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Wednesday January 24, 2018

Alexis Sanchez

AN ailing Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Australian Open in the fourth round as up-and-comer Hyeon Chung clinically took advantage of the six-time champion’s elbow injury to win 7-6, (7-4), 7-5, 7-6, (7-3).

The Serbian, who also struggled with his hip in the third round, was on the back foot from the start and failed to claw back the fi rst set before suffering further at the start of the second.

Djokovic’s fi ghting spirit never wavered, but he could not shake off NextGen champion Chung, who was unrelenting en route to claiming the biggest win of his career.

Chung — the fi rst Korean male or female to reach a Grand Slam quarterfi nal — said prior to the match he would “just be happy to share the court with Novak,” but he was far from starstruck and an outstanding performance made him a deserved winner — albeit Djokovic, who missed six months before returning to play in Melbourne, was undoubtedly hindered by his injury.

A series of unforced errors, including numerous double faults, allowed Chung to break Djokovic’s serve twice and move 4-0 up in the fi rst set, before the former world number one came roaring back.

Three successive games piled the pressure on Chung and errors crept into the youngster’s play as he served for the set, but he battled through to the tie-break and recovered his momentum to take the set.

It was clear Djokovic, wearing a protective sleeve on his right arm, was struggling with his elbow as he repeatedly failed to hold serve and he received treat-ment before the second set.

Chung held his nerve in a gru-eling fi rst game and broke the 14th seed en route to building a 3-0 lead.

As in the fi rst set, Djokovic’s fi ghting spirit came to the fore as he drew level, but Chung again showed great resolve and he moved two sets ahead when a stunning rally ended with the groaning 30-year-old fi nding the net. (SD-Agencies)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves as he leaves after losing against Chung Hyeon of South Korea in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday. SD-Agencies

Novak Djokovic dumped out of Aussie Open

ALEXIS SANCHEZ said Monday he was “thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world” as he moved to Manchester United from Arsenal in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The 29-year-old Chile striker, who came close to joining Man-chester City last summer, has signed what is believed to be a four-and-a-half-year contract that will make him the high-est-paid player in the Premier League.

It has been widely reported that Sanchez will earn a pre-tax salary of 500,000 pounds (US$695,000) a week.

Armenia international winger Mkhitaryan, also 29, will head to the Emirates after he fell out of favor with United manager Jose Mourinho during 18 months at Old Trafford. Sanchez joined Arsenal in 2014 after three years at Barcelona but his relationship with the Gunners soured after he tried to orchestrate a move to City last year.

In an Instagram post, he took a parting shot at ex-Arsenal players who have criticized his attitude. “There are people who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage,” Sanchez wrote.

“I must say I always gave 100 percent, until the last day, when I asked to Arsenal man-ager Arsene Wenger to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution.”

In a statement issued by United, Sanchez said he had spent “three-and-a-half won-derful years” at Arsenal “and

Sanchez joins Manchester United

I bring with me very positive memories of that great club and its fans.”

Referring to Old Trafford, he said: “The chance to play in this historic stadium and to work with Jose Mourinho was some-thing I could not turn down.

“I am very proud to be the fi rst Chilean player ever to play for United’s fi rst team and I hope I can show our fans all around the world why the club wanted to bring me here.”

United will be hoping their substantial investment helps close the gap on their Emirati-backed cross-city rivals Man-

chester City, who are streaking away with the Premier League title this season.

Sanchez will partner Romelu Lukaku in the United forward line, with England strikers Marcus Rashford, 20, and the in-form Jesse Lingard, 25, forced to fi ght for their places.

Mourinho said: “Alexis is one of the best attacking players in the world and he will complete our very young and talented group of attacking players.”

Sanchez spent three years at Barcelona, winning La Liga in 2013. At Arsenal he twice lifted the FA Cup, but did not come

close to a Premier League title and his frustration has been evi-dent this season amid reports of rows with teammates.

He has played 119 times for Chile and helped his nation win back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, although they failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

The Sanchez-Mkhitaryan deal is the latest move of a January transfer window during which Liverpool sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona and signed central defender Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton.

(SD-Agencies)

USA Gymnastics announced Monday that the leadership of its board of directors has resigned amid the continuing fallout over the scandal surrounding dis-graced former team doctor Larry Nassar. Dozens of athletes have accused Nassar of sexual abuse, confronting the former doctor in court over several days of testimony during a sentencing hearing.

The resignations announced Monday include chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley.

“We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move for-ward in implementing change within our organization,” CEO Kerry Perry said in a statement. “As the board identifi es its next chair and fi lls the vacant board positions, we remain focused on working every day to ensure that our culture, policies and actions refl ect our commitment to those we serve.”

The organization says it is taking steps to promote ath-lete safety and prevent future abuse. (SD-Agencies)

USA Gymnastics board members resign amid abuse scandal

A WEEK after infl icting Man-chester City’s fi rst loss in the English Premier League, Liver-pool lost at last-place Swansea 1-0 Monday and ended its 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Alfi e Mawson’s 40th-minute strike secured one of the most surprising results of the season on a night Liverpool’s usually lethal attack toiled at Liberty Sta-dium. “If you put a Formula One car in London at 4 o’clock in the traffi c, the Formula One car will not run very fast like it should,” Swansea manager Carlos Carv-alhal said. “It was exactly what we should do to play Liverpool — put them to play the way they don’t like.”

It was a far cry from Liver-pool’s devastating display in its 4-3 win over runaway leader City eight days earlier when Juergen Klopp’s team didn’t seem to miss the departed Philippe Coutinho, who joined Barcelona for 160 million euros (US$192 million) this month.

Liverpool could have done with Coutinho’s creativity against a Swansea side that defended stoutly, stifl ing Mohamed Salah for the most part, and took its only real chance.

Swansea City’s Alfi e Mawson (C) celebrates scoring their fi rst goal against Liverpool with teammates at Liberty Stadium, Swansea, on Monday. SD-Agencies

Liverpool stunned by last-place Swansea

From a Swansea corner from the right, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk could head the ball only back into the danger area where it hit the shins of Federico Fernandez. His central defensive partner, Mawson, shot on the turn from eight meters and it fl ew into the corner past goalkeeper Loris Karius.

Liverpool nearly grabbed an equalizer in the fourth and fi nal minute of stoppage time, when Roberto Firmino headed against the post and substitute Adam Lallana’s shot on the rebound

was defl ected over by the lung-ing Mawson.

“Last weekend feels like it was half a year ago,” Klopp said. “It’s not what I’m interested in. I’m frustrated and angry.”

Swansea stayed in last place but was tied on 20 points with West Bromwich Albion, three off safety.

Fourth-place Liverpool was only two points ahead of Totten-ham in the race to secure one of four qualifi cation spots for next season’s Champions League.

(SD-Agencies)