Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 21 May 2019
Fendrich on Tennis: 'Bienvenue a Paris,' Serena Williams

By HOWARD FENDRICH the professional era, which
AP Tennis Writer began in 1968, and one
Welcome back to Paris, shy of Margaret Court's all-
Serena Williams. The tennis time mark. "She takes great
world can't wait to find out pride in Grand Slams and
exactly how that bother- her lead-in has not been
some left knee is holding up to her high standards,"
up. Evert said. "It's all about the
Williams practiced at the knee, which has been nag-
French Open's redesigned ging her. It is a concern,
main stadium on Monday especially now on the clay,
— alas, Court Philippe Cha- where you've got to move
trier's retractable roof won't more to win a point. You
be ready until next year — use your legs, your knees,
and will want to get some more than on any other
more work in over the com- surface."
ing days, given how little Here's the thing: Williams
she's played on clay courts is not just any player, of
lately. course.
As in: a total of just one After 16 months away from
match on the surface since Grand Slam competition
last year's tournament at because of her pregnancy
Roland Garros. Forever, it and the birth of her daugh-
seems, Williams has been ter in September 2017, Wil-
the woman to beat on In this March 22, 2019, file photo, Serena Williams can't get to a ball hit by Rebecca Peterson, of liams showed up in Paris a
the Grand Slam stage, Sweden, during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Miami Gardens, Fla. year ago and looked to be
provided she is in the field Associated Press approaching the height
and is healthy. No one re- of her powers right away.
ally knows this time just how to start Sunday, the 10th- liams said after her lone groundstrokes that earn so She knocked off a pair of
ready she is. ranked Williams has played clay appearance, an many quick points on grass seeded women to set up
"We just don't know her only nine matches in 2019. opening victory at the or hard courts. a showdown against Ma-
physical status at this point," Five were at the Australian Italian Open before she "Remember, she hits the ria Sharapova in the fourth
18-time major champion Open in January, when she pulled out ahead of what ball very early and very round, but then pulled out
Chris Evert said in a tele- lost to Karolina Pliskova in would have been a match flat. So if she doesn't have because of a chest muscle
phone interview. "She relies the quarterfinals after blow- against her older sister, Ve- control of her body, many injury. Williams would go on
so much on the physical- ing a 5-1, 40-30 lead in the nus. "I really, really actually errors will come," Interna- to reach the finals at Wim-
ity of her game and her third set and four match desperately wanted to be tional Tennis Hall of Fame bledon and the U.S. Open
movement and her sprint- points in all. on the tour and to be play- coach Nick Bollettieri said, before coming up just short
ing and just her court cov- She retired from a match ing, but it hasn't been able "because she's not going to of her 24th major trophy
erage and setting up those at Indian Wells, citing an to work out." push a ball." each time.
big shots. Her legs are vital illness, then withdrew from The red clay used in Paris Still, it's a testament to her That showed what she's still
to her game. I don't know if tournaments in Miami and never has been the most greatness that Williams did capable of doing, even
we've seen her 100 percent Rome, citing her knee. natural surface for suc- manage to win three titles without much prep work.
since the beginning of the "I haven't played a ton of cess for Williams, in part in France, part of her haul "Serena's always — always
year." matches this year. Not my because it slows down of 23 Grand Slam singles — someone that you're
With the French Open set choice; just by force," Wil- her massive serves and trophies. That's a record in thinking about in the draw.

U.S. defenders John Brooks,

DeAndre Yedlin to miss Gold Cup

Brooks, a central defender, goalkeeper Bill Hamid, and ezuela on June 9 at Cincin-
did not play in Wolfsburg's forwards Bobby Wood and nati.The Americans open
last two games of the Andrew Wooten. their Gold Cup title defense
Bundesliga season. Yedlin, Winger Tyler Boyd is on against Guyana on June 18
a right back, had left groin the preliminary roster after at St. Paul, Minnesota. It will
surgery last week. FIFA approved his switch be their first competitive
CONCACAF announced from New Zealand to the match in 20 months since
preliminary 40-man rosters U.S. Others on the 40-man an October 2017 loss at Trin-
Monday. U.S. coach Gregg list include 20-year Fulham idad and Tobago caused
Berhalter must select 23 defender Marlon Fossey, them to miss the 2018 World
players by early June. 22-year Celtic defender Cup. They play Trinidad
In this March 5, 2014, file photo, New Zealand's Tyler Boyd (7)
and Japan's Hotaru Yamaguchi (16) compete for the ball during The Americans open train- Andrew Gutman who is on on June 22 at Cleveland
a Kirin Challenge Cup international friendly soccer match at the ing camp next week in loan to Charlotte, Derby and complete group play
National Stadium in Tokyo. Annapolis, Maryland, but midfielder Duane Holmes against Panama on June
Associated Press some Gold Cup players will and Duisburg forward Joe 26 at Kansas City, Kansas.
not report until the follow- Gyau. The Gold Cup is the cham-
MIAMI (AP) — American Cup because of a knee lig- ing week. The U.S. has exhibitions pionship of North and
defender John Brooks will ament injury, joining DeAn- Among the omissions on against Jamaica on June Central America and the
miss the CONCACAF Gold dre Yedlin on the sidelines. the preliminary roster are 5 at Washington and Ven- Caribbean.q