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sports Diahuebs 11 augustus 2022

Brazil soccer body rejects WCup qualifier against Argentina

(AP) — Brazil insisted federation president Ednaldo
that it won't play its sus- Rodrigues.
pended World Cup quali-
fying match against Ar- Brazilian media has reported
gentina next month, ar- the Selecao would rather play
guing Wednesday that the two friendlies in Europe.
risks are too high ahead of "We will reach out to FIFA so
the tournament in Qatar. this match is not played. I will
make every effort to answer
The qualifier nearly one year to the request of our coach-
ago in Sao Paulo was stopped ing staff," Rodrigues said in a
by local health officials af- statement. "Our priority is to
ter six minutes due to CO- win the World Cup in Qatar.
VID-19 protocols regarding If that match is not recom-
four Argentinian players. mended by the coaching staff
of the Selecao, we will work
FIFA fined the soccer bod- for it not to be played."
ies of both countries and de- Brazil and Argentina quali-
manded the match be played. fied regardless of that sus-
Brazil's confederation and pended encounter's result.
Argentina's federation took
the case to the Court for Ar- In Qatar, Brazil is in Group
bitration of Sport, which is G with Serbia, Switzerland
expected to rule later in Au- and Cameroon. Argentina is
gust. The game would be in set a date. Brazil coach Tite match due to risks of injuries, boycott by the Argentinians, in Group C with Mexico, Po-
September but FIFA has not does not want to play the suspensions and a potential according to Brazilian con- land and Saudi Arabia.

Serena’s Legacy: Plenty of wins, plenty of stands on issues

(AP) – A couple of days one else. And, yes, Williams try; the celebrity and place
before Serena Williams won a total of 73 tour-lev- in pop culture; and, most re-
claimed the 22nd of her 23 el singles titles and spent cently, the work as a venture
Grand Slam singles titles more than six years' worth capitalist ("Seventy-eight% of
at Wimbledon in 2016, she of weeks ranked No. 1. And our portfolio happens to be
was asked what she makes she combined with older sis- companies started by women
of it when people refer ter Venus to claim 14 Grand and people of color, because
to her as one of history's Slam women's doubles titles. that's who we are," Williams
greatest female athletes. And then there are the four said).
Olympic gold medals. And
Her reply: She prefers being so on. And so on. "It is important to take a step
characterized as "one of the back and think about every-
greatest athletes of all time." Still, mere numbers can't thing that Serena has brought
capture everything Williams to our sport and what she has
That one, brief response has represented during a dis- accomplished both on and off broader slice of society into led to getting docked a point
from Williams said quite a tinguished career that began the court," said Steve Simon, their sport (Coco Gauff, the or a game in U.S. Open loss-
lot — about her one-of-a- when she was a teenager in the head of the WTA wom- 18-year-old African-Ameri- es to Naomi Osaka and Kim
kind talent with a racket in the 1990s and is remarkable en's tennis tour. "She is one can who was the runner-up Clijsters — maybe the sorts
hand, about her status as an for not just the successes but of the greatest champions, an at the French Open in May, of episodes she was referring
icon, about her willingness also the longevity, including a entrepreneur, a mother, an said Tuesday she plays what to in her essay when she said:
to stand up for herself, about record 10 major champion- investor in women's business she called "a predominantly "I've made a lot of mistakes
why women's sports should ships after turning 30. ventures and an inspiration white sport" because she "saw in my career. Mistakes are
not be thought of any differ- to women and girls across the somebody who looked like learning experiences, and I
ently than men's sports. "She's lasted longer than world." me dominating the game"). embrace those moments. I'm
most, if not all, female ten- far from perfect, but I've also
That all came to mind again nis pros. She's transcended Williams spoke out about be- "I don't particularly like to taken a lot of criticism, and
Tuesday, when Williams indi- tennis and become a leader ing Black in her sport — she think about my legacy. I get I'd like to think that I went
cated she is preparing to walk on many important cultural, was the first to win a Grand asked about it a lot, and I nev- through some hard times as
away from her professional social and gender issues. She Slam tournament since Al- er know exactly what to say," a professional tennis player
tennis career as the start of has lived an extraordinary thea Gibson in the 1950s Williams wrote in an essay so that the next generation
the U.S. Open approaches on life," Evert wrote in a text — and in her country. She released by Vogue magazine. could have it easier."
Aug. 29 and her 41st birthday message to The Associated stayed away from a tourna- "But I'd like to think that
next month nears. Press, "and will undoubtedly ment in California for years thanks to opportunities af- Her serve was a gift, as were
continue to crash the glass after she and her father heard forded to me, women athletes the powerful groundstrokes
Yes, with shouts of "Come ceiling in the future." racist taunts there. She talked feel that they can be them- that she and Venus — her
on!" marking the journey, about being a woman in ten- selves on the court. They opponent in nine all-in-the-
she's won the most major Indeed, what Williams did nis, about being a woman can play with aggression and family Grand Slam finals
singles championships in the without a racket in her hand who dealt with complica- pump their fists. They can — made a permanent part
professional era of tennis, is rather noteworthy, and tions in childbirth, about be- be strong yet beautiful. They of the game. So, too, was an
which began in 1968; more extends past the millions in ing a mother (her daughter, can wear what they want and unbending will and desire
than the 22 for Steffi Graf endorsement deals; the flirta- Olympia, turns 5 on Sept. 1, say what they want and kick to always come out on top,
or Rafael Nadal, more than tions with acting; the interest and Williams wants to have butt and be proud of it all." whether the person across
the 21 for Novak Djokovic, in fashion design and pen- another baby). the net was Big Sis or anyone
more than the 20 for Roger chant for bringing the cat- There were, to be sure, mo- else, whether she was trying
Federer, more than the 18 walk to the court with body She and Venus helped their ments that she perhaps was to win a point during a match
for Chris Evert or Martina suits and knee-high boots and sport reach a broader au- not as proud of, confronta- or make a point in an inter-
Navratilova, more than any- whatever else she decided to dience and helped bring a tions with match officials that view.