Osaka rolls at Miami Open
Naomi Osaka might never hit a worse shot. Not that it mattered.
The world’s No. 2ranked woman shanked a serve that sailed over her opponent’s head, but shook off the miss-hit to win her 22nd match in a row Friday, beating Ajla Tomljanovic, 7-6 (3), 6-4, in the second round at the Miami Open.
Other serves were much better — Osaka hit 13 aces. She hasn’t lost in more than a year, and her winning streak includes her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
In other women’s play, No. 10 Kiki Bertens was upset by Liudmila Samsonova, 6-2, 6-1, and No. 13 Jennifer Brady lost to Sara Sorribes Tormo, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. No. 4 Sofia Kenin rallied past Andrea Petkovic, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3.
In men’s play, No. 3seeded Alexander Zverev double-faulted three times and lost to No. 83-ranked Emil Ruusuvuori, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.
No. 1-seeded Daniil Medvedev needed under an hour to beat 37-year-old Yen-hsun Lu, 6-2, 6-2.
Golf
Michelle Wie West missed the cut in her first tournament in nearly two years, and Inbee Park headed into the weekend still holding a one-stroke lead in the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, Calif. Park carded a 3-under 69 for a two-round total of 9-under 155 and a one-stroke lead on Sophia Popov.
• Rafael Campos, Fabrizio Zanotti and Justin Suh shared the second-round lead in the PGA Tour’s windy Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Campos, from Puerto Rico, had a bogey-free 3under 69 to match Zanotti and Suh at 7-under 137.
• Daniel van Tonder prevailed in a playoff at Karen Country Club in Nairobi, Kenya, to win the 2021 Kenya Open. Van Tonder defeated Jazz Janewattananond on the third hole of a suddendeath playoff to earn his first European Tour title.
Soccer
The United States will play Honduras for a berth in the Olympic men’s tournament in a doubleheader opener Sunday night at Guadalajara, and host Mexico will play Canada for a spot at the Tokyo Games. The U.S.-Honduras game is a rematch of the October 2015 qualification game, won by Honduras, 2-0. Sunday’s two winners will complete the 16-nation field for the Olympic tournament, to be played from July 21 to Aug. 7.
Basketball
All-Star guard Luka Doncic sat out the Dallas Mavericks’ game against Indiana Friday night because of tightness in his lower back. “He’s getting treatment, working on it,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He will travel. Hope he’s available tomorrow [at New Orleans on Saturday night].”
• Center Andre Drummond is now a free agent and can sign with a contending team after reaching a buyout with the Cavaliers. Drummond hasn’t played since midFebruary.
• Charlotte Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said rookie star LaMelo Ball’s wrist fracture could heal in time for him to play again in this chase of a playoff spot.
Baseball
If Major League Baseball opts not to move this year’s All-Star Game out of Atlanta, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he would consider declining the honor of managing the National League team. “If it gets to that point,” Roberts said, “it’ll certainly be a decision I’ll have to make personally.” Roberts spoke on the day after Georgia adopted a new law that makes it harder to vote, with the Black community expected to be disproportionately affected.
President Biden criticized the law as “Jim Crow in the 21st Century,” and Players Association executive director Tony Clark said the union “would look forward” to discussing with the league whether to relocate the All-Star Game.
• Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa says he turned down an offer for a $120 million, six-year contract covering 2022-27 and is not sure whether there will be a deal before his deadline for a deal with the team of opening day next week.
• Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and the Houston Astros finalized an $85 million, five-year contract covering 2022-26.
College
Pitt swimming & diving placed its second men’s swimmer on the NCAA podium this week at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, making program history in the process. In the 100-yard breaststroke, junior Cooper van der Laan became the second Pitt swimmer in as many days to secure a top-eight individual finish at the 2021 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. Van der Laan secured his status forever as an NCAA All-American swimmer, joining Pitt teammate Blaise Vera, who accomplished the feat Thursday in the 50yard freestyle. Never before has Pitt’s program produced multiple men’s swimming NCAA AllAmericans in the same season.
Olympics
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he expects to invite President Joe Biden to the Tokyo Olympics when he visits the United States next month.