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27.11.2019 13:36
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WASHINGTON -- Ivo Karlovics big serve carried him to a second consecutive final at age 37, earning a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fifth-seeded American Steve Johnson at the Citi Open on Saturday.The 6-foot-11 Karlovic, a Croatian seeded 13th at the hard-court tournament, saved all five break points he faced in the semifinals. He has won all 43 of his service games this week.This is my game. This is my strength, Karlovic said in an on-court interview. I will never run like he does.He broke Johnson in the third game of each set, each time right after saving break points on his own serve.Its definitely frustrating when you have chances, you dont take them, and you lose your focus for a second and you lose serve, said Johnson, who eliminated top-seeded John Isner in the quarterfinals. And thats the margin when you play a guy (like) Ivo, (who) pretty much only has a serve.Karlovic will face No. 2-seeded Gael Monfils of France or No. 7 Alexander Zverev of Germany in Sundays final.Last week, at the grass-court tournament in Newport, Rhode Island, Karlovic became the oldest man since 1979 to win an ATP singles title.I believe its (because of) hard work and also because I didnt begin very young, said Karlovic, who was 21 when he turned pro. Im not as used up as my age would suggest.This has been something of a resurgence for the man whose biggest victory was a first-round upset of defending champion Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2003. Since losing his first six matches of 2016, Karlovic has gone 16-7.Much of his success is based on his serve, which comes at opponents from way up high and gets quite a bounce on Washingtons hard courts, especially in the July heat.In the 25 years that ATP service stats cover, Karlovic leads the tour with more than 11,000 career aces and by winning 92 percent of his service games. He began Saturday averaging 22 aces per match at the Citi Open and finished the semifinal with 14, including a pair on the last two points at 134 mph and 132 mph.Johnson serves well, too, and he came into the semifinal having held in all 32 of his service games in the tournament, saving 7 of 7 break points.Those streaks did not last long against Karlovic, who isnt necessarily known for his prowess as a returner.In Johnsons second service game, less than 15 minutes into the match, he missed a shot at deuce to hand over a break point and angrily smacked a ball into the stands. Then, with both men at the net, Karlovic lunged for a backhand volley winner to go up 2-1.A game earlier, Karlovics first on serve, represented perhaps Johnsons best chance to steal a break.Struggling to see the ball on his toss because of a bright sun that brought the temperature near 100 degrees, Karlovic double-faulted three times, helping create two break points. But Karlovic erased the first with a 130 mph service winner, then came up with this sequence after the second: 130 mph ace, 128 mph service winner, 109 mph service winner.Similarly, in the second set, Karlovic broke right after saving a break point created by a double-fault. This time, Karlovic went up 2-1 by delivering a cross-court forehand return winner, followed by a down-the-line backhand return winner.When Johnson held a pair of break points at 15-40 in the next game, Karlovic responded by hitting three consecutive aces, then a service winner to hold for 3-1. And he was on his way.After the match, Johnson took to Twitter to respond to some of the meaner messages he received about his loss. Among Johnsons choice phrases: Learn English so we know what you are trying to say and you are an idiot.Asked at his news conference about the exchanges, Johnson said he doesnt take it seriously, whatsoever and considers those sending pointed messages his way useless human beings. Willie McGinest Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Jim Nance Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Patriots Jerseys China . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. New England Patriots Pro Shop . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. NEW YORK -- If anyone needed a reminder of the power of sport, the power of a moment in sport, one wouldnt have to look anymore at YouTube for one of the memorable football highlights.It was the 2013 spring game at the University of Nebraska. Decked in red-and-white, then-7-year-old Jack Hoffman carried the ball for a 69-yard touchdown run.The video posted by the school has been watched nearly nine million times.That 7-year-old turned 11 this week. Diagnosed with brain cancer at age 5, Jack Hoffman has had two rounds of chemotherapy and two different brain tumor surgeries.Hes doing great, said his father, Andy Hoffman. His MRI recently has shown some suspicious activity, so we are concerned. He has an MRI in Boston next week, so were concerned about maybe having to start treatment again.Something to brighten your day. Jack Hoffman with a 69 yard touchdown in the 2013 Nebraska Spring Game https://t.co/At5EIx1csD via @YouTube- ESPN_Motorsports (@ESPNMotorsports) September 28, 2016Were going to let tomorrow worry about itself.Andy Hoffman and his family started the Team Jack Foundation before that famous touchdown and had raised $300,000. Through the power of sport and hard work, it now has raised 10 times that amount with another $3 million in matching funds that the family is donating for pediatric brain cancer research and clinical trials that they hope will avoid the situation they found themselves in with a treatment program developed 30 years ago.It was no surprise that the NASCAR Foundations Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award went to Andy Hoffman. Its not because this charity was any more worthy than the other three finalists, but when the $100,000 award (the other finalists earned $25,000) was put up foor an online vote, it is pretty easy to remember watching that 7-year-old Jack and the emotions it stirred.ddddddddddddIts a huge credit to the power of sports, Andy Hoffman said Tuesday night prior to the award being announced. I always tell people when Jack scored that touchdown run in the spring of 2013, he didnt just score a touchdown for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the red team, he scored a touchdown for pediatric brain cancer research.Thats what thats been all about. Thats what weve been able to do with that entire platform.Introducing Hoffman at the NASCAR Foundation Honors Gala on Tuesday night was Martin Truex Jr., whose own foundation was created with similar goals as far as developing new, pediatric-centric cancer treatments. He had spent the day with his longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, in a media blitz to talk about Pollexs battle with ovarian cancer and their foundations efforts in that arena.Its amazing, Truex said about Hoffman. Its an unbelievable story and his commitment is incredible.Jack Hoffman was at the event. He remembers his iconic touchdown run maybe a little different than others.I was freaked out that morning, he said.The shy 11-year-old -- stoked by getting a mini drum for his birthday this week -- admits he has watched the video of the touchdown a few times.He lived it -- he has an ESPY as the best moment of 2013 -- and continues to fight.We see so many kids affected by this disease that arent doing as well as Jack, Andy Hoffman said. So from our perspective, hes doing awesome. Were going to just keep battling and fighting until we beat this thing. ' ' ' |
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