Page 22 - aruba-today-20190514

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 14 May 2019

Spain's Fernando Gaviria, third from left, and Italy's Elia Viviani
sprint during the third stage of the Giro d'Italia, tour of Italy cy-
cling race from Vinci to Orbetello, Monday, May 13, 2019.
Associated Press
Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball to Sweden's Rebecca Peterson during their
match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Monday, May, 13, 2019.
Associated Press Gaviria wins Giro

Serena Williams wins clay opener; stage 3 after Viviani

sister Venus next in Rome relegated for sprint

ROME (AP) — Serena Wil- Serena leads the career se- ahead of her third-round
liams looked sharper than ries 18-12. match in Miami because ORBETELLO, Italy (AP) — Elia He used that interview to
in her previous match two "I know that she's going to of a left knee injury. The Viviani was stripped of win- apologize to Moschetti
months ago as she opened play really well and com- last time Serena played in ning the third stage at the and revealed how much
her clay-court season with pete really well," Venus Rome was in 2016 when Giro d'Italia on Monday. Sunday's disappointment
a routine 6-4, 6-2 win over said. "That's a given." she won the last of her four Viviani was ruled by the played on his mind.
Swedish qualifier Rebecca In March at the Miami Italian Open trophies. race jury to have deviated "Yesterday I made a mis-
Peterson on Monday. Open, Serena needed Serena is playing only her from his line in the final sprint take. I thought about it all
Next up at the Italian three sets to beat Peterson. fourth tournament of the in Orbetello, even touching night," Viviani said.
Open: Sister Venus Williams "It's been a while. I haven't season and was unable to wheels with Italian compa- Slovenian cyclist Primoz Ro-
in the siblings' first meeting played a ton of matches finish her last two due to triot Matteo Moschetti. glic remained the overall
on European clay in nearly this year," Serena said. "Not physical ailments. Viviani finished second on leader.
17 years. my choice, just by force. I "I haven't been able to train Sunday and thought he'd Roglic, who won the open-
Venus, who won her only really, really actually des- or practice a lot. I was out made up for it on Monday ing time trial on Saturday, is
Rome title 20 years ago, perately wanted to be on much longer than I expect- at the end of the 220-kilo- 19 seconds ahead of British
defeated Elise Mertens 7-5, the tour and to be play- ed," Serena said. "But I did meter (137-mile) route from cyclist Simon Yates, and 23
3-6, 7-6 (4) after more than ing. It felt good to finally be everything I could to stay fit Vinci. seconds ahead of home
three hours, requiring nine back out. Hopefully, I'll be and to keep my cardio up. Instead, Fernando Gaviria favorite Vincenzo Nibali.
match points before elimi- able to keep it up." I knew that I love the clay of Colombia was given the The peloton had a rela-
nating her Belgian oppo- Serena fell behind 3-1 in the season and I wanted to be win, with Arnaud Demare tively easy day, which was
nent. first set but then began to a part of it." second and Pascal Acker- characterized by strong
The Williams sisters' last take control with her base- In men's action, Italy's top mann third. crosswinds at the finish and
match on red clay came in line power on a windy day player Fabio Fognini wore "It's difficult to smile or to be a long solo ride from lone
the 2002 French Open final at the Foro Italico. a shirt featuring a design happy when something like escape Sho Hatsuyama.
won by Serena. In their last When Serena ran down a of Rome's skyline during a this happens to a friend," The Japanese cyclist raced
match in Rome, Venus won passing attempt from Pe- 6-3, 6-4 win over Jo-Wilfried Gaviria said. "I'm disap- about 144 kilometers on his
their second career meet- terson and replied with a Tsonga; and Borna Co- pointed for him because own before being caught
ing way back in the 1998 cross-court winner to break ric rallied past Felix Auger- for me nothing happened. 75 kilometers from the fin-
quarterfinals. for 5-2 in the second set, Aliassime 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 in For me he's the winner. ish. "It was an easy day
"That's crazy," Serena said. "I she let out a scream and a matchup of two of the "The decision is extreme. He actually because only one
vaguely remember that, so bent over as she pumped top young players on tour. never looked back to see guy in the front, all day
I don't really remember. ... both of her fists. Auger-Aliassime struggled who was behind him so he nothing," Roglic said. "But it
We play each other a lot. In the final game, Serena with his serve, hitting sev- didn't do it with any intent. was quite windy and then
Seems like every tourna- served two aces and saved en double-faults to Coric's He only wanted to win, not the stress at the end. The
ment nowadays we meet two break points before one. to damage someone. He's team did the perfect job
early. It is what it is." closing out the first-round Also, Karen Khachanov always been correct, a and we finished without
Serena is now a 37-year-old match. overcame a partisan great racer. I'm disappoint- any problems."
mother and Venus is 38. Serena finished with 28 win- crowd to beat Italian wild ed for him." The fourth stage on Tues-
"It doesn't change at all. ners to Peterson's eight, card Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, Viviani left the finish zone day is an undulating 234-ki-
We're just as fierce, Venus is and committed only two 6-7 (1), 6-3; while last year's after the decision without lometer route from Orbe-
just as fierce," Serena said. more unforced errors than French Open semifinalist speaking to journalists and tello to Frascati, with an
"We both really want to the 58th-ranked Swede, 22- Marco Cecchinato was with an angry expression, in uphill finish which could see
get some match play. We'll 20. inspired by the home fans contrast to his joy when he a change in the pink jersey.
both do the best that we Serena was playing for the to beat Alex Di Minaur 4-6, was interviewed immedi- The Giro finishes in Verona
can. first time since withdrawing 6-3, 6-1.q ately after crossing the line. on June 2.q