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SPORTS Tuesday 30 May 2017
With Agassi along for a bit, Djokovic opens defense in Paris

HOWARD FENDRICH vancing included No. 5 Mi-
AP Tennis Writer los Raonic, No. 7 Marin Cilic
PARIS (AP) — If Novak and No. 10 David Goffin,
Djokovic was hoping to while No. 14 Jack Sock, the
take a little pressure and top-ranked U.S. man, and
attention off himself af- No. 31 Gilles Simon — both
ter some rough results, he in Nadal’s section of the
might very well have found draw — plus No. 32 Mischa
the perfect way to do that Zverev all lost.
by adding Andre Agassi as Defending women’s cham-
a coaching consultant of pion Garbine Muguruza
sorts for the French Open. and former No. 1 Caroline
Well, for up to a week of Wozniacki won in straight
the tournament, anyway. sets, but two seeded Ameri-
With Agassi seated in the can women joined Sock on
stands, generally expres- the way out: No. 19 CoCo
sionless during the match Vandeweghe and No. 25
and silent afterward, the Lauren Davis.
No. 2-seeded Djokovic was Leave it to the No. 4-seed-
not always at his clean- ed Nadal to win relatively
swinging best while beat- simply and then lament a
ing Marcel Granollers 6-3, portion of his performance.
6-4, 6-2 on Monday to be- “For me,” he said, “it’s im-
gin the defense of the title portant to serve a little bit Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to France’s Benoit Paire during their first round match of the
that allowed him to com- better than what I did to- French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, May 29, 2017 in Paris.
plete a career Grand Slam day.” Djokovic made it Associated Press
at Roland Garros a year sound as if Agassi’s role long-term arrangement, ic finally fulfilled his quest first round of the Rio Olym-
ago. “I mean, it’s hard to right now is more about of- even if that’s what the Serb to win a trophy in Paris, pics and the second round
say whether there is sig- fering life advice than ten- insisted he hopes it can be- he was working with Bo- of the Australian Open.
nificant difference on the nis tips. Sunglasses perched come. ris Becker — who was on “You’re developed to kind
court, because it’s only a atop his shaved pate, lean- “Well, he’s going to stay hand Monday and visited of flip the next page very
few days that we are to- ing forward with his chin ... I hope, ‘til the end of with Agassi — and Marian quickly. Whether or not you
gether,” Djokovic said. “So resting on his hands and this week. Then he has to Vajda. But Djokovic split win or lose in a big tourna-
it’s going to take a little bit elbows on his knees, Agassi leave, because he has with those coaches, as well ment, there is another big
of time. ... I’m patient and, occasionally applauded some scheduled ... things as other members of his one coming up in a mat-
for us, this is a great way to during the 2½-hour first- that he cannot reschedule. entourage, hoping to re- ter of weeks’ time or even
start off our collaboration round match. Later, Agas- So that’s all,” said Djokov- gain the groove that made less. So for me, it was really
and friendship and get to si — who counts the 1999 ic, whose 29 unforced er- him the first man in nearly strange to get to feel what I
know each other and then French Open among his rors were one more than a half-century to win four felt the end of last season,”
see where it takes us.” eight Grand Slam titles — Granollers’ total. “I’m go- consecutive majors. Djokovic said, “because I
On a relatively quiet Day declined to take questions ing to try to use the time Since then, though, the always, even when I would
2, Rafael Nadal started from a reporter. spent with him as best as I highlight for Djokovic was a face that before in my ca-
his pursuit of a record 10th Djokovic, for his part, had can, as best as we can. So runner-up finish at the U.S. reer, I felt that I would over-
French Open champion- plenty to say about their far, plenty of information, Open. Otherwise, he lost come it very quickly.”
ship with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 partnership, which sounds plenty of things to kind of his No. 1 ranking to Andy This time, he acknowl-
victory over Benoit Paire. more like a brief experi- process.” Murray and lost in the third edged, that didn’t
Other seeded men ad- ment than the start of a A year ago, when Djokov- round of Wimbledon, the happen.q
Miyazato cites lack of motivation

for retirement from LPGA

AP Sports Writer for the past four or five There were rumors in the
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s years,” she told a news Japanese media that
Ai Miyazato says she conference in Tokyo on Miyazato was retiring
has decided to quit the Monday, three days after because she was getting
LPGA Tour at the end of the LPGA announced her married but the 31-year-
the season because she decision to retire. old said she has no plans
lost her motivation for “Being a professional is all to tie the knot and her real
the sport after years of about results and lately reason for quitting was
struggling to win again. I wasn’t able to achieve somewhat less romantic.
Miyazato, who was ranked good results.” “I’ve found it hard to stay
No. 1 and captured 25 Miyazato joined the LPGA focused even in training
professional titles during Tour in 2006 and has earned which I could always do
her career, has not won a more than $8 million in her before,” she explained. Japanese golfer Ai Miyazato speaks during a press conference
tournament in five years career but has fallen down Miyazato does not have in Tokyo, Monday, May 29, 2017.
and said that lack of the rankings and is currently a major title — her best Associated Press
success has diminished her outside the top 100. results were ties for third
drive to keep going. She does not have a top-10 at the Women’s PGA Open (2009) — but she is the women’s world golf
“I’ve been struggling to finish this season and had Championship (2006, 2010) one of only nine players rankings were introduced
maintain my motivation only one last year. and the Women’s British to make it to No. 1 since in 2006.q