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sports Monday 28 SepteMber 2020
French Open: Ex-champ Halep in 2nd round, Venus Williams out

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP She next faces Anna Karo-
Sports Writer lina Schmiedlova, who won
PARIS (AP) — Top-seed- 6-4, 6-4 against American
ed Simona Halep won 10 veteran Venus Williams.
straight games in beating "Even on my really good
Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-0 shots she had a lot of amaz-
to reach the second round ing replies that just kind of
of the French Open on Sun- came out of nowhere," Wil-
day and extend her win- liams said. "Give her credit
ning streak to 15 matches. to playing an amazing
Halep won on her 29th match."
birthday, but with minimal The 40-year-old Williams
celebrations planned for exited in the first round at
the evening since the coro- Roland Garros for the third
navirus pandemic means straight year and is 0-3 in
players stay locked inside Grand Slam tournaments
the security bubble of their this year following the Aus-
hotels. tralian Open and the U.S.
"It was really special day Open. Since the start of
playing on Roland Garros 2018, the seven-time Grand
on my birthday," she said. Slam champion has lost in
"I cannot celebrate much the first round in seven of
because I have to stay in the past 11 major tourna-
the room, so I will have a Venus Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first ments.
bottle of water." round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Coronavirus restrictions
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.
Wearing thick black leg- Associated Press mean only 1,000 people
gings and a long-sleeved are allowed per day at
pink jersey to combat the Halep is ranked second Lenglen, U.S. Open runner- eight degrees, I live in Flori- the tournament in western
chilly conditions on Court but seeded first at Roland up Victoria Azarenka expe- da, I am used to hot weath- Paris.
Philippe Chatrier, the 2018 Garros because defend- rienced a vastly different er." But only 150 were there
champion made a series of ing champion Ash Barty temperature to Flushing Before walking off court, to see 11th-seeded Da-
unforced errors and trailed skipped coming to Paris be- Meadows only two weeks Azarenka grumbled "it's vid Goffin begin his match
4-2. cause of coronavirus con- ago. ridiculous. It's too cold ... against Next Gen ATP Finals
"I felt the cold. I'm not very cerns. Halep won titles on The 10th-seeded Azaren- What's the point? Sitting champion Jannik Sinner at
happy with the cold in gen- clay in Prague and Rome ka, who beat Danka Kov- here like ducks." just after 11 a.m. under the
eral," Halep said. "So it was and her winning run — in- inic 6-1, 6-2, fumed when After the match, she said new Chatrier roof.
a little bit tough, I strug- terrupted by the pandemic match officials didn't im- the conditions were risky. Goffin, a former quar-
gled." — dates to February. mediately send them back "I think my opponent terfinalist here, was the
But then she found her She next faces either coun- to the locker room during a slipped in the third game, first seeded player to be
range, clinching the first trywoman Irina Camelia rain interruption. so I think she was also feel- knocked out when he lost
set with a hold to love Begu or Jil Teichmann of "I am going to get frozen," ing a little bit uncomfort- 7-5, 6-0, 6-3. His country-
and sealing victory on her Switzerland. she complained. "No. I'm able," Azarenka said. "Does woman Elise Mertens -
first match point when her Halep was not alone in not waiting here a couple it increase the risk of players seeded 16th - fared better
Spanish opponent clipped wrapping up warm. of minutes because I'm getting injured? Absolutely, in beating Margarita Gas-
a forehand wide. Over on Court Suzanne cold. It's eight degrees, I think that it does." paryan 6-2, 6-3.q

Alaphilippe 1st French road race world champion since 1997

IMOLA, Italy (AP) — Julian ther died in June, and the 258.2 kilometers (160 miles).
Alaphilippe soloed to victo- 28-year-old was in tears af- Nine laps of a circuit started
ry at the road cycling world ter he crossed the line and and finished on the city’s
championships on Sunday, on the podium. auto racing track.
becoming France’s first “At this moment it’s really There were two brutal
holder of the rainbow jer- hard to say something,” he climbs on each lap — the
sey since 1997. said. “I want to say thank Mazzolano and the Cima
Alaphilippe had time to you to all my teammates Gallisterna — and Ala-
punch the air before raising who really believe in me to- philippe attacked on the
his arms above his head as day. Everybody did a great final ascent of the Gallis-
he crossed the finish line on job. “It was a dream of my terna, with 12 kilometers
Imola’s auto racing circuit career. Sometimes, I was so remaining. He swiftly es-
to finish first in the men’s close, and I was never on tablished a slim advantage
road race. the podium. I came here over a world-class chase
Belgian rider Wout van Aert with a lot of ambition and group and held them off
won a sprint for second, it’s just a dream day for to secure victory. The race France's Julian Alaphilippe celebrates after winning the men's
24 seconds behind Ala- me.” Laurent Brochard was took place exactly a week elite event, at the road cycling World Championships, in Imola,
philippe, with Marc Hirschi the last French rider to win after the Tour de France Italy, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.
of Switzerland third at the the world road race title. ended with Tadej Pogacar Associated Press
end of the tough course. The final race of the cham- becoming the youngest old Slovenian led Sunday’s seconds, after attacking
It was an emotional win pionships featured a total winner in the event’s 116- race into the final lap, with with just over 40 kilometers
for Alaphilippe, whose fa- of 5,000 meters climbing in year history. The 22-year- an advantage of about 20 remaining. q