01-20-2020, 06:27 AM
Melbourne, Australia (SportsNetwork.com) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, three- time runner-up Andy Murray and four-time champion Roger Federer were among Thursdays winners, while fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro was a stunning second-round loser on another brutally hot day at the Australian Open. On a day when the temperature soared to a sweltering 110 degrees and the show courts were covered by their retractable roofs, the 2009 champion Nadal put on a clinic in beating 17-year-old Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena. "Very happy to see the roof out there today," Nadal said. The reigning U.S. and French Open champion, who was a runner-up at Melbourne Park two years ago, will meet oft-injured, flashy former top-10 Frenchman Gael Monfils on Saturday. Nadal beat Monfils in a final at an Aussie Open tune-up in Doha just two weeks ago. The stifling weather on Day 4 resulted in the tournaments Extreme Heat Policy being put into effect, suspending action on the outside courts for a few hours. And there was also some rain, lightning and thunder on a wild- weather Thursday. The biggest shock of the first four days occurred early Friday morning in Melbourne when capable Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut toppled the former U.S. Open champion del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, with play wrapping up at 1:20 a.m. local time. Bautista Agut set himself up with a match point via ace, moving the score to 40-15 in the 12th game of the final set, and sent del Potro packing when the big Argentine netted one final forehand return after 3 hours, 50 minutes. The 6-foot-6 "Delpo" has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in Melbourne and exited in the third round here last year. Meanwhile, a fourth-seeded Murray got past game Frenchman Vincent Millot 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 at Laver, where the roof was re-opened after the weather improved. Murray won the last 23 points of the match to come back from 1-5 down in the third set. "It was 6-5 when I went to serve for it, and someone shouted out, You won 19 in a row," Murray said. "I would say thats probably the most Id ever won in my career by far. I dont really know how I did it." The two-time major titlist and reigning Wimbledon champion lost to Novak Djokovic in last years marquee Aussie finale. Murrays third-round opponent will be Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez. The sixth-seeded former No. 1 Federer played under the roof at Hisense Arena and dismissed Slovenias Blaz Kavcic 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) for his 70th career win at the Aussie Open (70-8). The 17-time Grand Slam king is seeking his first Aussie title since 2010. Federer said he didnt mind the switch to Hisense after hed played 63 consecutive matches at Laver Arena since 2004. "It was nice ... its not really different to Rod Laver Arena really," Federer said. "Dimensions feel the same, the crowds were really nice, great atmosphere. I was happy playing there." The 32-year-old Federer will return to the court against Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili on Saturday. Tenth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 runner-up to Djokovic, topped Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-4, while 11th- seeded Canadian slugger Milos Raonic downed Romanian veteran Victor Hanescu 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 6-4. Tsonga will take on fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon, while Raonic will tangle with rising Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 32. Sixteenth-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori reached the third round by besting Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) prior to the suspension of play. Nishikoris next opponent will be American Donald Young, who upset 24th-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. In other action involving seeds, a No. 18 Simon outlasted Croat Marin Cilic 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-2; the No. 22 Dimitrov defeated Taiwans Yen-Hsun Lu 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (13-11); a No. 25 Monfils sacked American Jack Sock 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, 6-2; a No. 26 Lopez erased German Michael Berrer 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4; No. 27 Frenchman Benoit Paire fought back to stop promising 18- year-old Nick Kyrgios, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the final result of the day; and Gabashvili took out No. 31 Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Paire-Kyrgios ended at 1:40 a.m. after 3 hours, 20 minutes. Paires third-round opponent will be the sweet-swinging Bautista Agut. Two other results saw Frances Stephane Robert get past Pole Michal Przysiezny 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1 and Slovak Martin Klizan beat Slovenian Blaz Rola 