Djokovic hails ‘ wolf’ mentor
KATHERINE Kirk drained a 12foot putt to save par on the closing hole as she fired a 65 yesterday to grab a four- shot lead after the third round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
The 35- year- old Australian was at 20- under 196 as she aimed for her third career LPGA title in the final test before next week’s US Women’s Open.
“I know I can putt well, but I think I’m like pushing the limits right now,” said Kirk, who hasn’t won on the Tour since 2010. “It’s fun. I mean, I made, I think, a 19- footer on 17 and a 19- footer there for par. It’s unexpected, but you certainly take them when you can.”
Kirk, of Brisbane, held a solid lead over South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai, who also shot a seven- under 65 in the third round.
Japan’s Ayako Uehara and Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England were tied for third after shooting 65 and 66 respectively. Suzann Pettersen ( 66) and Cristie Kerr ( 67) headlined a group of seven golfers at 12- under 204, eight shots behind Kirk.
Kirk was safely in the clubhouse with a second- round 63 before storms halted play. AUSTRALIAN women led the way on the second day of the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne with a gold medal in the lightweight quadruple scull — and a World Cup record.
Amy James, Alice Arch, Georgia Miansarow and Georgia Nesbitt beat Great Britain and Japan in their match- up as they raced off with the gold in a time of 6.26.32.
This broke the previous best World Cup mark set in 2008 by two seconds.
“It was a good race, we had a good start and then we held and listened to the calls,” Miansarow said.
Australia’s second medal of the day came in the men’s coxed pair.
Ben Coombs, Nathan Bowden and cox James Rook finished behind Germany with Spain third.
“There was really great communication through the guys today,” said Rook. “We threw the kitchen sink at it and really went for it.”
The Australians were hoping for more medals with crews in six finals overnight. NOVAK Djokovic calls him the Wolf Of Wall Street.
Unlike Jordan Belfort, the disgraced former stockbroker famed by Leonardo DiCaprio, Mario Ancic is no fraud.
In fact, Djokovic believes Ancic holds the key to a fourth Wimbledon crown after luring the former Croat star away from his career as a lawyer in New York.
“Ever since Mario ended his career, he went a different direction, went into the financial world,” Djokovic said ahead of a fourth- round clash with Adrian Mannarino. “He’s very successful. He’s very smart. “He was one of the very few players and athletes, as a matter of fact, that have been successful and during their active career studied, which is not an easy thing.
“So I always had that admiration, respect for him, but mostly that friendship that we carried on even after his career ended.
“We were always in touch, seen each other while I was in New York.
“I asked him if he would like to spend a time with Andre ( Agassi) and I during Wimbledon. So he accepted.”
Since hooking up with Agassi and Djokovic, 2004 Wimbledon semi- finalist Ancic has been credited with rebuilding Djokovic’s crumbling self- belief.
“Mario has been my friend for very long time. I feel very relaxed next to him,” he said.
Djokovic surged into the round of 16 with a 6- 4 6- 1 7- 6 ( 7- 2) dismissal of Latvian Ernests Gulbis. He was joined by a string of notables, including Roger Federer, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Tomas Berdych.