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SPORTSThursday 16 July 2015

Serena Williams from the US plays her opening match against In this June 29, 2014, file photo, Mexico’s Giovani dos Santos celebrates after scoring his side’s
Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium, at the Swedish Open in Bastad, first goal against Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen during the World Cup round of 16
Sweden, Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Williams won 6—2, 6—1. soccer match in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Associated Press Associated Press

Serena Williams

in easy win over L.A. Galaxy sign Mexican

Bonaventure star Giovani dos Santos

BASTAD, Sweden (AP) — vanced to the second GREG BEACHAM among Southern Califor- Galaxy in August after the
Top-ranked Serena Williams round after beating Richel AP Sports Writer nia’s large Latino popula- Gold Cup, possibly making
sailed through her open- Hogenkamp of the Nether- CARSON, Calif. (AP) — tion and in Mexico. his debut at home against
ing match at the Swedish lands 6-1, 6-3 and will play Giovani dos Santos is the “He’s a player that the first-place Seattle on Aug.
Open with a 6-2, 6-1 win Anna-Lena Friedsam of next star in the LA Galaxy. world has known, and he’s 9. He is another scoring
over Belgian qualifier Ysa- Germany. The defending MLS Cup a player that we’ve known threat on a roster already
line Bonaventure in the first In the first three second champions signed the about for some time,” said boasting league MVP Rob-
round on Wednesday. round matches, Lara Arru- versatile Mexican scorer Galaxy President Chris bie Keane, U.S. national
Four days after winning her abarrena of Spain rallied to Wednesday, bolstering Klein, who has been pursu- team forward Gyasi Zardes
sixth Wimbledon title, Wil- upset second-seeded Sa- their already powerful line- ing dos Santos since 2011. and Gerrard.
liams ousted Bonaventure mantha Stosur of Australia up with another interna- “It’s the right time for the The deal is a reunion for Ke-
from the clay-court tourna- 7-6 (5), 6-0, after being 2-4 tional talent. Galaxy, and it’s the right ane and dos Santos, who
ment in 53 minutes despite down in the first set. The 26-year-old dos San- time for Giovani to come were teammates with Tot-
a first-serve percentage of Fourth-seeded Mona Bar- tos spent the last two sea- and put on a Galaxy shirt, tenham Hotspur.
64. thel and Jana Cepelova sons with Spain’s Villareal, and we’re very excited “He’s very, very skillful,
Williams, the 2013 Bastad joined Arruabarrena in the scoring 12 goals in 58 La about what the potential quick (and) sharp,” Ke-
champion, next faces quarterfinals. Liga appearances. He has is.” ane told reporters after
Czech player Klara Kou- Germany’s Barthel crushed played professionally in Eu- Dos Santos’ legal repre- the Galaxy’s training ses-
kalova, who beat the Maryna Zanevska 6-0, 6-0 rope since his childhood, sentative has said the Gal- sion Wednesday. “He can
American on clay six years while Slovakia’s Cepelova but dos Santos also has axy contract runs through score goals. He can set up
ago. came from a set down to played for Mexico in two the 2019 season. The club people. He’s basically got it
Seventh-seeded Johanna beat Olga Govortsova 4-6, World Cups during eight didn’t disclose terms. all, to be honest with you.
Larsson of Sweden ad- 6-3, 6-2.q years with El Tri. One season after Land- That’s why I’m delighted
“Giovani is a special play- on Donovan’s retirement that he’s come. I think he’s
Sara Errani through er,” said Bruce Arena, the and 2 1/2 years after Da- going to be a superstar
Galaxy’s coach and gen- vid Beckham’s departure, in this league, there’s no
-to QFs in Bucharest eral manager. “He has the Galaxy have reloaded question about it. He has
experience and success the midfield of MLS’ glam- the right mentality. He has
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) tricia Maria Tig of Romania competing at the highest our franchise. They added the flair.”
— Top-seeded Sara Errani 6-0, 6-2. level, and we believe he English midfielder Steven The Galaxy already had
overcame a slow start to Errani’s compatriot Ro- will only continue to devel- Gerrard to their lineup the MLS-maximum three
beat Shahar Peer 7-6 (5), berta Vinci, seeded sec- op.” last week, but dos Santos designated players on their
6-2 on Wednesday and ond, eased past Hungary’s After four years of court- — likely still in his prime — roster in Gerrard, Keane
reach the quarterfinals of Timea Babos 6-2, 6-1 in un- ing dos Santos, the Galaxy could slot perfectly into the and U.S. defender Omar
the Bucharest Open. der an hour to make it to finally signed the highest- playmaking role vacated Gonzalez, but the league
Errani committed a string the second round. profile Mexican star in their by Donovan last winter. changed its salary cap
of backhand errors in the In other first round match- history to a designated “Giovani coming in at the rules last week. The free-
second round match to es, No. 4 Julia Goerges of player contract, paying a time of his career where spending Galaxy subse-
trail 4-2, before the Italian Germany overcame quali- reported $7 million transfer he’s just entering his prime quently lowered the bud-
made a comeback against fier Daria Kasatkina of Rus- fee. is a really important state- get charge on Gonzalez
her Israeli opponent. sia, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Sorana Along with dos Santos’ ment for the Galaxy, and a to clear a spot for another
Polona Hercog of Slove- Cirstea of Romania beat playmaking skills, the MLS really important statement designated player who
nia also advanced to the Sesil Karatantcheva of Bul- power hopes he’ll attract for MLS,” Klein said. can be paid above the
quarterfinals, defeating Pa- garia 6-2, 6-2.q new fans for the Galaxy Dos Santos will join the league’s salary strictures.q