Rafael Nadal beats Grigor Dimitrov to reach Australian Open final

Rafael Nadal is bidding to win his second Australian Open title . (Source: Reuters)

Rafael Nadal beats Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4 to advance to the final of the Australian Open and set up a title match with his old rival, Roger Federer.

The ninth-seeded Spaniard fought off two break points in the eighth game of the fifth set, then hit a backhand winner down the line to break Dimitrov in the next game and take a 5-4 lead. He served it out in the next game to win in 4 hours, 56 minutes.

Nadal improved his record in Grand Slam semifinals to an impressive 21-3 and advanced to his fourth Australian Open final. He’s only won the title at Melbourne Park once in 2009.

Nadal has a 23-11 head-to-head match record against Federer and a 6-2 advantage in Grand Slam finals. Federer hasn’t beaten Nadal in a major final since Wimbledon in 2007.

Scott O’Donnell denies taking up India U-17 job, leaving for home

Players __have revolted against the incumbent Nicolai Adam. (Source: file)

All India Football Federation’s Technical Director Scott O’Donnell on Saturday categorically said that he’s not taking up any job with the AIFF and is leaving for home next month.

Australian O’Donnell, who is serving a three-month notice period to step down from his current job, denied reports that he may take over as head coach of India Under-17 World Cup team with the AIFF set to sack incumbent Nicolai Adam against whom the players __have revolted.

“My three-month notice period to step down as technical director ends next month and I am leaving for home when it (notice period) ends. My five-year association with Indian football is ending mid next month,” O’Donnell, whose notice period began in mid November, told PTI today.

“I want to clarify that I am not in the race to take up any other job with the AIFF. I have enjoyed my stint in India and with the AIFF. I want to be with my family now and so due to personal reasons I am leaving this job of AIFF technical director,” he said.

O’Donnell was today at the Ambedkar Stadium here along with the Under-17 World Cup squad, watching a match of the newly-launched Indian Women’s League between Eastern Sporting Union of Manipur and Jeppiaar Institute of Technology FC of Puducherry.

Asked why he was at the stadium here with the Under-17 boys, he said, “Myself being here with the boys, nothing should be read into this. They are here in Delhi and they want to enjoy a game of football. So, I am sitting with them here.”

Asked what kind of job he would take up in Australia, he said, “It’s a kind of similar job though on a smaller scale. I will be associated with Canberra provincial association in a similar capacity which I am currently having with the AIFF.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Under-17 World Cup football team’s training camp, which is to resume from February 1 in Goa, is likely to be delayed due to the ongoing controversy involving head coach Nicolai, affecting its preparations for the mega event later this year.

Sources told PTI that the players, who are currently in the national capital, have not been given any directions to proceed to Goa.

The boys are still here after meeting AIFF President Praful Patel on Tuesday while Nicolai is in Goa, the venue for the training camp.

In a meeting on Tuesday, at Patel’s residence, Nicolai was told by the AIFF boss to quit or be sacked after several boys complained through a letter that they have been “physically abused” by the coach and his assistant Etibar Nizami Ibrahimov on more than one occasion.

According to a well-placed source, some of the boys were considering leaving for their homes in the absence of any clear directive from the AIFF on what they should do now.

According to the earlier schedule, they were to proceed to Goa after the tournament in Russia to resume the national camp from February 1.

It has also been learnt that many among these 21 boys are not willing to continue training under Nicolai and they have indicated this to former India captains Bhaichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh when the duo interacted with the players after this controversy broke out.

Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer: Dream final becomes reality in Australia

Rafael Nadal has dominated Roger Federer in their head-to-head match-ups, he has a 23-11 record overall. (Source: Reuters)

As Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal won match after match at the Australian Open, making their unlikely way through opposite sides of the draw, tennis fans couldn’t help but look ahead.

Could the two old rivals, almost six years on from their last meeting in a Grand Slam final, possibly meet for one more match for the ages in Melbourne?

Federer and Nadal each had to survive epic five-set matches in the semifinals, but they did not disappoint. And now, the dream final tennis fans had hoped for when favorites Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic were upset in the first week is going to happen Sunday night in Rod Laver Arena.

What’s at stake is bigger than just Federer-Nadal XXXV, or even the Australian Open title. There’s also history to play for: If Federer wins, he’ll add an 18th Grand Slam trophy to his career record total, putting distance between himself and his rivals. If Nadal wins his 15th, he’ll pass Pete Sampras for sole possession of second place on the all-time list, and pull tantalizingly close to Federer’s 17.

“The historical context of that match, whether it becomes 17-15 with the French Open next, or 18-14, that’s such a big difference in the historical march for both those guys,” former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick told The Associated Press in Melbourne this week.

