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sports Diahuebs 26 augustus 2021

Serena Williams pulls out of US Open, citing torn hamstring

(AP) - Serena Williams This will be the first major post.
added herself to the list tournament since 1997 with-
of big-name withdrawals out any of Williams, Federer Her note ended with: “I’ll see
from the U.S. Open on or Nadal in the singles brack- you soon.”
Wednesday, pulling out of ets. Williams made her Grand
the year’s last Grand Slam Slam debut at the 1998 Aus- Williams’ coach, Patrick
tournament because of a tralian Open; Federer made Mouratoglou, also put up
torn hamstring. his the following year; Nadal a post on social media, say-
in 2003. ing, “we’ve done everything
Williams hasn’t competed we could” and adding: “It is
since injuring her right leg in Williams has won 23 Grand heartbreaking, but this is the
the first set of her first-round Slam singles titles, a record only possible decision.”
match at Wimbledon in late in the professional era. Only
June. one player in tennis history Williams has won six singles
owns more, Margaret Court championships at the U.S.
The American, who turns 40 with 24. Open, most recently in 2014. remain among the title con- At Wimbledon, Williams was
next month, announced her In her five appearances at tenders at the biggest tour- serving while leading 3-1 in
decision to sit out the U.S. Federer, Nadal and Novak the hard-court tournament naments, especially on hard her opening match when her
Open via a social media post. Djokovic share the men’s re- in New York since then, she courts and grass. left shoe seemed to lose its
She joins Roger Federer and cord of 20. has made it to the final twice traction while she was hitting
Rafael Nadal in sitting out — losing to Naomi Osaka in This season, she was a semifi- a forehand and her right leg
the competition in Flushing “After careful consideration 2018 and Bianca Andreescu nalist at the Australian Open flexed awkwardly.
Meadows, where play begins and following the advice of in 2019 — and the semifinals in February, before losing to
next Monday, raising ques- my doctors and medical team, three other times, including eventual champion Osaka She tried to continue but
tions about what the future I have decided to withdraw last year. there. At the French Open, eventually needed to stop
of tennis might look like from the US Open to allow played on red clay, Williams playing, only the second
without them. The draw for my body to heal completely Her best-in-the-game serve lost in the fourth round to mid-match retirement of her
the tournament is Thursday. from a torn hamstring,” Wil- and powerful groundstrokes Elena Rybakina. Grand Slam career and first
liams wrote in Wednesday’s have allowed Williams to since 1998.

Surprise, surprise: Jaguars make Trevor Lawrence starting QB

(AP) — Urban Meyer as- the least surprising decisions have failed to do so since: Eli two exhibitions, both losses. He’s undersized and has a
sumed Trevor Lawrence in franchise history. Manning, Cam Newton, An- He started each game, was mediocre arm and average
would be his starting drew Luck, Kyler Murray and sacked three times, and led mobility. He is 7-13 in 20
quarterback long before Meyer gave Lawrence the nod Baker Mayfield. the offense to just a field goal career starts for Jacksonville.
he even took the Jackson- over third-year pro Gardner Lawrence, the top pick in the in six series. He appeared to be on the
ville job. Minshew after two preseason 2021 NFL draft, and Min- trading block in March when
games and a month of train- shew, a two-year starter in “It’s frustrating, but also we the Jaguars signed former
But Meyer insisted Lawrence ing camp. Meyer expects Jacksonville, split repetitions just got to stick together and San Francisco backup C.J.
earn the spot, whether his Lawrence will never have to with the first-team offense keep playing,” Lawrence said. Beathard to a two-year con-
goal was to send a message to earn a starting job in the NFL during camp. Meyer wanted “We’re going to figure it out. tract worth $5 million. Most
his young team or set a tone again. “healthy competition” at ev- I’m really confident in that. of Beathard’s salary this sea-
for his NFL tenure. So Mey- ery position, including quar- We got a bunch of guys that son is guaranteed, making it
er staged a sometimes laugh- “You can capitalize that if you terback. are putting the work in and unlikely he will get cut.
able “competition” during want. Underline it. Cap it,” we’re going to do everything
offseason workouts, training Meyer said. Nonetheless, just about ev- it takes to get on the right Minshew has completed 17
camp and the preseason. eryone outside Minshew’s track.” of 29 passes for 196 yards,
Now, Lawrence will try to camp expected Lawrence to with two interceptions and
Meyer finally ended the cha- become the first quarter- be Jacksonville’s starter in Lawrence went 34-2 at two sacks. He now joins
rade Wednesday by naming back selected No. 1 overall Houston. Lawrence was the Clemson, recording the Beathard in vying for the
Lawrence the team’s start- to win his first NFL start top college prospect in nearly third-best winning percent- backup spot.
er for the season opener at since Houston’s David Carr a decade, and outperformed age by a starting quarterback
Houston on Sept. 12, one of in 2002. Among those who Minshew at every turn dur- (minimum 30 starts) in col- Beathard has been the most
ing camp. lege football since 1978. He effective quarterback while
finished his college career playing with the third-team
Meyer also said Lawrence undefeated in regular-season offense. He has completed 22
will start Jacksonville’s pre- play and led the Tigers to the passes for 223 yards and three
season finale at Dallas on national championship as a TDs.
Sunday. freshman in 2018.
“Obviously, my respect for
“It doesn’t really change any- After a slow start to the off- Gardner has been well doc-
thing, though,” Lawrence season – Lawrence had sur- umented as just a warrior,”
said. “Still got the same task gery to repair a torn labrum Meyer said. “Gardner got
in front of us, got to get a lot in his non-throwing shoul- stuck behind some protec-
better, individually, as a team, der in February and then tion issues, at times was run-
as an offense. Just looking was hampered by a strained ning for his life back there,
forward to going to work this hamstring in organized team and then C.J. came in. That’s
week. It brings some clarity, activities – he looked every two weeks in a row (he’s
which is nice, going forward. bit as advertised in camp. played well).
But it really doesn’t change Teammates raved about his
much, but, yeah, I’m really arm, his mobility, his touch “I just admire C.J. I like C.J.
excited for the opportunity, on deep passes and his com- as a person and, you know,
grateful for it.” mand of the huddle. he’s got a nice release, ball
gets out fast, and so he played
Lawrence has completed 20 Minshew, meanwhile, looked well. So, yes, that’s open as
of 32 passes for 184 yards in about like he did last year. well.”