Nadal braced for ‘complex’ Djokovic in 52nd meeting
LONDON: Rafael Nadal described long-time rival Novak Djokovic as “one of the more complex” players he’s ever met as they prepare to clash for the 52nd time on Friday with a Wimbledon final spot at stake.
World No 1 Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion at the All England Club, trails Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 winner, 26-25 in a rivalry which began at Roland Garros 12 years ago.
Along the way, they have fought out a series of classic and epic battles, including Djokovic’s 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 Australian Open final victory in 2012. At five hours and 53 minutes, it was the longest final ever at a Slam.
“It’s always a big challenge to face Novak,” said 32-year-old Nadal who is back in the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011 when he finished runner-up to Djokovic.
“He is one of the more complex players that I ever saw in our sport. You know that you can’t win against him if you don’t play very well.”
Nadal is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title which would put him just two behind Roger Federer who was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Kevin Anderson.
KARUNARATNE CARRIES SL AFTER DISMAL START
GALLE:SRI Lanka opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne struck a defiant unbeaten hundred on his return to the side to take the hosts to a fighting first innings total in the opening test against South Africa on Thursday.
The 30-year-old remained unbeaten on 158 as the hosts finished on 287 after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in the first of the two-test series.
South Africa lost opener Aiden Markram to Rangana Herath to reach four for one at stumps.
It was Kagiso Rabada who did the maximum damage for the visitors claiming four wickets while Tabraiz Shamsi, returned figures of three for 91.
Brief scores: Sri lanka 287 in 78.4 overs (D Karunaratne 158*; K Rabada 4/50, T Shamsi 3/91) v South Africa 4/1 in four overs
WI STEADY SHIP AFTER EARLY JOLT
KINGSTON:WEST Indies were 79/2 at lunch on the first day of the second Test in Kingston on Thursday after Bangladesh chose to bowl. In all, the spinners bowled 33 of the 35 overs in the morning. Brief scores (Day 1, lunch): West Indies 79/2 (Brathwaite 33*, Mehidy 2/35) v Bangladesh.
‘KOHLI BEST BATSMAN AS SMITH IS NOT THERE’
MELBOURNE: Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes India captain Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman in the world only because Steve Smith is serving a year-long ban for his role in ball tampering at a Cape Town Test.
Asked who is the No 1 batsman in the world, Ponting said: “Right now, he (Kohli) is because Steve Smith is not there. (But) if Smith was playing now, I’d have him as the No 1 player in the world.”