Roger Federer Wins Record-Breaking Eighth Wimbledon Title

Agencies
July 17, 2017

Wimbledon, Jul 17: Roger Federer, as ruthless as he had to be – and as lovely to watch as ever – took only an hour and 41 minutes to win his eighth Wimbledon title, 14 years after his first, and left his wounded opponent, Marin Cilic, in a bedazzled heap on Centre Court.

“It’s magical,” Federer said courtside. “I can’t believe it yet. It’s too much. I kept on believing and dreaming and here I am today for my eighth title. I hope to be back to defend it next year.”

Those were sweet words for his millions of followers, who must secretly wonder when the fairytale will end.

It is the Swiss’s 19th slam title, his second of the year after beating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final, and, there is no reason to say that the youngest 35-year-old in sport cannot go on to win the final major of the year, at Flushing Meadows in September, and finish 2017 where he has spent so much time, as No1 in the world.

It would be a Federer grand slam, of sorts, with an asterisk beside it for missing the French Open, where Nadal triumphed for the 10th time. The Spaniard did not drop a set in Paris. Federer did not drop a set at Wimbledon. Those are statements of dominance on their preferred surfaces that are impossible to deny.

Cilic, a virtual one-legged bystander once his left foot gave up on him after the first set, said tearfully: “I’ve never given up in all my career. I gave my best, and that is all I could do I had an amazing journey here, played the best tennis of my life.”

Federer paid tribute to his stricken foe. “It is cruel some times but he fought well and he is a hero,” the Swiss said. “He should be really proud.”

Playing tennis every bit as good as when in his pomp, Federer might yet go on to match Nadal’s French Open La Decima at the All England Club. He said before the final he feels no urge to retire and with his peers Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic showing distinct signs of frailty, he will very much fancy his chances.

On Sunday there were few moments of anxiety on his side of the net as he worked his way to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 win as one-sided as was Cilic’s only victory in a slam final, when he beat the injured Kei Nishikori for the loss of nine games in an hour and 53 minutes in New York three years ago. That was marginally better as a contest than Nadal’s 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win in two hours and 16 minutes over David Ferrer to win the French Open in 2013.

There are no guarantees in sport, of course, but this was an anti-climax of the first order.

Bouncing the ball more than LeBron James, Cilic started as if he could barely believe he had a right to serve to the man at the other end. Yet he very much had earned the privilege of a Wimbledon final debut, having taken nearly four-and-a-half hours longer to get to the final Sunday than Federer, who arrived with just under 10 hours on the clock.

Yet the 6ft 6in Croat had more than a legend to contend with. The crowd erupted at the smallest success by their Swiss hero and tried hard not to revel in Cilic’s struggle. It is hard to think of an equivalent scenario in sport: fighting all the learned instincts of British fairness, the congregation waited to pierce the silence in the church of Roger, quietly guilty, perhaps, when they joined the chorus of adoration, like naughty monks and nuns.

They could have been quietly humming Rock of Ages, as their ageless champion sought to become the oldest man in the Open era to win Wimbledon.

There was not much concern for either celebration or concern in the tentative early exchanges – until a glorious running retrieval on the backhand to give Federer a two-point lead in the fifth game. Cilic over-hit to gift him three break points, saved two then dumped a backhand.

A couple of closer calls went against him, his groundstrokes got ragged and Cilic found himself in the same situation as Tomas Berdych in his semi-final against Federer two days previously. His potent but shaky serve got him through a deuce hold, Federer held to love and the rattled world No6 was left shaking his head when the seven-time champion thrashed an unreachable backhand crosscourt for the first of two set points. A double fault was the saddest way to give up the set, after 36 minutes.

Cilic was rattled and overawed but continued to fight. However, 3-0 down in the second, he had the trainer on and buried his head in his towel as he contemplated a grim scenario: quitting in a Wimbledon final.

Federer walked calmly to the service line, Cilic remaining on his chair for a worryingly long time, before re-entering the fray. He did not want to go out like Alexandr Dolgopolov, who limped away from his first-round match against Federer after only 43 minutes with an ankle injury.

So, on he soldiered, wounded in spirit and body, up against the greatest player of them all, who has so convincingly repaired his own briefly pained physique it is as if he is embarking on a second career.

While Cilic was back in harness and there seemed little chance of his emulating Herbert Roper Barrett, the only player, man or woman, to retire in a final here – in 1911 from fatigue – he plainly was a walking target. Federer was not in the mood for mercy, even though both players are friends. This was business. This was history. There would be no reprieve.

Cilic held at the start of the third set but, like his palindromic surname, he did not know whether he was coming or going. Henri Cochet was the last player to come from two-sets down to win a Wimbledon final, against his French compatriot Jean Borotra 90 years ago. The old maestro did it three times in a row for that victory, a comeback hat-trick not matched again until Tommy Robredo did it at Roland Garros in 2013 – but did not go on to win the title.

Even saving a break point to hold in the third game – staying ahead on the serving cycle – was greeted as a minor triumph for Cilic.

