Federer recovers to beat Zverev
PARIS: Wimbledon champion Roger Federer made a winning return to action as he recovered from a set down to beat Germany’s Mischa Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Stuttgart Open on Wednesday.
Federer showed signs of rust early on against Zverev but it did not take too long for him to rediscover his rhythm. Federer had some early chances but could not take them and it was Zverev who struck first when he broke to love to lead 5-3 before a couple of aces helped him pocket the opening set.
It was the first set Zverev, older brother of world number three Alexander, had ever taken from Federer in six attempts and a shock looked on the cards when he had a break point in the opening game of the second set.
Federer, who will be seeking a ninth Wimbledon title next month, eventually found some magic with a backhand winner to break for a 4-2 lead but the 36-year-old handed the advantage straight back in the next game. He then broke to love in the 10th game to take the match into a decider that became oneway traffic as Federer surged into a 4-1 lead.
PRAJNESH SHOCKS SHAPOVALOV
NEW DELHI: Indian Davis Cupper Prajnesh Gunnewaran on Wednesday earned the biggest win of his career by stunning world No 23 Denis Shapovalov in the opening round of the ATP Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.
The left-handed Indian shocked the Canadian sixth seed 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3 in the opening round of the Euro 729,340 grass court event. Prajnesh, who had won the decisive fifth rubber against Yibing Wu in the Davis Cup tie against China, has been in good nick in the last few months, winning his maiden ATP Challenger tournament.
Two days back, he touched his career-best rank of 169 in singles. He next faces Argentina’s world No 75 Guido Pella and may run into legendary Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.
The Indian singles player have made their presence felt on the Tour with their big wins, of late. Yuki Bhambri had got the better of world No 12 Lucas Pouille in March at the Indian Wells Masters. In August 2017, Bhambri had beaten World No 22 and Citi Open defending champion Gael Monfils and in June 2017, Ramkumar Ramanathan had knocked out then world No 8 Dominic Thiem.
OLYMPIC LONG JUMPER RUTHERFORD RETIRES
LONDON : Britain’s Greg Rutherford who won Olympic long jump gold on ‘Super Saturday’ at the 2012 Olympics in London will retire at the end of the season he