of the last 54 points she served. “I messed up too much on my returns,” said

Giorgi, questioning her decision to stand inside the baseline to receive serve.

Rare is the player who can produce Williams’ sort of pace on serves — Giorgi’s average speeds were actually faster on first and second serves, and she delivered the match’s first three aces — and mirror her power in groundstroke exchanges at the baseline.

But Giorgi plays with nary a trace of subtlety and more than a bit of abandon, taking risky, flat chops at the ball with serves, returns, forehands and backhands.

She harbors no compunction about striving for a point-ending winner with every stroke. When she’s calibrating properly, it all can be tough for opponents to handle.

Even Williams.

Well, for a set, anyway.

DEL POTRO FACES CHALLENGES ON RETURN TO THE QUARTER-FINALS

By SAM JOHNSTON Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Juan Martin del Potro faces some major challenges if he’s going to go any further at Wimbledon after reaching consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals for the first time since 2012.

First, today he’ll take to the court for a third consecutive day amid concerns over his fitness. Second, his opponent will be twotime Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal.

2009 US Open champion Del Potro defeated Gilles Simon 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (5) in a match that was carried over to Tuesday to complete the men’s quarter-final lineup at the All England Club.

The other matchups see defending champion Roger Federer against Kevin Anderson; Novak Djokovic takes on Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic meets John Isner in a matchup of big servers.

After reaching the French Open semi-finals last month, Del Potro — who has missed long periods with a career-threatening left wrist injury — returned to his career-high ranking of No. 4 for the first time since February 2014, which he acknowledges is a “good signal”.

Del Potro’s Roland Garros run was ended by eventual champion Nadal.

If the Argentine is to make it back-to-back last four appearances, he will need to reverse that result today.

“If I want to beat him (Nadal),” Del Potro said.

“I have to come to the net very often and play hard with my forehands, with my backhands, and try to take all the chances.”

With the fifth-seeded Del Potro’s fourth-round match — the longest men’s singles

contest of the tournament so far — having required to be finished Tuesday, he will be taking to the court for a third consecutive day.

Given the fact he withdrew from a pre-Wimbledon event with a groin concern and called the trainer during his match with Simon, Del Potro’s fitness could be a factor.

There is little doubt that Nadal — who is playing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time since 2011 — will provide a big test.

Before Del Potro and Nadal arrive on Centre Court, three-time champion Novak Djokovic, will get the chance he’s been waiting for. Having played three of his matches away from Centre Court, Djokovic asked after his fourth-round win over Karen Khachanov that his meeting with 24thseeded Nishikori be played in the main stadium.

His wish was granted, meaning that top-seeded Federer will play away from Centre Court for the first time in three years.

The more gusty conditions on No. 1 Court could make Federer’s challenge against eighth-seeded Kevin Anderson more complicated. Stretching back to last year, Federer has won 32 consecutive sets at Wimbledon and will break his previous longest streak of 34 if he wins in straight sets.

Following Federer on No. 1 Court will be the two biggest servers remaining in the tournament.

Ninth-seeded Isner has hit a tournament-high 135 aces on his way to reaching his first Wimbledon quarterfinal. Next in the aces column is his opponent, 2016 runner-up Raonic. The 13th-seeded Raonic has hit 117 aces en route to his fourth last-eight showing at the All England Club.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 11, 2018, PAGE 7

Suns’ Booker signs five-year, $158 million deal

By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker, the highscoring guard at the heart of Phoenix’s rebuilding plans, has signed a five-year, $158 million maximum contract with the Suns.

Booker, 21, tweeted a photo of himself smiling as he signed the contract Saturday night, moments before the Suns announced the deal, which makes him the highest-paid player in the franchise’s history.

The 13th overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Kentucky, Booker has averaged 19.8 points per game in his three NBA seasons. He averaged 24.9 points last season, shooting 38 per cent from 3-point range. He won the NBA 3-point contest at All-Star weekend in February.

Booker set a franchise record by scoring 70 points in a game at Boston on March 24, 2017, just the sixth player in NBA history to score that many.

“I am humbled & honoured to commit to the Suns organisation long term,” he wrote.

“I loved calling Phoenix home the last 3 seasons as this team & community are special to me.

“Thank you to the Suns for drafting me and believing in me. I look forward to the future & pursuing a title as a Sun.” The announced signing came five days after Booker and his agent met with Suns owner Robert Sarver, general manager Ryan McDonough and vice president of basketball operations James Jones in Los Angeles to discuss the contract.

The contract takes effect in the 2019-20 season. “‘Book’ has been a pillar for the Suns franchise ever since he arrived in Phoenix in 2015,” McDonough said in a news release announcing the signing.

“Devin and the team both wanted to extend this agreement with the club as long as we possibly could.

SUNS guard Devin Booker has signed a five-year, $158 million maximum contract with the Suns. (AP)

This agreement reflects a commitment from both parties to the Phoenix community, the state of Arizona and Suns fans worldwide.”

Booker topped 4,000 career points last March 2, becoming the third-youngest player to reach that milestone. Only LeBron

James and Kevin Durant were younger.

But while Booker has amassed big individual statistics, there has been little team success.

The Suns have missed the playoffs the last eight seasons and had the worst record in the NBA last

season at 21-61. After the season, Booker said his days of missing the playoffs were over. That may be a bit optimistic, but the team added to its talented core of young players bigtime when it selected centre Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in the

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

A couple of showers and a t‑storm

Clouds and sun with a thunderstorm

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Sun and some clouds with a shower

Pleasant with partial sunshine

High: 88°

Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 79°

High: 88° Low: 76°

High: 88° Low: 77°

High: 89° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

97° F

88° F

98°-89° F

98°-86° F

98°-85° F

98°-84° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

4‑8 knots

S

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

4‑8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 73° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

4‑8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 90° F/32° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 24.65” Normal year to date ................................... 15.71”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 83° F/28° C

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

6:36 a.m.

7:14 p.m.

2.7 3.6

12:48 a.m. 0.0 12:46 p.m. ‑0.4

Thursday

7:32 a.m.

8:07 p.m.

2.8 3.8

1:43 a.m. ‑0.2 1:41 p.m. ‑0.6

Friday

8:28 a.m.

9:00 p.m.

3.0 3.8

2:36 a.m. ‑0.3 2:36 p.m. ‑0.6

Saturday

9:23 a.m.

9:53 p.m.

3.0 3.8

3:29 a.m. ‑0.4 3:31 p.m. ‑0.6

Sunday

10:18 a.m.

10:45 p.m.

3.1 3.7

4:21 a.m. ‑0.4 4:27 p.m. ‑0.4

Monday

11:15 a.m.

11:39 p.m.

3.1 3.5

5:13 a.m. ‑0.4 5:24 p.m. ‑0.2

Tuesday

12:12 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.1 ‑‑‑‑‑

6:06 a.m. ‑0.3 6:23 p.m. 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

4‑8 knots

S

6‑12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

6:28 a.m.

8:03 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

4:50 a.m.

6:42 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Jul. 12

Jul. 19

Jul. 27

Aug. 4

CAT ISLAND

E

W

draft. Ayton and fellow first-rounder Mikal Bridges join Booker and Josh Jackson as the talented young core of the team under new coach Igor Kokoskov.

Booker will be 26, and presumably approaching his prime, when the new contract expires.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

6‑12 knots

6‑12 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SE at 7‑14 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 0‑1 Feet 0‑1 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 1 Miles 10 Miles 3 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 81° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 83° F 82° F 78° F 78° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 83° F 83° F

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

HOME INSURANCE

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PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 11, 2018

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