‘Warrior princess’ Serena says catsuit also key to health

Serena Williams admitted her eye- catching, figure-hugging black catsuit she sported on her Roland Garros return on Tuesday was inspired by the smash hit Black Panther movie but was also intended to help women with postnatal complications.

Williams defeated Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7- 6 (7/4), 6- 4 to register her first victory at the majors since her 2017 Australian Open triumph.

Bur as well as her performance, the 36- year- old’s black outfit was making headlines with the American insisting it was “fun as well as functional” in a nod to the severe health problems she suffered after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September.

“I call it like my Wakandainspired cat suit. It’s really fun,” she said in reference to the fictional African nation which features in the Marvel comics and was the centrepiece of the Black Panther movie blockbuster. I feel like a warrior princess. I always wanted to be a super hero.”

But having revealed that she suffered from blood clotting, which required life-saving surgery after her daughter’s birth, she says the suit should not be dismissed as just another fashion gimic.

“God, I don’t know how many blood clots I have had in the past 12 months. So the suit has definitely a little functionality to it.

“I have been wearing pants in general a lot when I play so I can keep, you know, the blood circulation going. It’s a fun suit, but it’s also functional so I can be able to play without any problems.”

Williams, bidding to go level with Margaret Court’s all- time record of 24 majors, was watched on Court Philippe Chatrier by husband Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit founder.

But Olympia was not present, leaving Serena to admit that the urge to get home to see her daughter was giving her a fresh perspective on a career which has spanned three decades.

Being a tennis-playing mother is also radically different from being a tennis-playing dad on the tour.

“Well, first and foremost, you have to get your core back, which is hard, because it literally spreads when you have a baby.

“That ’ s di f ficult. And just coming back from the physical impact of having a baby, at my age is never easy.

“I actually breast fed for a really, really, really long time, and so I just had this real connection with my daughter. But I’m a super handson mom. Maybe too much!”

Williams, the 2002, 2013 and 2015 champion in Paris, was on Tuesday playing a claycourt match for the first time since she finished runner-up to Garbine Muguruza in the 2016 final in Paris.

“I missed Roland Garros so much, I missed the battle.

“I couldn’t play last year. It’s been two years since I played here. It wasn’t easy but I have been training really hard. I feel good and just so happy to be back here.”

Williams had arrived at Roland Garros with just four matches under her belt in 2018. The last time she had been spotted on a court was in a first-round loss to Naomi Osaka in Miami in March.

Whatever happens over the next two weeks, Williams insists her family priorities have eased the expectations on her as a player.

“I have given tennis so much, and tennis has actually given me a lot, and I couldn’t be more grateful. But she’s my priority, and I work everything around her. I really try to put her first in my life.” — AFP

World number one Park In- bee will take a low- key approach to the women’s US Open on Thursday as she aims to cement the legacy of compatriot Pak Se-ri with her eighth major title.

Twenty years ago, Pak blazed a trail for Korean golfers when she stormed to victory in the 1998 US Open, a spectacular triumph that encouraged many of her compatriots to take up the sport.

“Back in ‘98, I was really just a kid,” Park said Tuesday. “My dad was really a big fan of golf. He was watching golf and watching Se-ri play. I remember my dad getting really excited very early in the morning. After that there was a big golf boom in Korea and a lot of the girls my age were starting to play golf. I was one of them.”

In 1998, Pak was the sole South Korean golfer plying her trade on the LPGA Tour. There are now more than 50 Korean players on the LPGA, and last year Korean women picked up three of the five majors on offer.

Unsurprisingly, world number one Park will start as the player to beat at Shoal Creek Gold and Country Club in Alabama on Thursday. The 29-year- old has prepared for this week’s challenge by playing in Korea. She warmed up for the Open with victory in the Doosan Match Play Championship on May 20.

Park believes she has benefited from a rest after that win, but remains mindful of a crowded field of contenders. The last 12 majors have been won by 12 different players, highlighting the depth of the women’s game. — AFP

Youngsters stole the show in the Sharp- Roxy Ramadhan 8-Pin Tap Special at Megalanes Sarawak, E-Mart Batu Kawa last Saturday.

Thomasina Chai emerged as the champion after knocking down 1,370 pins over five games to finish ahead of Marcos Chang who registered the same total pinfalls but had to settle for second due to a lower final game score.

Thomasinaearnedmorehonours when she was also awarded the Best Female Bowler and Best Youth Bowler while Marcos grabbed the Best Male Bowler award.

Others who occupied positions from third spot were Muhd Ismat (1,345), youth bowler Goh Min Ying (1,344), Awang Zamri Awang Putra (1,335), Thomas Yap (1,332), Alfred Chong (1,326), Zaini Rawi (1,307), KH Tsen (1,300) and Adrian Koh (1,382).

Meanwhile, the Best Senior Bowler was awarded to Awang Zamri whi le Khali l Arshad received the Most Sporting Bowler award.

This event was par t ial ly sponsored by Sharp-Roxy with the top five winners bringing home SHARP electrical appliances.