Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia advanced to the second round of the French Open yesterday with a straight sets win over Japan's Aiko Nakamura.
Kuznetsova, seeded fourth and a finalist at Roland Garros in 2006, won through 6-2, 6-3 in 65 minutes in a match which had been delayed for three hours because of rain.
Play started after a rain delay of two hours 50 minutes yesterday. Only 25 out of 56 first-round matches had been completed on Monday before rain stopped play for the day.
PHOTO: AP
In one of those, Venus Williams dropped a set but recovered to reach the second round with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over Tzipora Obziler.
Obziler, at 35 the oldest woman in the tournament, fought with an energy belying her years against the eighth-seeded American.
Williams started confidently, breaking the Israeli’s service in the fifth and ninth games to take the first set in 41 minutes.
She raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set but then found herself facing break points at 4-4.
Williams staved off the first with a powerful passing shot, benefited from an unforced error on the second but hit a forehand long on the third and Obziler followed up on her service game to level the match.
Obziler stole Williams’s serve but lost her stride as the American hit longer balls to push her far from the baseline.
Williams converted her second match point with a crosscourt smash.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and