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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 17 January 2023
Nadal struggles at times during 4-set win at Australian Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH confident.”
AP Tennis Writer His next opponent will be
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Mackie McDonald, a past
— Rafael Nadal never truly NCAA champion at UCLA
seemed in danger of be- who won an all-American
coming the first Australian matchup against Brandon
Open defending men’s Nakashima that lasted 4
champion to lose in the hours by a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1),
first round since his current 1-6, 6-7 (10), 6-4 score.
coach, Carlos Moya, man- The No. 1-seeded wom-
aged to beat Boris Becker an, Iga Swiatek, followed
a quarter of a century ago. Nadal into Laver for the
Still, this was not a vintage night session and found
performance by Nadal, herself in a tight second set
who came into Monday’s before reeling off the last
matchup against 21-year- four games to eliminate
old Jack Draper with an 0-2 69th-ranked Jule Niemeier
record in 2023 and six losses 6-4, 7-5. Americans Jessica
in his past seven outings Pegula, Coco Gauff and
overall. After nearly two Danielle Collins, the 2022
hours of so-so play, Nadal runner-up at Melbourne
found himself even at a set Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand return to Jack Draper of Britain during their first round Park, also reached the sec-
apiece. match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 16, ond round with straight-set
He appeared to be pulling 2023. victories Monday, and 2017
away, taking advantage Associated Press U.S. Open finalist Madison
of his opponent’s bout with all, it was a bit of a struggle. 1 because top-ranked Car- toe with him on a big court Keys won in three sets. Oth-
cramps on an afternoon He tried to put a silver-lining los Alcaraz is sidelined with like that is special,” Draper ers advancing included
with the temperature at spin on things, nonetheless, an injury, is appearing in his said. “I can take away the 2019 U.S. Open champion
about 85 degrees Fahren- given his recent track re- 67th Grand Slam tourna- fact that my tennis is get- Bianca Andreescu, 2021
heit (30 Celsius), when sud- cord and knowing that he ment. Draper, ranked a ca- ting closer and closer. And U.S. Open champion Emma
denly Draper went up by tore an abdominal muscle reer-best No. 38 this week, physically, I’ll be first to say Raducanu and sixth-seed-
a break in the fourth set. twice in the past six months. was making his fourth trip to I’m still a work in progress.” ed Maria Sakkari, while
From there, though, Nadal “I was humble enough to a major and his best show- This time, signs of trouble two-time Australian Open
would not drop another accept that (there were) ing was getting to the third showed up early, and Drap- champion Victoria Aza-
game, beginning his pursuit going to be a little bit of round at the U.S. Open last er was treated by a trainer renka got past 2020 win-
of a record-extending 23rd ups and downs during September. during changeovers. Later, ner Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Grand Slam championship the match,” Nadal said. Draper also has faced he massaged his right thigh There were plenty of other
with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win “(That’s a) typical thing problems dealing with between points. major titlists on the packed
that took more than 3 1/2 when you are not in a win- steamy conditions: In his Nadal, not surprisingly, Day 1 schedule, with Petra
hours in Rod Laver Arena. ning mood.” ATP Tour debut at the Mi- wore Draper down from Kvitova, Elena Rybakina,
“I need a victory, so that’s Both men are left-handers, ami Open in March 2021, the baseline, engaging in Jelena Ostapenko and
the main thing,” Nadal but that is pretty much he collapsed on court and exchanges before finding Barbora Krejcikova among
said. “Doesn’t matter the where the similarities end, needed to stop playing af- an opening to yank a big the winners. But three-time
way.” whether in terms of style or ter one set. forehand this way or that. Slam champ Stan Wawrin-
That’s good, then, because age or experience or ac- “Real honor to play against “When you win matches, ka bowed out with a 6-7
the 36-year-old from Spain complishments. him, someone I’ve idolized you are more relaxed,” (3), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 loss
was not in peak form. All in Nadal, who is seeded No. growing up. To go toe-to- Nadal said. “You are more to Alex Molcan. q

Panthers send Sabres to fourth loss in

five games, 4-1

By The Associated Press Florida moved percentage his first shutout of the season
Carter Verhaeghe had a points ahead of Buffalo into and David Krejci had three
goal and an assist and the fourth place in the Atlantic assists in his 1,000th NHL
Florida Panthers beat the Division with the win in the game as NHL-leading Bos-
Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Mon- opener of a three-game ton halted Philadelphia’s
day for their third win in four road trip against Atlantic three-game win streak.
games. Division opponents. Pastrnak scored the first
Matthew Tkachuk finished Alex Tuch scored for the Sa- goal in the first period and
with three assists for Florida bres, who have lost four of added another during a
and extended his point their last five games. Ukko- 4-on-3 power play to start Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the
streak to seven games. Pekka Luukkonen stopped the third to help Boston win net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the
Buffalo Sabres on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Buffalo, N.Y.
Brandon Montour, Sam 30 shots. for the sixth time in seven Associated Press
Bennett and Anton Lun- BRUINS 6, FLYERS 0 games. The Bruins are 21-1-
dell also scored for the BOSTON (AP) — David Pas- 3 at home this season and he was replaced midway the way. The Flyers lost for
Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky trnak and Pavel Zacha have the best overall re- through the second pe- just the second time in nine
made 28 saves for his fourth scored two goals apiece, cord in the NHL.Carter Hart riod by Samuel Ersson, who games.q
win in five starts. Jeremy Swayman earned stopped 14 shots before made nine saves the rest of