Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1053035
31 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 NOVEMBER 2018 SPORTS CLASSIC CARS MALTA Classic 2018, held be- tween 11 and 14 October, was a great success. It hosted over 70 foreign and local classic car drivers over four action-packed days. The Thomas Smith Hill Climb on Thursday saw an ex- hilarating race to the peak of Mtahleb. Friday saw classics in perfect condition proudly dis- played by their owners in the Mdina Concours D'Elegance by Mdina Glass. The Mdina Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday saw powerful engines twisting, turning and sprinting around the tight Mdina circuit in an electrifying race to the finish line. Building on Malta Classic 2018, the organising commit- tee yesterday announced the dates for the 12th installment of this prestigious national event. Malta Classic 2019 will run between 10 and 13 October 2019. Thursday 10 will, for the sec- ond consecutive year, see clas- sic cars racing up the hills of Mtahleb with views over the Mediterranean sea. Some of the worlds most prestigious cars will be on show with the historic backdrop of St Peter's Square, at the Mdina Concours d'Elegance on Friday 11. The exhilarating race around the fortified walls of the Silent City and the centerpiece of Malta Classic 2019, The Mdina Grand Prix will take place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13. Simon Sullivan, Secretary for Malta Classic said that Malta Classic 2018 was a huge suc- cess thanks to the committee members, all volunteers and sponsors. "We look forward to another brilliant event on 10 to 13 Oc- tober 2019," he said. Malta Classic 2019 dates announced PHOTO BY MARTIN KORELUS ROGER Federer must wait un- til 2019 for another chance to reach 100 career titles after a semi-final defeat by Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals. Zverev, 21, tipped by many as a future Grand Slam cham- pion, triumphed 7-5 7-6 (7-5) at London's O2 Arena. He will face Novak Djokovic or Kevin Anderson, who were playing later yesterday. Zverev faced boos at the end of the match after he had - le- gitimately - stopped a point in the tie-break when a ballboy dropped a ball. In scenes reminiscent of Naomi Osaka's victory speech at the US Open when her win was overshadowed by Serena Williams' outbursts, Zverev was left apologising to both the crowd and Federer after one of the biggest wins in his career. "I apologised to Roger at the net already, he said it is OK and it is in the rules," the world number five said. "I'm sorry this happened. I didn't mean to upset anybody." 'The Pretender' beats 'the King' Former Wimbledon cham- pion Boris Becker, commen- tating for BBC TV, had said before the match between 'the King and the Pretender' that he believed Zverev was a future world number one. With three Masters titles to his name, the young German has yet to make his mark on the Grand Slams - although his French Open quarter-final this year was a breakthrough. But now he will get the chance to win the season-ending title, which is second only to the Slams in terms of prestige. There were moments when Zverev seemed to show a bit too much respect for Federer. His body shot at the Swiss in the sixth game of the first set was half-hearted and cost him a point, while he volleyed a ball that was well on its way out of the court in the next game - as if not quite believing that the great Federer was able to hit long. But he oozed confidence when it mattered the most, setting up three set points on Federer's serve in the 12th game. Getting there had included a fantastic passing shot after he raced to Federer's drop shot, and the roar that followed said it all. He sealed the set when Feder- er hit a forehand wide and then kept the momentum going early in the second set when he immediately held to love. The German was never go- ing to get it all his own way, with Federer setting up three break points of his own with a stunning forehand on the line, and taking the game when Zverev could only get a racquet edge to the Swiss' forehand. But Zverev wasted no time in breaking back when a Federer forehand went wide and from then on they matched each other to set up the tie-break. After setting up two match points, Zverev sealed victory on the second one with a fan- tastic backhand that Federer could not get anywhere near. Why was Zverev booed? Zverev should have been beaming after one of the big- gest wins of his career, yet looked emotional and ended up feeling "lost" in his post- match interview after some Federer fans jeered. Presumably they felt the Ger- man had showed gamesman- ship when he stopped play in the tie-break after the ballboy came on to the court, although the rules state the point must be replayed in such circum- stances. Former British number one Annabel Croft, who was con- ducting the on-court interview, scolded the crowd for their negative reaction. "He was playing by the rules so I think you all have to be a little more respectful," she said. BBC Sport presenter Sue Barker said she was "quite em- barrassed" by the crowd's reac- tion, while colleague Tim Hen- man called it "disappointing". "You have to play a let," added former Wimbledon semi-final- ist Henman. "Once Federer un- derstood what had happened, he accepted it." TENNIS Roger Federer beaten by Alexander Zverev in ATP semi-finals Alexander Zverev reached speeds of more than 140mph with his serve