Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 19 June 2019
Top-ranked Osaka gets 1st-round

win in Birmingham on grass

“I was kind of screaming on antee holding on to top French Open champion —
the inside during that entire spot in the rankings head- among those who will have
match,” Osaka said in her ing into Wimbledon. to try again on Wednes-
on-court interview. “I got “During my entire clay sea- day.
lucky a little bit, I guess.” son, it kind of mattered and Julia Goerges recovered to
Osaka has yet to make I think it showed because I defeat Dayana Yastremska
it past the third round at was kind of stressed out the 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 while former
Wimbledon, which starts on entire time,” she said. “So, French Open champion
Japan’s Naomi Osaka returns to Greece’s Maria Sakkari during July 1. now, I’m just having fun. I’m Jelena Ostapenko eased
day four of the Nature Valley Classic at Edgbaston Priory Club, “I felt better than the two enjoying it. And I know that past Wimbledon junior
Birmingham, England, Tuesday, June 18, 2019. practice days,” Osaka said. if I play well, then I’ll be No. champion Iga Swiatek 6-0,
Associated Press “And I feel every day that I 1.” 6-2 and will now face Jo-
BIRMINGHAM, England opponent at the Birming- play on grass of course I’m Osaka will next face Yulia hanna Konta.
(AP) — A day after saying ham Classic on Tuesday. going to learn how to play Putintseva, who defeated Kristyna Pliskova of the
she was “not really that Osaka lost the second set better, but for now I’m just Britain’s Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-4. Czech Republic set up a
comfortable” playing on to Maria Sakkari of Greece really happy I was able to Rain washed out much of first tour-level meeting with
grass, top-ranked Naomi before recovering to win win that match.” the schedule Tuesday, with her twin sister, Karolina, by
Osaka needed three sets 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, for only her 11th Osaka needs to reach the second-seeded Ashleigh defeating Viktoriya Tomo-
to get past her first-round tour-level victory on grass. final in Birmingham to guar- Barty — the newly crowned va 6-3, 6-4.q

NHL offseason need to be made,” Wilson

said, not ruling out bring-
Continued from Page 18 heating up ahead of the ing back Pavelski and oth-
draft Friday and Saturday ers. “I don’t think anybody
Salary-cap concerns for in Vancouver. Pittsburgh’s should rush to conclusions
San Jose, Washington and Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin or on anything. There’s many
a handful of other Cup Kris Letang and Nashville’s ways to accomplish differ-
contenders could open the P.K. Subban are among ent things.”
door to some significant the high-profile players who RUSSIAN PACKAGE DEAL:
player movement even could be on the move. Panarin and Bobrovsky
before free agency starts “There’s lots of things on played together with the
July 1. “I think there’s been the go,” Winnipeg GM Kev- Blue Jackets for two sea-
more conversation, more in Cheveldayoff said. “It’s sons and are hitting free
communication between probably an unprecedent- agency at the same time.
the GMs in the last month ed time of conversation.” When Panarin switched
than maybe ever since I’ve Many of the moves that In this Feb. 16, 2019, file photo, San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson, agents to be represent-
center, celebrates with Timo Meier, left, and Joe Pavelski after
been a GM,” San Jose’s come from those conver- Pavelski scored during the third period of an NHL hockey game ed by Bobrovsky’s agent,
Doug Wilson said Monday. sations will set the table for against the Vancouver Canuck, in San Jose, Calif. Paul Theofanus, it raised
“There’s so much competi- free agency, where Co- Associated Press eyebrows that the Russian
tion, especially for the high- lumbus winger Artemi Pan- We’ll be more aggressive Rangers. countrymen might want to
end player. ... There’s a lot arin, center Matt Duchene this year with that, but if it “Obviously one team’s go- go to the same team.
of things going on.” and goaltender Sergei Bo- doesn’t work out with the ing to indicate to us exactly With some creative roster
Less than 24 hours after brovsky are the top three players we want to talk to, how it might go for the rest work, the Florida Panthers
Karlsson signed, the domi- players available. we’re not just going to go of the draft,” Rangers GM could be the ideal landing
nos began to fall. Toronto defenseman Jake spend on anybody.” Jeff Gorton said. “I think spot for Panarin and Bo-
Karlsson was linked to the Gardiner, Dallas winger Sakic’s Avalanche have we’re in a good spot. We brovsky and go from close
New York Rangers and Mats Zuccarello, Islanders the most projected cap know that we’re going to to the playoffs to real con-
Tampa Bay Lightning, and winger Anders Lee, Sharks space in the league with get a really good player tenders.
it took less than 24 hours forward Joe Pavelski, Bruins $36 million, according to no matter what happens CAPITALS CONCERNS:
for the first direct responses winger Marcus Johansson PuckPedia . The Flyers and to us.” Even though Alex Ovech-
to him re-signing with the and Hurricanes winger Mi- rival New Jersey Devils, Chicago picks third and kin and the Capitals are no
Sharks. New York on Mon- cheal Ferland are among New York Rangers and Is- will get a nice boost to aid longer reigning Cup cham-
day night acquired defen- the other possibilities. The landers will also have cap its turnaround after missing pions, Hagelin insisted he
seman Jacob Trouba from salary cap is expected to space to burn and a need the playoffs the past two wouldn’t have signed
the Jets, and Tampa Bay increase by $3.5 million to for an elite defenseman seasons. an $11 million, four-year
on Tuesday re-signed vet- roughly $83 million, and or two.”They’re not easy BITE OUT OF SHARKS: Com- contract with them if he
eran Braydon Coburn to a money will be spent. to find,” Philadelphia GM mitting $11.5 million a year didn’t think they could win
$3.4 million, two-year deal “It’s a pretty good class this Chuck Fletcher said. “Cer- to Karlsson cuts significantly it again over that time. To
— cap space it likely would year,” Colorado GM Joe tainly, if we can find a guy into San Jose’s offseason do so, GM Brian MacLellan
have needed for Karlsson if Sakic said. “(We) already that can play in our top four maneuvering with Pavelski, will have to navigate a dif-
he was available. have targeted players in that we’d have the ability Joe Thornton, Gustav Ny- ficult cap situation around
San Jose needed to clear mind if they become avail- to acquire, we’ll certainly quist and Joonas Donskoi pending free agent wing-
room and did some of that able that we’ll want to talk look at it.” set to be unrestricted free er Brett Connolly and re-
by trading defenseman to about joining our club. BUT FIRST, THE DRAFT: New agents and emerging star stricted free agent Andre
Justin Braun and his $3.8 We see positions of need, of Jersey is widely expected Timo Meier needing a new Burakovsky and knowing
million cap hit to Philadel- what we’re looking to do. to select American cen- contract as a restricted deals with center Nicklas
phia for a 2019 second- There’s a few guys we’re ter Jack Hughes first over- free agent. Backstrom and goaltender
and 2020 third-round draft going to want to talk to if all, leaving Finnish winger “Under a cap system, Braden Holtby expire next
pick. The trade talk is just they become available. Kaappo Kakko for the choices and decisions summer. q