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SPORTSTuesday 26 May 2015

Venus Williams ousted from French Open by Sloane Stephens

HOWARD FENDRICH “I think she’s pleased.

AP Tennis Writer But she wants to per-

PARIS (AP) — A loss by form well every day.

Venus Williams in the She doesn’t want to

first round at a Grand make a big deal out

Slam is no longer the of one match,” Sa-

rarity it once was. viano said. “And she

And, as it happens, shouldn’t.”

the woman who beat Stephens — whose

Williams at the French late father, John Ste-

Open on Tuesday, phens, was the 1988

Sloane Stephens, is NFL Offensive Rookie

making a concerted of the Year with the

effort, at her coach’s New England Patriots,

behest, to focus less and whose mother,

on who is on the other Sybil Smith, was Bos-

side of the net. ton University’s first

Still, it was hard not to All-American in wom-

see the 22-year-old en’s swimming — was

Stephens’ 7-6 (5), 6-1 composed through-

dismissal of seven- out the match, find-

time major cham- ing the spots for her

pion Williams, who deep groundstrokes.

at 34 was the oldest OK, truth be told, she

woman in the field, did lose her compo-

as a statement about sure once.

the directions their re- Sloane Stephens of the U.S. serves in the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Venus Holding a break point

spective careers are Williams of the U.S. at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Monday, May 25, 2015. in the second set’s
heading. second game, Ste-
Associated Press
For the 15th-seeded phens was preparing

Williams, it was her unforced errors to Williams’ ing her in an exhibition as a Philippe Chatrier for skip- to receive a serve

second opening defeat in 30. teen. ping the customary post- when the ball hit by Williams

three years at Roland Gar- “I want her to play with a “But,” Stephens said, “I match interview, citing a startled a pigeon, which

ros. sense of joy ... and play ev- don’t think that really cold. Sharapova coughed flapped its wings and took

It also was the fifth time in erything as well as she can, counts.” repeatedly while getting off. Stephens,

the last 13 Grand Slam tour- relentlessly, and not be Now Stephens joins Lind- past Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4, in turn, was startled and

naments she’s entered that concerned with the result. say Davenport as the only and when asked later released quite a shriek. In-

she exited in the first round. Let the result take care of Americans to have beaten about not talking to the stead of an ace, the point

Before that stretch, it hap- itself. And she did a good each Williams at a Grand fans, she said their reaction was replayed, and Williams

pened once in 37 majors. job of that today,” said Ste- Slam tournament. was “absolutely normal ... flubbed a shot to get bro-

Williams didn’t show up for phens’ coach, Nick Savi- Two other seeded women but I’ve got to do what I ken.

a news conference, mean- ano. lost Monday: No. 14 Ag- have to do.” “It was a very dramatic

ing she could face a fine. “I have noticed that miss- nieszka Radwanska, who Stephens was reserved dur- moment, I would say,” Ste-

Instead, she issued a five- ing. ... For any athlete, in was the runner-up at Wim- ing her on-court interview, phens said with a smile.

sentence statement that any sport, at any high level, bledon in 2012, and No. referring to Williams as “First of all, I didn’t know

read in part: “When you they must have that passion 22 Barbora Strycova. Two “someone we all looked up what it was. I thought it was

arrive at any tournament, and the joy to perform,” seeded men exited, too, to for so long,” but hardly way closer to me than it

you hope you will have a Saviano explained. “Other- including No. 11 Feliciano celebrating as if this meant actually was. So that was ...

chance to work your way wise, it becomes onerous. Lopez, who now has 10 first- a lot to her. why I screamed so loud.”q

into the event, but I didn’t It becomes too much of a round exits in 15 appear-

have that opportunity — job, so to speak.” ances in Paris.

she just played better than The biggest victory of Ste- Winners included No. 3

me today.” phens’ career came at Andy Murray, who played

That is true. the 2013 Australian Open, with his wedding ring tied

The 40th-ranked Stephens, when she defeated Wil- to his shoe and improved to

who has reached the liams’ younger sister Serena 11-0 since getting married,

French Open’s fourth round en route to the semifinals. and defending women’s

the last three years, was This was the first time Ste- champion Maria Sharapo-

consistently strong from the phens had faced Venus va.

baseline, making only 14 Williams, other than beat- She was jeered off Court