22 Wednesday, May 2, 2018 SPORTS Ricciardo relationship Wimbledon 2018: fine after clash: Max Serena Williams can be seeded Williams is currently 449th in the WTA rankings after taking time off to get married and have her first child last year London Max Verstappen (R) with Daniel Ricciardo (file pic) imbledon chiefs have London spoken to each other about admitted they will hold ax Verstappen insists what happened and that there anW internal debate to clarify if that his relationship was no hint of a falling out. seven-time champion Serena Mwith Red Bull Formula 1 “Obviously we talked about Williams can be seeded at team-mate Daniel Ricciardo it,” said Verstappen. “Daniel Wimbledon. has not been damaged by their and I are completely OK with Williams is currently 449th collision in the Azerbaijan each other. in the WTA rankings after Grand Prix. “We can both see that what taking time off to get married The duo crashed out of the happened isn’t good for the and have her first child last year. Baku race after Ricciardo slid team. Following the difficult birth into the back of Verstappen “We’d already had some of daughter Alexis Olympia, at Turn 1 as they battled for tough battles, but everything which left the American star fourth position late on. was fine. It was hard but fair. fearing she might die after Red Bull chiefs said both “Now we’ll obviously need developing blood clots, Serena drivers were equally to blame to go to the team in Milton has played only two singles for what had happened, and Keynes and apologise. tournaments. made clear that the duo would “But then we need to stay The 36-year-old lost to her apologise to factory staff in positive, because I think we sister Venus in the last 32 at Milton Keynes prior to the next have a really good chance Indian Wells and was beaten by race in Spain. coming in Barcelona. We’ve Naomi Osaka in the first round Speaking on Red Bull’s got a lot of updates on the in Miami. Servus TV channel, Verstappen car, it all looks really good.” However, Miami Open said that he and Ricciardo had (Autosport) tournament director James Blake said recently that the 23-time Grand Slam winner had been “punished” for Gael Monfils loses on injury wanting to start a family. The WTA provides players return after racket breakage returning from injury lay-offs Los Angeles Sunday and that he had to play or pregnancy with a ‘protected renchman Gael Monfils with someone else’s. ranking’ that can be used to slumped to a surprise first- Monfils recovered from a enter tournaments, but not for Fround defeat by Mirza Basic in poor first set against Bosnian seeding at those tournaments. Munich as he made his return Basic to force a decider, but Players can enter eight from injury yesterday, after eventually slipped to a 6-2, 3-6, events using the ranking they seeing his rackets broken in 6-3 loss to the world number had when they left, including transit. 90. He is trying to regain form for two Premier Mandatory The former world number and fitness on the Munich clay events and two Grand Slams. six, now ranked 40, was playing ahead of the French Open, But players who hold the Serena Williams (file pic) for the first time since retiring where he reached the semi- protected ranking for any have been the top seed in to action, Williams is registered victorious 2017 Australian from his third-round match in finals in 2008. reason, on both the men’s and Indian Wells because after she on the entry list for the French Open campaign, would have Indian Wells seven weeks ago World number three women’s tours, can’t be seeded contested her last tournament Open in June, with Wimbledon a good case to be seeded at with a back problem. Alexander Zverev is the top even if their protected ranking before stepping away from the scheduled to get underway one both the French Open and The 31-year-old wrote on seed in Bavaria and begins merits it. game, she was on top of the month later. especially Wimbledon, given Twitter that all his rackets had his campaign against fellow World number one Simona rankings. Serena, whose last Grand her remarkable record on the been damaged during his flight German Yannick Hanfmann Halep said Williams should Despite her difficult return Slam appearance was her All England Club lawns. (AFP) from Geneva to Munich on on Wednesday. (AFP) Formula One approves aerodynamic rule changes London without winglets and a wider and come after criticism of the strong likelihood of a ormula One has and deeper rear wing. the lack of overtaking in positive impact on racing and approved aerodynamic The International some races. overtaking within F1 and as Frule changes for 2019 Automobile Federation The FIA said the vote, on such have now been ratified aimed at promoting closer (FIA) said its Formula One the last day before unanimous for implementation in 2019,” racing by making it easier commission, Strategy Group agreement is required for the statement added. for cars to overtake, the and World Motor Sport any 2019 regulation changes, “The approved changes sport’s governing body said Council had approved the followed research carried out are separate to the ongoing yesterday. changes. by a majority of the teams work being undertaken in The measures include a The changes should and backed by commercial regard to defining Formula simplified front wing with a reduce turbulence for cars rights holders Liberty Media. One’s regulations for 2021 larger span, front brake ducts that are following each other, “These studies indicated and beyond.” (Reuters)