Sports Sunday, March 24, 2019 17 Serena survives scare to advance in Miami AFP and managed to break down MIAMI Williams’s serve to take the match into a deciding set. SERENA Williams survived As the South Florida sun an “irresponsible” second set began to lower, Williams ap- lapse on Friday to see off Swe- peared to struggle with her den’s Rebecca Peterson 6-3, ball toss. 1-6, 6-1 in her second-round “It was interesting, be- opener of the WTA and ATP cause first of all it was dark Miami Open. out there, which was really “I wasn’t really happy with odd,” Williams said. “I wasn’t my performance,” admit- sure if there should be lights. ted the 23-time Grand Slam The shadow was so intense it champion, who is playing in was actually dark. just her third tournament of “Then there was light, France’s Julian Alaphilippe (centre) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win, ahead of Belgium’s 2019 having lost in the Aus- but only on my side. That Oliver Naesen (2nd left) and Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski (left), the one-day classic cycling race Milan - San tralian Open quarter-finals was weird because I literally Remo on Saturday. (AFP) before retiring in the second couldn’t see. set of her third-round match “But I need to just move against Garbine Muguruza on and really focus on playing with a viral illness at Indian better or not being in the tour- Alaphilippe claims first Wells last week. nament much longer.” “Had to take a lot of time Williams, 37, is still seek- off the last week,” she said. ing a first title since the birth “It’s definitely not easy at all. of daughter Alexis Olympia. ‘Monument’ victory in But I’m through it. That’s that. She admitted it was some- I’ve just got to get my game times hard to stay patient, al- back to where I know it can be. though she believes returning Milan-San Remo “I told myself at the end of to the top 10 after her extend- the second set that I could not ed maternity leave qualifies as AFP stages of the Tirreno-Adriatico had total confidence in me,” lose this match. “extremely successful”. SAN REMO, ITALY in recent weeks. said the French rider. “In the “I knew that I could play a Serena Williams returns a shot to Rebecca Peterson during Day 5 of “It’s just a step at a time,” The rider from the moun- sprint all I was thinking about lot, lot, lot better. I just had to the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Friday. (AFP) she said. “Just because my FRANCe’S Julian Alaphilippe tainous Auvergne region in was not to make a mistake.” be better. At this point it was level of success is so much won a sprint finish to the Mi- central France had missed out In the sprint, Alaphilippe irresponsible to be playing the will meet China’s Wang Qiang 63rd-ranked Swede, despite higher than what’s natural, I lan-San Remo on Saturday, in the 2017 race in San Remo emerged from behind Slove- way I was playing in the sec- who thrashed Britain’s Jo starting strongly and easing have to take these moments claiming his first victory in behind Kwiatkowski and Sagan. nian Matej Mohoric, before the ond set.” Konta, the 2017 Miami Open into a first set lead. and say, ‘You’re doing great,’ one of cycling’s ‘Monument’ But since he has pow- last 200 metres. Williams, an eight time champion, 6-4 6-0. Peterson, however, who encourage myself in a positive classic races. ered to two stage wins in last “I will need some time to winner in Miami, was just The former world number lost in the first round in In- way so I can get that success The Deceuninck Quick- year’s Tour de France, where realise what I have achieved to- relieved to make it through one was certainly rusty in her dian Wells, produced some that I want to have since com- Step rider finished ahead of a day,” he continued. to the third round where she first ever match against the excellent tennis in the second ing back from the baby.” small group of riders, who had “We made the race hard broken away near the end of and I stayed focused. I followed the 291km race under the sun- Mohoric at 600 metres. I made shine through north-western I was protected, the team no mistake. It’s unbelievable.” Italy, for his seventh win of had total confidence in me. A breakaway group of ten the season. In the sprint all I was riders, representing second-di- Pacquiao polls Twitter on next opponent The 26-year-old thinking about was not to vision teams