Federer broke, inevitably, and it seemed unnecessary to give him new balls to serve out the match. He could have done it with an orange. The last cutting wound was delayed, however, Federer squandering two match points before rifling down a second-serve ace, his eighth of the final.

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News Network
July 18,2020

Johannesburg, Jul 18: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Saturday mourned the demise of former spinner Ismail 'Baboo' Ebrahim who died in Durban at the age of 73.

"Baboo was one of the outstanding South African spin bowlers of the 1960s and 1970s who would undoubtedly have played as many Test matches for his country as the 48 first-class games to which he was limited," CSA said in a statement.

In those matches, he took 179 wickets at an average of 21.33 with an economy rate of 2.12 including 8 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls.

The left-arm spinner only had one opportunity on the international stage when he played for a SA Invitation XI against the International Wanderers at Kingsmead in 1976.

"At the age of 29, he was in his prime and took a match-winning 6/66 in the second innings, his victims including international captains, Greg Chappell of Australia and Mike Denness of England. It was a clear indication of what he could have achieved on grounds around the world at the highest level had he been given the opportunity. He was a master of flight and spin and had a good arm ball to back it up," the statement read.

His ability to perform at this level had become apparent much earlier when he went to watch the Australians at practice before their Test match against South Africa in 1970.

He persuaded the Australians to let him bowl to them and made an immediate impression, bowling experienced Test batsman Ian Redpath and impressing the likes of Ian Chappell and Ashley Mallett, the latter being Australia's leading spinner of the 1970s.

He had one season for Radcliffe in the Lancashire Central League when he took 62 wickets at 14.62 apiece.

Baboo finally got his chance to represent his country in Masters events in one of which he dismissed both Sir Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge.

"Baboo Ebrahim was one of the countless number of outstanding cricketers who was denied the opportunity to display his talents to the world and live his cricketing dreams," said CSA Acting Chief Executive, Dr Jacques Faul.

"On behalf of the CSA Family I extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and cricketing colleagues," he added. 

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News Network
March 5,2020

New Delhi, Mar 5: India's men's team skipper Virat Kohli congratulated the Harmanpreet Kaur-led women's side for reaching its maiden final of the T20 World Cup in Australia, saying the outfit's performance is something to be "proud" of.

The Indian women's team advanced to the the summit clash owing to a superior group stage record, after the semifinal clash against England was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to persistent rain.

"Congratulations to the Indian Women's team on qualifying for the @T20WorldCup final. We are proud of you girls and wish you all the luck for the finals," Kohli tweeted.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag also took to Twitter to wish the Indian side luck for the final which is scheduled to be played in Melbourne on Sunday.

"...A reward for winning all the matches in the group stage. Congratulations @BCCIWomen and wishing you glory this Sunday #T20WorldCup," Sehwag said.

Former India Test specialist VVS Laxman hailed the side for its unbeaten record in the tournament so far.

"Would have been great to see the match, but many congratulations to @BCCIWomen for making it to the finals of the #T20WorldCup . A reward for winning 4 out of 4 in the group stages. Wishing the girls the very best for the finals on #WomensDay"

India have been in red-hot form in the tournament winning all four of their group A matches.

They began with a win over defending champions Australia followed by victories against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka to top group A with eight points from four matches.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will take on the winner of the second semifinal between hosts Australia and South Africa in the summit clash.

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News Network
May 11,2020

Karachi, May 11: Pakistan might play more Test matches during their tour of England if it goes ahead as scheduled in July after the West Indies pulled out of an assignment there in June owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pakistan Cricket Board and the England and Wales Cricket Board officials are due to have a video conference on May 18 to discuss how they should proceed with the tour given the situation because of the pandemic.

"At present we have to play three Tests and three T20 internationals but the number of Tests could be increased and the tour could start a bit early in July," a PCB source said.

The source said that the ECB could offer to organise a four or five Test series against Pakistan if the West Indies tour didn’t go ahead.

Issues that are likely to be discussed in the May 18 meet are a quarantine period for Pakistani players when they arrive in England in July and limiting the venues for the matches and playing before empty stadiums.

PCB CEO Wasim Khan confirmed the video conference but said so far, the ECB has not spoken to them on increasing the number of matches on the tour which is scheduled between July and September.

"Things will be clear after the meeting but whatever decision we take we will consult our captains and head coaches before giving any confirmation," Khan said.

The PCB has so far kept mum on the chances of the series taking place in England because of the COVID-19 situation.

But with the British government due to announce measures to ease the lockdown in the country, it appears Pakistan could be touring on schedule.

Some former players have, however, asked the PCB to tread on the side of caution.

"If the West Indies have decided to postpone their series in June because of safety reasons and because of the situation then the PCB should also be very careful before taking up any offer from the ECB," a former captain said.

The West Indies Cricket Board said its players have to be convinced of their safety for it to commit to the assignment, which "is not possible in June."

"...we will continue our discussions with the ECB and other Internationals Boards on trying to find new dates," it said in a recent press release.

"We will only travel to England to play the series if our players can be assured that it is safe to do so," it added.

Pakistan is also scheduled to play an ODI series against Ireland while in UK but that series could be rescheduled and also be held in England.

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