SPORTS Wednesday, August 30, 2017 23 Sharapova makes
triumphantNew York injury, swatted 60 winners with 64 timesreturn erratic and other moments break points in the match while ormer world number unforced errors, setting the tempo spectacular, with screams and fist Halep won 4 of 10 and produced one Maria Sharapova and baffling Halep at times in a pumps. She was energetic even at only 15 winners against 14 unforced madeF a triumphant return tension-packed thriller at Arthur rest, closing her eyes and bouncing errors. to Grand Slam competition Ashe Stadium. her legs as she sat between sets. It was Sharapova’s first Grand Monday after a 15-month “This girl has a lot of grit,” After the final point, Sharapova Slam match since a quarter-final doping ban, outlasting Sharapova said of herself. “And she’s dropped to her knees in tears as loss to Serena Williams in last year’s second-ranked Simona not going anywhere.” a replay appeal showed what she Australian Open. Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at Sharapova, who tested positive for already knew. Sharapova, ranked 146th, the US Open. meldonium at last year’s Australian She later battled back tears as she returned in April but the French The 30-year-old Open, improved to 7-0 in her all- blew kisses to spectators, sobbed at Open snubbed Sharapova for a Russian, who had time rivalry with Halep, extending times and mouthed “Thank you” to wildcard entry and she missed only one hardcourt her mastery over the 25-year-old fans that were devoted throughout Wimbledon tuneup match Romanian. the two hour and 45 minute drama. with a due to a “I just thought this was another “You never know what you’re thigh nagging day, another opportunity, another going to feel until you win that injury. forearm match but this was so much more,” match point,” she said. “It was so (AFP) Sharapova said. worth it.” “You sometimes wonder why you Sharapova advanced to a put in all the work and this is exactly second-round matchup against why.” Hungarian Timea Babos, An emotional Sharapova whom she has never played. punctuated her shotmaking, at Sharapova won only 5 of 22
US Open cancels bulk Osaka of matches stuns defending due to rain champion Kerber New York New York teady rain prompted US Open apanese teenager Naomi Osaka sent defending officials to cancel 44 singles matches champion Angelique Kerber crashing out of andS postpone completion of 11 others Jthe US Open first round on Tuesday, bringing under way when showers halted play a rare bright spot to a rain-lashed day at yesterday on the New York hardcourts. Flushing Meadows. As players ran for cover Reigning French Open champion Jelena off the outside courts, Osaka’s big-hitting game Ostapenko’s first-round match against and love of the big occasion thrived under the Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena was under roof of the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. consideration to be moved under the roof The world number 46, born in Japan to a at Arthur Ashe Stadium for completion. Haitian father and Japanese mother, won 6-3, The Latvian 12th seed led the Spaniard 6-1 as sixth seed Kerber became the first US 6-2, 1-6, 3-1 when rain halted their match. Open women’s defending champion to lose in A US Open statement said weather the first round since Svetlana Kuznetsova in forecasts predicted “continuous rain 2005. Osaka, who surrendered a 5-1 third set throughout the remainder of the day,” lead on the same court in losing to Madison Naomi Osaka celebrates defeating prompting the wipeouts of outer court Keys 12 months ago, fired 22 winners as Angelique Kerber of Germany matches. Kerber went tumbling out of the world’s top Still on the schedule were night 10 as well as the tournament. matches sending 19-time Grand Slam “At 4-1, I was hoping I don’t do what champion Roger Federer of Switzerland I did last year,” said the 19-year-old against US teen Frances Tiafoe and Osaka, who admitted suffering a brief Results Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates US 15th seed Madison Keys against flashback to her tearful loss to Keys. Results from day 2 Belgium’s Elise Mertens. “So that helped me focus and Women World number one Rafael Nadal’s concentrate, which I needed as 1st rd first-round match against Serbian Angelique gets everything back.” Karolina Pliskova (CZE x1) bt Magda Linette (POL) 6-2, 6-1 Dusan Lajovic was in the first set on Osaka will face either Sweden’s Barbora Strycova (CZE x23) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-1, 6-3 Ashe when the decision was made Rebecca Peterson or Denisa Allertova Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Lesley Kerkhove (NED) 6-1, 6-3 to end outer court play for the day. of the Czech Republic for a place in the Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt Lesya Tsurenko (UKR x28) 6-3, 6-1 (AFP) last 32. (AFP)
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