invited by the or- Alaphilippe went for the line make a mistake. I will need ganisers, had opened the road AFP the choices. to that route. But the unbeaten with 600m remaining, before right out of Milan. MANILA The poll, also linked to Mayweather, officially retired, raising his arms in triumph some time to realise what I They held firm until after Pacquiao’s Facebook wall, has has been non-committal. after a narrow victory on the have achieved today. the area of the “Capi” -- small PHILIPPINE boxing legend 18 more hours to run. It did Many Facebook users Via Roma in the Italian Rivi- Julian Alaphilippe hills going into the final hour Manny Pacquiao took to so- not indicate how the voting urged Pacquiao, who has 61 era resort, with Belgian Oliver of racing. cial media to poll millions of had gone so far. wins including 39 knockouts Naesen (AG2R) second and Italian Fausto Masnada fans on who they think should Pacquiao, who has 2.51 against seven losses and two Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski he claimed the top climber’s had led for almost 260km, be his next opponent, having million followers on Twitter draws in a 24-year career, to (Sky) in third. jersey, and won the Fleche before being caught on the brushed off calls to hang up and 11.76 million on Face- fight Mayweather. Three-time world cham- Wallonne and Clasica San Se- Cipressa, the penultimate ob- his gloves after turning 40. book, is known to have been “Floyd of course then re- pion Peter Sagan of Slovakia bastian. stacle heading down towards “Who should I fight angling for a rematch with tire,” Carlos De Luna Lagun- finished fourth with last year’s All that was missing was the coast. next?” the world’s only eight- Mayweather, who beat the Fil- sad added. Manny Pacquiao winner Vincenzo Nibali of Italy a win in one of cycling’s five “In the group, there were division champion asked in ipino on points in the world’s But another fan urged crossing in eighth place, after ‘Monument’ one-day classics, very strong riders, Trentin a Twitter survey that drew richest prize fight in 2015. the 40-year-old to face Inter- between two previously unde- over seven hours in the saddle. and he lived up to his status was to watch but finally eve- 27,380 votes after five hours Pacquiao’s decisive victory national Boxing Federation feated boxers on Saturday. Alaphilippe has been the as pre-race favourite in a race rything is back in order,” said and listed Floyd Mayweath- over American fighter Adrien welterweight champion Er- “Show this young guys in-form rider at the start of which his Deceuninck team Alaphilippe, after his 25th vic- er, Keith Thurman, Danny Broner in January was sup- rol Spence, who easily beat why u r a living legend,” Meg the season, winning the Strade perfectly controlled. tory, and the most important of Garcia and Shawn Porter as posed to have opened the door challenger Garcia in a match Osh Tin Oniuqa said. Bianche in Tuscany, and two “I was protected, the team his career. Quick read Silver and bronze medals for Qatar Elvira takes two-shot lead into final round in Malaysia at Arab Boxing Championship AFP Elvira had been in con- about it too much. I like the ing a six-year title drought af- Nacho Elvira of Spain KUALA LUMPUR tention after he joint-led with way things are right now ter another consistent plays a shot during the KHARTOUM: Qatar’s boxing team won a silver medal and Marcus Fraser on Thursday. with my swing.” showing for a 69. The third round of the 2019 a bronze medal in the second Arab boxing championship, NACHO Elvira edged closer Coming into the third Two-time European Tour South African sits Maybank Malaysia which took place in Khartoum, Sudan. to a maiden European Tour round, Elvira of Spain winner Lipsky will be hoping only four strokes Golf Championship on Coach of the national team Juan Carlos praised the trophy after he posted a trailed Thomas Pieters by a to add a third after he fin- away from Saturday. (AFP) achievement, and said it was a great result given the lack six-under-par 66 to gain a single shot in stiflingly hot ished the day with a 67 de- Elvira at of experience of the boxers. He noted that some of the two-shot advantage over Da- conditions, but gained the spite two bogey flaws. nine-under- athletes were participating for the first time in an Arab vid Lipsky at the Maybank advantage courtesy of his “It’s a tricky course so par 207.