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sports Diamars 1 Juni 2021

Le grand retour: Federer wins return to Paris, Slam action

(AP) — They feted Roger ship in Paris and tiebreaking
Federer with as loud as ap- 21st major overall. Djokovic
plause gets from a crowd also is slated to make his
capped at 1,000 people debut on Day 3 of the clay-
in Court Philippe Cha- court tournament.
trier — when he walked Serena Williams, who has 23
out with a wave, when he Grand Slam singles titles, was
hit one of his 48 winners, scheduled to play later Mon-
even when he attempted a day in the first scheduled
back-to-the-net 'tweener night session in French Open
and hit the ball out. history.

This match bathed in sun- Bianca Andreescu, the 2019
shine Monday meant Federer U.S. Open champion, de-
finally was back at the French parted in the afternoon with
Open and back in Grand a 6-7 (1), 7-6 (2), 9-7 defeat
Slam action and he gave the against 85th-ranked Tamara
excited fans what they want- Zidansek of Slovenia.
ed perhaps as much as he did: "I prepared super, super well
a victory. for this tournament," the
No. 6-seeded Andreescu
Federer's first compeition at said. "That's why to me it's
any major tournament in 16 very disappointing, because I
months ended with him on thought I could go far."
the right side of a 6-2, 6-4, The reigning women's cham-
6-3 score against qualifier pion, Iga Swiatek, picked up
Denis Istomin at the French right where she left off last
Open as fans chanted "Ro- year: running yet another op-
ger! Ro-ger!" ponent this way and that in a
It was a case of many happy 6-0, 7-5 victory over her best
returns — and serves, fore- friend on the tennis circuit,
hands, backhands, volleys tions last year. He produced since 2015. In addition to last After rhythmic clapping ac- Kaja Juvan.
and drop shots, too. more than twice as many year's absence because of the companied Federer's trot to
winners as his 20 unforced knee issues, he withdrew in the baseline for the match's Swiatek, who turned 20 on
"What a pleasure to be back," errors and never faced a break 2016 citing a bad back, then opening point, he got off to Monday, is attempting to be-
Federer said. point while improving to 8-0 sat out the clay-court circuit the perfect start against Isto- come the first woman since
Announcing a stunning de- against Istomin over their ca- each of the next two years to min, who is ranked 204th and Justine Henin in 2007 to win
parture was Naomi Osaka, reers. focus on the grass-court por- now is the owner of a seven- consecutive French Open
who said the best thing "Always great to be on court tion of the season. match Grand Slam losing titles. Swiatek did not lose a
would be for her to withdraw with this legend. To play He acknowledged recently streak but did upset Djokovic set at Roland Garros last year.

from the tournament. The against him is always a big he has zero chance of claim- at the 2017 Australian Open.
four-time major champion (deal)," Istomin said. "I was ing the trophy this time "She didn't give me any birth-
said on Twitter she has suf- expecting all the spectators to around in Paris; instead, he is Federer used a drop shot day gifts," Swiatek said of Ju-
fered long bouts of depres- cheer for him." hoping to tune up his game to earn a break point in the van, with whom she won a
sion since winning the 2018 They sure did, with one voice to be ready to challenge for opening game, then convert- gold medal in doubles at the
U.S. Open. from the stands shouting, "A a championship at Wimble- ed it with a forehand winner, Youth Olympics in 2018.
Osaka had earlier declared delight, Roger! A delight!" as don, where play begins in late before holding to go up 2-0.
she would not speak to the Federer went up 4-2 in the June. Just 1 1/2 hours later, it was Daniil Medvedev proved
media during Roland Garros third set. "In a way I like this situation over for Federer, who won that perseverance pays, fi-
and was fined $15,000 after — that I don't know what's the 2009 French Open for nally winning a French Open
she skipped the post-match Federer, whose 40th birthday next, how my next match will one of his 20 Grand Slam match on his fifth attempt.
news conference following is Aug. 8, hadn't appeared on be. I don't even know who I titles. The second-seeded Russian,
her first-round victory Sun- the Grand Slam stage since play, to be honest," said Fe- twice a runner-up at other
day. Jan. 30, 2020, when he lost to derer, whose second-round He shares that men's record majors, beat Alexander Bub-
Novak Djokovic in the Aus- opponent will be 2014 U.S. with rival Rafael Nadal, who lik 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, after start-
Federer showed no signs of tralian Open semifinals. Open champion Marin Cilic. is scheduled to play his first- ing 0-4 for his French Open
rust or trouble with the right This was just Federer's sec- "I take it round by round, round match Tuesday to open career.
knee that needed two opera- ond trip to the French Open match by match." his bid for a 14th champion-

White Sox place RHP Kopech on injured

list, Lambert recalled

(AP) — The Chicago Central by 3 1/2 games over three innings or less in all
White Sox placed pitcher Cleveland. five outings. However, he has
Michael Kopech on the recorded five or more strike-
10-day injured list with a Kopech, who is 2-0 with a outs in three of those games.
strained left hamstring on 1.78 ERA in three starts and
Monday. 13 games, had been on the Lambert made his first two
bereavement list last week. career appearances with Chi-
The team also recalled right- The 25-year-old's stint on cago last season before being
hander Jimmy Lambert from the injured list is retroactive placed on the injured list on
Triple-A Charlotte to serve to May 28. July 29 with a right forearm
as the club's 27th man for its The 26-year-old Lambert had strain.
doubleheader against the In- a 7.71 ERA in five starts with
dians. Chicago leads the AL Charlotte. He has worked