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sports Wednesday 22 June 2022
Rob Gronkowski retires, won’t join Tom Brady for 3rd season

By ROB MAADDI the overwhelming emo-
AP Pro Football Writer tions I feel today are grati-
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rob tude and respect for one of
Gronkowski won't be join- the greatest tight ends who
ing Tom Brady for a third ever played the game."
season with the Bucca- The fun-loving Gronkowski
neers. will be tough to replace.
The four-time All-Pro tight He was not only one of
end announced his retire- the league's best pass-
ment for the second time catching tight ends but
in three years on Tues- also among the best block-
day. In an Instagram post, ers at his position. Gronk
Gronkowski thanked his was known for his tough-
teammates and coaches ness, playing physical and
over the years and said he's through injuries.
going back to "chilling out." His jovial personality made
Gronkowski won four Super him one of the league's
Bowls with Brady, including most popular players and a
three in New England. natural for a broadcasting
"I want to thank the whole job.
entire first class Bucca- Gronkowski's agent, Drew
neers organization for an Rosenhaus, told ESPN it
amazing ride, trusting me Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) waves to fans after an NFL football game, wouldn't surprise him if
to come back to play and Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Atlanta. Brady called and talked
help build a championship Associated Press him out of retirement at
team," Gronkowski wrote for giving everything they "Love you as a man, team- on Brate also remains with some point during the sea-
on Instagram. "I will now be had as well." mate and friend," Brady the Buccaneers. son. Brady himself ended a
going back into my retire- The 33-year-old retired in wrote on Gronkowski's post. "Rob is a true professional 40-day retirement in March
ment home, walking away 2019 after nine seasons "One of a kind in every who left it all on the field for to play his 23rd season.
from football again with my with the Patriots, but re- way." us the past two seasons and But for now, Gronk has
head held high knowing I turned in 2020 when Brady The Buccaneers and Brady helped establish a champi- spiked his last football in an
gave it everything I had, went to the Buccaneers. were hoping Gronkowski onship culture in our build- NFL game.
good or bad, every time The close friends teamed would play another season. ing," Buccaneers general He ends his career — again
I stepped out on the field. up to help Tampa beat the But Tampa prepared for his manager Jason Licht said — with 621 catches for
The friendships and rela- Kansas City Chiefs in the Su- departure in the draft by se- in a statement. "It is always 9,286 yards and 92 touch-
tionships I have made will per Bowl in February 2021. lecting tight ends Cade Ot- difficult to see a great downs in the regular sea-
last forever, and I appreci- Gronkowski caught two ton in the fourth round and player walk away from the son. He had 98 receptions
ate every single one of my touchdown passes in that Ko Kieft in the sixth round. game when he is still enjoy- for 1,389 yards and 15 TDs in
teammates and coaches game. Veteran tight end Camer- ing that kind of success, but the postseason.q

Serena Williams wins 1st match of

comeback after year away

EASTBOURNE, England third match point. The win Williams — sporting three
(AP) — As "What A Feeling" means Williams will have at black patches on her right
boomed around Devon- least one more competi- cheek — made a slow start
shire Park, Serena Williams tive match before playing to the match alongside
strode onto center court at singles at Wimbledon as a Jabeur that marked her
Eastbourne to a standing wild-card entry. third appearance at East-
ovation for her first compet- Main-draw play at the All bourne, having previously
itive tennis match in nearly England Club starts Mon- played in the singles event
a year. day. in 1998 and 2011.
Around 90 minutes later, It was at the grass-court She served first — her open-
fans were on their feet Slam where Williams was ing serve was timed at 90
again, celebrating a last seen in competitive ac- mph (145 kph) and earned
comeback win for the 23- tion in 2021. She was play- the first point after Sorribes Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after scoring a
time Grand Slam singles ing in the first round when Tormo's reply sailed long — point during their doubles tennis match with Ons Jabeur of Tu-
champion at the Wimble- she lost her footing and her and held to 30. nisia against Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic and Sara Sor-
ribes Tormo of Spain at the Eastbourne International tennis tour-
don warmup event on Eng- right leg buckled, leading Williams struggled at times nament in Eastbourne, England, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
land's south coast. to Williams retiring from the in the first set, and was ex- Associated Press
Williams partnered Ons Ja- match. asperated after she was
beur to victory over Sara With no competitive activ- unable to get low enough noticeably in the second a 102 mph ace.
Sorribes Tormo and Marie ity since then, she is ranked to a shot by Sorribes Tormo. set, though there were au- Williams showed desire to
Bouzkova in the first round No. 1,204 in singles and It took 25 minutes before dible gasps from the crowd dive to her right to make a
of the women's doubles. wasn't among the seeded Williams hit a winner as her when she slipped rushing volley which could not be
Williams and Jabeur recov- players announced by smash flew into the North into the net. returned that set up one of
ered from losing the first Wimbledon on Tuesday. Stand, ensuring one spec- She set up a set point with the three match points. The
set 6-2 to win the second Few will want to face her tator was able to leave a backhand winner from win was clinched when Sor-
6-3 and then the match when the draw is made Fri- with a souvenir. the baseline and took the ribes Tormo miscued a vol-
tiebreaker 13-11 on their day. Williams' agility improved match to a tiebreaker with ley. q