SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2021 11

Jenel Lausa resumes MMA career with BRAVE CF Osaka cruises to second Australian Open title Japan’s Naomi Osaka claims victory over the 22nd-seeded Jennifer Brady

Japan’s Naomi Osaka• has won four Grand Slam titles

AFP | Melbourne

apan’s Naomi Osaka dis - Jmissed Jennifer Brady in straight sets to win the Aus - tralian Open and underline her growing hold on women’s tennis on Saturday. Osaka edged a tight first set but controlled the second to win 6-4, 6-3 in 77 minutes in front of TDT | Manama 7,381 fans at Rod Laver Arena. Third seed Osaka preserves her 100 percent record in Grand RAVE Combat Federation, Slam finals after winning the Bthe fastest-growing mixed 2018 and 2020 US Opens and the Naomi Osaka celebrates with her trophy martial arts organization in the 7-5 2019 title in Melbourne. semis. But Brady, the 22nd seed, hit is Jenel Lausa’s world, has further bolstered its professional record which The reigning US Open cham- On Saturday, Osaka wore back with a break and she con- burgeoning roster of top-class includes two knockout pion, who beat her idol Sere- down fellow big-hitter Brady, BETTER tinued to pile pressure on Osa- athletes with the acquisition wins and two by way of na Williams in the Melbourne and then lifted her racquet ka’s serve. of Filipino sensation Jenel submission semi-finals, has now won two above her head in celebration A brilliant lob winner, show- “The Demolition Man” Lausa. of the last three Grand Slams as of her win as the crowd roared. KNOW casing her trademark athleti- He joins the promotion’s list her status and reputation soars. After sealing back-to-back cism, gave a pumped-up Brady of outstanding mixed martial and two by way of submission. “We played in the semis of Slam titles twice, Osaka has won a break point in the ninth game, artists by signing an exclusive He once held a Flyweight Title the US Open a couple of months half the majors she’s contested but Osaka held on. multi-bout contract. for a local Filipino promotion ago and I told everyone that since beating Williams to win Osaka, 23, is only the Brady then played a sloppy “Coming back to mixed mar- by defeating Team Lakay’s you’re going to be a problem,” her first in 2018. third player after Mon- game on serve to hand over the tial arts is really something Crisanto Pitpitunge via split Osaka told Brady at the trophy “Thank you for coming and ica Seles and Roger set to Osaka, who had a 20-0 that I look forward to. I am decision in 2016. presentation. watching, it feels really in - Federer to win their record at Melbourne Park when very grateful for this oppor- Apart from MMA, Lausa “And I was right. It’s re - credible for me,” she told the first four major finals, winning the first set. tunity, and I value the trust likewise made his mark inside ally incredible to me to see crowd, which was capped at and will now rise to Osaka gained a stranglehold that BRAVE CF has given me. the boxing ring, possessing a your growth over the past few half-capacity over coronavirus with an early break in the sec- I am excited to represent my perfect 10-0-1 slate with six months, it’s really cool for me concerns. second in the world ond set and fired down an ace to country once again on the knockouts. He captured the to see.” “I didn’t play my last Grand rankings skip out to a 3-0 lead, followed global stage of mixed martial Philippine Boxing Federation Osaka, 23, is only the third Slam with fans so just to have by a roar of “C’mon!”. arts, and it is with great pride Super Bantamweight Cham- player after Monica Seles and this energy really means a lot.” match of 2020, but Osaka tri- Brady attempted a late rally, that my return to the sport will pionship in 2016 and then Roger Federer to win their first - US Open rematch - umphed far more comfortably but a calm Osaka was not to be take place under the banner of clinched the Global Boxing four major finals, and will now The Japanese survived a see- on this occasion. denied. BRAVE CF,” Lausa stated. Organization Asia-Pacific Su- rise to second in the world rank- saw start to gain control, reeling Before the match, Osaka had Brady’s resilient run ended Lausa is a 32-year-old Filipi- per Featherweight Title three ings. off six straight games en route pinpointed her return as the after serving 14 days’ hard quar- no flyweight who was born and years later. She saved two match points in to the title. key, but she was helped out by a antine before the tournament, raised in Iloilo, Philippines. He Lausa is expected to make the fourth round against Garb- It was a rematch of last year’s shaky Brady who lost her serve unlike other players who were holds a professional record of his promotional debut under ine Muguruza and swept past epic US Open semi-final, de- in the fourth game after two allowed out of their hotel rooms 7-5 with two knockouts wins BRAVE CF very soon. Williams in straight sets in the scribed by some as the best double faults. to train.

Luis Alberto lifts Lazio to fourth in Serie A Phoenix sends Abueva to in shock trade | Milan AFP ovic-Savic cross for his seventh TDT | Manila league goal this campaign. uis Alberto scored the only Simone Inzaghi’s side over- xplosive guard Calvin Abue- Lgoal as Lazio battled past take Juventus to move fourth Eva feels surprised yet ex- To be honest I was Sampdoria 1-0 to move fourth into the Champions League cited after being sent by Phoe- surprised but I am in Serie A on Saturday. berths, equal on points with nix Super LPG Fuel Masters to really, really excited. Lazio’s six-match winning third-placed Roma, with both Magnolia Hotshots in a shock It’s like a falling streak ended last weekend their rivals playing later this off-season trade in the Phil - star dropped on my with a painful 3-1 defeat at In- weekend. ippine Basketball Association house and changed ter Milan. Lazio lost 3-0 to Sampdoria (PBA). But Spaniard Alberto struck earlier this season and were The league trade committee everything for good after 24 minutes in Rome again made to work by Claudio approved his transfer in ex - ... I will grab this curling in off a Sergej Milink- Ranieri’s mid-table side. change for prolific guard Chris rare opportunity and Banchero who will be playing play my best there for his third PBA team after the CALVIN ABUEVA Alaska Aces sent him to Mag- nolia for Rodney Brondial and He was relieved from a Robbie Herndon in 2019. 17-month suspension in the The trade was consummated Abueva ... surprised but excited shortened 45th season. with Phoenix also giving up its on my house and changed would like to thank Phoenix for Abueva played a major role 10th overall pick in next month’s everything for good. It’s a dream helping me during the times when Phoenix booted out Mag- Rookie Draft. Magnolia, on come true to play alongside Ian. when I needed them, but just nolia in the quarterfinals to the other hand, also traded its I will grab this rare opportunity as what I said before, I have no reach the Philippine Cup sem- sixth and 18th overall pick in and play my best there.” idea about this trade.” ifinals. the draft. The 6-foot-4 Abueva, 6-foot- Abueva, who was signed by Banchero averaged 11 points, The Kapampangan cager 7 Sangalang and guard Ronald Phoenix to a maximum three- 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in Abueva expressed his excite- Pascual formed a deadly San year contract last December 11 games for Magnolia last year. ment over his transfer to the Sebastian College trio that won worth 14 million pesos, showed It was another surprise Hotshots where he looks for- the 2009 National Collegiate massive improvement inside off-season trade after Terrafima ward to a reunion with college Athletic Association (NCAA) the bubble last season in Clark let go of CJ Perez in exchange teammate Ian Sangalang. men’s basketball crown. after coming out from an indef- for three players and draft picks “To be honest I was surprised “I know how to go along with inite suspension that lasted 17 to San Miguel Beer, which, like but I am really, really excited,” him (Sangalang) and we’re months. Magnolia, is one of three teams said Abueva, who turned 33 only very familiar with each other,” He averaged 13.6 points and under the San Miguel Corp. last February 4. Abueva said, “at the same time, 10.6 rebounds in six games in umbrella. The third team is Ba- “It’s like a falling star dropped I am now in a strong franchise. I his return to the Fuel Masters. rangay .