Sharapova bounced from first round in Australian Open
Maria Sharapova hasn’t won a tournament since 2017, and her ranking slipped to 136th by the end of last year.
After a 6-3, 6-4 loss to 19th-seeded Donna Vekic at the Australian Open on Tuesday, former No. 1-ranked Sharapova is on a run of three firstround exits at the Grand Slam tournaments.
The five-time major winner got into the main draw at Melbourne Park via a wild card granted by organizers, helped by the fact she won the 2008 title here. Drawing Vekic in the first round was tough.
The 32-year-old Russian has had a series of right shoulder injuries and also served a 15-month suspension for a positive doping test to meldonium. Since her return from the suspension, her best showing at a major has been the quarterfinals at the 2018 French Open.
She reached the fourth round in Australia last year, and her profile means she still gets a spot on center court. It was only Vekic’s second time on Rod Laver Arena.
‘”Ï always enjoy the big stages,”” Vekic siad. “”I’m happy to leave with a win this time.”
Johanna Konta, a 2016 Australian Open semifinalist, lost her first-round match to Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-2. It was only her second match since she lost in the quarterfinals of last year’s U.S. Open because of a tendinitis-related problem in her right knee.
The 12th-seeded Konta lost in the first round at the Brisbane International and then withdrew from the Adelaide International in an attempt to manage her injury. Even before she left for Australia, the British No. 1 told officials she wouldn’t play Fed Cup this year.
Konta had always made at least the second round in four previous appearances in the main draw here. Still, she was upbeat after the loss.
“I think ultimately the main thing was to start playing again, and I am,” she said. “And how I physically felt out there is obviously a massive tick for me compared to where I was in September of last year. Before Brisbane, I had been out for almost 4-1/2 months. So it’s been quite a bit of time, not far off getting a protected ranking.”
Jabeur said her goal this year is to make it into the top 20 — she’s currently 78th — and to inspire other African Arab players to pick up the sport.
“It would be nice to see more of us
out here on tour,” Jabeur said.
After torrential rain hit Melbourne Park on Day 1, organizers had to move dozens of matches over to Tuesday.
Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 7-5 and sixth-seeded Belinda Bencic advanced 6-3, 7-5 over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
No. 12-seeded Fabio Fognini lost the first two sets Monday against Reilly Opelka but rallied Tuesday to win 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 7-6 (5), including the 10-point tiebreaker in the final set. Milos Raonic returned to play two games to finish off Lorenzo Giustino 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.
In overnight action, 15-year-old Coco Gauff, again dispatched Venus Williams, 39, in the opening match of a Grand Slam. She won 7-6 (5), 6-3 at Margaret Court Arena.
NFL
RODGERS STAYS POSITIVE AFTER LOSS TO 49ERS >> The 2019 season for the Green Bay Packers marked the dawn of a new era.
Matt LaFleur took over and won more games than any first-year coach in franchise history.
The final result again fell short of the Packers’ goal of winning it all, but this time it had a different feeling, according to Aaron Rodgers.
The two-time MVP was on the losing end of the NFC championship game in his third consecutive appearance.
There was the overtime loss at Seattle in the title game in the 2014 season, the 23-point rout at Atlanta in the conference championship in the 2016 season and Sunday’s 37-20 defeat to the Super Bowl-bound 49ers.
But the 36-year-old Rodgers said the latest loss isn’t like the others.
“It’s a lot different feel,” he said Sunday night. “I remember in those moments the emotion compared to this. I feel really confident in (general manager) Brian (Gutekunst) and the job that he’s done and his staff. They did go all-in — as much as they could — this year and the pieces that they brought in. I’m confident that he’s going to continue to add to this squad. So, that part is very exciting. It is a lot different feel than three years ago.”
MLB
COLORADO STAR ARENADO MAD AT TEAM GM >> Rockies star Nolan Arenado said he feels disrespected after Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich acknowledged listening to trade offers for the seven-time Gold Glove winner.
Bridich told The Denver Post that he expected Arenado to be Colorado’s third baseman this season after discussing potential deals involving the 28-year-old this winter.
The five-time All-Star agreed to a $260 million, eight-year contract with the Rockies last February.
Asked via text message about Bridich’s comments, Arenado told The Associated Press: “I don’t care what he says, there’s a lot of disrespect around there.”
The slugger insisted he doesn’t envision mending fences with Bridich.
“There is no relationship anymore. It’s just play hard for my teammates and the fans,” Arenado said. GIANTS, BLEVINS REACH MINOR LEAGUE DEAL >> Veteran left-hander Jerry Blevins agreed to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants that includes an invitation to spring training.
College football
HURRICANES LAND QB KING >> Former Houston quarterback D’Eriq King announced that he is transferring to Miami, a significant get for the Hurricanes as they try to bounce back from a 6-7 season.
LPGA
FINALLY, THERE’S A WINNER >> Having already battled for five extra holes into darkness without producing a champion a day earlier, Gaby Lopez and Nasa Hataoka showed up to work at 8 a.m., just like regular folks.
The early wake-up call and extra golf was worth it for Lopez, who rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt to prevail on the seventh playoff hole and capture the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Lopez earned $180,000 for the victory.