Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 27 augusT 2019
Serena Williams routs Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-1 at U.S. Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH her to stop playing during
AP Tennis Writer the final of one hard-court
NEW YORK (AP) — Playing tuneup tournament and
her first match at the U.S. pull out of another one en-
Open since last year's loss in tirely.
a chaotic, controversial fi- Didn't seem to be an issue
nal, Serena Williams played against Sharapova.
nearly perfect tennis and Not one bit.
beat Maria Sharapova 6-1, "The body's good. I feel
6-1 in a contest devoid of good," Williams said. "My
drama Monday night. back's a lot better. So I'm
Williams stretched her win- excited. This is going to be
ning streak to 19 matches fun."
against Sharapova and A year ago, she was beat-
now leads their head-to- en by Naomi Osaka in
head series 20-2. straight sets in a U.S. Open
"Every time I come up title match that devolved
against her," Williams said, after a back-and-forth be-
"I just bring out some of my tween Williams and chair
best tennis." umpire Carlos Ramos. He
Sure did this time; the warned her for receiving
whole thing lasted all of 59 coaching signals, which
minutes. Williams won twice isn't allowed in Grand Slam Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, dances for fans after beating Roberto Carballes Baena, of Spain, dur-
as many points, 56-28. She play; when she later broke ing the first round of the US Open tennis tournament Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in New York.
saved all five break points a racket, he docked her Associated Press
she faced and lashed a point; when she argued
serves at up to 115 mph. with him and called him point for me," Williams said. of other matches around French Open title winner
She broke five times. a "thief" and a "liar," he "She's the kind of player the grounds Monday, with Ash Barty both struggled
Few players would have docked her a game. The that gets momentum and No. 1 Novak Djokovic open- through rough starts before
stood a chance against U.S. Tennis Association de- she starts going. I was really ing defense of his title with emerging to win.
Williams the way she per- cided that Ramos would excited that I hit that win- a 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 victory over The Williams family only
formed — and certainly not not officiate any match in- ner." Roberto Carballes Baena, dropped a total of three
a diminished Sharapova, volving Serena Williams or It shaped up, at least, as far and 21-year-old American games in two matches
who is ranked just 87th after her older sister, Venus, at and away the most intrigu- Reilly Opelka providing the Monday, because Venus
missing much of this season this year's tournament. ing matchup on Day 1 at biggest upset of the after- beat Zheng Saisai 6-1, 6-0
with a bad right shoulder. Williams was calm and cool the year's last Grand Slam noon in his U.S. Open debut earlier.
"She would win the title, as can be against Sharapo- tournament. by eliminating No. 11 Fabio Nothing brought out the
playing like this," 18-time va, only rarely showing the Few athletes in any sport Fognini of Italy 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 spectators the way Serena
major champion Chris Evert slightest hint of emotion have been as popular in (6), 6-3. Williams vs. Maria Sharapo-
said about Williams on ES- with a cry of "Come on!" recent decades. And, sure, 2016 champion va did, with full-throated
PN's telecast. or by raising a clenched Williams owns 23 major sin- Angelique Kerber contin- roars greeting them when
Williams arrived at Flushing left fist after the shot of the gles title, Sharapova five. ued her rough Grand Slam they walked from the lock-
Meadows, where she's won night, a backhand passing Both have a career Grand year with a first-round exit er room into a dimly lit sta-
six titles, accompanied by winner that saved a break Slam. against Kristina Mladenovic dium.
questions about her back, point early in the second Both have been ranked by a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 score, When the lights came on,
because spasms that flared set. No. 1. while 2016 runner-up Karo- Williams proved far more
up earlier this month forced "That was definitely a big So, yes, there were plenty lina Pliskova and reigning ready for prime time.q

Jobe shoots 63, charges past Couples to win Boeing Classic

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) It was Jobe's first victory the fourth time Couples has starting at the ninth when ones," Couples said. "Then
— Brandt Jobe used his since winning the 2017 Prin- finished third in the event. he dunked his tee shot I bogeyed every par 3. At
best round of the year to cipal Charity Classic. The 63 "Obviously if I would have in the water fronting the the end, it was just like let
spoil what was supposed to was tied for his second-low- won today it would have green, a day after making me just finish and get the
be a day-long celebration est round on the tour. been unreal, but when you a hole-in-one on the par 3. hell out of here."
for hometown favorite Fred "I kind of thought we were play bad you could be in Couples saved his bogey, The 54-year-old Jobe
Couples. going to be playing for Japan and it would not be but watched birdie putts charged into contention
Jobe rallied from seven second. If Freddy goes out much fun," Couples said. slide by on Nos. 11 and 12. with seven birdies, a par
strokes down, shooting a and shoots 3, 4, 5 under like Couples started the day He made his third bogey and bogey on the front
final-round 9-under 63 Sun- he had done the first two with a huge lead and a of the round on the par-3 nine for a 30. On the back
day to win the Boeing Clas- days that's really what we huge gallery following his 13th as Jobe was making nine, he moved into the
sic for his second PGA Tour were doing," Jobe said. "I every shot. He made a a 10-footer for birdie on lead with the birdie at the
Champions title. birdied the first five holes birdie on the first, but it was the 14th to take a two-shot 14th, rolled in a 25-foot
Jobe finished at 18 under, and thought, 'Well, at least his only one of the round as lead. Couples made zero birdie putt at the 17th and
three shots ahead of Tom that's making a little noise.'" he struggled throughout. bogeys in his first 41 holes tapped in for another bird-
Pernice Jr., who shot a fi- Jobe made more than a He had two bogeys on the and five in his final 13 holes. ie at No. 18.
nal-round 65. Couples, who little noise. He sped past front nine and three on the "I didn't drive it in very much "Just a fun day when you
held a five-stroke lead after Couples, leaving the Se- back and shot a 4 over. He trouble but I had a lot of in- can go out there and do
the second round, shot 76 attle native still looking for tied for third with Jerry Kelly between shots and I kept what you're trying to do
and finished in a tie for third his first victory playing in his (69). going with softer ones and and it happens it's really
at 12 under. hometown event. It was Couples ran into trouble I didn't hit very many good gratifying," Jobe said.q