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A14 sports
Saturday 7 May 2022
Change of guard? Alcaraz overpowers Nadal at Madrid Open

By TALES AZZONI great start this season; both
AP Sports Writer have a tour-leading three
MADRID (AP) — This time, titles already.
the Spanish player being Nadal's run was hampered
celebrated on center court by a rib stress fracture he
wasn't Rafael Nadal. sustained in his semifinal
The loud cheers from spec- win against Alcaraz in In-
tators at the Caja Mágica dian Wells. Nadal saved
in Madrid were, instead, four match points to get
directed at the teenage past David Goffin in a third-
sensation considered the round match that lasted
Spanish successor to the more than three hours on
all-time great Nadal. Thursday.
In a clash of generations, He said it was a positive
19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz balance for him after win-
overcame an injury to de- ning two matches following
feat his idol 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in his injury layoff.
the Madrid Open quarterfi- "It's an easy loss to digest
nals on Friday. in that regard, because
The teen recovered from we knew what we could
a bad ankle twist early in expect here," he said. "My
the second set to earn his only dream is (to) be in
first victory against Nadal, Paris (for the French Open)
marking what could be the Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning a set during a match against Spain's Rafael Nadal healthy enough and physi-
beginning of a change of at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Friday, May 6, 2022. cally good enough to com-
guard in Spanish tennis. Associated Press pete at the highest level
"It's obvious there's (a possible."
change in guard)," Nadal "It means a lot to me to nalist in Madrid. He will next ankle, losing 20 of the next Three-time Madrid cham-
said. "He turned 19 yester- beat Rafa, to beat the face top-ranked Novak 22 points as Nadal cruised pion Djokovic had little
day, I'm almost 36 years best player in the history on Djokovic, who eased past through the second set. trouble against Hurkacz.
old. If (the change) begins clay," he said. "This is the re- Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-4. "It was a little bit painful, The Serb took advantage
today or not, we will find sult of all the hard work I've Still far from his best form but it was no reason to do of Hurkacz's slow start and
out in the next months. I'm done." after a six-week injury lay- the second set that I have took a 3-0 lead after the
happy for him. He was bet- It was Nadal's first loss to a off, Nadal predicted a done," Alcaraz said. "I think Polish player ceded his first
ter than me in several as- Spaniard in six years, since hard time keeping up with that I have let myself go. I service game by hitting
pects of the game." to Fernando Verdasco at the energy of Alcaraz. He was thinking of my ankle all long.
Nadal also was loudly sup- the 2016 Australian Open. was right early on, as the the time and not on play- Another spate of unforced
ported throughout the He had a 138-21 record youngster overpowered ing the match." errors cost Hurkacz a sec-
match, and the five-time against his countrymen be- him to easily win the first set The match also was inter- ond-set break when he
champion received a huge fore facing Alcaraz for a with three breaks. rupted in the second set af- smacked a forehand long.
ovation as he left the court. third time. But Alcaraz lost momen- ter a fan became ill in the Djokovic's dominance was
Alcaraz was emotional af- The ninth-ranked Alcaraz is tum after needing medi- stands. never ended and he won
terwards. the youngest ever semifi- cal attention for his right Both players got off to a on his fourth match point.q

Brittney Griner detained in Russia as Mercury opens season

nearing the three-month May 19. in scoring and sixth in re-
mark of her detention in The WNBA will honor Gri- bounding.
Russia, with no timetable ner with a floor decal with Griner again was expected
for her release. her initials on her No. 42 in to play a key role for the
"We think about her every arenas across the league Mercury this season after
day," Mercury guard Skylar as she continues to be de- the team bolstered its ros-
Diggins-Smith said recently. tained. ter with the additions of
"We love her and we're go- A 6-foot-9 center, Griner Tina Charles and Diamond
ing to continue to carry her and WNBA career leading DeShields.
legacy, her voice and play scorer Diana Taurasi have Now Phoenix must adjust to
in her honor until she gets been the key cogs for a playing without Griner.
back here with us." Mercury franchise that won "Once you bounce the
Griner was detained on the 2014 WNBA title and ball, you start blowing the
Feb. 17 after authorities at reached the final last sea- whistle, that's all you're real-
the Moscow airport said son, losing to the Chicago ly focused on when you're
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner pauses on the court dur-
ing the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Se- they found vape cartridges Sky. a competitor," Mercury
attle Storm, Sept. 3, 2019, in Phoenix. that allegedly contained Griner is a six-time All-Star first-year coach Vanessa
Associated Press oil derived from cannabis in and won consecutive Nygaard said. "In basket-
her luggage, which could WNBA Defensive Player of ball, at any time, some-
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoe- on the bench will be promi- carry a maximum penalty the Year awards in 2014- body could be injured or
nix Mercury open the sea- nently on everyone's minds: of 10 years in prison. The 15. She had one of the best something could happen
son at home Friday night Brittney Griner. Biden administration de- seasons of her nine-year and they wouldn't be avail-
against the Las Vegas As the Mercury and the rest termined Griner is being WNBA career in 2021, lead- able, and you got to fight
Aces. of WNBA move forward in wrongfully detained and ing the WNBA in blocked with what you got in the
One player who won't be the 2022 season, Griner is she has a hearing set for shots while finishing second moment."q