20-SPORTS

20 THE FREEPORT NEWS Monday, September 3, 2018 SPORTS Serena matches her easiest win over Venus in U.S. Open rout can.” second set. erything right.” Serena pounded 10 aces to any balls,” said Venus, a semifi- By BRIAN MAHONEY On Friday, it was perhaps the “I think it’s by far the best Serena, the No. 17 seed, will just one for Venus, the No. 16 nalist at the U.S. Open last year. AP Sports Writer best she’s ever done against Ve- match I ever played against her face Kaia Kanepi of , seed who was perhaps a little “When your opponent plays like nus. in forever,” Serena said of the who knocked out top-ranked drained after two tough matches that, it’s not really anything to Serena equaled her most-lop- match that lasted just 1 hour, in the first round. to begin the tournament, includ- be upset about.” NEW YORK (AP) — Sere- sided victory against her sister 12 minutes. “But I don’t know Serena, who turns 37 next ing a three-setter against 2004 It looked as if Serena could na Williams kept booming big with a 6-1, 6-2 rout in the third about ever, ever. It probably month, leads the series 18-12 U.S. Open champion Svetlana have trouble when, in the sec- shots for winners, never allow- round of the U.S. Open. was. I played much better to- with her sister, 11-5 in Grand Kuznetsova in her opener. ond game of the match, her right ing herself to feel sorry for the Serena shook off an early an- night than I have since I started Slam tournaments. But this one Serena had an easier time in ankle turned awkwardly when overmatched player on the other kle injury to win seven straight this journey on my way back.” wasn’t expected to be so easy, the first two rounds, though that Venus hit behind her on a shot. side. games and seize control in per- They hadn’t played this early not with Serena still working was expected to change Fri- Serena stood near the baseline So what if it happened to be haps her most dominant perfor- in a since Venus her way back into form after re- day under the lights in Arthur with her back to the court for her big sister? mance since giving birth to her won in the second round of the turning to the tour in the spring. Ashe Stadium. They had com- quite a few seconds, then mo- The Williams sisters, long ago daughter a year ago Saturday. 1998 in their But this was the type of bined for eight titles in Flushing tioned to the chair umpire that in careers that have spanned 20 The sisters’ earliest meeting first meeting as pros, and only that has brought her to 23 Grand Meadows, six by Serena, and she wanted to the see the trainer years and 30 meetings as pro- in a Grand Slam tournament in once over the next two decades Slam singles titles, the ability to each had beaten the other in a at the next changeover. fessionals, learned they had to 20 years was over early, with had either won so decisively. pound balls all over the court U.S. Open final. Serena had the ankle treated view each other only as oppo- Venus unable to do anything to Serena won by the same score in and chase down the rare shots But there was no beating Sere- with a 2-1 lead, then broke in the nents — and in Serena’s eyes, blunt Serena’s power, even after a semifinal victory in Charles- that looked like they might get na on this night, and the discour- next game, helped when Venus Venus is the best one she’s ever the fans that were part of Fri- ton, South Carolina, in 2013. past her. aged look on Venus’ face across missed an easy swinging volley played. day’s single-day record crowd “I think it’s the best match “Obviously that level is defi- much of the match indicated she wide. She would break again for “Even though it’s difficult, es- of 70,162 tried desperately to she’s ever played against me,” nitely where she’s going to want seemed to realize it. a 5-1 lead, then pound two aces pecially for me,” Serena said, get behind her with pleas of Venus said. “I don’t think I did to stay during this whole tourna- “I mean, she played so well, I in the next service game to wrap “we just do the best that we “Come on, Venus!” early in the a lot wrong. But she just did ev- ment,” Venus said. never got to really even touch up the first set in 31 minutes.

By Fred Sturrup

Serena Williams, left, meets her sister after their match during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in New York. won 6-1, 6-2. (AP Photos/Adam Hunger)

SHAUNAE MILLER Shaunae carries on Miller sports tradition First published April 25, er Shaun, he of the CARIFTA ning. Up to today, no other Ba- 2017. high jump gold medal fame, hamian female distance runner following on her heels. has, in my personal opinion, uring the early 1940s Six of Leroy’s boys were demonstrated her level of po- when Leroy Miller outstanding track and field ath- tential. was growing up in the letes, namely Hardy, Leslie, At the third version of the BerryD Islands and showing ath- Cleveland, Don, Rudolph and International Association of letic promise, he had no idea Terry. Athletic Federations (IAAF) of the prominent line of quality Hardy was a gutsy, rugged, World Relays that conclud- performers in track and field he sprinter who was a tough task ed Sunday at the Thomas A. would produce. for opponents, consistently, in Robinson national Stadium, Colin Kaepernick watches Serena Williams play Venus Williams during the third round of the U.S. Bahamian families steeped in three events, the 100, 200 and Shaunae’s popularity and Open tennis tournament Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in New York. sports excellence include the 400 meters. reputation were in full evi- Rodgers (Andre, Lionel, Adri- Younger brother Leslie, (he, dence. an, Roy, Randy); the Fords also, of political fame, the one When she strode around track (Wenty, Eddie, Mario, Linda, we know as the Potcake), was she captivated the universe. On Wardy, Kevin); the Isaacs, the first international 400 me- Friday when the formal IAAF/ Norths, and Archers. ters elite performer for The Local Organizing Committee Well, another family belongs Bahamas and also a national press conference took place, in that elite circle. long jump champion. Leslie’s Shaunae was asked about the In adding a down memory greatest claim to fame is crack- special ingredient possessed lane touch to World Relays III, ing the 47 seconds barrier in by Bahamians. She spoke to I focus today on the Millers. the 400 meters. the heart/desire of Bahamians It’s been virtually a secret Don was exclusively a triple in competition. that Leroy Miller did some jumper, one of note. Rudolph, The same characterized the sprinting and was good in his Cleveland and Terry were mid- Millers throughout the years. own right. He started a sports dle distance runners primarily. As Shuanae and Shaun (as journey that would include up However, Cleveland and Ru- the present standard bearers to the present, three addition- dolph also stood out signifi- of the Miller track and field al generations of quality track cantly when road races were legacy), write their chapters in and field athletes. major sports/social events Bahamian sports history, for Some readers might have during the 1960s and 1970s. posterity sake, I make the con- guessed it by now. Rudolph, Cleveland and their nection to the patriarch. The Yes, Leroy Miller was the ilk, set the stage for the Mara- talent line started with the late great grandfather of the awe- thon Bahamas era. Leroy Isaac Miller, formerly of somely talented Shaunae Mill- A granddaughter, Rochelle, the Berry Islands. er, the reigning Olympic 400 could have in my view, been as Continued best wishes meters queen and one of the world known as Shaunae, had Shaunae and Shaun! most notable athletes in the she continued. Rochelle was world. Today, Shaunae carries a gifted distance runner who (To respond to this column, on the Miller sports tradition in seemed capable of excelling at kindly contact Fred Sturrup Serena Williams, left, embraces her sister Venus Williams after their third-round match at the U.S. a big way, with her little broth- middle and long distance run- at [email protected]). Open tennis tournament Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in New York. Serena Williams won 6-1, 6-2.