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Williams reveals she had therapy following US Open outburst

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 12:14

Serena Williams has revealed she has apologised to Naomi Osaka and saw a therapist over her outburst in the 2018 US Open final at Flushing Meadows.

Williams, 37, branded umpire Carlos Ramos a "thief" after he docked her a game during Osaka's 6-2 6-4 win.

The American says Osaka has accepted her apology, while Williams still claims she was the victim of sexism.

Williams told Harper's Bazaar: "I could not have been happier for her. As for me, I felt defeated and disrespected."

The 23-time Grand Slam winner added: "Why is it that when women get passionate, they're labelled 'emotional, crazy, and irrational', but when men do they're seen as passionate and strong?

"So often when men fight back against the referees, they're met with a smile or even a laugh from the umpire, as if they're sharing an inside joke.

"I'm not asking to avoid being penalised. I am asking to be treated the same way as everyone else.

"I started seeing a therapist. I was searching for answers, and although I felt like I was making progress, I still wasn't ready to pick up a racquet."

Although Williams graciously congratulated Osaka at the net at the end of the match, the incident overshadowed the 21-year-old becoming the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam and left her in tears.

"Finally I realised that there was only one way for me to move forward. It was time for me to apologise to the person who deserved it the most," said Williams.

"When Naomi's response came through, tears rolled down my face. 'People can misunderstand anger for strength because they can't differentiate between the two'.

"'No one has stood up for themselves the way you have and you need to continue trailblazing'."

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Andy Murray: Three-time Grand Slam champion all but rules out US Open as event for singles return

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 12:48

Andy Murray says playing singles at the US Open looks "pretty unlikely" as he continues his return from hip surgery.

Murray, who won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2012, is through to the last 16 of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon with Serena Williams.

He won the men's doubles title at Queen's last month in his first tournament since undergoing a hip resurfacing procedure in January.

"There is a lot of stuff I need to get done physically," said Murray, 32.

The three-time Grand Slam champion added: "I think it's pretty unlikely just in terms of timing.

"The amount of work I need to do on the court to get ready for singles, the amount of work I need to put in off the court to get myself strong enough to play best of five sets, it's still quite a way away unfortunately.

"I would love to play. I need to look pretty long term with this. I don't want to be having to go through another big operation in a few years' time. I want to make sure the operation I've had lasts for as long as possible. To give it the best chance, I need to make sure that I'm physically really strong before I get back on the singles court."

Murray said it was not his intention to play smaller tournaments during the hard court season in the US, but was also unsure if he would travel Stateside to play doubles.

"Having felt how I felt these last few weeks, I'm positive about the future, so therefore I'm going to train properly to try and give singles a go," he said.

But he refused to put a timeframe on his return to singles, adding he may not be ready in time for the Australian Open in January.

"I know some people might like it to have taken five months or six months, but it's going to take more time than that, unfortunately," he said.

"Whether that's nine months or 12 months or 18 months, I don't know. I'll do my best to make it as soon as I can."

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Murray and Williams wow Wimbledon again to reach last 16

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 11:48

Andy Murray and Serena Williams wowed Wimbledon again as their box office partnership continued with another straight-set win in the mixed doubles.

Britain's Murray, 32, and American Williams, 37, moved into the last 16 with a 7-5 6-3 win over 14th seeds Fabrice Martin and Raquel Atawo.

Williams produced ruthless returning to win crucial break points in each set.

They now play top seeds Bruno Soares - the former men's partner of Murray's brother Jamie - and Nicole Melichar.

"We're in the groove of things so it's feeling good," Williams said. "I'm having a blast, it has been really fun and it's a great atmosphere playing out there with Andy."

Murray added: "She returned brilliantly especially at the end of the first set, and the start of the second, hitting clean winners and making my job easy, but then I was missing on break points.

"We both played well and if she keeps returning like that we'll have a good chance.

"All matches are great for me, doubles especially, for the reactions and reflexes which has helped me and once I've finished here, hopefully on Sunday, I will get back and start practising some more singles."

'Mur-rena' make their intentions clear

The stellar pairing between Britain's three-time Grand Slam singles champion, and a 23-time major winner widely regarded as the sport's greatest female player, has breathed new life into the mixed doubles at the All England Club.

Their match, again scheduled on Centre Court, was watched by a near-capacity 15,000 crowd who were given plenty of entertainment and responded by providing a crackling atmosphere.

Murray opened the match to excited cheers from the home fans, many who probably thought they would never see him again on the court where he has won two singles titles.

The Scot, who had serious hip surgery in January, started with a solid service game which was finished by Williams hammering a stinging volley straight at Martin's calf - she quickly held both hands up in apology.

