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sports Saturday 6 January 2018

Mother knows best: Serena opts out of Aussie title defense

By DENNIS PASSA Serena will sit one out, but
AP Sports Writer is promising to return in fu-
Serena Williams’ decision ture. “The memory of last
not to defend her Austra- year’s Open is one that I will
lian Open title four months carry with me, and Olym-
after giving birth to her first pia and I look forward to
child had nothing to do coming back again,” she
with merely being able to said. “I appreciate the sup-
play at Melbourne Park. port and understanding of
The seven-time Austra- my fans and everyone at
lian Open champion con- the Australian Open.”
firmed Friday she wouldn’t Tournament director Craig
attempt to defend the title Tiley said Serena Williams
she won here last year, say- waited as long as she could
ing she wasn’t convinced before letting organizers
she could win it. know she wouldn’t be able
Williams played in an ex- to compete.
hibition tournament last “I’ve been in constant
weekend in Abu Dhabi to contact with Serena and
test her match condition, her team and know this is
and indicated after her loss why she has pushed it and
to French Open champion pushed it until the 11th hour
Jelena Ostapenko that she In this Jan. 28, 2017 file photo, United States’ Serena Williams gestures as she holds her trophy after to make her final decision,”
might not travel to Mel- defeating her sister Venus in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships he said. Organizers later an-
bourne. in Melbourne, Australia. nounced that French Open
“After competing in Abu Associated Press semifinalist Timea Bacsinsz-
Dhabi I realized that al- when she won at Mel- turned after having babies from the men’s event with ky had also withdrawn after
though I am super close, bourne Park last year, her to win Grand Slam singles ti- a chronic hip injury. failing to recover in time fol-
I’m not where I personally Open-era record 23rd tles in the Open era, includ- Other star players, includ- lowing surgery on her right
want to be,” Williams said Grand Slam singles title. She ing Court and fellow Aus- ing top-ranked Rafael hand in September.
in a statement Friday. “My gave birth to her daughter, tralian Evonne Goolagong Nadal, six-time champion With Serena Williams out,
coach and team always Alexis Olympia, in Septem- Cawley, who won the 1977 Novak Djokovic and 2014 the women’s singles title at
said ‘Only go to tourna- ber. Australian Open seven winner Stan Wawrinka, also Melbourne appears to be
ments when you are pre- Williams didn’t drop a set months after giving birth to are dealing with injuries. wide open. No. 1-ranked
pared to go all the way.’ I while winning last year’s daughter, Kelly, and add- Williams last year beat Simona Halep and No. 3
can compete - but I don’t title, and her victory helped ed her second Wimbledon older sister Venus in the fi- Caroline Wozniacki are bid-
want to just compete, I her regain the world No.1 title in 1980. nal. In terms of total years, ding to win their first Grand
want to do far better than ranking. Kim Clijsters returned from it was the oldest Grand Slam singles titles.
that and to do so, I will The 36-year-old Williams retirement after having a Slam women’s final in the Also in the mix will be No.
need a little more time. needs only one more ma- daughter, Jada Elle, in Feb- Open era —Williams sisters 2-ranked Garbine Mugu-
“With that being said, and jor title to equal the all-time ruary 2008, and won the combining for 71 years, 11 ruza, last year’s Wimbledon
even though I am disap- record held by Margaret 2009 U.S. Open in her third months. winner, U.S. Open cham-
pointed about it, I’ve de- Court, who won 13 of her tournament back. Venus has returned and pion Sloane Stevens and
cided not to compete in 24 Grand Slam titles before Williams’ withdrawal came is playing in Sydney next Venus Williams, who will be
the Australian Open this the Open era began in less than 24 hours after week to prepare for the aiming to win her eighth
year.” 1968. fellow former world No. Australian Open, which be- major singles title at the
Williams was pregnant Three women have re- 1 Andy Murray withdrew gins Jan. 15. age of 37.q

Great sport: Dimitrov helps

rival, then advances to semis

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) lov. “At the end of the day,
— Grigor Dimitrov hurdled It was Dimitrov’s show of health above all (matters).
the net to check on the concern for Edmund that It’s very unfortunate what
welfare of his rival and then brought the crowd to its happened,” Dimitrov said
help him to a courtside feet at Pat Rafter Arena. At of Edmund’s injury. “I’ve
chair for treatment. Two 4-4 in the third set, Edmund seen this too many times.
games later, the defending tumbled to the court, I know the feeling. I really
champion had secured his clutching his right ankle hope he gets better.
spot in the Brisbane Interna- with both hands. “In the last two games he
tional semifinals. Dimitrov leaped over the wasn’t at his best. I just had
Top-seeded Dimitrov beat net from his side of the to find a way again.” Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic plays a shot in her
Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-7 (3), court and raced to help Ed- Asked if he was concerned quarter final match against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during the
6-4 in the quarterfinals on mund as he writhed in pain about injuring himself as he Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia,
Friday to set up a meeting behind the baseline at the crossed the net, Dimitrov Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018.
with No. 3-seeded Nick Kyr- other end, giving the Brit- said it was something he Associated Press
gios, who rebounded for a ish player a hand to get up didn’t think twice about. think, ‘OK, I’m just going to was just like such a natural
1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over former and then helping him limp “It was just such an instinct go around the net, or I’m instinct for me to go and
finalist Alexandr Dolgopo- to the side of the court. for me,” he said. “I didn’t going to go that post.’ It jump over.q