Kenin’s repeat bid ends early
MELBOURNE, Australia — Sofia Kenin knew this would be a tough test at the Australian Open, a potentially early end to her first attempt to repeat as a Grand Slam champion. Upon realizing she probably would be playing big-hitting veteran Kaia Kanepi in the second round, Kenin acknowledged, she “maybe kind of broke down a little bit.” Kenin was right to be worried, and with Kanepi at her best, this one was over quickly. Delivering 10 aces, Kanepi powered her way past the fourth-seeded Kenin, overwhelming the 2020 champion 6-3, 6-2 in only 64 minutes Thursday. “I obviously felt like I’m not there 100%: physically, mentally, my game. Everything just feels real off, obviously. It’s not good,” the 22-year-old American said at her news conference, where she wiped away tears. “I mean, I just — I know I couldn’t really handle the pressure.” The 35-year-old Kanepi, from Estonia, said her winning performance wasn’t merely a case of taking advantage of Kenin’s nerves because “I was nervous, too … playing the defending champion, that was the thought.” Also, fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina beat 16-year-old Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3, knocking the youngest player out of the draw. The young American had a breakout major in Melbourne last year, reaching the round of 16 with wins over Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka before losing to Kenin. Svitolina, though, was just too consistent when it counted, saving all four break points she faced and converting on two of the three she had on Gauff’s serve.
FOOTBALL
› NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea wrapped up his first Commodores staff Thursday by hiring LaMar Morgan as cornerbacks coach. Morgan started his coaching career in 2012 as a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt, helping the Commodores go 9-4 in back-to-back seasons with two bowl berths under coach James Franklin. Morgan spent the past two seasons coaching cornerbacks at his alma mater, Louisiana-Lafayette, and helped the Ragin’ Cajuns go 10-1 this past season. The rest of Lea’s coaching staff: Justin Lustig (assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, tight ends); David Raih
(offensive coordinator, wide receivers); Joey Lynch (passing game coordinator, quarterbacks), Jesse Minter (defensive coordinator, safeties); Norval McKenzie (running game coordinator, running backs); LaMar Morgan (cornerbacks); Inoke Breckterfield (defensive line); A.J. Blazek (offensive line); John Egorugwu (linebackers); Jovan Haye (defensive ends); Austin Gatewood (defensive graduate assistant); Caden Thomson
(offensive graduate assistant); and offensive quality control assistants Darrius DardenBox, Brandon Jones and Quinshon Odom.
› NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have hired Erik Frazier as an offensive skill assistant and Jason Houghtaling as an offensive line assistant. The Titans announced the moves Thursday. Frazier spent the past two seasons coaching wide receivers and serving as passing game coordinator for Montana State. Houghtaling was offensive line coach at Colgate last season, and he was head coach at Wagner from 2015 to 2019.
BASKETBALL
› The Toronto Raptors aren’t going back home this season. Continuing challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic and how that affects the process of crossing the border between the United State and Canada will keep the Raptors in their adopted home of Tampa, Florida, for the remainder of the regular season, the team said Thursday. The Raptors are 6-5 this season in their “home” building, Amalie Arena, which they’re sharing with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, the reigning Stanley Cup champions. On Sunday night, the 2020 NFL season ended with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl at their own Raymond James Stadium, and last fall Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays reached the World Series. The Raptors are just two years removed from their first NBA title.