Page 21 - ATODAY

SPORTS A21
Thursday 10 March 2016

Hope Solo calls attention to field conditions in Boca Raton

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer
U.S. national team goal-
keeper Hope Solo took to
Twitter to show her con-
cern about the field con-
ditions at FAU Stadium for
Wednesday night’s match
against Germany.
Solo posted a photo of
worn grass at the Boca
Raton, Florida, stadium on
Tuesday, writing, “This is
what the top two women’s
teams in the world will play
on tomorrow night.” She
added “(hashtag) Equal-
MeansEqual.”

Her complaint marks the In this Jan. 23, 2016, file photo, United States goalkeeper Hope Solo warms up before a women’s international friendly soccer game
second time that national against Ireland in San Diego.
team players have drawn
attention to field conditions Associated Press
since the United States won
the Women’s World Cup plaint in Canada before Even Kobe Bryant and Tom — our safety — is priority No. ing.”
last year. the event, claiming that Hanks were critical. 1. At the end of the day, The call for gender equity
A December match in Ha- playing on what some con- Following the cancellation we expect to be treated comes as U.S. Soccer and
waii was called off a day sider an inferior surface of the match in Hawaii, the equally as our male coun- the players’ union seek a
before the game because amounted to gender dis- players went to The Players’ terparts. And we hope that, new collective bargaining
of problems with the artifi- crimination, because the Tribune website with a post in the future, our fields and agreement.
cial turf. U.S. Soccer said the men’s tournament is held that spoke to the inequality our venues will be chosen The federation filed a law-
Aloha Stadium surface was on real grass. of playing conditions. and inspected at the stan- suit in federal court in Illi-
“not suitable to hold an in- The players later dropped “We have become so ac- dard of an international nois last month seeking to
ternational soccer match,” the claim to focus on prep- customed to playing on match — whether it’s men clarify whether the previ-
while the players pointed aration for the World Cup, whatever surface is put in or women playing on the ous agreement is in force
to inequality between field but their protest gener- front of us. But we need to field,” the players wrote in through the end of the
standards for men’s and ated widespread support. realize that our protection the post titled “Equal Foot- year. q
women’s games.
Playing surface and gen-
der equity were also an is-
sue at last summer’s World
Cup in Canada, which was
played on artificial turf.
A group of players, led by
U.S. forward Abby Wam-
bach, filed a legal com-

Serena Williams beats Caroline

Wozniacki in exhibition at Garden

RACHEL COHEN There were plenty of mis- down a drop shot, and Serena Williams returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki during a
AP Sports Writer takes — many punctu- then immediately raced BNP Paribas Showdown tennis match, Tuesday, March 8, 2016,
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena ated by a shriek — for Wil- back to chase down a lob. in New York.
Williams beat good friend liams early on Tuesday, but With her dogged defense,
Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-4 as she does so often, she Wozniacki forced Williams Associated Press
in an exhibition at Madison somehow was still ahead into some long rallies. But
Square Garden on Tues- at the end of the set. The as was the case in 10 of mixed doubles — Williams and Williams teamed with
day. The 21-time Grand game started to look more their 11 career meetings and Wozniacki came onto Wawrinka and Wozniacki
Slam champion hasn’t familiar: the court cover- — which includes the 2014 the court in their warmups, with Monfils.q
played a match since los- age, the well-rounded rep- U.S. Open final a few miles
ing the Australian Open ertoire, the big serves to away — Williams’ offense
final Jan. 30, pulling out of escape trouble. She even was too much.
two tournaments because tried quite a few drop shots In the first match of the
of illness. She’s scheduled with mixed results. BNP Paribas Showdown,
to return to competition at “I never miss one in prac- 16th-ranked Gael Monfils of
Indian Wells this week. tice, ever,” she insisted. France beat two-time ma-
“I’m headed out to the Proving she was moving jor champion Stan Wawrin-
desert, and we’ll see what just fine, Williams earned ka 7-6 (6), 6-3. Two games
happens,” Williams said in her first set point when she midway through the sec-
an on-court-interview. sprinted to the net to run ond set were played as