NST Online: Sports

Tennis / Malaysian Open: Tipsarevic rules supreme

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 05:20 PM PDT

2011/10/03
By Ajitpal Singh and Fadhli Ishak
nstsport@nstp.com.my

Janko Tipsarevic was hard-pressed by Marcos Baghdatis before winning 6-4, 7-5. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

SERBIA'S Janko Tipsarevic has compatriot Viktor Troicki to thank after he captured his maiden career ATP Tour title at the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Tipsarevic, the third seed, turned in an inspired performance to end Cypriot wild card Marcos Baghdatis' gallant run in the tournament with a 6-4, 7-5 win in the 127-minute final.

The World No 17 turned to Troicki, who lost to Baghdatis in the semi-finals, for tips on playing the Cypriot just hours before the final.

"Troicki told me not to feel frustrated or get angry if I drop points on my serve as Baghdatis also gives chances to break him on his serve. I remembered his advice when Baghdatis had broken me once to lead 3-0 in the first set," said Tipsarevic, who turned professional in 2002, at Putra Stadium.

On what he did differently at the Malaysian Open, Tipsaveric said he mixed his game with a variety of defensive and offensive shots.

"In previous finals, I played either too offensive or too defensive but today (yesterday) I balanced it and it made a difference. This victory means a lot especially to win it here where I feel very comfortable," he said.

It was a nervy start for Tipsarevic, a finalist at Delray Beach and Eastbourne this season, as he struggled with his first serve in his opening two service games and found himself down 3-1 in the first set.

But the 27-year-old rallied back by mixing his shots to break Baghdatis' serve twice to take a 5-3 lead before his opponent won the next game to reduce the deficit.

The Belgrade-born, however, remained calm to claim the 10th game on his serve for the first set in 52 minutes.

Baghdatis started confidently in the second set by holding serve in the first game but Tipsarevic raised his game to break the third and fifth games for a 4-1 lead.

The champion lost the following two games but managed to hold his serve in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. Tipsarevic, however, got nervous and allowed Baghdatis back into the match as the World No 60 levelled proceedings at 5-5.

After breaking the 11th game for a 6-5 lead, Tipsarevic, who was on serve in the next game clinched the winning point on his third match point attempt after Baghdatis had hit his return into the net.

"I admit I felt a bit nervous as I've not won a title before in the closing stages of the match but luckily I managed to recover in time." he added.

Tipsarevic left for Tokyo yesterday to compete in the Japan Open where he will open his campaign against Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the first round on Wednesday.

Motor racing / Rally Hokkaido: Proton proving to be dominant force

Posted: 02 Oct 2011 05:18 PM PDT

Championship leader Proton's Alister McRae (right) finished third in Round Five of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship in Japan yesterday.

PROTON emerged a dominant force in Rally Hokkaido with three cars finishing on the podium in Round Five of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) in Japan yesterday.

In the main event, Alister McRae turned around his misfortunes on Saturday to finish third in the Satria Neo S2000.

Beginning the second leg 31.4 seconds adrift of second-placed Katsuhiko Taguchi in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, McRae won two of the morning's four special stages to close the gap to within 18.5s.

McRae kept the pressure on the two front running Mitsubishis but in the end had to be content with third place despite closing the gap to within 8.8s and being the fastest driver on Leg Two of the rally.

The results in Japan will set the stage for a three-way battle for this year's APRC crown with McRae leading Proton teammate Chris Atkinson followed by Indian driver Gaurav Gill in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

The final round of the APRC will be held in Longyou, China in November.

"We had a good run in Japan considering the terrain and stages suited the turbo-charged four-wheel drive cars better," said Proton motorsports head Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood.

"The results might have been different had it not been for McRae's puncture and Atkinson's retirement on the first day but that's the nature of rallying.

"Having said that the Satria Neo S2000 performed well against the more powerful turbo-charged cars and the results are testimony to the level of progress we have made in terms of development of the car."

An equally celebrated result for Proton in Rally Hokkaido was the dominant drive demonstrated by its two Group N 1600 Satria Neos.

Proton clinched two more podium finishes with Malaysian Karamjit Singh and Japanese teammate Akira Bamba finishing first and second respectively in the APRC 1600cc Two Wheel Drive category.

Bamba also secured the inaugural FIA APRC Junior Championship title with the Cusco prepared Proton Satria Neo Group N rally car.

Another Malaysian driver Gunaseelan Rajoo meanwhile, clinched the Class 'A' title in the APRC 1600cc Two Wheel Drive category.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Ahad, 2 Oktober 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan