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A22 SPORTS
Friday 28 december 2018

Serena welcomes rule change on

players back from pregnancy

ABU DHABI, United Arab
Emirates (AP) — Serena Wil-
liams has welcomed the
extra protection given to
new mothers when they re-
turn to the women’s tennis
tour.
“It’s great,” the 23-time
Grand Slam champion
said on Thursday in quotes In this Nov. 2, 2018, file photo, Jon Jones talks in New York about
published by BBC Sport. his mixed martial arts light heavyweight bout against Alexander
“Women that are younger Gustafsson at UFC 232. Associated Press
can go out there and have
kids and not have to worry Jon Jones defiant after
about it, and not have to
wait until the twilight of their Serena Williams of the U.S. talks to journalists on the opening failed drug test forces
years to have children.”
The WTA rule changes were day of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi,
agreed on this month and United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. UFC 232 move
are meant to ensure play- Associated Press
ers are not penalized after the birth of a child, and the opportunity, people don’t By GREG BEACHAM
they return from pregnancy exemption can be used for have to ask that question.” AP Sports Writer
or an injury that causes a seedings at big events. Williams was unseeded at LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jon Jones is defiantly defending his
long absence. The changes “Having gone through the the French Open in her first role in the decision to move UFC 232 from Nevada to Cal-
were prompted in part by experience myself really major since the birth of her ifornia on six days’ notice after he tested positive for low
the experiences of former opened my eyes. Would daughter — despite hav- levels of a banned steroid.
No. 1 players Williams and I have done it sooner had ing won the previous major The former light heavyweight champion gave a pas-
Victoria Azarenka, both of there been different rule she played, the 2017 Aus- sionate, occasionally bizarre performance Thursday at
whom returned to com- changes? I don’t know,” tralian Open. Williams was a news conference ahead of his title fight against Swe-
petition after giving birth. Williams said in Abu Dhabi seeded 25th at Wimbledon den’s Alexander Gustafsson at the Forum in Inglewood,
The WTA announced that ahead of an exhibition tour- and 17th at the U.S. Open, California, on Saturday night.
players returning to the tour nament where she played and she reached the finals Jones (22-1) expressed regret for the enormous inconve-
may use a special ranking her sister Venus in a one-off and lost at both of those niences caused by his latest failed doping test, which cost
for up to three years after match. “But now there is an majors.q the UFC and the card’s other fighters millions in earnings.
But the star-crossed superstar also boorishly berated a
Nadal looks to Australian Open reporter asking about his doping history and went on
several lengthy rants about the unfairness of the entire
with confidence after surgery situation, suggesting the positive test could have been
ignored.q

ABU DHABI, United Arab Bill Baillie, holder of
Emirates (AP) — Rafael
Nadal is confident he can obscure running records,
be fit for the Australian
Open as he chases an 18th dead at 84
Grand Slam title.
A right knee injury forced
Nadal to retire from his WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand athlete
U.S. Open semifinal in early William “Bill” Baillie, who once held world records in the
September — his last com- now obscure 20,000-meter and one-hour running events,
petitive match — and the has died. He was 84. Athletics New Zealand said Baillie
32-year-old Spaniard had died on Christmas Day. At the time Baillie broke the re-
ankle surgery at the start of cords they had a higher status than today and were held
November. Rafael Nadal of Spain talks to journalists on the opening day of by Czech great Emil Zatopek. Baillie set both marks in the
Asked Thursday to assess the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, United same race in Auckland in 1963. In one hour he covered 12
his fitness level out of 10 Arab Emirates, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. miles, 960 yards, 7 inches or 20.19 kilometers, after reach-
ahead of the Mubadala Associated Press ing the 20K mark in 59 minutes, 28.6 seconds.
World Tennis Championship The Australian Open starts 12 months. Last year here, In 2013 he recalled that “there was no doubt in my mind
in Abu Dhabi, Nadal said: “I Jan. 14. I was still carrying the injury that I was going to do it on that particular day. When it
don’t know . I am not that Nadal, who won his 17th of the elbow that resulted finished, and everyone had gone home, I thought I better
good with numbers. Grand Slam at the French in the surgery,” Djokovic go home and mow the lawns.” Baillie competed in the
“I started about two weeks Open in June, said he was said. 5,000 at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where he finished sixth.
ago and I am taking small happy with his progress “I am grateful that this sea- He also competed in four Empire and Commonwealth
steps forward. I am just “but of course I need to son has taught me a lot Games in 1954, ‘58, ‘62 and ‘66.
making sure I am moving prove myself in competi- about myself as a tennis No cause of death has been released but an item pub-
forward and it’s not a step tions and hopefully, play- player and as a person. I lished online Friday in the obituaries section of The New
backwards. I know I have ing here will help me take really had to dig deep to Zealand Herald said Baillie “passed away peacefully in his
time to be ready for Mel- the first steps.” sort of turn the table in my sleep ... Bill has just finished the race of his life, and only he
bourne at 100 percent.” “It’s been a very exciting favor.” q knows what his time was.”q