Federer storms into Brisbane International semis
Brisbane: Roger Federer Friday stormed into the semi-finals of the Brisbane International Friday after routing Australian wild card James Duckworth 6-0, 6-1 in just 41 minutes. After surviving a bit of a scare a day before against another Australian John Millman by dropping the first set 4-6, the World No.2 did not give any chance to Duckworth as he played close to flawless tennis. “I was very happy the way I played,” said Federer. “I played aggressive, served well, and then especially on the return I kept the pressure on time and time again. Next thing you know, it was like I was running away with the score.” The 33-year-old Federer will Saturday face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who has lost twice against the 17-time Grand Slam champion. He is now just two wins shy of 1,000 career match wins. (IANS)
Polish motorcyclist dies of dehydration in Dakar Rally
Buenos Aires: Polish motorcyclist Michal Hernik (KTM), who was found dead on Day 3 of the Dakar Rally, died of dehydration, organisers said. An autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death after Hernik, 39, was discovered Tuesday lying dead near the day’s route between the Argentine cities of San Juan and Chilecito and the organisers revealed Thursday that the rider had died of dehydration, reports Xinhua. It was his first time competing in the rally. A helicopter search party found his body at 4 p.m. local time, only 14 km from the finish line, at km 206 of the Cuesta de Miranda roadway, in La Rioja province. The motorcyclist had previously competed in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2014 and the Morocco Rally in 2013, both of which he completed. The racer became the fifth competitor to die since the tough annual endurance race was relocated to South America in 2009. That year, France’s Thierry Pascal died, followed by Argentina’s Jorge Martinez Boero in 2012, France’s Thomas Bourgin in 2013 and Belgium’s Eric Palante in 2014. All were riding motorbikes. The rally, which entered its fifth day Thursday in Chile, features 13 stages in all and concludes Jan 17 in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires after also traversing Bolivia. (IANS)
