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SPORTS Friday 23 September 2022

Federer to AP: Tennis will withstand big-name retirements

By HOWARD FENDRICH around on social media
AP Tennis Writer can help. So can the telling
LONDON (AP) — Roger Fe- of each new top player’s
derer was paying attention “captivating story.”
right along with everybody McEnroe mentioned the
else when Serena Williams sport’s need to do better
played what is expected marketing of fresh faces.
to be her last match three Someone Federer believes
weeks ago at the U.S. could fit the “superstar”
Open. category is Carlos Alcaraz,
“Not surprised. Just very the 19-year-old from Spain
similar to me, in many who won the U.S. Open and
ways. We were expecting became the youngest man
it to come at some point,” at No. 1 in the history of the
Federer told The Associ- ATP computerized rankings,
ated Press. “You don’t ever which date to 1973.
want players like Serena to Federer watched on TV
ever retire. ... I just thought, some of Alcaraz’s epic
‘What a great career.’” quarterfinal in Flushing
He recognizes that their Meadows against Jannik
back-to-back exits after Sinner, a 21-year-old from It-
about a quarter-century aly. It lasted 5 hours, 15 min-
each in tennis he is 41 and utes, ending at 2:50 a.m. in
leaves with 20 Grand Slam Switzerland’s Roger Federer, waves during a training session ahead of the Laver Cup tennis New York that’s 8:50 a.m.
titles and she turns 41 on tournament at the O2 in London, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. in Federer’s home country
Monday and has 23 major Associated Press of Switzerland, so the father
singles championships will the game forever, be- has a men’s-record 22 Slam “These two players are ir- of two sets of twins missed
spur some fans to move on cause tennis is just a sport titles, and Novak Djokovic, replaceable. I don’t think the fifth set, he explained,

from the sport. (that), once you’re in it, a 35-year-old with 21 titles there is any question about “because I had to bring the
Federer insists, though, that you’re normally in it. That’s helped create a golden that,” said John McEnroe, kids to school.”
plenty will stick around. why I don’t believe a lot of era in the sport, drawing who won seven major tro- He came away impressed
“I mean, look, it’s going people will leave,” he con- new viewers and inspiring phies from 1979 to 1984. He by both players.
to leave some fans with tinued. “But they will not new players. added this caveat: “The “Super movers. Great
not the same taste for the maybe wake up at 3 in the “Serena and Roger prob- sport goes on, no matter ball-strikers, forehand and
game. We might lose some, morning anymore for the ably have more fans than what, and we have wit- backhand,” Federer said.
because they say, ‘OK, well Australian Open. Or they anybody in tennis,” said nessed that in every sport “And I always said it: The
that chapter for me closes, might not use their vaca- Taylor Fritz, a 24-year-old over time.” best movers are the best
and I’ll move on to another tion time to go travel to a Californian who is the Which is why Federer is players. We’ve seen it with
sport or another athlete,’” place. highest-ranked American among those optimistic Novak, we’ve seen it with
Federer said in an interview Maybe they say for a few man at No. 12 and a part about the future. Rafa, we’ve seen it with
Thursday at the Laver Cup, years, ‘OK, let me go with of Team World in London. “I’m a big believer, always, myself, Lleyton (Hewitt).
where the final match of his a friend of mine and do a “It’s tough to replace two that tennis is bigger than You name it. ... And be-
stellar career will be in dou- good adventure trip some- people as iconic as them, anybody,” he said, “and it cause you cover the court
bles alongside rival Rafael where,’ until they find their but I still think there is a lot will always create new su- so, so well, you end up giv-
Nadal for Team Europe on way back in.” of exciting times ahead.” perstars.” ing yourself more time and
Friday night. He and Williams along with Still, what happens after Federer thinks highlight-reel less stress.”q
“And some will stay with Nadal, a 36-year-old who they leave? shots that make their way

Ouch! Mets set MLB record with 106

hit batters in season

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The There’s nothing you can do with the ball, Showalter
New York Mets set a major do except capitalize on quipped, “it would be ob-
league record with 106 hit it, make it hurt, and it’s all scene to tell you” before
batters this season when you can do. Yeah, sure, adding: “I gave it to the hit-
Mark Canha was plunked we’re frustrated. It’s like not ting coaches. They can do
twice and Luis Guillorme a great thing to happen to with it what they want to.”
once in Wednesday’s 6-0 your team.” The Mets were banged up
loss to the Milwaukee Brew- Mets manager Buck Show- in other ways Wednesday,
ers. alter has repeatedly com- too. Mets center fielder
New York has been hit one plained about the amount Brandon Nimmo hurt his New York Mets’ Mark Canha is hit by a pitch during the fifth
more time than the 2021 of times his players have left quadriceps while steal- inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinnati Reds. been hit. He signaled for ing second base and left Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Milwaukee.
“It’s like a broken record the ball after Guillorme was after the first inning. Left Associated Press
at this point,” Canha said. struck on the left foot by fielder Jeff McNeil banged seau’s drive. big league-high 24 times
“We just kind of roll our eyes Jake Cousins’ slider in the up his right wrist against the Canha was hit near the hip this year and tied Seattle’s
when it happens now and ninth. chain-link fence in a failed in the third and the ribs in Ty France for last year’s
move on. Asked what he planned to attempt to catch Bros- the fifth. He has been hit a high with 27.q