But it was a sign that the partnership - which Williams said has been christened 'Mur-rena' - meant business in this fun format.

Williams was back on Centre little over two hours after she beat Alison Riske to reach the semi-finals of the women's singles, yet looked far from fatigued as she turned the match in her team's favour.

Williams' backhand winner off a 138mph serve set up a fourth break point - this time on Martin's serve and for the set - only for Murray to dump a forehand into the net and the chance to disappear.

Murray's returning game - usually his hallmark - was not quite on the same level as he sent another set point into the net at 6-5.

But it did not matter as the quality of his partner shone through moments later.

Williams hit a dipping cross-court winner to set up another chance and then hit almost the same shot to seal the opening set - greeting it with another loud roar and a twirl on the spot.

Williams continued to dismantle the big-serving Martin at the start of the second set, earning another break point when she reached to successfully convert a forehand winner which left even her pulling a face of shock.

That proved enough to take the set - and the match - when Murray delivered a clean ace out wide to win the match in one hour and 37 minutes.

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Johanna Konta loses to Barbora Strycova in Wimbledon quarter-finals

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 10:59

Johanna Konta failed in her bid to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals after an error-strewn display in a straight-set defeat by Czech Barbora Strycova.

The British number one started strongly, racing to a 4-1 lead, before collapsing to lose 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.

Let down by her previously dominant serve, Konta could not find a way back as - like in June's French Open semis - she crumbled when expectation was high.

"I did my best, and my best today wasn't good enough," Konta, 28, said.

"Every decision I made, every thought process, every opportunity I gave myself, I have no regrets in doing."

Strycova, who has reached her maiden Grand Slam singles semi-final just days after saying this could be her last Wimbledon, will face 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams next.

"I think this was one of the best matches I have played," the 33-year-old said.

Konta's game deserts her

Konta came into the match boasting an incredible record of having lost just three of her 47 service games at these championships.

Despite the fact she got an early break, the warning signs that her biggest weapon might not be firing properly were there in the opening game when she had to save a break point.

The errors began to creep in at 4-2 when she sent two forehands wide and wild backhand long to allow Strycova to get the break back.

It became a theme as Konta went on to produce 22 unforced errors in that opening set, with the Czech increasing in confidence as she gave Konta a lesson in effective drop shots to take it to a tie-break.

There Konta could not find a rhythm, sending a forehand into the net to hand the set to the world number world number 54.

Konta is well versed in losing opening sets and winning in a third - with a record of 13 wins from 15 three-setters this year - but this time an early break in the second put a comeback out of reach.

The game was up for the Briton when she went long with a backhand - summing up everything that was wrong with this performance.

"I couldn't quite find the level that I needed to make it difficult and challenging for the kind of player she is," said Konta, who had lost to Strycova in 2017 in Tokyo in their only other meeting.

"She's a very difficult player to play on this surface, and in general. She's a very good player. It's just unfortunate I couldn't quite find the level needed to come through."

Favourite tag seems to hamper Konta again

Konta had been hoping to emulate her 2017 feat of reaching the last four and getting closer to becoming the first British women's singles finalist since Virginia Wade won the title in 1977.

She has enjoyed a successful year, reaching the French Open semi-finals and two WTA finals on clay, before transferring her good form on to grass.

Her serve has been the key but against Strycova she won just 51% of her first-serve points.

In the previous two rounds she came past 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in three sets with accomplished displays but against the unseeded Strycova - where the Briton was now favourite - her game fell apart.

Her mental strength has often been questioned and it will be once again, with this defeat echoing her Roland Garros semi-final loss to another unseeded Czech, Marketa Vondrousova.

Konta, who was bidding to reach a fourth Grand Slam semi-final, denied that the pressure of expectation had got to her and refused to blame tiredness from back-to-back three-set matches.

"I was obviously nervous going into the match. But good nerves, excitement, anticipation," she said. "I wouldn't say that had anything to do with the level that I played or any difficulty.

"I think it was a combination of just not finding my level, and her not giving me the opportunity to find my level more than anything."

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

This was a clever, skilful and tactically astute performance by Barbora Strycova. At the age of 33, she seized the opportunity to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final magnificently.

Johanna Konta, though, was unable to play with anything like the freedom of earlier rounds.

Thirty four unforced errors in two sets tells its own story: Strycova's spins and relative lack of pace threw her out of kilter, but nerves and expectations also seemed to play a part.

Konta played brilliantly to win her other Wimbledon quarter-final against Simona Halep two years ago, and also her recent French Open quarter-final with Sloane Stephens.

