The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Ferrer dents Andy’s hopes and Nadal beats Fish despite a tummy upset
- Hee-young lifts maiden title in season’s final tournament
- Mulroy holds off Murray to win Alfred Dunhill tourney
| Ferrer dents Andy’s hopes and Nadal beats Fish despite a tummy upset Posted: 21 Nov 2011 04:47 PM PST LONDON: Spain's David Ferrer dented Andy Murray's hopes of winning the ATP World Tour Finals on home turf in London with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over the world number three yesterday. Ferrer, ranked fifth in the world, had lost his last four meetings with Murray but he overwhelmed the Scot with some impressive baseline play to set the pace in Group A. Murray had won all five of his previous encounters with Ferrer on hard courts, including a victory in the recent Shanghai final that capped the Scot's triumphant Asian tour. Since losing to Rafael Nadal in the US Open semi-finals, Murray has won 17 of his 18 matches, a remarkable run that brought him titles in Thailand, Japan and China and lifted him above Roger Federer to third place in the world rankings. But he appeared hindered by a leg injury from midway through the first set at the O2 Arena and was never at ease as Ferrer's fierce competitive instincts kept him off balance. Murray didn't help his cause with 44 unforced errors and he will need to improve significantly if he is to qualify for the semi-final from a group that also includes world number one Novak Djokovic and former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych. "I'm sorry for the people and for Andy as he is a good friend but I'm happy to win the first game here in London," Ferrer said. Murray landed an early blow as he broke in the third game when Ferrer sent a forehand into the net. But Ferrer, a finalist in this event back in 2006, hasn't become a mainstay in the top 10 without a ferocious competitive streak of his own and, aided by three Murray errors, he broke straight back in the next game. Another break point slipped through Murray's grasp at 4-4 and he was made to pay as Ferrer took the set. The Scot saved one set point at 4-5 but couldn't repel the second as a miscued forehand - one of a host of uncharacteristic mistakes from Murray - drifted wide. Murray called for a medical time-out to get treatment on his left leg during the break between sets. If his body was feeling the strain, Murray got the perfect balm with a break in the opening game of the second set after Ferrer carelessly netted on break-point. Once again, the tenacious Ferrer responded impressively and secured a break of his own to level at 2-2. Murray's movement still seemed slightly restricted by his injury, but he found enough rhythm to break Ferrer for a 4-3 lead. That advantage swiftly disappeared as Ferrer, playing with real aggression from the baseline, broke back in the next game. Murray just didn't have any answer to Ferrer's metronomic consistency and the Spaniard closed out the match with the decisive break at 5-6. A cool volley brought up match-point and he converted it with an emphatic cross-court winner. On Sunday a sickly Rafael Nadal was pushed to the limit by Mardy Fish in his opening Group B match. The Spaniard, playing his first competitive match after a month long lay-off, needed nearly three hours and a rush to the toilet because of a "terrible stomach" to subdue the American tournament debutant, winning a late–night thriller 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3). Nadal had to rely on his endless reserves of fighting spirit to scrape past Fish. "The third set was a bit crazy," the 25-year-old said. "I felt very bad from the stomach since the beginning of the third. I was seriously lucky for the victory." Asked what the problem was, Nadal said it was a mystery. "I ate pasta and salmon at the hotel before the match, nothing strange, nothing unusual," said Nadal, who will face Roger Federer in their eagerly-anticipated Group B match today. — Agencies Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Hee-young lifts maiden title in season’s final tournament Posted: 21 Nov 2011 04:50 PM PST ORLANDO: South Korean Park Hee–young (pic) won her first LPGA crown on Sunday, holding off Germany's Sandra Gal to win the season-ending US$1.5mil LPGA Titleholders tournament by two strokes. Hee–young parred the final 10 holes in a two–under 70 to finish 72 holes on nine–under 279 with Gal, who shared the lead with the Korean after 54 holes, firing a 72 to share second position with American Paula Creamer on 281. "A lot of people would say, 'Why can't you win?' Now I can say I can win any time," Hee–young said. "Dreams do come true." She took the US$500,000 top prize and a breakthrough victory in her fourth LPGA season. The 24–year–old South Korean jumped from 32nd into the top 12 on the season money list. "It was difficult on the greens," Hee–young said. "Pin positions were tough. I did the same as in the other rounds, hit for the middle and get it in (for birdie)." World No. 2 Suzann Pettersen of Norway and South Korean Choi Na–yeon shared fourth position on 282, one stroke ahead of Americans Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr and World No. 1 Tseng Yani of Taiwan. Hee–young had cracked the top–10 only twice all season until Sunday, but a third–place effort at the Safeway Classic in August was enough to earn her a spot in the elite field for the season finale at Grand Cypress Resort. She took a bogey at the par-three fourth but answered with birdies on three of the next four holes, back–to–back birdies on the fifth and par-three sixth and another at the par–three eighth. Gal took a bogey at eight but responded with a birdie at the ninth to make the turn two strokes off Park's pace. Gal stumbled back with a bogey at the par–three 12th but answered with back–to–back birdies to close within a stroke. "With three or four holes left, I was feeling the pressure," Hee–young said. "I just tried the same routine and hit my targets. I tried hard." Gal missed a five–footer for par at the 15th and Hee–young followed by sinking a tense four–foot par putt to seize a two–stroke edge, a margin she kept to the 18th tee. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Mulroy holds off Murray to win Alfred Dunhill tourney Posted: 21 Nov 2011 03:08 PM PST MALELANE (South Africa): Home favourite Garth Mulroy held off a spirited final–round challenge from Briton George Murray to win his first Tour title by two shots at the Alfred Dunhill Champion-ship in South Africa on Sunday. The world No 281 posted a final round four–under 68 to finish on 19–under 269, clear of Murray (67) with four players four strokes further back in third. Mulroy sparkled on the back nine on Saturday when he carded five straight birdies, and his game was again on song for Sunday's final stretch when he notched up four birdies, including a monster putt for a two at the par–three 16th. "I don't think I've ever raised my hand before a putt went in, but I did it there," the 33–year–old said at the trophy presentation ceremony. World No 95 George Coetzee of South Africa, the highest–ranked player in the field, hit a 69 to finish tied third (275) with compatriot Jaco van Zyl (67), Chile's Felipe Aguilar (72) and Briton Peter Whiteford (71). Mulroy began the final round holding a two–shot lead but he gave a shot back almost immediately with a bogey on the par–five second hole. The dropped shot left him in a three–way tie with fellow South Africans Jbe Kruger and Hennie Otto but Mulroy gradually found his rhythm on the picturesque Gary Player–designed course on the border of the Kruger National Park game reserve. Mulroy fired four birdies in eight holes to move to 18–under after 13 and take a three–shot lead. But a fast–finishing Murray provided Mulroy with a few anxious moments. Murray, who began the day on 12–under, made a solid if unspectacular start to his fourth round as he reeled off seven consecutive pars but he made his charge with three birdies from the eighth to the 11th holes. The 28–year–old Murray rushed into a share for the lead thanks to a 15–foot eagle putt on the par–five 15th while Mulroy bogeyed the par–four 14th after finding the rough off the tee. Mulroy, playing with a distinctive yellow golf ball, edged back in to a one–stroke lead with a birdie on the 15th hole before slamming the door on his opponents thanks to a 45–foot birdie putt on the par–three 16th. – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan