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SPORTS Tuesday 29 augusT 2017

Williams wins at U.S. Open to stay in No. 1 hunt; Konta out

By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Ve-
nus Williams stayed in the
crowded hunt for the No. 1
ranking — even though she
had no idea that she has a
shot at that spot.
Johanna Konta, a Wim-
bledon semifinalist just
last month, dropped out
of that chase with a first-
round exit as the U.S. Open
got started Monday.
The No. 9-seeded Williams
overcame a mid-match
lapse to pick up a 6-3, 3-6,
6-2 victory in Arthur Ashe
Stadium against Viktoria
Kuzmova of Slovakia, a
19-year-old qualifier who is
ranked 135th.
It was the first tour-level,
main-draw match of Kuz-
mova’s career, and the
967th for Williams, who won
the title at Flushing Mead-
ows in 2000 and 2001, in
addition to her five Wim-
bledon championships.
Williams is in her 19th U.S. Venus Williams, of the United States, serves to Viktoria Kuzmova, of Slovakia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament,
Open; she reached the Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in New York. Associated Press
final in her 1997 debut,
about eight months before when she faltered. Kuz- who was already at No. 1 best chance for a deep va’s first Grand Slam action
Kuzmova was born. mova broke for 2-1, then in 2002. run these two weeks, be- since her doping suspen-
“I had no idea what she pulled at even at 3-all be- Before the American’s cause the country’s top sion, against No. 2 seed
looked like, who she was, fore taking three games in match was over, that num- male player, Andy Murray, Simona Halep — the after-
anything. But she played a row to force a third set. ber of ranking contend- withdrew on Saturday with noon was filled with quite a
amazing. She played well, But Williams righted herself ers was reduced to seven, an injured hip. few seeded players joining
served well, competed there, breaking for a 2-0 because the No. 7-seeded Instead, she was among Konta on the way out.
well. Definitely a match I lead, then digging out of a Konta was bounced by a crop of seeded players For every victory by some-
had to earn,” said Williams, love-40 hole with five con- 78th-ranked Aleksandra on the way out the door one such as Wimbledon
who at 37 is the oldest secutive points for 3-0 and Krunic of Serbia 4-6, 6-3, at a tournament already champion Garbine Mu-
woman in the field. was on her way. 6-4. missing several top names, guruza or 2014 U.S. Open
“I definitely wasn’t ex- Williams entered the U.S. “I don’t take anything for including the biggest in champion Marin Cilic,
pecting or planning on Open as one of eight granted,” said Konta, who women’s tennis: Williams’ there was a surprise or two.
dropping sets today. But women with a chance to was a semifinalist at Wim- older sister Serena, who is The men’s seeded losers in-
things happen. That’s why rise atop the WTA rankings bledon just last month. expecting a baby. cluded No. 21 David Ferrer,
we play the match, be- by tournament’s end. “I think it would be quite “We always coach each who was the runner-up at
cause you have to win Not that it was foremost on obnoxious of me to come other, pretty much,” Wil- the 2013 French Open, No.
the match. So it’s just all her mind. in here expecting I have liams said. 25 Karen Khachanov and
about regrouping. It’s the Indeed, she said she was a right to be in second While the most anticipat- No. 32 Robin Hasse.
first round. You figure out unaware of that possibility. week.” ed matchup of Day 1 was On the women’s side, there
what’s going on.” “I just want to win, and if Konta, who lost to Williams scheduled for Monday as No. 21 Ana Konjuh, No.
She was up a set, plus a you get the win, you get in the Wimbledon semifi- night — five-time major 24 Kiki Bertens and No. 32
break in the second at 2-0, the ranking,” said Williams, nals, figured to be Britain’s champion Maria Sharapo- Lauren Davis.q