But just as in her Roland Garros semi-final with Marketa Vondrousova, Konta was the favourite here - and unable to play to the level she is capable of.

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Don Garlits To Attempt World Speed Record

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 09:30

JUPITER, Fla. — One of the most legendary names in drag racing, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, will attempt to set a world speed record in his Swamp Rat 38 electric dragster July 20 at Palm Beach Int’l Raceway.

Garlits, the first man to break the 200 mph barrier in a Top Fuel dragster, is now on a quest to reach the 200 mph milestone in a battery-powered dragster on PBIR’s legendary quarter-mile drag strip.

Garlits will be on hand to meet fans and will have souvenirs available for purchase.

Garlits made a world-record pass of 7.25 seconds at 185.6 mph in an electric dragster in 2014. July 20 will be his attempt to break the 200-mph barrier.

Known as the most innovative racer in drag racing history with his series of Swamp Rat dragsters, the Florida icon has earned 17 World Championship titles and is the owner of 144 national-event wins. His record-breaking Swamp Rat 30 is enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

General admission tickets are $10 and children 12 and under are free. The world speed record attempt will take place during IHRA Summit SuperSeries bracket racing.

The spectator gates open at 3 p.m. with the first shake down of the electric dragster scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Garlits will make several runs as he attempts to set a world record.

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2020 Supercross Schedule Revealed

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 10:05

PALMETTO, Fla. — Feld Entertainment has released the 17-race schedule for the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.

The traditional season opener at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the first of two races to be held at the home of the California Angels, will be Jan. 4. Angel Stadium is the only venue to host two races, and will also be home to the third race of the season on Jan. 18.

Two of the biggest changes in the schedule involve the second and final events on the calendar.

After opening in California, the series will stampede into the Midwest for the second race of the year Jan. 11 at The Dome At America’s Center in St. Louis before heading back to California for round three.

After many years of concluding the season at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, the series will now wrap up May 2 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Sam Boyd Stadium will host the penultimate round of the series on April 25.

“Our goal is the continued growth of the sport and rotating markets every couple of years, expanding Supercross Futures events and moving the finale to a new location helps keep the series fresh and exciting for the fans, as well as for the race teams and athletes,” said Todd Jendro, Vice President of Operations – Motorsports, Feld Entertainment. “Utah has become synonymous with elite, world class sporting events and we thought hosting the finale in Salt Lake City would be a fitting choice.”

Gillette Stadium outside of Boston returns to the schedule on April 18, and the series will not race at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this year.

Other highlights of the schedule include the annual Bike Week event at Daytona Int’l Speedway on March 7, visits to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Feb. 29 and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 14.

“The 2020 schedule gives fans across the country an opportunity to witness one of the greatest shows in motorsports,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “The AMA is proud to work with championship series promoter Feld Entertainment, Inc. and the FIM to ensure the sport continues to achieve the highest standards for fairness and competition while thrilling, exciting and inspiring fans of all ages.”

Cooper Webb is the reigning Monster Energy Supercross champion.

2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Schedule

Jan. 4 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim – Anaheim, Calif.

Jan. 11 – The Dome At America’s Center – St. Louis, Mo.

Jan. 18 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim – Anaheim, Calif.

Jan. 25 – State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Ariz.

Feb. 1 – RingCentral Coliseum – Oakland, Calif.

Feb. 8 – Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Feb. 15 – Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Fla.

Feb. 22 – AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

Feb. 29 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Ga.

March 7 – Daytona Int’l Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

March 14 – Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.

March 21 – Ford Field – Detroit, Mich.

March 28 – CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Wash.

April 4 – Broncos Stadium At Mile High – Denver, Colo.

April 18 – Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Mass.

April 25 – Sam Boyd Stadium – Las Vegas, Nev.

May 2 – Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah

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McLaren Confirms Sainz & Norris For 2020

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 10:14

WOKING, England – McLaren has confirmed that Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris will remain with the team for the 2020 Formula One season.

“Today’s announcement provides the team with the continuity to keep pushing forward,” said Andreas Seidl, Team Principal of McLaren Racing. “The performance of both Carlos and Lando have been a key part of the team’s progress. Their feedback has enabled our engineers to develop the MCL34 and look ahead to the MCL35. Carlos has played a key role in developing the car using his experience, while Lando has got up to speed with the demands of Formula One incredibly quickly and is growing in confidence every weekend. This is welcome news for the whole McLaren team and we look forward to continuing our partnership together.”

Both drivers are in their first seasons with McLaren. Sainz, who is in his fifth full season of Formula One competition, has a best finish of sixth for McLaren so far this year.

Norris, a Formula One rookie, also has a best finish of sixth during his inaugural season with the McLaren brand.

