Page 20 - aruba-today-20190112

A20 SPORTS
Saturday 12 January 2019

Andreescu continues hot streak, qualifies for Aussie Open

By JOHN PYE She raced from Auckland lep, who told her to play
AP Sports Writer to Melbourne to enter qual- more pro events rather
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) ifying, something she’s hop- than juniors, that helped set
— Bianca Andreescu has ing her rise up the rankings Andreescu on her way.
followed up her wins last will help her avoid at the “I think I’m getting more
week over defending Aus- next major. and more experience play-
tralian Open champion “My goal was to, at the be- ing on big stages, and I
Caroline Wozniacki and ginning of the year, was to think that’s going to be
seven-time major winner get into the French Open help me with everything,”
Venus Williams by quali- main draw right away — Andreescu said. “It’s amaz-
fying for the season’s first not having to go through ing. It’s my second time
Grand Slam tournament. qualies,” she said. “I think qualifying for a major. I’m
The 18-year-old Canadian I’m one step closer to that.” really pleased with my
would like to follow it up Andreescu moved up 45 game right now. and how
with another win over a places last week to No. my body is holding up, and
big-name player — like No. Canada’s Bianca Andreescu returns a shot against Taiwan’s 107, and attracted a lot of my mental, too.”
1 Simona Halep or Serena Hsieh Su-wei during their semifinal match at the ASB Classic attention at home. On the men’s side, 22-year-
Williams. tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Jan. 5, “Definitely, yeah. I’m get- old Australian Thanasi Kok-
First things first, though. Af- 2019. ting a lot of messages. I’m kinakis had a 6-4, 6-4 win
ter beating Tereza Smitko- Associated Press getting a lot of followers, over Canadian Peter Po-
va on Friday to earn a spot Australian Open champion well. especially from politicians, lanski to earn his spot in
in the main draw of a ma- Serena Williams, but in the “I think I used it pretty well which really amazed me,” the main draw after con-
jor for only the second time lower quarter. in the qualifying matches, she said. “It’s really an hon- tentiously missing out on a
— her first was at Wimble- “With what happened last so I’m really pleased.” or — I’m really grateful for qualifying spot following a
don in 2017 — Andreescu week, I think I can get pret- Andreescu reached the everyone’s support. series of injuries.
ended up with a first-round ty far into next week,” said final of the ASB Classic in “I got a message from a Kokkinakis, who notched a
match against American Andreescu, who was lead- Auckland, New Zealand little girl, just saying that win over Roger Federer last
wild-card entry Whitney ing 6-0, 4-1 when Smitkova last week, beating Wozni- she’s starting to play tennis year, later said missing out
Osuigwe, who finished last retired with an injury. “And acki, Venus Williams and because of me. That was on the wild card certainly
year ranked No. 226. I’m just using momentum third-seeded Hsieh Su-wei pretty amazing.” served as motivation. He
They’re in the same half from last week. Hopefully I before losing to Julia Go- It was some advice a cou- will play Taro Daniel of Ja-
as Halep and seven-time can do that next week as erges in three sets. ple of years ago from Ha- pan in the first round.q

China advances to Asian Cup last 16, Australia rebounds

Associated Press ing Kyrgyzstan 1-0. match late.
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- Australia put its 1-0 opening China had opened with a
ates (AP) — China and loss to Jordan in the past hard-fought 2-1 win against
South Korea made it to by routing Palestine 3-0 in Kyrgyzstan.
the knockout round of the Group B. China and South Korea
Asian Cup on Friday, while China star forward Wu Lei have six points, while Kyr-
defending champion Aus- scored two superb goals — gyzstan and the Philippines
tralia stayed alive by re- a curling right-footed shot have zero but have slim
bounding from a stunning into the top corner in the chances of advancing.
opening defeat. first half and a volley in the China and South Korea will
China secured a spot in the second — against a Phil- fight for the group win on
China’s defender Wu Lei, center left, celebrates his opening round of 16 with a comfort- ippines squad making its Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
goal with his teammates, during the AFC Asian Cup group C able 3-0 win over the Phil- Asian Cup debut. The top two teams in each
soccer match between China and Phillipines at Mohammed Bin ippines in Group C, while Yu Dabao added the third group and the four best
Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Jan. South Korea advanced in with a header a few sec- third-place teams advance
11, 2019. the same group by defeat- onds after entering the to the round of 16. q
Associated Press