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sports Tuesday 29 sepTember 2020
'Runaway train': Serena wins French Open opener; Nadal, too

By HOWARD FENDRICH and round — and lost.
JEROME PUGMIRE So imagine this (bad) luck
AP Sports Writers of the draw: Ahn is now the
PARIS (AP) — No matter only player to face Williams
how much success they've in the first round at two con-
had over the years, and to secutive Grand Slam tour-
this day, Serena Williams naments. Of note: Williams
and Rafael Nadal both is 75-1 in openers at majors.
profess to deal with doubts. "I mean, I laughed," Ahn
Both began this French said. "I mean, what are the
Open with straight-set vic- odds?"
tories against overmatched Yet she was up to the task
foes in Court Philippe Cha- for most of a 72-minute,
trier on Monday. 102-point initial set Mon-
And both have something day, twice leading it by a
significant at stake over break.
the coming two weeks: a And then?
chance to equal a record What changed for Wil-
for Grand Slam singles titles. liams?
Williams already has 23, the "I just need to play with
most by anyone in the pro- more confidence," she ex-
fessional era; one more will plained, "like I'm Serena."
allow her to tie Margaret And this is how Ahn de-
Court's all-era mark. Serena Williams of the U.S. plays a shot against Kristie Ahn of the U.S. in the first round match of the scribed the sensation of
Nadal began his attempt French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 28, being across the net from
2020.
to pull even with rival Roger Associated Press that version of Williams, the
Federer for the most by a one where she is at her very
man, 20, by beating Egor scribe Nadal that Williams' Williams began. single thing that they get, best.
Gerasimov of Belarus 6-4, opponent came up with: And then she didn't leave they absolutely deserve it. "It feels like you're trying to
6-4, 6-2. "a runaway train." it at that. "Rafa, I'm obvi- I'm a big fan of both, to be push a runaway train in the
His 2020 debut at a place After she played OK in the ously a huge fan of his. I honest." opposite direction," Ahn
he's won 12 trophies did opening set, then was ter- always have been. But it's And rightly so. Novak said. "It's very difficult to try
not change Nadal's view rific in the second, of a 7-6 like you can't compare two Djokovic's name belongs and stop, to stop her mo-
of things at this pandemic- (2), 6-0 win over 102nd- people that are equally in the conversation, too, of mentum when she's going,
postponed event: It's cold- ranked American Kristie great. Roger, I mean, he's course. when she's feeling it."
er than usual, the balls are Ahn, Williams — so used to Roger Federer. I think that He'll be aiming for his 18th The man Nadal beat in
heavier than usual, he's had being questioned about says enough," Williams con- major championship at this the last two finals, Dominic
less preparation than usual. Court — was asked on this tinued. "So, you know, it's French Open, which he fi- Thiem, won his first match

"The conditions are com- day about Nadal and Fe- like I don't understand why nally gets underway Tues- since winning the U.S.
pletely different," he said, derer. people want to pit, 'Who's day with his first Grand Slam Open, advancing to the
"than any other Roland "I don't get involved in the this? Who's that?' They both match since being disquali- second round with a 6-4,
Garros that we played." 'greatest' talk. You know, have spectacular careers fied at the U.S. Open. 6-3, 6-3 victory over 2014
Still, Gerasimov would have the greatest for me is, and that 99% of people can It was in New York less than U.S. Open champion Marin
been forgiven for choosing will always be, Jesus, so I'm only dream of and ... ev- a month ago that Ahn Cilic. This, too, was a recent
the same metaphor to de- going to leave it at that," ery single credit and every faced Williams in the first rematch from New York.q

Yanks to start C Higashioka, sit Sánchez in wild-card opener

CLEVELAND (AP) — Slump- "He was fine," Boone said old has been in the orga-
ing slugger Gary Sánchez about Sánchez's reaction. nization since 2008 — only
will be benched in favor "He knows to be ready outfielder Brett Gardner has
of Kyle Higashioka in the at any point, early in the been with New York longer.
New York Yankees lineup game." Higashioka showed prom-
for their wild-card opener Sánchez batted .147 this ise with the bat this season,
Tuesday night. season, which would have including with a three-hom-
Yankees manager Aaron been lowest in the majors er game against Toronto
Boone confirmed Mon- by far if he had enough at- on Sept. 16. His greatest
day that Higashioka would bats to qualify. The 27-year- strengths are on defense,
catch ace Gerrit Cole to old hit 10 home runs, third though, where he's con-
start the best-of-three series among catchers, but sidered an excellent pitch
against the Cleveland Indi- looked lost at the plate for framer with strong intangi-
ans. long stretches. ble qualities.
With Giancarlo Stanton Behind the plate, Sánchez Cole pitched to Higashioka
set to start at designated has been plagued by in his final four regular sea- New York Yankees' Gary Sanchez reacts after he struck out
hitter, Sánchez — a two- passed balls throughout his son starts, a span when the swinging in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Bos-
time All-Star — won't crack career. Yankees ace was 3-1 with ton Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Boston.
the starting lineup and will Higashioka has played only a 1.00 ERA. The pair has Associated Press
instead be available to in 72 major league games, known each other since
pinch-hit when the Yan- 16 of them this season, and playing on a scout team "Kyle's easy to communi- good pitch caller," Cole
kees face Cleveland ace Tuesday will mark his post- together as teenagers in cate with, really creative said. "So we worked out
Shane Bieber. season debut. The 30-year- Southern California. thinker, good pitch framer, well together."