Court’s now just a ‘crazy aunt’
RAFA NADAL told Nick Kyrgios he is a potential Grand Slam winner with his new “positive attitude” despite beating him at the Australian Open.
And the Aussie already know that.”
Kyrgios fought back tears as he walked out for the fourthround clash wearing a yellow LA Lakers singlet in tribute to Kobe Bryant. But world No1 Nadal, below, was pretty in pink as he punched the air after claiming the colourful encounter.
It was the same score – 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 – as in their last meeting at Wimbledon last summer but it felt different, the two even exchanging warm pleasantries at the net at the end.
Peace has broken out in their feud – and
Kyrgios has gone up in the estimations of the Australian public and the world’s best player. Nadal even said it was OK replied:
“I to try a sneaky underarm serve, as Kyrgios did in the third set. The world No26 still got a warning for smashing his racket and moaned at a line judge and his player box. His lack of effort has been noted in the past but here he was full systems go – and his 100 tournament aces will see him donate A$20,000 (about £10,000) to Bushfire Relief. Nadal said: “When he is playing with this positive attitude, he gives a lot of things to our sport. I like the Nick Kyrgios during this tournament. “His talent is one of the best in the world, with good chances to fight for every tournament.” Kyrgios said: “I appreciate it but I already know that. I’ve known for four years. But the trouble for me is being able
JOHN McENROE has slammed Margaret Court as a “crazy aunt” while urging Serena Williams to win two more Grand Slams and leave her “in the past”.
The controversial 24-time Slam winner was presented with a replica Australian Open trophy to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her calendar-year Grand Slam. But Court, right, now to produce the same attitude over and over again. I’m just taking it day by day, trying to be positive.
“I feel like I’ve made progress as a human this summer. A tennis player, I don’t really care about as much. But I feel good.”
Kyrgios said of his Bryant tribute: “Basketball is practically my life – I watch it every day.
“If you look at the things he stood for, what he wanted to be remembered by. I felt like, if anything, it helped me tonight. When I was down a break in the fourth, I was definitely thinking about it. I fought back.”
Nadal faces Dominic Thiem in his 41st Slam quarter-final after some incredible defence. The third set was arguably the best of the tournament so far. Once Kyrgios, the first player to take a set off Nadal in this tournament, shouted: “I can’t get through him.”
The Spaniard’s level dropped only when he served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set.
“I played a bad game,” he said. “Sometimes I am nervous and I can make mistakes.”
77 and a Christian minister, has divided opinion with her views on marriage equality and transgender athletes.
McEnroe said: “There’s only one thing longer than the list of Margaret Court’s tennis achievements – it’s her list of offensive and homophobic statements.”
ON THIS DATE IN SPORTING HISTORY
1911: Henri Rougier won was named Super Bowl the first Monte Carlo Rally Most Valuable Player for a driving a Turcat-Mery. record third time. 1990: In one of the most 2002: The Prost Formula one-sided - and, at the One team, owned by time, record-scoring - of former world champion Super Bowls, the San Alain Prost, were put into Francisco 49ers beat the liquidation by a French Denver Broncos 55-10 in court.
New Orleans. 49ers 2004: Manager Sir Alex quarterback Joe Montana Ferguson signed a
one-year rolling contract with Manchester United, to commence in July 2005. He remained in the post until 2012-13. 2005: Newcastle agreed a fee of £6million with Birmingham for Craig Bellamy. However, rather than move to the Blues, the striker joined Celtic on loan three days later.
2007: Roger Federer won his third Australian Open singles title by beating Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
I took a break, but soon realised
I had unfinished business – sport is so addictive and I’d definitely caught the bug!
So I jumped back in and began training for Rio 2016.
Winning a gold medal in Brazil spurred my desire to continue as an elite athlete. But I was looking for another challenge. Paratriathlon has always interested me and, in 2017, I was given the opportunity to make the move through UK Sport’s World Class Talent Transfer programme. This helps athletes who want to explore their potential in a different sport.
It means I still receive support from The National Lottery, which is amazing.
I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the funding from players. Transferring to paratriathlon was way out of my comfort zone. You might think the swimming leg would be a breeze for me. But competing in a pool and in open water are so different. And it’s pretty disconcerting to have unknown creatures swimming around you!
All in all, it’s been a real challenge and a steep learning curve. However, as I’m the current World Champion, I couldn’t be happier that I made the change.
I’m feeling really good and, although I still need to qualify, I’m excited at even the thought of competing at the Tokyo Games this summer.