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Serena Williams survived a scare as she fought back to beat Russian world number 83 Vitalia Diatchenko in the French Open first round.

American Williams, who has been battling injury, showed rustiness in a poor first set filled with loose shots.

But the 23-time Grand Slam champion found her rhythm to claim 12 of the final 13 games and win 2-6 6-1 6-0 at Roland Garros in Paris.

Williams, 37, faces Japan's Kurumi Nara or Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic next.

"There is always a lot of fear for a first-round match," Williams said.

"I made lots of mistakes in the first set and I just said 'good luck, Serena'.

"I was strong after that. Now I feel like I need to go and practise."

From screams of frustration to a milestone

The women's draw at Roland Garros had already lost Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber and former world number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams to first-round defeats, while sixth seed Petra Kvitova pulled out injured.

It started to look like Williams' name would be added to the list of casualties.

Her season has been disrupted by a persistent knee injury and she was even pictured sat in a wheelchair - seemingly as a protective measure - on a trip to Disneyland Paris with her daughter Olympia last week.

The injury forced her to pull out of the Italian Open two weeks ago, meaning she had played only once on clay since last year's Roland Garros.

Since losing to Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, Williams has played in only three tournaments - Indian Wells, Miami and Rome - and has withdrawn from all of them.

So it was unsurprising to see the 10th seed make 14 unforced errors in the opening set against 28-year-old Diatchenko.

Loud screams of frustration at the start of the second set seemed to have a cathartic effect, with Williams finding her stride soon after.

The three-time French Open champion, who is aiming to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, hit 20 winners in the final two sets as she increased the intensity against a rapidly wilting Diatchenko.

In the end it was a procession to an 800th victory in the main draw of a tournament as Williams became the first woman to reach the milestone.

The catsuit was banned - so what did she wear?

Williams was banned from wearing the black catsuit outfit she donned at last year's French Open, with the tournament introducing a stricter dress code.

She said the outfit made her feel like a "superhero" and that it helped with the issue of blood clots, which she said almost cost her her life giving birth.

She answered the 'what will she wear?' question when she arrived on Philippe Chatrier wearing a black and white striped cape emblazoned with the words 'mother, champion, queen, goddess'.

"It was just to remind everyone that they can be champions and are queens. So I love that about it," she said.

"It is a lot to carry, but so is being Serena Williams."

That was just for the warm-up, after which she revealed an abstract outfit in the same colours, which looked like floating shorts and a crop top but which also had a mesh panel around the torso.

Even then she was not finished with the outfit changes, later pulling on a - remarkably plain - long-sleeved top.

British number one Kyle Edmund's French Open first-round match with Frenchman Jeremy Chardy was suspended deep in the final set because of bad light.

The match was halted with the score at 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 6-4 4-6 5-5 after four hours of play at Roland Garros in Paris.

There were boos from the crowd when the decision was made to resume on Tuesday.

Edmund, 24, was a set and a break up before he was pegged back by the world number 41.

Edmund has reached the second round in each of his past four appearances at the French Open.

Compatriots Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans will play their first-round matches on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, British women's number one Johanna Konta beat German world number 147 Antonia Lottner 6-4 6-4 to reach the second round for the first time in her career.

McMillen Thinks A Win Is Coming In Joliet

Published in Racing
Monday, 27 May 2019 11:02

JOLIET, Ill. – Terry McMillen sees his recent struggles at the past two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races as a minor roadblock for what he believes will be another productive season.

He also thinks his team is due for its first win of the season and nothing would make the fan-favorite driver happier than to see it come at the 22nd annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals, which takes place May 30-June 2 at state-of-the-art Route 66 Raceway.

The Chicago-area native always has this race circled on his calendar, hoping to put together his third career victory and first at Route 66 Raceway in his 10,000-horsepower AMALIE Motor Oil XTERMIGATOR dragster. After a strong start to open his season, a win would also put McMillen and his team back on a good track heading to a rigorous four-race stretch.

“I still believe we are a win waiting to happen,” McMillen said. “It would be nice to get it where I grew up. I’m not going to lie, getting a win anywhere would be awesome, but Chicago is special. It’s a great facility and I’ve always had great times there. I’m pretty confident going into Chicago, but you could have a 16-car field with everyone in the 3.70s real easily. I think we’re in good shape and I’m hoping we move up in points. While the quality of Top Fuel cars is awesome and you look how close everybody is, we have a car with a lot of potential and can win on raceday.”

Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event. It is the ninth of 24 events during the NHRA season and with the opening day of the race starting with an exciting Friday Night On Fire, McMillen knows he’ll have to be in top form immediately.

Friday’s nitro sessions start at 9 p.m., which gives the standouts in Top Fuel and Funny Car a chance to perform under the lights. That means a field filled with quick runs, but McMillen and his team, led by crew chief Rob Wendland, feel like they have things in order after failing to qualify in Atlanta and falling in the first round on Sunday in Richmond. But McMillen is confident his team made significant progress over the weekend, which should pay dividends in Chicago.

“We want to have success right away in Chicago and that means rolling the car off the trailer and going down the track on the first pass,” McMillen said. “That sets the tone for the entire weekend and when we do those things, we get stronger. One thing I’ve always said is the more opportunities you give Rob Wendland to go down the racetrack, he’s going to figure it out and get down the track. Moving forward, we know what we need to do. Going into Chicago, I feel real confident that all the right parts and pieces are in place, and it’s just a matter of getting that first run in.”

Up to Atlanta, McMillen had performed well, advancing to a final round and a semifinal in the first six races. He believes those type of performances are about to return, even as McMillen, who is ninth in Top Fuel points, will face off with the likes of Millican, defending world champion Steve Torrence, who has won three straight races, Antron Brown, Richie Crampton, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force and Leah Pritchett. His team has shown impressive resolve through this two-race hiccup, giving McMillen all the indication he needs to see when it comes to turning things around.

“What’s really exceptional with our team is, when there’s adversity, they work twice as hard,” McMillen said. “They’re doing their due diligence. I don’t think we really did bad (in Virginia). We know the changes we’ll make going forward. We haven’t seen the track temperatures in this car we saw in Virginia, so it’s just a matter of keep doing what we’re doing and it will turn around. We’re picking away at each area and it’s just a matter of getting to know our car a little better.”

PHOTOS: Xfinity Series Alsco 300

Published in Racing
Monday, 27 May 2019 12:00

VIDEO: McFadden Talks Deal To Drive KKR No. 9

Published in Racing
Monday, 27 May 2019 12:34

SPEED SPORT’s Jacob Seelman catches up with James McFadden, who is driving the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 9 in place of injured team owner and driver Kasey Kahne.

Pagenaud Latest To Join Indy 500 Winner’s Club

Published in Racing
Monday, 27 May 2019 13:30

INDIANAPOLIS – Simon Pagenaud is now a member of one of the most exclusive clubs on Earth and the only members of that club are winners of the Indianapolis 500.

Pagenaud became the latest member of that exclusive group when he scored his first Indianapolis 500 win in an epic battle to the finish during the 103rd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Last night, Rick Mears was one of the first to text me, ‘Welcome to the club,’” Pagenaud said Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, referring to the last four-time winner of the Indy 500. “Helio (Castroneves) obviously. T.K. (Tony Kanaan) when I left for the parade lap in the convertible at the end. Takuma (Sato) – they all texted me saying, ‘Welcome to the club.’

“I didn’t really get it then.”

The messages kept coming.

“Gil de Ferran last night was in tears, calling, sending me messages, ‘Welcome to the club.’ Again, Will Power. Dario Franchitti this morning sent me a message.

“It’s amazing, all these guys I looked up to, ‘Welcome to the club.’

“When you accomplish your dream, it’s phenomenal. It will be great, when I have kids, I can say, ‘Hey, I did this.’ When they have kids, ‘Hey, grandpa did whatever.”

“It’s just great to be able to think that.”

Pagenaud’s entry into the exclusive Indianapolis 500 winner’s club came after a long, hard battle with the fiercely determined Alexander Rossi over the final 13 laps of Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. The two drivers relentlessly traded the lead with some spectacular passes.

Pagenaud made the race-winning pass when he zoomed past Rossi’s Honda with one-and-a-half laps to go entering turn three.

He took the checkered flag just .2086-of-a-second ahead of Rossi. It was a long journey for the Team Penske driver to get there.

“In 2007, I really questioned my career,” Pagenaud recalled. “Champ Car folded, so I wasn’t really known in the IRL (Indy Racing League) paddock. When IndyCar formed, it was very difficult for me to have connection. People didn’t know my worth. I decided to try the sports car route. There seemed to be more opportunities for me there at the time.

“That’s when in April of 2008, I thought I was going to pack up and go back to France and do something else. Gil de Ferran called, and Honda came to the rescue with the Acura program.

“It’s quite fitting that I’m driving for them in sports cars, as well, now with Team Penske and Acura. It was a very tough time on my career because there were a lot of doubts. It wasn’t about talent. It wasn’t about anything else than having an opportunity and showing it in the car.

“I went to sports cars, did really well there. Then with the help of Honda, I came back to IndyCar with Sam Schmidt who gave me a real break. That was my real first break in IndyCar. Obviously, I did three races, Dreyer & Reinbold, Dennis gave me the opportunity to know what I could do. That opened the doors for the Honda deal with Sam Schmidt.

“It’s funny how things just take their place. After a few races, I was already in touch with Roger (Penske). That was my dream. It’s always been my dream to go to Team Penske. Certainly, my career with Sam, Honda really was a steppingstone going up and going to Team Penske.”

That is one reason why his conversation with de Ferran was so gratifying and emotional.

“I saw him before the race and was already really proud for the pole,” Pagenaud said. “He said, ‘Man, I’ve been watching. You’re the best out there. Go get it.’

“I had a lot of support from him throughout the years. He’s been a very important part of my improvement, my development as a driver.

“Without him, I don’t think I would have unlocked so much potential. So, he has definitely a very special place in my heart.

“I sent a message. I said, ‘Thank you for everything, all your advice worked.’”

Simon Pagenaud holds his head in his hand after winning the Indianapolis 500 Sunday afternoon. (Dave Heithaus Photo)

On Monday night, Pagenaud is expected to collect $2.5 million for his victory at the annual Indianapolis 500 Victory Awards Celebration at the JW Marriott.

“I’m looking forward to getting a Corvette,” Pagenaud said of the Pace Car, which is given annually to the Indianapolis 500 winner. “That’s pretty cool. I get a Corvette, wine color, burgundy. It was meant to be, I guess. I’m looking forward to that.

“I’m looking forward to celebrate with my peers tonight, see the car on stage. I think that’s going to be when I realize what’s happened. Look forward to going to New York tomorrow. We will see what we do there. I think there’s going to be quite a bit of attendance. I’m excited about that.

“My face on the trophy. Taking the trophy to France would be very special. That’s just because that’s where I was born. Obviously, it would be a special moment.”

Pagenaud hasn’t stopped celebrating since he stopped at the Yard of Bricks instead of victory Llne at the end of the Indianapolis 500. He wanted to share the moment with the fans, rather than go to victory lane first.

It was his way of entering the Indianapolis 500 winner’s club.

“This place is mythical,” Pagenaud said of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “When you win, you’re part of the history. I just feel super honored. It doesn’t feel real because I don’t hold myself up high like that, I don’t believe in myself as somebody special. It doesn’t feel right to say it even.

“Quite frankly, I’m not quite done with my career. I just turned 35. I have more than a decade ahead of me. So, I’ll be here for a while.”

Blues' Dunn out for Game 1 but Thomas to play

Published in Hockey
Monday, 27 May 2019 10:12

St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn will not play Monday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final because of an upper-body injury.

Blues coach Craig Berube also announced that rookie forward Robert Thomas, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury, will play Monday night against the Bruins.

This will be Dunn's fourth straight game missed with the injury after he took a puck to the face in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.

Berube said Dunn is still considered day-to-day but that he is close to a return. Dunn practiced Monday for the third consecutive day and shed the full face shield he skated with over the weekend in favor of a regular visor.

Asked if Dunn was talking better, captain Alex Pietrangelo joked, "Yeah, his teeth are coming in.''

Dunn had 12 goals and 23 assists this season with a plus/minus of 14. He has two goals and five assists this postseason with a plus/minus of minus-3.

Thomas, 19, had nine goals and 24 assists during the regular season and has a goal and five assists in the postseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Here is the complete FedExCup points and purse breakdown for winner Kevin Na and the rest of the players who made the cut at the 2019 Charles Schwab Challenge.

Finish Player FedEx Earnings ($)
1 Kevin Na 500.00 1,314,000.00
2 Tony Finau 300.00 788,400.00
T3 C.T. Pan 162.50 423,400.00
T3 Andrew Putnam 162.50 423,400.00
5 Jonas Blixt 110.00 292,000.00
T6 Ryan Palmer 95.00 253,675.00
T6 Rory Sabbatini 95.00 253,675.00
T8 Tyrrell Hatton 75.00 197,100.00
T8 Mackenzie Hughes 75.00 197,100.00
T8 Russell Knox 75.00 197,100.00
T8 Jordan Spieth 75.00 197,100.00
T8 Nick Watney 75.00 197,100.00
T13 Jim Furyk 56.25 136,875.00
T13 Brian Gay 56.25 136,875.00
T13 Charley Hoffman 56.25 136,875.00
T13 Peter Uihlein 56.25 136,875.00
T17 Matt Every 50.00 113,150.00
T17 Josh Teater 50.00 113,150.00
T19 Austin Cook 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Emiliano Grillo 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Billy Horschel 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Adam Long 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Scott Piercy 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Brandt Snedeker 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Kevin Tway 40.18 79,387.50
T19 Jimmy Walker 40.18 79,387.50
T27 J.J. Henry 31.75 55,115.00
T27 Max Homa 31.75 55,115.00
T29 Talor Gooch 28.75 50,735.00
T29 Tyrone Van Aswegen 28.75 50,735.00
T31 Corey Conners 21.33 39,663.34
T31 Brian Harman 21.33 39,663.34
T31 Jhonattan Vegas 21.33 39,663.34
T31 Sam Burns 21.33 39,663.33
T31 Chesson Hadley 21.33 39,663.33
T31 Joaquin Niemann 21.33 39,663.33
T31 Roger Sloan 21.33 39,663.33
T31 Kevin Streelman 21.33 39,663.33
T31 David Toms 21.33 39,663.33
T40 Jason Dufner 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Brice Garnett 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Tom Hoge 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Beau Hossler 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Martin Kaymer 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Peter Malnati 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Trey Mullinax 12.68 26,280.00
T40 Ben Silverman 12.68 26,280.00
T48 Aaron Baddeley 8.50 18,571.20
T48 Scott Brown 8.50 18,571.20
T48 Bill Haas 8.50 18,571.20
T48 Danny Lee 8.50 18,571.20
T48 Chris Stroud 8.50 18,571.20
T53 Daniel Berger 6.18 16,819.20
T53 Branden Grace 6.18 16,819.20
T53 Anirban Lahiri 6.18 16,819.20
T53 Martin Laird 6.18 16,819.20
T53 Francesco Molinari 6.18 16,819.20
T58 Abraham Ancer 4.90 15,987.00
T58 Cameron Champ 4.90 15,987.00
T58 Ted Potter, Jr. 4.90 15,987.00
T58 Justin Rose 4.90 15,987.00
T58 Vaughn Taylor 4.90 15,987.00
T58 Mike Weir 4.90 15,987.00
T64 Ben Crane 3.90 15,257.00
T64 Matthew Fitzpatrick - 15,257.00
T64 Kyoung-Hoon Lee 3.90 15,257.00
T64 Brian Stuard 3.90 15,257.00
68 Byeong Hun An 3.40 14,892.00
69 Nate Lashley 3.20 14,746.00
T70 Dominic Bozzelli 2.95 14,527.00
T70 Ian Poulter 2.95 14,527.00
72 Tim Herron 2.80 14,308.00
73 Graeme McDowell 2.70 14,162.00

Woods grouped with Rose, DeChambeau at Memorial

Published in Golf
Monday, 27 May 2019 06:15

Tiger Woods will be grouped with former world No. 1 Justin Rose and defending champ Bryson DeChambeau when he returns to action this week at the Memorial Tournament.

Woods has won this event five times, most recently in 2012, and he tied for 23rd last year after missing the event each of the two prior years. The Masters champ will be making his first start since a missed cut at the PGA Championship, and this will mark his only start between the PGA and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Rose earned his first career PGA Tour win at the 2010 Memorial, and he lost in a playoff at Muirfield Village to David Lingmerth in 2015. DeChambeau won last year in a playoff over Kyle Stanley and Byeong-Hun An in the first of what turned out to be four victories in 2018.

Other marquee, early round groupings this week in Ohio will include Phil Mickelson alongside Rickie Fowler and former Memorial champ Matt Kuchar, while Justin Thomas will return from injury alongside Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth for the first two rounds. With the Presidents Cup fast approaching, Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott will be joined in a PGA Tour Live featured group by Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who won this event in 2014.

Specific tee times for the four featured groups, along with the rest of the 120-man field, are expected to be announced Tuesday afternoon.

Villa back in Premier League after win over Derby

Published in Soccer
Monday, 27 May 2019 11:39

Aston Villa returned to the Premier League as goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn earned a 2-1 victory over Frank Lampard's Derby side in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium.

El Ghazi made the breakthrough when he diverted in a cross just before the break, and McGinn capitalised on hesitation from keeper Kelle Roos to seal the win for Villa, who held on after Jack Marriott had pulled one back late on.

Villa created the first chance after five minutes when, from a Jack Grealish cross, Axel Tuanzebe scuffed his attempt when the ball fell to him inside the area.

Soon afterward, Grealish, with space to run into after a loose clearance from keeper Roos caused problems, blasted over.

Derby's Jayden Bogle fired in a dangerous low cross that created confusion, but back came Villa, and El Ghazi's run took him into the area before Richard Keogh ended the threat.

McGinn thumped wide after an El Ghazi cross had caused confusion, and El Ghazi was booked for fouling Bogle only for Derby to waste the free kick.

Villa's on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, who had struggled for chances in the opening stages, worked space but shot over after 33 minutes.

Mason Mount, on loan at Derby from Chelsea, had the first effort on target after 37 minutes when his drive was held by Jed Steer.

But Villa made the breakthrough close to half-time, Albert Adomah's cross from the right diverted in by El Ghazi.

Mount went into the book in the early stages of the second half for a foul on Abraham, Villa annoyed that advantage was not played with a swift counter-attack developing.

Conor Hourihane's free kick forced Roos to punch clear as Tyrone Mings closed in, but Villa doubled their lead after 59 minutes when the Derby keeper wanted too much time to claim El-Ghazi's deflected shot and McGinn jumped to head in.

Lampard responded, taking off Tom Huddlestone and replacing him with Marriott, but it was Villa who threatened again when Grealish shot wide.

Another forward, Martyn Waghorn, came on for Derby as the game headed toward its final 20 minutes, Mount making way, but Lampard's side were showing few signs of finding a way back.

Bogle fired into the side netting from an angle with teammates well placed in the middle, and then Mount miscued after neat buildup play on the edge of the Villa area.

Derby and Lampard had new hope after 81 minutes when Marriott finished from close range following a spell of pressure. But despite seven minutes of stoppage time being added, they could not find an equaliser.

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