Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Saturday 26 May 2018

Garbine Muguruza opts for relaxed approach at French Open

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN the best match for quarter-
Associated Press finals," Muguruza said.
PARIS (AP) — If there's a Muguruza's preparations
player who shouldn't be for the French Open have
afraid of Serena Williams' been far from ideal, win-
return to Grand Slam tennis ning just two matches on
at the French Open, it's cer- clay. After losing to Daria
tainly Garbine Muguruza. Kasatkina at the Madrid
Despite an inconsistent Open, she lost her opening
clay-court season so far, match to Daria Gavrilova
the two-time Grand Slam last week in Rome.
champion from Spain is But the elegant and power-
among the top contenders ful Muguruza is not worried.
at Roland Garros. She won After all, she had lost 6-1,
her first major title two years 6-0 against Barbora Stryco-
ago by defeating Williams va in Eastbourne last year
in the final. in her final warmup tourna-
Muguruza and Williams ment before Wimbledon,
have played against each then won the title at the All
other five times, and the England Club.
Venezuela-born Muguruza "It stays less in your system
prevailed twice, both at the like before, for sure," she
French Open. Muguruza's In this March 26, 2018, file photo, Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns to Sloane Stephens during said about her poor per-
the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla.Muguruza will be competing in the French
maiden victory over Wil- Open tennis tournament that begins on Sunday, May 27. formance in Rome. "You
liams in her second French Associated Press move on faster. There is no
Open appearance back point to be sad about what
in 2014 was a surprise, rout- This year, the third-ranked Grand Slam champion, is She hasn't played a major happened in Rome, be-
ing the defending cham- Muguruza and Williams competing in her first ma- since winning the Austra- cause now it doesn't really
pion 6-2, 6-2 in the second could meet in the quarter- jor since giving birth to her lian Open in January 2017. matter. It's true I didn't play
round. finals. Williams, a 23-time daughter in September. "If that happens, it will be lots of matches.q

Crusaders beat Hurricanes

24-13 in Super Rugby

Associated Press Curtis clinched the Crusad- setbacks, they still domi-
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zea- ers' ninth win in a row and nated the rain-drenched
land (AP) — The Christ- ended the Hurricanes' win- match in which they spent
church-based Crusaders ning streak at 10 games. most of the second half
improved their first-place The Crusaders lead the camped in the Hurricanes'
standing in Super Rugby on tournament with 50 points territory.
Friday with a 24-13 win over from the Hurricanes with "We knew the wet weather
the Wellington-based Hurri- 45, although the Hurricanes was going to come and we
canes in a match in which have a match in hand. The had a plan for it," Crusad- Hurricanes Ben May runs at the Crusaders defence during their
all three Barrett brothers teams were separated by ers captain Matt Todd said. Super Rugby match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, May
placed their names on the a single point before the "Credit to the boys, they 25, 2018.
score sheet. game and a close contest stuck to it and were disci- Associated Press
Lock Scott Barrett scored was expected. plined. It wasn't pretty at
the Crusaders' opening try The Crusaders lost four All times but we just did what by eight points after 40 min- nos Aires. Left wing Ramiro
and Jordie and Beauden Blacks — lock and cap- we had to to look after the utes. The Sunwolves came Moyano scored three tries
Barrett kicked penalties as tain Sam Whitelock, center ball and keep the score- into the match on a two- on his return to the starting
the Crusaders went to half- Ryan Crotty, backrower board ticking over." match winning streak after lineup.
time leading 7-6 in a match Jordan Taufua and prop At Melbourne, Australia, the losing their first nine games. Bautista Delguy clinched
played in heavy rain. Tim Perry — to injuries and Rebels beat the Sunwolves The Jaguares won their the match with a try in the
Second-half tries to prop All Blacks props Owen 40-13, holding the Tokyo- sixth match in a row, beat- 70th minute before Moya-
Michael Alaalatoa and Franks and Joe Moody to based side scoreless in the ing South Africa's Durban- na added his third try in the
backrower Heiden Bedwell- suspensions. Despite those second half after leading based Sharks 29-13 at Bue- final minute. q