Murray Falls to Sandgren As Singles Comeback Continues
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WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST 2019 SPORT 17 I have such amazing memories Former World number one FOOTBALL FOOTBALL that are really special to me from Serena Williams says as she Champions League; Auckland. I would really like to announces to begin her Champions League; Qualifying Play-Off: add some on court memories to 2020 season with a return to Qualifying Play-Off: Dinamo Zagreb vs Olympiakos vs FK that list. the Auckland Open. ACTION Rosenborg TODAY’S Krasnodar Murray falls to Sandgren as singles comeback continues AFP gutted out a tough service hold WASHINGTON in an opening game that went to deuce nine times, saving one Deaf South Korean Andy Murray on Monday fell in There’s some good break point as they went to the the first round of the ATP first-set decider without a break player Lee notches Tiger Woods Winston-Salem Open, where the things in there but of serve. three-time Grand Slam also some stuff I The American needed four landmark victory champion was giving his surgi- would like to do set points -- and saved one -- in cally repaired hip just its second taking the tiebreaker. better: Andy Murray AFP test in singles. A deflated Murray was WASHINGTON Britain’s Murray, who feared quickly down 3-0 with two in January that his hip trouble breaks of serve in the second. Woods leaves would end his career, accepted thanks to a lengthy rain delay He clawed one back, and Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win a wild card into this week’s tour- that pushed back his start time broke again when Sandgren an ATP match on Monday, making a statement with door open to namentment in North Carolina after by moremore than three hours.hours. coughedcoughed up twotwo double faults a straight-sets win over Henri Laaksonen in fallinging in his singles comeback SandgrenSandgren whilewhile serving for the match at Winston-Salem. in CincinnatiCincinnati lastlast week.week. 5-4. “People made fun of me for my disability. They playing in He againagain showed glimpsesglimpses But SandgrenSandgren broke MurrayMurray told me I shouldn’t be playing,” the 21-year-old of hishis once-dominant self, but again in the next game and then South Korean said after shrugging off a lengthy rain Presidents wass inconsistent in a 7-6 (10-8)(10-8),, took full advantageadvantage of his second delay to post a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory. 7-55 loss to 73rd-ranked chance,chance, capping the match with “It was definitely difficult, but my friends and Americanerican Tennys Sandgren in a a forehand winner on his first family helped me get through,” Lee said. “I wanted Cup team matchtch lastinglasting 2 hours and 10 matchmatch point.point. to show everyone that I could do this. minutes.nutes. “Some thingsthings were a “Physically,“Physically, (I’m) OK con-con- “My message for people who are hearing REUTERS bit betterbetter today I think,” Murray sideringsidering -- no pain, no dis-dis- impaired is to not be discouraged. If you try hard, WASHINGTON said.d. comfort.comfort. JustJust a little bit more you can do anything.” “I was hittinghitting thethe ballball a bitbit tiredtired tthanhan usual,”usual,” saidsaid thethe Lee, ranked 212 in the world, turned pro at 15 US Presidents Cup captain Tiger Woods cleaneraner than I did maybe in Briton.Briton. and achieved his best ATP singles ranking of 130th said on Monday he may select himself Cincinnati...cinnati... I feelfeel likelike I movedmoved in the world in 2017, toiling mainly on the devel- to play for the team in December but he fairlyrly well to some drop shots, opmental Challenger circuit. would need to see how sharp his game whichich maybe last week I wasn’t Andy Murray He admits that his disability can make life on is before making the call. runningnning to.to. court frustrating: he can’t hear line calls or the Woods was not among the top eight “So there’s some umpire’s call of the score and relies on gestures to players to automatically qualify for the goodod thingsthings in sort out any confusion. At Lee’s post-match press squad after he finished 13th on the therere but aalsolso conference on Monday, his fiancee pitched in to points list but he has the power to name someme stuff I help out a Korean translator. himself to the roster with one of the four woulduld like toto It was the end of a long day for Lee, who was captain’s picks for the event at Royal do better.”better.” two points from victory when thunderstorms swept Melbourne. MurrayMurray through the area. When he and Switzerland’s Laak- “My job as the captain is to put did notnot even sonen returned some five hours later Lee quickly together the best team possible, to try reachach thethe polished off a win. Lee next faces third-seeded to put together the best 12 guys,” he courturt untiluntil Hubert Hurkacz. told reporters on a call. afterer 110pm,0pm, “We’ll have open communication with our top eight guys and my vice cap- tains and we will certainly talk about Stephens splits with whether I should play or not play,” he Serena to begin 2020 season said. coach Groeneveld “Ultimately it is going to be my call,” added Woods. ahead of US Open with return to Auckland Open Apart from his win at the Masters for his 15th major title, the 43-year-old AGENCIES REUTERS as saying by the tournament memories that are really special had a relatively quiet season, which WASHINGTON LONDON organisers. to me from Auckland,” she added, petered out with a whimper amid “Last time I was there I had so referring to her engagement to physical and emotional fatigue. American Sloane Stephens has parted ways with Former world numbermber oneone SerenaSerena muchmuch going on and although RedditReddit co-founderco-founde Alexis Ohanian Woods missed the chance to defend her coach Sven Groeneveld less than a week before Williams (pictured)ed) will bebegingin her I foughtfought throughthrough to daysdays before the 2017 his Tour Championship title when he the US Open gets under way, the former champion 2020 season withh a return to tthehe win mymy tournament.tournament. could only manage to tie for 37th at the has said. Auckland Open inn January, herher firstfirst “I“I wouldwoul really like to BMW Championship on Sunday, far from Stephens, who only teamed up with Dutchman first appearance at the tour-tour- add somesome on court mem- the sixth-place finish he likely needed Groeneveld in May, has not announced a nament since she waswas oustedousted ories to thatth list.” to qualify for the season-ending event. replacement ahead of the year’s final Grand Slam, in the second roundround in WiWilliams,llia 37, is due to Woods said his Presidents Cup which begins on Monday. 2017. competecompete ata the US Open decision will depend on how he fares in “After much thought, Sven Groeneveld and I The Aucklandd Open whichwhich beginsbegin next week but informal rounds against players pre- have decided to go our separate ways,” 2017 serves as a warm-uprm-up herher preparationspreparat for the final paring for the fall season as well as his champion Stephens said in a tweet. before the year’ss firstfirst GrandGrand SlamS of the year performance at the Zozo Championship “Change is never easy, but I’m so appreciative Grand Slam, the Aus-Aus- havehave beenb far from in October in Japan. of our time together. Onward!” tralian Open, whichwhich perfect withw injuries lim- “It’s practising, it’s playing, it’s Groeneveld thanked Stephens for their time begins on Januaryary 20 itingiting herhe time on court. staying sharp,” he said when asked what together. next year. TheTh 23-times he needs to do to make the U.S. side, “I wish you a strong @usopen, you have all it On her lastt AucklandAuckland GrandGrand Slam champion which has dominated the International takes, I believe in you!” he wrote on Twitter. appearance, thenen top seeseedd WiWil-l- match,match, I retiredretired from the Rogers team since the biennial event’s inception Meanwhile, Chilean tennis player Juan Carlos liams hit 88 unforcedforced eerrorsrrors in knowknow I CupCup finalfi in Toronto in 1994. Saez has been banned for eight years for match- windy conditions,s, losinglosing to com-com- ddidn’tidn’t pplaylay eaearlierrlier this month The only US loss came in Melbourne fixing. The Tennis Integrity Unit says Saez patriot Madison Brengle,Brengle, whowho was to my level.level. becausebecause of back spasms, in 1998 with a team that included refused to cooperate with its investigation and ranked 70 rungs lower. “I“I havehave whichwhich ledled to her with- Woods. also failed to report “a corrupt approach” at a “Oh man, I wantwant to win thatthat sucsuchh drawaldrawal ffromro the Cincinnati tournament. title so bad,” Williamsiams was quoted amazing Masters. Rugby: All Blacks to field strong side for final Cup warm-up REUTERS weekend’s 36-0 victory over who was dropped for Saturday’s old saying ‘never give a sucker WELLINGTON Australia at Eden Park and their match against the Wallabies after an even break because he’ll take World Cup opener. being a virtual first choice since it’. New Zealand’s Steve Hansen will not be “We’d like probably most of 2017. “Now we’ve got some rugby coach wrapping his players in cotton the frontliners to get some form Ioane will play for Auckland genuine competition.” Steve Hansen wool ahead of the Rugby World of game-time in the Tonga game, against Bay of Plenty on Saturday Hansen added that tighthead during a training Cup with the All Blacks coach otherwise it’s too big a break and while he is unlikely to miss prop, the midfield and the loose session in confirming he will give his core before we play South Africa,” out on the World Cup squad his forward mix were areas that Auckland on group a run against Tonga in Hansen said in comments pub- starting place is under pressure.