Djokovic wins, Venus falls at Aussie
Frances Tiafoe, a 23-year-old American and Australian Open quarterfinalist two years ago, threw everything he could at top-ranked Novak Djokovic in a secondround match Wednesday in Melbourne.
It wasn’t quite enough. Djokovic, an eight-time Aussie champ, won the 3 ½-hour afternoon match 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 6-3.
“He pushed me to the very limit,” Djokovic said. “He’s a very quick player. It’s unpredictable what comes next ... I’m really glad to overcome such a battle.”
Dominic Thiem, who lost the final last year to Djokovic but went one better to win the U.S. Open, took a short route to the third round with a 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 win over Donimik Koepfer and will next play unpredictable Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Another U.S. Open champ, Naomi Osaka, needed only an hour to sweep Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-3.
Serena Williams kept her bid for a 24th Grand Slam singles title on track, making only 11 unforced errors as she defeated Nina Stojanovic 6-3, 6-0.
But a 21st trip to Melbourne Park ended painfully for her older sister, Venus Williams.
The 40-year-old Williams, a seven-time major winner making her 88th Slam main draw appearance, was down 5-1 in the opening set against Sara Errani when she landed awkwardly on her ankle as she approached the net for a volley. She fought back tears before receiving treatment on the ankle, and gamely continued, hobbling between points, before losing 6-1, 6-0.
Two top 10 players went out of the women’s draw: 2019 U.S. Open champ Bianca Andreescu, coming back from 15 months out with injury, was beaten by Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and ninth-seeded Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champ and the 2019 Aussie runner-up, lost to Sorana Cirstea
Second-seeded Simona Halep narrowly averted an early exit, rallying from 5-2 down in the third set to beat No. 72 Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
NFL: The Washington Football Team reached a settlement with its former cheerleaders, who appeared in lewd videos made without their knowledge during swimsuit calendar photo shoots in 2008 and 2010. Attorneys for both sides confirmed the settlement, which actually was reached sometime in 2020. The terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed . ... Washington re-signed reserve QB Taylor Heinicke on a two-year deal worth $8.75 million. Heinicke, 27, was 26 of 44 for 306 yards, a TD pass and an INT and ran for a team-high 46 yards and a score in the team’s wild-card loss to the Buccaneers. Heinicke is expected to for the starting job next season.
Soccer: MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced that the season will begin April 17, two weeks later than originally announced because of extended labor negotiations. The league and its players agreed over the weekend to an amended CBA through the 2027 season . ... Manchester City beat second-tier Swansea 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. It was City’s 15th straight victory, breaking the record for consecutive wins in all competitions by a top-tier English club. The mark had lasted for nearly 130 years, with Preston winning 14 in a row in 1892. That later was matched by Arsenal in 1987.