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A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 16 May 2017
Italian Open win allows Sharapova to qualify for Wimbledon

ANDREW DAMPF Baroni, who beat former
AP Sports Writer French Open finalist Lu-
ROME (AP) — Three tourna- cie Safarova 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
ments into her return from a Sharapova could face
15-month doping ban, Ma- top-ranked Angelique Ker-
ria Sharapova has already ber in the third round.
gained enough rankings Sharapova edged Lucic-
points to enter qualifying Baroni in three tough sets in
for Wimbledon. Madrid last week but then
The five-time Grand Slam lost to Eugenie Bouchard.
winner took advantage At the start, McHale was
of another wild card and able to run down balls
overcame a shaky open- in the corners and make
ing set to defeat 58th- Sharapova play extra
ranked Christina McHale shots, which she often
6-4, 6-2 in the first round missed. But once the sec-
of the Italian Open on ond set began, Sharapova
Monday. The win earned was in total control and
Sharapova enough points began to resemble the
to enter the top 200 of the player who won the trophy
rankings and earn at least at the Foro Italico in 2011,
a spot in qualifying for 2012 and 2015. Still, there
Wimbledon. Maria Sharapova of Russia returns the ball to Christina Mchale of the United States during the Ital- were signs of rustiness, like
“Winning matches will ian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Monday, May 15, 2017. when Sharapova dumped
get me places, so if that’s Associated Press a first serve into the red
where it got me today, granted a wild card for the card. “Nothing is a dis- were criticized for giving clay before the net while
then I will take it,” said French Open this month, appointment after being a wild card to Sharapova attempting to close out the
Sharapova, who entered with Roland Garros organiz- away from the game for 15 instead of former French match. McHale went on to
this week at No. 211. “The ers planning an announce- months.” Open champion Franc- win that point and game
fact that I’m back and ment on Facebook. Sharapova was broken esca Schiavone, an Italian. but Sharapova broke the
playing three weeks in a “I won’t be following it live. by McHale in the opening But fans cheered and held American’s serve in the
row now and three events I will be focused on my game and went on to drop up signs of encouragement next game to end it.
in a row for me is a big match, as I’m playing to- serve twice more in the for Sharapova, a three- Sharapova led 21-7 in win-
deal. That’s my focus.” morrow,” Sharapova said, first set before finding her time Rome champion. ners and committed 22 un-
Sharapova will learn on adding that she would groove. Sharapova’s next oppo- forced errors to McHale’s
Tuesday if she will be accept a qualifying wild Tournament organizers nent will be Mirjana Lucic- 25. q

Federer Open. “The start to the three away from Federer.
year has been magical for Luthi said Federer didn’t
me but I need to recognize take Nadal’s recent play
Continued on Page 22 that scheduling will be the — or anyone else’s — into
key to my longevity moving account as he weighed his
about it but wanted to forward,” Federer wrote. options.
give ourselves time to think “Thus, my team and I con- “It’s really more a decision
about it,” he added. “We cluded today that play- about him than the others,”
spoke again yesterday ing just one event on clay Luthi said. “It would be a
and made the final deci- was not in the best interest mistake to look at them too
sion today.” of my tennis and physical much.”
Luthi said Federer plans preparation for the remain- Federer missed the last half
to play at two grass-court der of the season.” of 2016, including the Rio
tournaments in Germany Clay tends to be the most de Janeiro Olympics and
— at Stuttgard starting physically demanding of the U.S. Open, because of
June 12, and at Halle the tennis’ surfaces, requiring his surgically repaired left
week after that — before plenty of tricky movement knee. He started this season
heading to Wimbledon, and sliding, along with the best way possible, win-
where play begins on July lengthy, grind-it-out points. ning the Australian Open in
In this April 29, 2017, file photo, Roger Federer, of Switzerland, 3. Federer’s great rival and January.
returns a volley during an exhibition tennis match in Seattle. The 35-year-old Federer the man known as the King As for Paris, if there were
Associated Press
has not played in a tourna- of Clay, Rafael Nadal, has those worrying about
His absence a year ago, And he wants to keep it ment since April 2, when been back to his dominant whether they might have
because of back and knee that way. he won his third title of 2017 self on the red stuff lately, seen the last of the Swiss
problems that plagued him “We are in a good situa- at the Miami Open and im- compiling a 15-match win- superstar there, Federer of-
in 2016, ended his record tion. He is (healthier than proved his record this year ning streak and three con- fered a message about the
streak of appearing in 65 he’s) been in the last five to 19-1, all on hard courts, secutive titles, including at future.
consecutive Grand Slam years. We could take the his best start in more than the Madrid Open on Sun- “I will miss the French fans,
tournaments — every one decision out of a position of a decade. At the time, he day. That has made Nadal who have always been so
since the start of 2000. strength,” Luthi said about said he would be taking a the favorite to collect a re- supportive,” Federer said,
Now, though, the owner of pulling out of the French break from the tour and cord 10th trophy at Roland “and I look forward to see-
a record 18 major champi- Open. did not commit to return- Garros, which would be ing them at Roland Garros
onships feels great. “We talked a few times ing in time for the French his 15th overall at majors, next year.”q