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SPORTS Thursday 31 augusT 2017

Sharapova wins another 3-setter

to reach U.S. Open’s 3rd round

By HOWARD FENDRICH bos. But as the match went at the end against Babos
AP Tennis Writer on, Sharapova looked were as much a reflection
NEW YORK (AP) — No one, more and more like some- of a sense of relief as cel-
not even Maria Sharapova one who used to be ranked ebration.
herself, knew quite what to No. 1 and owns five major If her 14 return winners were
expect from her return to titles — including the 2006 a key to getting past Halep,
Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open — than some- it was Sharapova’s serv-
U.S. Open. one who needed a wild- ing that really made a dif-
It had been 19 months card invitation from the U.S. ference down the stretch
since she had entered a Tennis Association because against Babos: She won
major tournament. She she is now 146th, on ac- 16 of the last 19 points she
played only nine times any- count of her ban and lack served.
where since returning from of play.”In the second set, I With so many matches go-
a 15-month doping suspen- just felt like I was physically ing on, there were plenty of
sion in April. Two three-set fresh and that gave me a names to keep tabs on. Two
tussles into her stay at Flush- lot of confidence,” said the other past U.S. Open cham-
ing Meadows, it’s clear that 30-year-old Russian, who pions, Juan Martin del Potro
Sharapova’s game might wore a strip of black tape and Svetlana Kuznetsova
be patchy, but she is as ca- on the left forearm that won in the afternoon, while
pable as ever of coming up bothered her earlier in the two-time winner Venus Wil-
with big strokes in big mo- month. “I just wanted to be liams faced Oceane Dodin
ments — and maybe, just fittest player out there in of France at night. After
maybe, could stick around the end, and I really felt like that, 2008 Australian Open
for a while in a depleted I was.” runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tson-
draw. She cut down her miscues ga was scheduled to meet
Sharapova became the to 12 unforced errors in the 18-year-old Canadian Maria Sharapova, of Russia, returns a shot from Timea Babos,
first woman into the third second set, then just five in qualifier Denis Shapovalov. of Hungary, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis
tournament, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in New York
round at the U.S. Open by the third, and finished with There was a mix of first- and
using 12 aces to help set a 39-13 advantage in win- second-round matches T DAY DIA ®
ARUBA
aside a poor start and com- ners, looking as strong as thanks to Tuesday’s post- ARUBA’S ENGLISH NEWS LEADER AND THE BEST PART OF YOUR DAY! B N ARUBA
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ing back to beat Timea Ba- she did while eliminating ponements, and No. 14 How to reach us!
bos of Hungary 6-7 (4), 6-4, No. 2 seed Simona Halep Nick Kyrgios, No. 22 Fabio
6-1 on Wednesday in Arthur in a three-set thriller in Ashe Fognini, No. 26 Richard Weststraat
Ashe Stadium. It was the on Monday. Gasquet and No. 27 Pablo ARUBA DAY
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ARUBA’S ENGLISH NEWS LEADER AND THE BEST PART OF YOUR DAY!
highlight of a busy day that “It was definitely tough to Cuevas all lost their open- B N DIA
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PODER DEN BO MAN
featured 87 singles match- control the emotions yes- ers. Two top-10 men whose
es on the schedule after terday, because as much opening matches also Weststraat
rain washed out most play as you want to be happy were delayed — and will
a day earlier. about that match and have to get back on court
“It wasn’t my best tennis,” what I accomplished there, Thursday — expended lit-
Sharapova acknowledged you want to move on really tle energy: No. 6 Dominic Weststraat
in an on-court interview. fast,” Sharapova said. “And Thiem beat Alex de Minaur
“It felt like it was a scrappy so finding that balance is 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, and No. 7 Grig- Schepstraat
Bus
match.” really hard. Today I felt like or Dimitrov was a 6-1, 6-4, High Rise Hotels Weststraat Schepstraat
terminal
Sure was, particularly in going into the match I just 6-2 winner against qualifier Royal
Plaza
the early going. Sharapo- wanted to get it done. And Vaclav Safranek. Mall Caya G.F. Betico Croes
va made a whopping 19 I did.” The only seeded woman Weststraat L.G. Smith Boulevard Caya G.F. Betico Croes
unforced errors in the first Not quickly, though: She to exit in the afternoon Downtown
set alone, including a pair already has spent nearly was No. 19 Anastasia Pav-
of missed forehands that 5 hours on court, and so lyuchenkova, beaten 3-6, Direction: Weststraat #22 | Phone: 582-7800
handed over the opening perhaps the yelling and 6-3, 6-2 by Christina McHale email for advertisement: aviso@bondia.com
set to the 59th-ranked Ba- fist-pumping she showed of the U.S.q email for news: news@arubatoday.com