Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Monday 9 april 2018

Bertens powers past Goerges

to win Volvo Car Open

By PETE IACOBELLI son, and yeah, hopefully figured to be the fresher
AP Sports Writer still more to come." finalist after finishing her
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Goerges figured to be the semifinal win over Sevas-
Kiki Bertens felt fortunate to fresher finalist, needing tova. But Goerges was
escape a tough semifinal only about 25 minutes to beset by uncharacteristic
match with a victory Sun- finish off her semi with Lat- errors that seemed to give
day morning. She wasn't via's Anastasija Sevastova, Bertens more energy.
going to let things get so which was tied at 4-all in “I think that semifinal took
tight later on in the biggest the opening set Saturday a lot of mental effort out of
match of her career. before the rain came. me,” Goerges said.
Bertens of the Netherlands But it was Bertens, ranked In the fourth game, Goerg-
overpowered Germany's 27th in the world, who es reached the net in plen-
Julia Goerges to cap a showed fire and drive on ty of time for a simple drop
long, chilly Sunday at the center court in the finals. shot with Bertens back by
Volvo Car Open with a 6-2, She broke Goerges' serve the baseline but pushed
6-1 victory for her fifth ca- twice to take a 3-1 lead the shot into to the cord on
reer WTA title and third of and never let up. the way to losing her serve.
the past 11 months. Bertens When Goerges sailed her Down 5-2 and serving, Go-
made it to the final by out- shot long on match point, erges double faulted twice
lasting American Madison Bertens threw her racquet in a row to get broken a fi-
Keys as the WTA's first clay- in the air and held her arms nal time in the set.
court event of the season up high in celebration of Goerges thought she had
had to double up on play her latest title. done well all week find-
after rain Saturday washed Bertens had in Nuremberg, ing answers when pressed Kiki Bertens, from the Netherlands, celebrates by kissing the
out most of the semifinals. Germany, last May and the by opponents. She came trophy after defeating Julia Goerges, from Germany, during a
Bertens was nearly ousted Swiss Open in Gstaad last up empty against Bertens, championship match at the Volvo Car Open tennis tournament
in Charleston, S.C., Sunday, April 8, 2018.
by Keys, saving a match July. But she had a slow however.q Associated Press
point in the third set before start to 2018 with only four
prevailing in tiebreaker, 6-4, match wins before winning
6-7 (2), 7-6 (5). Preparing all six of her matches here. Lloyd's 100th international goal
for Goerges several hours Bertens, 26, put things away
later, Bertens thought, "OK, early as she broke Goerges'
you could already have lost serve three times to win the leads U.S. over Mexico 6-2
this morning, so just give ev- opening set 6-2. Bertens
erything and try to go for it," had a run of seven straight
she said. "And yeah, now games before Goerges, HOUSTON (AP) — Carli Lindsey Horan kicked the matches in Cary, North
I'm here with the trophy." urged on by the crowd Lloyd became the sixth ball back into the penalty Carolina, and Edinberg,
Perhaps the most important that may not have wanted American to score 100 in- area, where it was deflect- Texas. The semifinals and
one of the 26-year-old's ca- to see the tournament end, ternational goals, putting ed by goalkeeper Cecilia final will be in Frisco, Texas
reer. took a game to delay the the United States ahead Santiago. Mallory Pugh's from Oct. 14-17.
Bertens, ranked 27th in the celebration. as it rallied for a 6-2 win volley ricocheted off the Wearing the captain's
world, had won titles last Among Bertens' prizes was over Mexico in an exhi- crossbar and Lloyd head- armband, Lloyd made her
May in Nuremberg, Ger- two-year use of one of Vol- bition Sunday. Alex Mor- ed the ball into the open 252nd appearance with
many and the Swiss Open vo's luxury cars. The manu- gan scored twice for the net from at the goal line. the national team. She
against fields not nearly as facturer is constructing a second straight game as The 35-year-old midfielder scored three goals in the
loaded with top players new auto plant about 25 the Americans played an- became the 16th woman 2015 Women's World Cup
as here. Bertens had gone miles west of Charleston. other prep match ahead to reach the century mark, final. "It's obviously a great
0-15 against top-20 oppo- She got to design her new of World Cup qualifying in joining fellow Americans milestone, but I've got a
nents in 2018 entering Sun- vehicle on court during the October. Megan Rapinoe Abby Wambach (184), lot of things I still want to
day before defeating Keys trophy presentation. chipped the goalkeeper Mia Hamm (158), Kristine accomplish left in my ca-
(ranked 14th) and Goerges "It went so fast," Bertens said to score from 35 yards and Lilly (130), Michelle Akers reer," Lloyd said. "To look
(ranked 13th) in the space about the selection. "It was had four assists, one short (105) and Tiffeny Milbrett back on where I started in
of about eight hours. like, 'Oh, what do I want? of the U.S. record. (100). Wambach holds the 2005 to the player I've be-
"I'm just so happy and Can I still change it?' No, Lloyd, a two-time FIFA women's world record. come, you don't very often
proud, I think, of myself," but it was really fun." Player of the Year, scored CONCACAF announced get to sit back and reflect
Bertens said. "It's a great Goerges, who had played in the 34th minute. Rapi- Sunday that World Cup because you're always
start of the clay court sea- crisply most of the week, noe's cross went all the qualifying will take place in waiting for that next big
way across the field, and October, with group stage thing."q