Pliskova upstages Azarenka
WIMBLEDON In battle of former No. 1s, the Czech player beats Belarusian opponent in straight sets LONDON:
Seventh seed Karolina Pliskova won a battle of former world number ones as she beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time on Wednesday. Big-serving Czech Pliskova reached the top of the rankings a year ago at Wimbledon despite losing in the second round — the fifth year in succession she had lasted only two matches.
From the moment Azarenka dropped serve with a loose error in the third game, Pliskova always looked likely to break that sequence against the Belarussian who is still trying to rediscover her past form after returning from having a baby. Azarenka tried to fire herself up when she resisted some pressure to hold serve at the start of the second set.
But Pliskova broke for a 5-3 lead and was then helped by two Azarenka double faults that brought groans from the sedate crowd who had been hoping for something more exciting.
“I think I was pretty solid today, I think I was really strong on my serve which was really important,” the 26-year-old Pliskova said after walking off court.
“Very happy with my victory as it is the first time I am in the third round here. The last few years I was waiting for a good result and it still didn’t come, maybe this year is the time; I am feeling great.”
RAONIC ADVANCES
Milos Raonic hit 34 aces to beat John Millman of Australia in straight sets and reach the third round. The 2016 runner-up won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) in a match that only featured one break of serve for each player in the second set. Raonic reached the third round for a sixth straight year, having lost to eventual champion Roger Federer in last year’s quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania became the first player to book a place in the third round. The 29th-seeded Buzarnescu beat Katie Swan of Britain 6-0, 6-3, clinching the match with a backhand winner. She was joined in the third round minutes later by 10th-seeded Madison Keys of the US, who dispatched Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand 6-4, 6-3.
Lionel Messi
In 2017, Messi signed a lifetime contract with Adidas, the value of which is yet to be revealed. Some of his other endorsements include Gatorade, Tata Motors and Huawei Technologies.
Lebron James
At the end of 2015, LeBron James signed a lifetime contract with Nike. Though the exact terms of the deal were never reported, the deal is pegged upwards of $1 billion. Roger Federer, on Monday signed a 10-year deal with Japanese fashion brand, Uniqlo for $300 million. HT takes you through some big deals.
ADIDAS NIKE
James Harden
In August 2015, James Harden, an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets, agreed to a deal with Adidas worth a combined $200 million over 13 years.
Kevin Durant
In September 2014, Kevin Durant signed a 10-year contract with Nike. The deal has the potential to reach $300 million and includes a $50 million retirement package. Nike, whose seven-year deal that guaranteed Durant $60 million was expiring, made an offer of about $20 million a year but that was far from what Durant was looking for.
Stephen Curry
At the end of 2013, Curry signed for Under Armour in a deal worth just under $4 million per year. In September 2015, he extended his deal with the brand to carry him through the 2024 season. Curry is invaluable to Under Armour because the brand has trademarked phrases associated solely with the basketball star. CBS Sports said Curry might be worth up to $14.1bn to Under Armour.
Derrick Rose
In 2012, Adidas made a major money move by inking NBA point guard Derrick Rose to a 14-year, $185 million deal. The deal called for annual retainers of $12 million per season from 2012–13 until ’16–17. (This season, he is entitled to $11 million). It also included annual royalties of up to $6.25 million per year, as much as $4.8 million in annual appearance fees and use of a private plane.
Kobe Bryant
Bryant signed a four-year, $40 million deal with Nike, a leading athletic apparel company in June 2003 after being wooed away
ADIDAS NIKE UNDER ARMOUR ADIDAS NIKE