Kane will give it stick SA’s Klaasen in world ATP doubles win
MAURICIO Pochettino believes Harry Kane is on course to become a Tottenham Hotspur great after the striker scored the 100th club goal of his career.
Kane, 23, scored a first half hattrick in his club’s 4-0 victory over Stoke City, reaching the century mark with his first goal and ending the game with his season tally on 22 goals.
The striker’s effort helped Spurs bounce back after the disappointment of going out of the Europa League against Gent this week and Pochettino believes Kane’s all-round display confirmed his qualities as one of the world’s most dangerous forwards.
“Harry has the profile to be a legend (at Tottenham),” said the Spurs manager. “Maybe he’s starting to be a legend with the goals he’s scoring and the way he behaves.
“Sometimes he’s upset with me. Sometimes he is happy. He has a strong character.”
Stoke manager Mark Hughes, a former striker with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, added his voice to the praise directed Kane’s way.
He said: “There’s great movement around him and that causes consternation. He benefits from that. He’s in a good team and he’s a good player and when it all clicks they’re very difficult to stop.”
Kane also set up Dele Alli for his side’s fourth goal as the midfielder delivered the ideal response after being sent off against Gent.
Alli was heavily criticised for the first half challenge that brought a straight red card and the player admitted it had been a difficult 72 hours.
He said: “I felt horrible after the game in the week. I’m delighted to respond like this today.”
And his manager offered his full support for the 20-year-old.
“I will always protect him. His character and the way he behaves, sometimes can make a mistake but I want him on the pitch and I want him next to me,” said Pochettino.
The win moved Tottenham up to second place.
Hughes demanded improvements ahead of Stoke’s next game against Middlesbrough.
He said: “Spurs are a good side, give them credit. But every one of the goals (was) poor from our point view.” — AFP SOUTH African tennis players enjoyed a good week on the ATP World Tour, ATP Challenger and ITF Futures circuit.
Cape Town-based doubles ace Raven Klaasen teamed up with his American partner, Rajeev Ram, to win the ATP Delray Beach Open in Delray Beach, USA on Sunday.
Second seeds Klaasen and Ram beat third seeds Treat Huey of Philippines and Max Mirnyi of Belarus 7-5, 7-5 to win their fourth ATP World Tour doubles title as a team and first of 2017.
“I think Rajeev and I have done some good things to improve our games,” King William’s Town-born Klaasen said.
Lloyd Harris impressed in Japan when he reached the semi-finals of the Shimadzu All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships played in Kyoto.
Nineteen-year-old Harris, South Africa’s second highest ranked singles player after Kevin Anderson, lost to sixth seed Blaz Kavcic in the last four 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (5/7).
Harris had to qualify for the tournament and then upset top seed Yuichi Sugita of Japan in straight sets, en route to the final.
Davis Cup player Nik Scholtz reached the semifinals of the Egypt Futures in Sharm El Sheikh, while his Davis Cup teammate Dean O’Brien together with American Kevin King reached the doubles final of the ATP Challenger in Morelos, Mexico.
For Klaasen and Ram it was their first ATP World Tour doubles title of 2017.
The South AfricanAmerican pair also won in 2015 and 2016 at the Gerry Weber Open and last year at the Chengdu Open.
They improved their FedEx ATP Head2Head against Huey/Mirnyi to 2-0, adding to their win in the semi-finals of Miami Open.
Both players have excelled before in Delray, with Ram winning the 2011 doubles title with Scott Lipsky and Klaasen finishing runner-up in 2015 with Leander Paes.
Klaasen couldn’t take his chance to serve out the set at 5-4, but the second seeds responded with a break in the next game before Ram held to grab the early lead.
The second seeds rallied from 1-3 down in the second set, breaking Huey/ Mirnyi again at 5-5 and converting on their fourth match point to come out on top in 90 minutes.
Klaasen/Ram pick up 250 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $29 010 (R375 206).
Huey/Mirnyi, who were also competing in their first ATP World Tour final of the season, earn 150 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $15 250 (R197 238). — Reuters last year’s