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sports Dialuna 14 Maart 2022

Rattled by spectator’s outburst, Osaka loses at Indian Wells

(AP) — Rattled by a de- “I watched a video of Venus said. “I think it will be good
rogatory shout from a and Serena (Williams) getting with her.”
spectator, Naomi Osaka heckled here, if you’ve never
went on to lose 6-0, 6-4 to watched it you should watch Earlier, Daniil Medvedev
Veronika Kudermetova it,” Osaka said. “I don’t know beat Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-2
of Russia in the second why, but it went into my head in the second round of the
round of the BNP Paribas and it got replayed a lot. I’m Russian’s first tournament
Open on Saturday night. trying not to cry.” since ascending to No. 1 in
the world.
Osaka trailed in the first set The Williams sisters were
when a woman in the stands heckled by fans at Indian Medvedev made quick work
shouted, “Osaka, you suck.” Wells in 2001. Venus with- of his Czech opponent, fin-
The Japanese star approached drew, with a knee injury, ishing Machac off in just over
the chair umpire to ask that from her scheduled semifinal an hour. The Russian won
something be done. But the against Serena shortly before 80% of his first-serve points
umpire explained that she it was to begin. When Venus and saved the lone break
didn’t know who it was and and their father Richard took point he faced.
could not take any action. their seats to watch Serena five straight points to close
in the final against Kim Cli- Rafael Nadal didn’t have it as out the 2 1/2-hour match. Medvedev is among play-
“I didn’t hear what lady say jsters, the crowd began boo- easy in opening his pursuit of ers from Russia and Belarus
because I really so focus on ing. As the match went on, a fourth title at Indian Wells. “He’s one of the greatest competing at Indian Wells
my game, on my serve game, fans jeered Serena. Their He got pushed to the limit players of all time. He’s super without flags, symbols or an-
I didn’t understand what she father said he was the target by practice partner Sebastian hot. Hasn’t lost a match this thems as a result of Russia’s
say,” Kudermetova said. “But of racial slurs. The sisters Korda before winning 6-2, year,” Korda said. “To kind invasion of Ukraine. The de-
after that moment, I saw that boycotted the tournament 1-6, 7-6 (3), giving Nadal a of push him to the edge was cision to eliminate their na-
Naomi, she start to cry.” for years before eventually 16-0 record this year. awesome. Shows a lot of my tional identity was made by
returning. game, how dangerous it can the International Tennis Fed-
Osaka later made the unusual “I started to play a little bit be against tough opponents.” eration and both tours.
request to use the umpire’s Osaka has said she struggled more crosscourt with my
microphone to address the with depression after win- forehand and with having a Earlier this week, Medvedev In women’s play, Jasmine
crowd, which did not hap- ning the 2018 U.S. Open in little bit more of calm,” Nad- received a trophy commem- Paolini upset second-seeded
pen. a controversial final against al said. “He made a couple orating his status atop the Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus
Serena Williams. She with- mistakes and I was able to ATP Tour rankings. He dis- 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second
A supervisor came on court drew from last year’s French save myself.” placed Djokovic, who wasn’t round for the Italian’s first ca-
for a prolonged discussion Open to tend to her mental allowed to enter the U.S. to reer win over a top-10 player.
with Osaka. The supervisor health. Nadal won the Australian play because he’s not vacci- Sabalenka fired eight aces to
told the umpire “if it happens Open in January for his re- nated against COVID-19. go with 10 double faults.
again, we’re going to find Osaka won her opening- cord 21st major champi-
him.” Kudermetova waited round match against Sloane onship, breaking a tie with Medvedev has to reach the Defending champion Paula
behind the baseline for the Stephens in three sets in her Roger Federer and Novak quarterfinals in the desert to Badosa beat Tereza Martin-
match to resume. return to the desert, where Djokovic. He won other stay in the top spot. cova 6-2, 7-6 (4). Badosa’s
she won the title in 2018. titles in Melbourne and in title in the desert in October
Afterward, Osaka spoke to Osaka hadn’t played a tour- Mexico. “If I’m going to lose it because began her rise from 70th in
the crowd with tears stream- nament since January when I’m either going to play a bad the world to the top 10.
ing down her face. she lost in the round of 32 at Nadal trailed 5-2 in the match or my opponent is go-
the Australian Open. Only third set before winning ing to play an amazing one, No. 9 Ons Jabeur lost to
“To be honest, I’ve gotten having played a handful of four straight games with two there is the next tournament 409th-ranked Daria Saville
heckled before, like it didn’t events last year, her ranking breaks of Korda to take a in Miami,” he said. “That’s 7-5, 6-7 (0), 6-4. Shelby Rog-
really bother me, but heck- dropped to 78th in the world. 6-5 lead. Korda held at 6-all how tennis is, every week is a ers, a quarterfinalist here last
led here,” she said, her voice to force the tiebreaker. The new story. Right now it’s In- year, knocked out 10th-seed-
trailing off. “I know she’s the strong, the 38th-ranked Korda led 3-2 dian Wells week and I want to ed Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 7-6
great person,” Kudermetova and then Nadal reeled off make it a good story.” (7).

Madsen triumphs in playoff for first LPGA Tour victory

(AP) — Nanna Koerstz Madsen be- ter Suzann Pettersen of Norway in 2007
came the first Danish player to win and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden in 2014.
an LPGA Tour title after a dramatic
second-hole playoff victory over Madsen had started her final round at
Lin Xiyu of China at the Honda the Siam Country Club Old Course
LPGA Thailand on Sunday. at Pattaya the way she ended her third.
Even better, actually, on the way to her
Both players set a new tournament re- first LPGA Tour victory.
cord of 26-under-par 262 in regulation,
and then birdied the par-5 18th in the And she needed every one of those early
first extra hole before the Dane sealed breaks to put herself in a position to se-
the win with a 7-foot eagle putt in the cure the win.
next to secure her biggest career victory.
After making birdie on her final two
“It’s amazing. I don’t know how to put holes in the third round to take a one-
it into words,” said Madsen. “It’s some- stroke lead into Sunday, the two-time
thing I’ve dreamed of for a very long Olympian from Denmark eagled her
time.” first hole and birdied the second to in-
crease her lead. After a bogey on the
The 27-year-old Madsen, who shot a seventh, she came back with birdies on
final-round 5-under 67, also became the eighth and ninth for a three-stroke
the third European to win the event af- lead at the turn.