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sports Diaranson 22 Juni 2022

Romanchuk wins medal in pool while father fights in Ukraine

(AP) — Elite swimmer Mykhailo
Romanchuk doesn't know if his "We decided that I cannot do any-
father was able to see him win- thing with the gun. For me, it's better
ning a medal for Ukraine at the to continue training, to do everything
swimming world championships. that I do best," said Romanchuk, who
won bronze in the 800 and silver in
Romanchuk's father is fighting in the the 1500 at the Tokyo Olympics last
east of Ukraine, where pockets of re- year. "With my swimming, I can tell
sistance are still denying Russia full all the world about the situation in
military control of the region almost Ukraine."
four months after it unleashed its in-
vasion. As training facilities were destroyed
"He's in a hot spot and it's a hard by the war, Romanchuk was invited
time," Romanchuk said after taking by German swimmer Florian Well-
bronze in the men's 800-meter free- brock – who finished second behind
style race on Tuesday. American Bobby Finke in the 800 – to
come join him in Germany to train.
Romanchuk doesn't dare talk to his
dad out of fear his father's location Romanchuk and Wellbrock embraced
could be tracked through the call. after finishing 1-2 in qualifying for
"It's not possible for them to join the Tuesday's race. But Finke's strong
network because the Russians can finish prevented a repeat in the final.
search everything," Romanchuk said. Romanchuk finished 0.69 seconds champion Evgeny Rylov appearing at in the war and you are sleeping just
"But every morning he sends me (a behind Finke. a pro-war rally in Moscow. "Inside of three or four hours because you are
message) that he is OK." Romanchuk said he was both "proud me, I was ready to go and to kill him," always reading the news," Roman-
and disappointed" of his third place. he said of Rylov. "But before he was chuk said. "It was so hard in the be-
The 25-year-old Romanchuk – who He said his medal proves "that Ukrai- a good friend. Before. But everything ginning, but then you understand
still intends to race the men's 1500, nians will fight to the end, it doesn't changed." that all you can do is to swim, to train,
then the 10K and 5K races in open matter what the situation." to represent your country."
water at the worlds – almost never Swimmers from Russia and its ally Romanchuk spoke of the destruction For the freshly minted medalist, it's a
made it to Budapest. Belarus have been excluded from the Russia has caused in his country, the time to feel proud.
"My mind was to go to the war to championships. Romanchuk said he people killed, the lives shattered. "I'm so proud of all the people in
defend my home," said Romanchuk, doesn't know how he would have re- It makes it hard for him to focus on Ukraine. This is all I can say. I'm
who spent 10 days agonizing with his acted if they hadn't been. swimming. proud of the people, of the govern-
wife and family over the best course "My reaction could be maybe aggres- "Especially in the beginning when I ment, the president. I'm so proud of
of action after Russia invaded his sive, I don't know," said Romanchuk, moved to Germany to join the group. them," Romanchuk said. "And I'm re-
country on Feb. 24. who referred to Olympic backstroke It was hard because mentally you are ally happy to be Ukrainian."

Serena Williams wins 1st match of comeback after year away

(AP) — As “What A Feel- beur to victory over Sara play at the All England Club made Friday. to a tiebreaker with a 102
ing” boomed around Dev- Sorribes Tormo and Marie starts Monday. mph ace.
onshire Park, Serena Wil- Bouzkova in the first round Williams — sporting three Williams showed desire to
liams strode onto center of the women’s doubles. Wil- It was at the grass-court Slam black patches on her right dive to her right to make a
court at Eastbourne to a liams and Jabeur recovered where Williams was last cheek — made a slow start to volley which could not be re-
standing ovation for her from losing the first set 6-2 to seen in competitive action the match alongside Jabeur turned that set up one of the
first competitive tennis win the second 6-3 and then in 2021. She was playing in that marked her third appear- three match points. The win
match in nearly a year. the match tiebreaker 13-11 the first round when she lost ance at Eastbourne, having was clinched when Sorribes
on their third match point. her footing and her right leg previously played in the sin- Tormo miscued a volley.
Around 90 minutes later, fans “I caught some fire behind buckled, leading to Williams gles event in 1998 and 2011.
were on their feet again, cel- me,” the 40-year-old Wil- retiring from the match. “It was so fun to play with
ebrating a comeback win for liams said. “I needed that. It With no competitive activity She served first — her open- Ons,” Williams said in an in-
the 23-time Grand Slam sin- was good.” since then, she is ranked No. ing serve was timed at 90 terview on the court. “It was
gles champion at the Wim- The win means Williams will 1,204 in singles and wasn’t mph (145 kph) and earned great. We had a lot of fun and
bledon warmup event on have at least one more com- among the seeded players the first point after Sorribes our opponents played amaz-
England’s south coast. petitive match before play- announced by Wimbledon Tormo’s reply sailed long — ing. We were happy to stay in
ing singles at Wimbledon as on Tuesday. Few will want and held to 30. there.”
Williams partnered Ons Ja- a wild-card entry. Main-draw to face her when the draw is Williams struggled at times In the singles, there was a
in the first set, and was exas- big shock when top-seeded
perated after she was unable Paula Badosa lost 6-4, 6-3 to
to get low enough to a shot Jodie Burrage, a British wild
by Sorribes Tormo. It took 25 card. Third-seeded Maria
minutes before Williams hit Sakkari was also eliminated,
a winner as her smash flew beaten by Anhelina Kalinina
into the North Stand, ensur- 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Fourth-seeded
ing one spectator was able to Karolina Pliskova, last year’s
leave with a souvenir. Wimbledon finalist, was de-
feated by Katie Boulter of
Williams’ agility improved Britain, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
noticeably in the second set, There were wins in the sec-
though there were audible ond round for defending
gasps from the crowd when champion Jelena Ostapenko
she slipped rushing into the and Beatriz Haddad Maia,
net. who has won back-to-back
She set up a set point with a grass-court events in Not-
backhand winner from the tingham and Birmingham
baseline and took the match over the last two weeks.