Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Wednesday 17 January 2018

CLEVELAND

ROCKED

Russia’s Maria Sharapova
looks to make a backhand
return to Germany’s Tatjana
Maria during their first round
match at the Australian
Open tennis championships
in Melbourne, Australia,
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
Associated Press
Sharapova

back in Oz,

joins Federer,

Djokovic in

2nd round

By JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
— It wasn’t Maria Sharapo-
va’s choice to miss the last
Australian Open. That de-
cision was taken out of her
hands because of a dop-
ing ban following a failed Warriors set down the Cavaliers again
test on her previous visit to
Melbourne Park.
The five-time major cham-
pion said it was her choice
to return, though, and she Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35)
relished every moment of it shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan
in Tuesday’s 6-1, 6-4 victory Thompson (13) in the second half of an NBA
over Tatjana Maria. basketball game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in
“With that choice I know
that I face difficulties and Cleveland.
challenges on the court, Associated Press
and that I start from no Page 20
ranking and that I might
start on some outside
courts, and I understand
that and that’s part of the
process,” said Sharapova,
who was a contentious
choice to represent the
women’s champions last
week at the official draw.

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