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sports Wednesday 6 January 2021
TENNIS '21: COVID questions key; Djokovic, Nadal eye records

By HOWARD FENDRICH get it; we have to do it. But
AP Tennis Writer I'm not one bit excited."
When the 2020 men's tennis TOKYO OLYMPICS
season ended at the ATP The 2020 Olympics, as they'll
Finals, Rafael Nadal cap- still be called, are sched-
tured a common sentiment uled to start in July, and two
that still holds true as the tennis players representing
2021 tennis season is set to Japan could be breakout
begin this week. stars: AP Female Athlete of
"The world is suffering a lot, the Year Naomi Osaka and
so we are very lucky that Kei Nishikori. "The Olympics
we can play tennis," Nadal are a special time when
said in London in Novem- the world comes together
ber. "That's the real feeling to celebrate sports. I am
that I have." looking forward most to be-
After an off-and-on, pan- ing with the athletes that
demic-altered year for the had waited and trained for
sport, coronavirus ques- over 10 years, for celebrat-
tions and an ever-evolving ing a very hard year (2020),
calendar still will be key and having that happen in
parts of the conversation as Japan makes it that much
things get going Wednes- more special," Osaka wrote
day at the Abu Dhabi WTA in an email interview. "It's a
Women's Tennis Open, special and beautiful coun-
where Sofia Kenin leads the In this Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, Reilly Opelka, of the United States, returns to David Goffin, of Bel- try filled with culture, history
field, and Thursday at the gium, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York. and beauty. I cannot be
ATP's Delray Beach Open, Associated Press more excited."
where Reilly Opelka is the CROWDED COMPETITION
defending champion. weeks to Feb. 8, and the ATP rankings; Williams is one in 2020, because the All Should be fascinating to
Opelka won that hard- joint event played at Indi- Slam singles trophy away England Club canceled watch the young women
court title last February, an Wells, California — can- from No. 24, which would Wimbledon for the first time who recently won Grand
but the tournament was celed last year because equal Margaret Court for since World War II. As of Slam titles compete for
moved to early January as of the COVID-19 outbreak the most in the sport's his- now, Wimbledon is sched- more. That includes No. 1
part of a shuffling on both — giving up its usual March tory. uled for its usual place on Ash Barty, who is 24; No. 3
professional tours. dates without a new spot Other tennis storylines in the calendar, beginning Osaka, 23; No. 4 Kenin, 21;
"It's really going to be for for it on the schedule as of 2021: June 28. The French Open's No. 7 Bianca Andreescu,
me to find my tennis. I now. FEDERER'S RETURN start got shifted from May 20; No. 17 Iga Swiatek, 19.
haven't even played in There are some significant More than 12 months will to September last year and WHO'S GOT NEXT?
three months," said Opelka, milestones in the offing for have passed between the number of fans was se- There appear to be more
a 23-year-old American stars such as Nadal, Novak matches for the 39-year- verely restricted; as of now, legitimate candidates for
who is based in Florida and Djokovic and Serena Wil- old Federer by the time he it is slotted for May 23. For first-time major champions
ranked 39th. "So this is really liams in 2021. returns from two operations the Australian Open, there in men's tennis than there
just to get me back into the Nadal can break a tie with on his right knee. Federer's are lingering questions have been in years. With
competitive mindset and Roger Federer for the most agent told The Associated about flights, hotels and Dominic Thiem joining the
playing against other guys Grand Slam singles titles Press he is aiming for late quarantine plans for play- club last year at the no-
and back in tournament for a man after match- February after missing the ers and their personnel. "I'm spectator U.S. Open, who
mode." ing him with No. 20 at the Australian Open for the first not that excited, to be hon- will join him? Daniil Med-
The changes include the French Open in October; time since his main-draw est. vedev, Andrey Rublev,
start of the year's first major by March, Djokovic can debut in 2000. Like, I don't want to stay Stefanos Tsitsipas and Al-
championship, the Austra- surpass Federer's record for THE SLAMS in my room for 19 hours," exander Zverev all appear
lian Open, delayed three most weeks at No. 1 in the There were only three Slams Opelka said. "You know, I capable.q
Al-Attiyah wins Dakar Rally stage; Howes leads motorbikes

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Some contenders didn't fare so Sebastien Loeb was sixth, 46 min- well and I felt comfortable there,"
Nasser Al-Attiyah won his third well. Defending champion Carlos utes down. Howes said. "Then we got out into
stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Sainz, racing second early on, lost Skyler Howes of the United States the open desert on the really fast
Arabia and cut his deficit to over- his way along with Saudi flagbear- became the motorbike overall sandy tracks and I felt right at
all leader Stephane Peteransel to er Yazeed Al Rajhi. Sainz was back leader after stage two winner home. I told myself if I was feeling
five minutes on Tuesday. on track 31 minutes later and Al Joan Barreda and defending good, then I'd let it ride."
Al-Attiyah won the prologue and Rajhi after 45 minutes. champion Ricky Brabec went off Two-time winner Toby Price of
the second stage, and had to Bernhard Ten Brinke of the Nether- course 40 kilometers in. Australia outdueled Kevin Bena-
open the 403-kilometer (250-mile) lands, in the top five with about 40 Howes came into the picture after vides of Argentina to win the
loop around Wadi Ad-Dawasir, kilometers to go, rolled his car and the stage's midpoint and finished stage. Matthias Walkner, who lost
a blend of rocky canyons and was receiving a competitor's help fourth. Last year, in his second Da- two hours on Monday because of
dunes. to resume. kar, he was ninth overall, taking a mechanical problem, was third.
The Qatari dominated, beating Peterhansel held on to the overall a laidback approach just three Brabec was 22 minutes off the
Henk Lategan of South Africa by lead, five minutes over Al-Attiyah. months after breaking his neck. pace, and Barreda 25 minutes.
2 1/2 minutes. Peterhansel over- Mathieu Serradori of France rose He said he has the same mindset Overall, Howes led Benavides by
came an early puncture and was to third, 26 minutes back. Sainz this year. 2 1/2 minutes, and Xavier de Soul-
third, four minutes back. was fourth, 33 minutes back, and "Today the dunes flowed really trait was third.q