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SPORTS Friday 15 March 2019
Raonic ends lucky loser's run at Indian Wells

By BETH HARRIS ment began, clearing the defending champion and
AP Sports Writer way for Kecmanovic to top-ranked Naomi Osaka
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) become a lucky loser and in the fourth round.
— Milos Raonic made sure receive a first-round bye. Pliskova raced to 4-1 lead
Miomir Kecmanovic's good The teenager certainly before wrapping up the
luck finally ran out at the made the most of it. Kec- second set. In the third, she
BNP Paribas Open. manovic got by three play- overcame a break point to
Raonic beat the 19-year- ers, including 30th-seeded hold at 2-all but only won
old Serb 6-3, 6-4 on Thurs- Laslo Djere, in straight sets one more game the rest of
day to reach the semifinals to set up his second meet- the way. "Physically, it was
and improve to 19-4 at In- ing with Raonic. tough somehow, and the
dian Wells since 2014. That's where Kecmanovic's wind didn't help much," Plis-
Raonic fired 13 aces luck ended. kova said. "So my serve was
against no double faults in Raonic won 88 percent bad, my shots were bad."
putting away Kecmanovic of his first-serve points Bencic next plays the win-
in 72 minutes on a sunny, and saved all three break ner of Thursday's match
windy and cool day in the chances against him. between No. 8 Angelique
Southern California desert. "I knew he had nothing to Kerber and Venus Williams.
"Even when I was hitting the lose, and I had to be really Bencic improved to 18-3
spots, I wasn't hitting them disciplined with myself," Ra- this year. She won her third
that well," Raonic said of his onic said. career title at Dubai last
serving. "I think that can get In January, Raonic beat month and her first since
better." Kecmanovic in straight sets Milos Raonic, of Canada, celebrates winning a point against 2015. The 22-year-old Swiss
Kecmanovic was the first on his way to the title at Bris- Miomir Kecmanovic, of Serbia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis player missed five months
lucky loser to reach the bane in January. tournament Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. in 2017 after wrist surgery.
quarterfinals at the tourna- The string of upsets contin- Associated Press "When you're confident,
ment since it became a ued on the women's side. you can really just trust
Masters 1000 event in 1990. Belinda Bencic beat fifth- day again," Bencic said. keep having." your instincts and you don't
Ranked 130th in the world, seeded Karolina Pliskova "I'm not going to the court Bencic was pushed to have to think about it at all,"
the Serb lost in qualifying, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the with any expectation. I'm three sets for the first time Bencic said. "I'm definitely
but his fortune soon turned. semis, ensuring her return to just trying to play. This is the in four matches at the tour- playing how I feel it, and it's
Three seeded players with- the top 20 in the rankings. mentality I have, and this is nament. She was coming going well so I'm not plan-
drew before the tourna- "I wouldn't believe I win to- the mentality I'm going to off a straight-set upset of ning on changing that."q

LABOR TALKS 95 but has reached four ing at Lakeland, Florida.
Continued from Page 17 straight deals without inter- "Fans want to show up and
Ordinarily, the sides would rupting play. While there is pay money to watch two
have started negotiations no deadline, as a practi- teams that are good and
in March 2021. The union cal matter the sides would have the best players in the
proposed major economic have to agree to major game."
changes this offseason that economic changes before The union meeting was held
management refused to free-agent negotiations on a back field rather than
consider, such as expand- start, on the sixth day fol- the clubhouse after Tigers
ing the designated hitter to lowing the World Series. outfielder Nicholas Castel-
the National League, ad- "Teams have the right to lanos believed he spotted
dressing service-time rules know what the rules are be- a team employee in a lock-
that affect eligibility to free fore they start making deci- er room kitchen, a person
agency and salary arbitra- sions regarding what their familiar with the gathering
tion. Also, adding provi- teams are going to look said. The person spoke on In this Feb. 1, 2018, file photo, Major League Baseball commis-
sioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference in Los An-
sions to the amateur draft like," Halem said. condition of anonymity be- geles.
that would make it harder Many players have labeled cause no announcement Associated Press
to accumulate high draft what rebuilding teams was authorized.
picks over several sea- have done as "tanking." At- As part of the agreement: pensation because a team will move on. The top three
sons. As part of the deal tendance had dropped in For 2019: can make a qualifying of- voter-getters at each posi-
on rule changes designed three straight seasons, and —Trade waivers will be fer only to a free agent tion will receive bonuses of
to speed the pace of play, the average crowd last eliminated, meaning no who had been on the club $2,500 to $15,000, which will
management agreed to year fell below 30,000 for player can be traded after since opening day. not count against a team's
broader talks. the first time since 2003. July 31 through the end of —Mound visits without luxury-tax payroll. Home
"I think the common With most teams' openers the regular season. Players pitching changes will be Run Derby prize money
ground that we were able less two weeks away, top who clear outright waivers cut from six to five. will be increased to $2.5
to find here has cracked free agents Craig Kimbrel can still be claimed and will —MLB has the right to cut million, including $1 mil-
open a door to a broader and Dallas Keuchel remain be eligible for the postsea- half-inning breaks to 2 min- lion for the winner, up from
conversion," union head unsigned. son if they are in the orga- utes this year, down from the $725,000 total previ-
Tony Clark said. "And that "Today's were steps in the nization before Sept. 1. The 2:05 for most games and ous agreed to for 2019, of
broader conversion we be- right direction, but we want sides are discussing when 2:25 for nationally televised which $150,000 had been
lieve is necessary and in the every team to want to trades can resume, with games. designated for the winner.
best interest of both parties. win. The fact of the matter after the League Champi- —Fan voting for the All-Star The amount of money for
How things manifest them- there's still really good guys onship Series or after World Game will be divided into the winning team, which
selves moving forward re- out there are free agents Series among the possibili- two rounds, with the top had been $640,000, will
mains to be seen." and they can help," De- ties. With the change, addi- three vote-getters advanc- be increased so that each
Baseball had eight work troit pitcher Matthew Boyd tional free agents could be ing for all positions except player on that team gets
stoppages from 1972- said after a union meet- subject to draft-pick com- the outfield, for which six about $5,000 more.q