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2). Robert and Klizan will square off on Day 6. Also on Thursday, it was learned that eighth seed Stan Wawrinka received a walkover into the fourth round when 28th-seeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil pulled out of the draw. The third round will get underway Friday, including a match for the second- seeded former world No. 1 Djokovic. Seeking a fourth straight and fifth overall Aussie Open title, the Serbian superstar will battle Uzbekistans Denis Istomin on Day 5. In other action involving top-10 seeds,No. 3 David Ferrer will take on 29th- seeded fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, No. 7 Tomas Berdych will face Bosnias Damir Dzumhur and No. 9 Richard Gasquet will be opposed by 1th-seeded former top-10 star Tommy Robredo. Mecole Hardman Super Bowl Jersey . - Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. Bashaud Breeland Super Bowl Jersey . Just ask last seasons Supporters Shield winners, the New York Red Bulls, who were resoundingly defeated last weekend by a rampant Vancouver Whitecaps in a match which produced two contenders for MLS Goal of the Week from Sebastian Fernandez and Pedro Morales. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth...fs-Jersey/. Fognini won 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 after Argentinas Carlos Berlocq had beaten Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 on the outdoor clay surface. Doubles are set for Saturday with reverse singles on Sunday to decide which team reaches the quarterfinals. Mitchell Schwartz Super Bowl Jersey . - Frankie (The Answer) Edgar dominated B. Tyrann Mathieu Super Bowl Jersey . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Just because the Sacramento Kings were familiar with Tyreke Evans didnt mean they could stop him. The former NBA Rookie of the Year made a memorable return to Sacramento, scoring a season-high 25 points and adding 12 assists to help the New Orleans Pelicans snap a four-game losing streak with a 113-97 win over the Kings on Monday night. "I know they have no shot blockers, so I was attacking every chance I got," said Evans, who made 7 of 14 shots and hit 11 of 12 free throws after coming off the bench. "Im quick enough to take it to the basket. Thats what I do best. I wanted to be aggressive." Known for his slashing style of play and his uncanny ability to get to the rim in four seasons with the Kings, Evans stayed true to his game, bypassing perimeter shots in favour of going to the hoop. He also added six rebounds and three steals. "He got wherever he wanted to go. Nobody could keep in front of him and thats how he gets to the rim," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "If our guys didnt think he would try to come into this arena and get off, then I question their IQ. He played here and hes going to come here and try to show everybody what were missing. And he did." Evans averaged 17.5 points in his four seasons with the Kings. He joined the Pelicans in the off-season as part of a three-team trade and subsequently signed a four-year, $44 million contract. The Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Kings 36-23 to salvage their only victory on a five-game road trip. Evans was a major factor in the second half, scoring 13 points. "I just told the guys that this is just about us getting stops and our defence had to prevail in the fourth quarter and I thought it did," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said.dddddddddddd DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings, who committed 22 turnovers in losing for the sixth time in eight games. Isaiah Thomas had 21 points and Marcus Thornton had 19. Rudy Gay made 2-of -12 shots and scored 11 points. "First of all, we didnt get stops," Kings guard Isaiah Thomas said. "Secondly, we didnt dial in on that end of the floor and he made every play. He scored, he passed, and he did what he wanted." Anthony Davis had 21 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans. Jrue Holiday had 17 points and 10 assists, and Eric Gordon also had 17 points. Ryan Anderson, who grew up in the Sacramento region, had a difficult evening trying to contain Cousins at the defensive end. Anderson went to the bench with five fouls at the 8:17 mark in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans leading scorer missed 3 of 9 shots and had eight points. NOTES: Shaquille ONeal sat courtside next to Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive and Hall of Fame player Chris Mullin, who works in an advisory role with the team and frequently attends home games. ONeal is one of Sacramentos minority owners. . Pelicans starting centre Jason Smith missed his second consecutive game with a bruised bone in his right knee. Smith, who is on the inactive list, had started the teams first 24 games. . Cousins had it going early for the Kings, getting 12 points and seven rebounds in the first quarter . . Alexis Ajinca played 13 minute and fouled out in the fourth quarter. ' ' '