“I’m delighted we’re able to announce our 2020 driver line-up ahead of the team’s home race at the British Grand Prix this weekend,” said Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing. “Both Carlos and Lando are proving themselves as racers and are integral to our path to recovery. They have made a real contribution to the positive momentum and morale within the team, both at the track and back at the factory. The reception they’ve received from our fans has been outstanding and they are superb ambassadors for the McLaren brand, personifying our Fearlessly Forward mentality.”

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World Superbike Bound For WeatherTech Raceway

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 11:00

MONTEREY, Calif. — The annual visit of the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship to WeatherTech Raceway comes this weekend, July 12-14.

It’s the only North American race for the internationally renowned motorcycle racing series. The scenic race track on Monterey Peninsula has hosted the series every year since 2013 and previously ran World Superbike events from 1995 through 2004.

The weekend of racing also includes the U.S.-based MotoAmerica Championship.

“The top production-based motorcycles in the country and the world are coming for our World Superbike event with MotoAmerica,” said WeatherTech Raceway CEO Tim McGrane. “The motorcycle events always have a diverse and lively atmosphere throughout the paddock, Hagerty Marketplace and campgrounds.”

The global MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship series brings people from around the world to Monterey during the only round that takes place in the United States.

Motorcycle racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has a long history that has helped elevate the track to international acclaim.

Furthermore, it provides the talented EBC Brakes Superbike riders in the MotoAmerica series the opportunity to test their mettle by recording lap times on the same track and conditions as the international riders under the same rules with the biggest exception being the spec tire.

Four-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea, hot off a sweep of last weekend’s events at England’s Donington Park Circuit, leads the standings heading into the GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round.

The Kawasaki rider will be a heavy favorite for the event after having won both races at the 2.238-mile serpentine circuit last year.

“I love everything about Laguna Seca — I love being there; there is a really good atmosphere in the USA for World Superbike, the fans seem really enthusiastic,” said Rea. “As a track, it is very demanding, and the undulations are incredible; you need a lot from a bike, you need it to be stable but also very agile.

“It is a great track and I can’t wait to get there.”

Between World Superbike and the five classes competing in MotoAmerica, more than 150 bikes are entered for The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round at WeatherTech Raceway.

The event also includes an engaging Paddock Show that brings riders and legends to the fans, demo rides and exclusive ticket packages from five different manufacturers, and a thriving Hagerty Marketplace with even more vendors and family-friendly activities than last year.

Adding intrigue to the event, Kentucky rider J.D. Beach will be doing double duty.

Beach, who rides full time in the MotoAmerica Superbike class for Attack Performance/Estenson Racing, has accepted a wildcard entry to also compete in the World Superbike portion of the program, riding a Yamaha YZF-R1.

“I think it’s going to be really cool to be the only American,” said Beach, who is also a flat-track motorcycle racer. “I want to go into it being realistic. To get a top 10 would be great. I think I’ve got some big shoes to fill, because (Josh) Herrin did really good last year on the same bike.

“I know he had a few issues during the race, but his pace all weekend was really good. I’m just really looking forward to it and hoping I can do the American fans proud.”

Suzuki rider Toni Elias leads the MotoAmerica EBC Brakes Superbike standings heading into the WeatherTech Raceway doubleheader.

Herrin, Cameron Beaubier, Jake Gagne and Chris Gerloff will also be among the EBC Brakes Superbike contenders.

Tickets are available at the gate or by calling the ticket office at (831) 242-8200.

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PHOTOS: Ethanol Late Models Battle At Merritt

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 12:00

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Notes: Defending champ Kim returns to Deere fresh off 17 straight missed cuts

Published in Golf

Tuesday, 09 July 2019 06:48

Michael Kim had missed six out of seven cuts and changed coaches when he showed up at the John Deere Classic last year. He broke the tournament record at 27-under 257 and won by eight shots, matching Dustin Johnson and Francesco Molinari for the largest victory margin of the season.

And then it was as if the week never happened.

Kim flew straight to Carnoustie for the British Open, where he tied for 35th. Since then, he has made only one 36-hole cut, at the Safeway Open. He is credited for making three other cuts in Malaysia, South Korea and Kapalua - tournaments that had no cut.

As he prepares to defend his title, Kim has missed the cut in all 17 tournaments he has played since the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

During the John Deere Classic preview in May, Kim focused more on the two-year exemption that gave him time to work on the changes in his swing with John Tillery. The objective is ''to have more weeks like I did at the Deere more consistently.''