“That might be, as far as history goes, the biggest match ever in Australian Open history and maybe Grand Slam history. What’s at stake there is beyond what pretty much any player can comprehend.”

The magnitude of the moment is not lost on the players themselves.

“Rafa’s definitely presented me with the biggest challenge in the game,” Federer said after his semifinal win over U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka. “I’m happy we’ve had some epic, epic battles over the years, and of course, it would be unreal to play here.”

Nadal said neither player could __have imagined making the final of the year’s first Grand Slam after coming back from their respective injuries in 2016 _ Federer, his knee; Nadal, his wrist. Both men took time off last season and had difficult draws in Melbourne because of their lower rankings.

“For me, it’s a privilege,” Nadal said. “It’s a very, very special thing, I think, for both of us to be in the final of a major again, __have another chance to compete against each other after a couple of years having some problems.”

Nadal has dominated Federer in their head-to-head match-ups _ he has a 23-11 record overall and has won nine of their 11 matches in Grand Slams.

But Federer likes his chances on the hard courts at the Australian Open this year _ he believes they are playing faster than in years past, which suits his game better than Nadal’s.

Federer should also be fresher for the final, having spent far less time on court than Nadal during the tournament (13 hours, 40 minutes vs. 19 hours) and having an extra day to rest in between the semifinal and final. Both men have survived two five-setters, but Nadal’s were far longer and more draining.

Federer may also have the edge confidence-wise. Nadal’s results have dipped dramatically in recent years and he’s struggled to play well against the top players. He hasn’t been past the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam since the 2014 French Open, also the last major he won.

Nadal, though, remains one of the fittest players in the game and is certainly hungry for major success again after years of disappointing losses.

Whoever wins, the match is sure to be memorable. A massive crowd is likely at Melbourne Park, as well, after organizers decided to open the 7,500-seat Margaret Court Arena for fans to watch the match on a giant screen.

“I just know that two of the greatest players of tennis are going to square off on Sunday,” Grigor Dimitrov said after his nearly five-hour loss to Nadal in the semifinals. “And it’s going to be (an) amazing match.”

Abhinav Mukund to lead India A vs Bangladesh, fitness test for Jayant Yadav

Along with Abhinav Mukund, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan will play against Bangladesh. FILE

Tamil Nadu captain Abhinav Mukund will be leading a 14-member India A side in a two-day warm-up match against Bangladesh before the one-off Test against visitors start on February 9 in Hyderabad.

The squad features all-rounder Jayant Yadav, who sustained an injury during England series and the match will be his fitness Test before the big game against the neighbouring nation.

Hardik Pandya will also like to make his case stronger and get retained in the squad after being injured during practice ahead of the Mohali Test against England.

The team of 14 features all performers in the Ranji Trophy including top run-getter Priyank Panchal and top wicket-taker Shahbaz Nadeem.

One of the unique feature of the squad is presence of three wicketkeepers — Ishan Kishan, who is named in the list as the wicketkeeper. But it also has the flamboyant Rishabh Pant and second highest scorer of the season Nitin Saini of Haryana.

Since a two-day match is not an official first-class game, there is a possibility that selectors can check out all three glovesmen.

Mumbai’s top run-getter Shreyas Iyer gets another chance at the ‘A’ level while Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar is also a part of the squad.

With dearth of quality left-arm seamers in the country, Rajasthan’s Aniket Chaudhary and Hyderabad’s former India U-19 Chama Milind will like to showcase what they can bring to the table.

Squad: Abhinav Mukund (Captain), Priyank Kirit Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Ishank Jaggi, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keeper), Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Aniket Choudhary, CV Milind, Nitin Saini.

Stuart Law named as new West Indies coach

Stuart Law will bring the experience of being a former head coach of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to the job.

Former Australian international Stuart Law was Friday named as the new coach of the West Indies on a two-year deal. The 48-year-old will bring the experience of being a former head coach of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to the job.

“I am excited at the opportunity to contribute to what I think is an interesting time for West Indies. I think this assignment has come at an important time of my career,” said Law.

Law played just one Test for Australia in his career but featured in 54 one-day internationals while building a solid first-class career with Queensland, Essex, Lancashire and Derbyshire.

He was also a successful captain in Australia’s domestic cricket with five first class and two one day titles. He scored the most runs at that level — 27,080 runs in 367 matches. Law was also named one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1998.

Outgoing director of cricket at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Richard Pybus said: “We are delighted to welcome Stuart, he comes at an exciting and critical time in the development of the West Indies men’s team.

“He has great experience and breadth of knowledge as a player and coach and his cross-cultural experience and winning attitude will be key assets in the development of the team.”