Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/483475
36 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 MARCH 2015 Sport TENNIS Williams pulls out of Indian Wells due to injury Serena Williams has withdrawn from her scheduled semi-final match at Indian Wells with a knee injury WILLIAMS was due to play third- seeded Simona Halep but took to the court after the other semi-final, where Jelena Jankovic defeated Sabine Lisicki 3-6 6-3 6-1, to ad- dress the crowd. "A couple days ago at practice I really injured my knee," Williams said. "Today I was struggling just to even walk." The court announcer told the crowd, as Serena exited the court, that the 33-year-old was withdraw- ing from the tournament. Her premature exit means Halep will advance to play Jankovic in the final on Sunday. Williams was back at Indian Wells for the first time since 2001, having ended her boycott that began after she won the title in 2001 as a 19- year-old and was heavily booed. Then, she was supposed to play Venus in the semis, and Venus withdrew 20 minutes beforehand with a knee injury, angering the crowd. Serena went on to win the title, but fans booed her throughout the match and she vowed never to re- turn to the desert event. The sisters' father, Richard, later said he heard racial taunts and there were accusations at the time that he decided in advance which sister would win their matches against each other. Williams announced the news of her 2015 withdrawal on her Insta- gram account while the first semi- final was in the third set, shortly af- ter tournament officials confirmed it. "4 months ago I began a journey to play Indian Wells and it was amazing. I never dreamed I could do it," she wrote. "But I would not have been able to do this without my fans. Though it ended early due to injury this year, I have to say I cannot wait to try again next year." Serena Wiilliams: Leaving Indian Wells with a knee injury Djokovic crushes Andy Murray to reach Indian Wells final Andy Murray was comprehensively beaten by Novak Djokovic in the last four of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells THE British number one had been impressive en route to a first Masters 1000 semi-final since his win in Miami two years ago, but he had no answer against the world number one. Murray beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in 2013 but has not done so since, Djokovic ex- tending his head-to-head advan- tage to 17-8 with a sixth succes- sive win. Murray won the toss and elect- ed to receive serve but it did not pay off, Djokovic holding com- fortably before breaking Murray at the first time of asking. He held firm up to 4-1 and had his second break in game six when Murray netted a forehand. Murray gave himself some hope by getting a break back, a superb point setting him up at 15-40 even if the game was clinched with a net-cord. But he crashed straight to 0-40 on his own serve and Djokovic was ruthless, taking advantage of his first set point and conse- quently all three of his break points in the set. The second set saw Djokovic again break in the second game, aided by a superb lob to Murray's backhand corner which sent the game to deuce. Murray had to work hard in his next service game before hold- ing, and Djokovic then saved two break points to go to 4-1 and on to 5-2. Murray slipped from 30-0 up to 30-40 and was facing a match point, but forced Djokovic to serve the match out. The Serbian set up three more match points at 40-0 and though he let two slip away - the first with a double fault - he got across the line. Andy Murray congratulates Novak Djokovic