''It's taken a little longer than I hoped or wished, but it's kind of the ultimate one step back to go two steps forward,'' Kim said. ''I'm content with finding where my game is starting to head and I'm excited for the second half. Obviously, I'd like to play better. Everyone wants to play better. But looking at the latter half of this year and also the upcoming year, I'm excited to see where my game will be.''

LEFTY'S LAMENT

What had been shaping up as a big year for Phil Mickelson has taken a turn for the worse.

Mickelson has missed the cut in three of his last four starts. The exception was his tie for 52nd in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he won earlier this year in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that raised his hopes.

Now he heads to the final major of the year not knowing what kind of game he will take with him.

''I'm just not playing really good golf right now,'' Mickelson said.

Mickelson typically likes to play the week before a major. Given the new schedule, he will not have played before any of the majors. The Scottish Open is at The Renaissance, which is not a true links. Instead, he says he will head to Royal Portrush early.

What needs work?

''Probably a lot,'' Mickelson said.

OPEN PLAYOFF

Royal Portrush required some reconfiguration to be able to stage the British Open for the first time in 68 years, meaning the 17th and 18th holes from the Dunluce Links are being replaced by two new holes from land on the Valley Links.

With the course changes, there also is a one-time alternation in a playoff if it's necessary.

For the first time, the R&A says, it will go to a three-hole aggregate playoff at Royal Portrush involving the first, 13th and 18th holes. The 13th is a par 3 with the green not far from the 18th tee. The Open had been using a four-hole aggregate playoff since 1986 at Royal Troon.

An R&A spokesman says the decision was ''geography-based'' and any playoff is expected to return to four holes at other links.

LPGA IN FLORIDA

The LPGA will have four tournaments in Florida starting next year.

After announcing a new event in Boca Raton at the start of 2020, the LPGA said the Pelican Women's Championship will be held May 14-17 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, which is just northwest of St. Petersburg. It will have 144 players and a purse of $1.75 million.

The new tournament is the same week as the PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco.

The presenting sponsor of the Pelican Women's Championship is DEX Imaging, whose founding family (Dan Doyle Sr.) has partnerships with Tampa Bay's three professional sports teams. The Doyle family bought Pelican Golf Club (formerly Belleview Biltmore Golf Club).

The LPGA starts its season in the Orlando area with the Diamond Resorts Classic and ends the year in Naples with the CME Group Tour Championship.

DUVAL IN COLORADO

David Duval is gearing up for the The Open by playing the Korn Ferry Tour at the TPC Colorado, about an hour north of his home in Denver. He told the Fort Collins Coloradoan, ''I felt like for me that a competitive week is more important than an extra practice round.''

Duval will take on a course that is listed 9 yards short of 8,000 yards.

The TPC Colorado features two par 5s at 624 yards and another par 5 at 773 yards, the longest on tour. It also has three par 4s under 400 yards.

COMMISSIONER, MEET MY DAUGHTER

LPGA commissioner Mike Whan recalls playing golf with a Swiss-based banker, Alberto Valenzuela, while at the Evian Championship years ago. It only took a few holes for Whan to realize his host had a golf background - turns out Valenzuela played for UCLA in the 1980s.

He told Whan his kids were good golfers and that his daughter will be playing on the LPGA tour one day. Whan laughed.

''You know how many dads I meet a year that tell me that their daughter will be on tour?'' Whan recalls telling him. ''Probably wanted to punch me.''

A few years passed, and Whan was on the practice range at the ANA Inspiration meeting players when he came across one Swiss amateur in her teens. It was Albane Valenzuela, who asked Whan if he had met her caddie.

''I turn around and the caddie is her dad,'' Whan said. ''Looked at me (and said), 'I told you.'''

Not yet, but close.

Valenzuela, who tied for 21st in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, plays for Stanford. She has made the cut twice at the ANA Inspiration.

DIVOTS

The final four spots to The Open are available this week to the leading player not exempt from the top five at the John Deere Classic, and the leading three players not already exempt from the top 10 in the Scottish Open. ... Ariya Jutanugarn now has gone 25 starts on the LPGA tour since her last victory. ... The R&A says Ryan Moore has withdrawn from The Open as his wife is close to having a baby. ... Rocket Mortgage Classic winner Nate Lashley says one of his favorite perks from winning was going to New York City. It was his first trip to the Big Apple. ... Shanshan Feng became the 12th woman to surpass $11 million in career earnings on the LPGA tour with her 10th career victory last week in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Phil Mickelson has missed the cut seven times this year, his most in one year on the PGA Tour since he missed the cut nine times in 1995.

FINAL WORD

''I learned how not to swing a golf club.'' - Keegan Bradley, asked what he learned playing in a pro-am with former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer.

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