Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 18 sepTember 2018

U.S. Open women's singles champion Naomi Osaka poses for
photographers after a press conference prior to the Pan Pacific
Open tennis tournament in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 17, 2018.
Associated Press
Naomi Osaka victory

tour stops at sumo In this April 3, 2018 file photo New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, of Sweden, protects

match, and she liked it his net against the New Jersey Devils during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Newark,
N.J.
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Naomi Osa- the final to Caroline Wozni- Lundqvist happy to be
ka showed how deep her acki, who is the top-seed-
tional sport of sumo and matches between then part of Rangers' rebuilding
Japanese roots run: She ed player this year.
went to watch Japan's na-
"I've played a lot more
said she liked it. and now," Osaka said. "And
Osaka is in Tokyo this week I think it even shows that
to play in the Pan Pacific I'm a little bit more mature By VIN A. CHERWOO ally good impression" of the 26-26-7 with a 2.98 goals-
Open, just a week after now. So, I mean of course AP Sports Writer new coach when Quinn against average — the
she won the U.S. Open to having experience helps." Henrik Lundqvist is enter- traveled to Sweden during highest of his career. It was
become the first Japanese She also added that "being ing his 14th season in the the summer to meet with also just the second time
woman to win a Grand more confident in yourself" NHL, having spent his entire the veteran goalie and for- he finished with fewer than
Slam singles title. also helps. career with the New York wards Mika Zibanejad and 30 wins; the other was the
Osaka was born in Japan Osaka is suddenly on track Rangers. And although Jesper Fast. However, Lun- lockout-shortened 2012-13,
to a Haitian father and to become one of the high- the team is in a rebuilding dqvist is eager to see how when he was 24-16-3.
Japanese mother. She has est earning female athletes mode for a future run at Quinn is during the season. His offseason training last
spent most of her life in the on earth, taking advan- their first Stanley Cup title "It's one thing to sit down in year was delayed when he
United States and lives in tage of roots in Asia, deep- since 1994, the 36-year- July and discuss, and an- injured his knee playing for
Florida, but is sure to repre- pocketed Japanese com- old goalie wants to stick other to discuss under pres- Sweden in the world cham-
sent Japan at the 2020 To- panies, and a down-to- around and be a part of sure," Lundqvist said. "I'm pionships. This year, he had
kyo Olympics. earth manner that makes that process. curious to see how things a platelet-rich plasma in-
"I thought it was really cool her quickly likable. "People talk about re- are going to feel in here. I jection in his right knee af-
because they're so flex- Last week, Osaka signed build and nobody knows think every time you have ter the season, took a few
ible and they're also very a three-year contract with how long of a project that a new coach, you're going weeks off and then began
strong," Osaka said Mon- Japanese carmaker Nis- is," Lundqvist said at the to have a different feel in his summer routine.
day at the Pan Pacific san — no financial details Rangers' practice facility the room. Just the way they "It's back to where it needs
Open. "During one match, were offered — and she is in Greenburgh, New York. coach and the way they to be," he said. "I feel great.
he kept slapping the other reportedly close to landing "There's no other place I speak to the group. You al- Right now, there's nothing
guy. So I thought it was re- a large deal with Adidas, want to be. I feel great, ex- ways learn something." really bothering me. I can
ally fun to watch." perhaps in the range of $10 cited to be back here and Quinn is fine with that. go 100 percent."
Osaka is seeded third in To- million. just see how far we can The coach said he knew Happy that training camp
kyo and had a bye in the The U.S. Open title was take this forward this year." all along that Lundqvist has started, Lundqvist is
first round. She is the sub- worth $3.8 million in prize The Rangers are in their cur- wanted to be a part of the looking forward to seeing
ject of intense interest by money. rent state after dealing sev- Rangers' new direction. how the team shapes up.
Japanese reporters. Osaka also has deals with eral stars in a youth move- "Just the shape he's in tells "Camp is always fun," he
She fields questions in Eng- Japanese sporting goods ment at the trade deadline you that he's all in," Quinn said. "It's always the same
lish but understands most company Yonex, noodle last winter and then finish- said. "I had a pretty good feeling. You're anxious to
questions posed to her in maker Nissin Foods, Citizen ing 20 points out of a play- idea of where he was once get going, a little nervous,
Japanese. Watch and Japanese satel- off spot while missing the I took the job, it was always excited. It feels really good
Two years ago she lost in lite broadcaster Wowow.q postseason for the first time part of the conversations. to be here."
in eight years. Hours af- So I had a good idea he The Rangers still have plen-
ter their last game in April, was all in and wanted to ty of talent on the roster,
coach Alain Vigneualt was stay and wanted to finish led by forwards Mats Zuc-
fired and replaced weeks his career here and be part carello, Kevin Hayes, Chris
later by David Quinn, who of the next wave of suc- Kreider and Zibanejad,
made the jump from Bos- cess." and defensemen Kevin
ton University to the NHL. Lundqvist is coming off a Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei and
Lundqvist said he got a "re- season in which he went Marc Staal.q