Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Wednesday 5 april 2017
Shelby Rogers outlasts Veronica Cepede Royg at Volvo Open

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — ball on clay. between Americans; Shuai
The expressions just kept “She didn’t miss a ball in Zhang of China defeated
changing on the face of the third set. (It) just came Misaki Doi of Japan 6-2, 6-1;
Shelby Rogers as the Amer- down to that one, like, Mona Barthel of Germany
ican tried to figure out the awkward shot I hit into the defeated American Jenni-
winning moves against Ve- wind and was able to get fer Brady 7-5, 6-4; Russian-
ronica Cepede Royg at the pass down the line.” born Anastasia Rodionova
the Volvo Car Open. In other first-round matches of Australia defeated Chi-
Back and forth, back and on the green clay at Dan- na’s Ying-Ying Duan 7-6 (3),
forth, back and forth for iel Island: 11th-seeded Mir- 6-1; Magda Linette of Po-
close to three hours until jana Lucic-Baroni outlasted land defeated Yulia Putint-
Rogers prevailed 6-7 (1), Aleksandra Krunuc 6-1, seva of Russia 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
6-3, 7-6 (6) over the Para- 4-6, 6-3; Maria Sakkari of And Daria Kasatkina of Rus-
guayan on Tuesday in front Greece defeated Ameri- sia defeated Danka Kov-
of a hometown crowd. The can Lauren Davis 7-5, 6-4; inic of Montenegro 6-1, 6-2
match carried over from Irina-Camelia Begu of Ro- and Kristina Kucova of Slo-
Monday after rain halted mania defeated Cagla vakia defeated Silvia Soler-
play with Rogers trailing. Shelby Rodgers celebrates after defeating Veronica Cepede Buyukakcay of Turkey 6-0, Espinosa of Spain 5-7, 7-5,
“Yeah, it was definitely a Royg at the Volvo Car Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, April 6-0; Italy’s Sara Errani de- 7-6 (2).
lot of momentum changes 4, 2017, in Charleston. Rodgers won 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (6). feated Grace Min of the In doubles competition: Ro-
in the match,” Rogers said. Associated Press U.S. 6-1, 6-1 and Fanny Stol- dionova and Darija Jurak
It’s always nice to get that through it.” “I was thinking that I need- lar of Hungary beat Asia of Croatia defeated Taylor
first win on clay, and espe- Rogers was up two sets and ed to change what I was Muhammad of the U.S. 6-3, Townsend and Muham-
cially here, you know, in two breaks in the third set doing, because, you know, 7-5. mad 6-4, 6-2; and Brady
front of that crowd. They and twice failed to serve she raised her level unbe- Also: Bethanie Mattek- and Alison Riske defeated
were absolutely amazing. out the match in windy lievably,” said Rogers, who Sands defeated Sofia Davis and Rogers 6-2, 7-6
That kind of helped me conditions. first learned to hit a tennis Kenin 6-4, 6-4 in a match (2).q

Devils’ Elias uncertain about future after retiring

MIKE FARRELL Islanders who may still be named to the NHL’s First
Associated Press battling for a playoff spot. All-Star Team at left wing.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Patrik After that, the future is un- The Devils will retire his No.
Elias hasn’t finished saying certain. Elias doesn’t know 26 at a home game next
goodbye, even though he what comes next, or where season.
announced his retirement it will happen. The 40-year- Elias represented the
last week. old native of the Czech Czech Republic nine times
The New Jersey Devils’ Republic is torn between in international play, includ-
all-time leading scorer remaining in the U.S. or re- ing four Winter Olympics,
dropped the ceremonial turning to Europe. four World Championships
first puck before New Jer- “I wish I could tell you,” and the 2004 World Cup of
sey’s Tuesday night home Elias said. “There are the Hockey. In Olympic play,
game against the Philadel- proper steps that have to Elias captained the 2010
phia Flyers. On Saturday, come with retiring, and the squad and was a member
he will suit up one final time first one is to enjoy this and of the 2006 bronze medal-
before the Devils host the still enjoy being among the New Jersey Devils’ Patrik Elias, center, drops the puck as team- winning team.
New York Islanders. Elias will players and the organiza- mate Andy Greene (6) and Philadelphia Flyers center Claude He regrets the NHL’s deci-
participate in the pregame tion.” A free agent after Giroux (28) stand next in during the ceremonial puck drip prior sion to skip the upcoming
to an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in Newark, N.J.
skate, wearing the only jer- last season, he had knee Associated Press Olympics.
sey he has known in an 18- surgery in May and did not “I was a little surprised,” Elias
year career. play this season. In his final for the game wasn’t there. when I said this is it.” said. “I understand the busi-
After the warmup, Elias will NHL game, Elias scored a He got to enjoy Christmas He concludes a career ness side of it. I understand
remove the sweater for the goal, recorded two assists with his family and even that included two Stanley why the NHL has made
final time. and was named the first took a ski trip to Seattle in Cups. He is the franchise that decision. As players,
He considered playing in star of the game in a 5-1 February. leader in goals (408), assists we always loved going
one final game before de- win. Elias spent this season “I had no idea how much I (617) and points (1,025). He there. It’s a different men-
ciding it wouldn’t be fair working on a comeback would love it,” Elias said of ranks third in games played tality, different thoughts go
to his teammates, or the before realizing the passion hitting the slopes. “That’s with 1,240, behind Ken through your mind when
Daneyko (1,283) and Mar- you play for your country.
tin Brodeur (1,259). He also You have the best play-
is the Devils’ single-season ers in the world competing
leader in points, scoring 96 against each other, and
in 2000-01, when he was you want to have that.”q

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