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SPORTSThursday 22 March 2018
Serena Williams loses in 1st round at Miami Open to Osaka
By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) —
The match ended with Ser-
ena Williams grinning at the
net. She saved her worst
shot for last, and after a
rare first-round defeat she
had to laugh.
Still rusty in her return from
pregnancy, Williams was
unable to overcome a
tough opening draw at
the Miami Open and lost
Wednesday to Naomi Osa-
ka, 6-3, 6-2.
On the final point, Williams
thundered forward to at-
tack an easy shot at eye
level, whacked the ball six
feet past the baseline and
responded with a sheepish
smile.
Not that motherhood has
mellowed Williams. She left
without talking to the me-
dia.
The 20-year-old Osaka,
who earned her first career
title Sunday at Indian Wells,
said she was nervous at the
start playing her idol for the
first time. Osaka said her Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns to Serena Williams during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in Key
goal was to avoid Williams Biscayne, Fla.
winning 6-0, 6-0. Associated Press
“She’s the main reason Lauderdale, raised her year. Another new mother last for Williams at Key Bis- difficult after that.
I started playing tennis,” profile with last week’s title and former No. 1, three- cayne, 90 miles south of Playing her fourth match
Osaka said. “I just want- run and showed no signs time champion Victoria her home in Palm Beach since returning to the tour,
ed her after the match to of letup and overpowered Azarenka, defeated Cath- Gardens. The tournament Williams was a step slow
know who I am.” the erratic Williams. Osaka erine Bellis 6-3, 6-0. Seeded is moving next year to the to balls in the corners and
Mission accomplished. had the stronger serve and players are in action begin- Miami Dolphins’ stadium, often late with her swing,
What did Williams say when wore down Williams in ral- ning Thursday. where Williams helped with while she put barely half
they shook hands after the lies working her from side to Williams has been eliminat- the ceremonial ground- her first serves in play. Early
match? side. ed in the first round only four breaking Monday. in the second set she resort-
“She said ‘good job’ and The matchup worthy of other times, most recently Because of Williams’ rank- ed to her patented scream
stuff,” Osaka said. “I kind of a final came about be- at the 2012 French Open. ing, she entered the draw of “Come on!”, but the out-
blanked out, but I’m pretty cause both players were The latest defeat came at as a wild card, and looked burst failed to turn things
good she said ‘good job.’” unseeded. Osaka is ranked a tournament she has won the part. She needed around.
Osaka, who has both a career-best 22nd, while a record eight times and only eight shots to win the Osaka was heartened that
American and Japanese Williams’ ranking is 491st af- considers her hometown match’s first five points, but she provoked Williams to
citizenship and lives in Fort ter a layoff of more than a event. The match was the things became much more shout at herself.q
Dodger Stadium adding Kirk Gibson seat to commemorate ‘88 HR
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The nounced Monday. the first pitch at the Dodg- tion raise funds and aware-
Los Angeles Dodgers will Tickets will cost $300 for a ers’ season opener on ness in fighting Parkinson’s
pay tribute to one of base- package that includes a March 29, when the team disease,” Chief Marketing
ball’s most celebrated companion seat, two com- recognizes the 30th anni- Officer Lon Rosen said in a
home runs by introducing a memorative T-shirts and versary of the 1988 cham- statement.q
“Kirk Gibson seat” at Dodg- food and drink. The Dodg- pionship team.
er Stadium. ers will donate $200 from Seat 1, Row D in section 302 In this Oct. 15, 1988, file pho-
The seat will be added in each purchase to the Kirk will be the first seat at the to, Los Angeles Dodgers’
the right field pavilion at Gibson Foundation to raise stadium to be marked in Kirk Gibson celebrates as he
the spot where Gibson’s money and awareness connection with a historic rounds the bases after hitting a
game-ending homer land- for Parkinson’s research — event. game-winning two-run home
ed in the 1988 World Series Gibson announced in 2015 “Kirk Gibson was part of one run in the bottom of the ninth
opener. that he has Parkinson’s. of the greatest moments in inning to defeat the Oakland
The chair will be painted The 60-year-old former Dodger history, and we’re Athletics 5-4 in the first game
blue and feature Gibson’s player and major league thrilled to partner with Kirk of the World Series, at Dodger
signature, the team an- manager is set to throw out to help him and his founda- Stadium in Los Angeles.
Associated Press
