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SPORTS Saturday 8 September 2018
Serena seeks a record-tying

title, Osaka a first at U.S. Open

By BRIAN MAHONEY daughter, Olympia, during enjoy this moment, I should
NEW YORK (AP) — For Ser- the Open because of com- still think of it as another
ena Williams, there was no plications related to blood match," Osaka said. "Yeah,
"wait until next year" during clots. I shouldn't really think of her
the last U.S. Open. "To come from that," Wil- as, like, my idol. I should just
In the past, whenever a liams said, "in the hospi- try to play her as an oppo-
Grand Slam tournament tal bed, not being able to nent."
ended without Williams move and walk and do They played in March in
holding the trophy, there anything, now only a year Miami, when Williams was
was always the belief she later, I'm not training, but early in her return to tour
could simply win the next I'm actually in these finals, and Osaka had just won
one. She was the best play- in two in a row." Indian Wells, a significant
er in the game, maybe the She has won six of her 23 victory for what remains
best ever, and she was go- major titles in New York, her first lone professional ti-
ing to be a favorite as soon and with a victory would tle. Osaka won 6-3, 6-2, but
as she showed up again. equal Margaret Court's re- both players know there's
But she wasn't thinking cord. On the other side, the not much to take from the
about tennis at this time last 20-year-old Osaka could match given the timing.
year. be the first Grand Slam sin- "I mean, I was breast-feed-
She was thinking about sur- gles champion from Japan ing at the time, so it was a
vival. and the youngest women's totally different situation,"
That's what makes this such champion at the U.S. Open Williams said. "It was what
a memorable run to anoth- since Maria Sharapova was it was. I mean, hopefully I
er U.S. Open final, where 19 in 2006. won't play like that again.
she will play first-time final- Osaka wasn't even a year I can only go up from that
ist Naomi Osaka of Japan old when Williams played in match." Naomi Osaka, of Japan, smiles after defeating Madison Keys
during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Thurs-
on Saturday with a chance her first U.S. Open in 1998. She has, and she'll be only day, Sept. 6, 2018, in New York.
to win a record-tying 24th She dreamed when she one spot out of the top 10 Associated Press
Grand Slam singles title. was younger of playing in the rankings if she wins
Williams lost in the Wimble- Williams in a Grand Slam after she was barely in the Open, when while preg- But even if it's not Saturday,
don final, but has given final, earning her chance top 500 in March. nant she became women's she believes it will happen.
herself another chance with a Williams-esque But Williams is much more tennis' oldest Grand Slam "I just feel like not only is my
even faster than perhaps waltz through the draw in interested in major titles champion at 35. future bright, even though
she could have imagined which she's dropped just 28 than rankings. She hasn't She will turn 37 on Sept. 26, I'm not a spring chicken,
last September, when she games over six matches. won one at the U.S. Open unsure when she'll fully get but I still have a very, very
would have four operations "At the same time, I feel since 2014 or anywhere back to the player she was bright future," Williams
following the birth of her like even though I should since the 2017 Australian before her health scares. said.q

Mike Bryan, Sock win U.S. Open, but remain a temporary team

By BRIAN MAHONEY title, breaking a tie with So what about the idea of
NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Bry- John Newcombe, and at keeping a good thing go-
an, now with more Grand 40 years, 4 months he be- ing?
Slam doubles titles than came the oldest Grand "If Bob and I lose our first
any man, can pick his part- Slam doubles champion in match, then we'll talk,"
nership next year. the professional era. Mike said.
He can go back to twin Six of his titles, also a re- He added that his brother
brother Bob, who expects cord, have come at the has been supportive of the
to return from a hip injury. U.S. Open. team, and even called and
Or he can stick with Jack The first 16 titles came with talked to both players im-
Sock, keeping together a Bob, who was sidelined. mediately after the match.
perfect pairing in Grand So Mike contacted Sock, Mike said his success with
Slam tournaments. a past doubles champion Sock has motivated Bob in
"I think Bob is maybe the at Wimbledon who wasn't his recovery to come back
front-runner if he gets planning to play this year so and leave tennis on his own
healthy," Mike said. he could focus on singles. Jack Sock, left, and Mike Bryan hold the trophy after defeat- terms, instead of because
ing Lukasz Kubot, of Poland, and Marcelo Melo, of Brazil, in the
Sock sure has given him Sock quickly reconsidered. men's doubles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, of injury.
something to think about, "They are the greatest Sept. 7, 2018, in New York. He joked to Sock that may-
though. team to ever play this sport Associated Press be he could play Bob for his
The pair won its second in doubles, and to be able spot, though Sock under-
straight Grand Slam dou- to be a part of that on with one of them and to Mike and Bob won four in a stands he's just temporary.
bles title together, beating the same side of the court now hold two pretty big tro- row from 2012-13. They are "I'm the triplet now, I think,"
Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo — I mean, I have played phies is extra special." the first pair to win Wimble- he said. Kubot and Melo,
Melo 6-3, 6-1 on Friday at against them many times, Bryan and Sock, seeded don and the U.S. Open in seeded seventh, were try-
the U.S. Open. and seeing what that looks third, are the first team to the same year since Jonas ing to win their second ma-
That gave Mike Bryan his like is not fun," Sock said. win consecutive Grand Bjorkman and Todd Wood- jor together, having won
18th Grand Slam doubles "So, to be on the same side Slam doubles titles since bridge in 2003. Wimbledon in 2017.q