Kenin recovers to reach French Open quarterfinals
Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin turned things around at the French Open after a poor opening set to reach the quarterfinals at Paris’ Roland Garros for the first time.
The No. 4-seeded Kenin beat the 49th-ranked Fiona Ferro 2- 6, 6-2, 6-1 at Court Philippe Chatrier. Ferro was the last French man or woman still around in singles.
Chair umpire Marijana Veljovic warned Kenin’s father, A lexander, for coaching, which is not allowed during Grand Slam matches. Alexander Kenin had changed seats during the match to be right next to Ferro’s coach, Emmanuel Planque, who was closer to the court.
Kenin upset Serena Williams at last year’s French Open en route to making it to the fourth round. But until now, the 21-year- old American had never been to the quarterfinals at any clay- court tournament.
She won her first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park at the start of this season and now is 14-1 at major tournaments in 2020.
Kenin won’t find out who her next opponent is until today. That’s because the fourth-round match between another American, Danielle Collins, and 30thseeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia was rained out.
• Nov a k D jokov ic reached the quarterfinals for the 11th consecutive year, extending his own Open- era record at the tournament. The topseeded Djokovic faced his toughest challenge yet this year at Roland Garros but still won rather easily against No. 15 seed Karen Khachanov 6- 4, 6-3, 6-3 at Court Philippe Chatrier. He will play No. 17 seed Pablo Carreño Busta.
• Andrey Rublev reached the quarterfinals for the first time by beating Marton Fucsovics 6-7 (4), 7- 5, 6- 4, 7-6 (3). The 13th-seeded Russian saved three set points serving at 5- 4 down and 0- 40 in the fourth set.
• Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the quarterfinals for the first time in eight years by beating Zhang Sh
uai 6-2, 6- 4.
NFL
FORFEITS POSSIBLE FOR NFL VIRUS PROTOCOL VIOLATIONS >> NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has warned the league’s 32 teams of penalties including potential forfeits of games for violations of COVID-19 protocols that force changes in the regular-season schedule.
In a memo sent to the teams Monday after a conference call involving NFL and club executives, Goodell reiterated the need to adhere fully to all of the league’s health and safety guidelines.
10 RAIDERS PLAYERS FINED
FOR COVID-19 VIOLATIONS >> Darren Waller and several Las Vegas Raiders teammates have been fined for attending his charity event that violated protocols.
A person familiar with the punishment said that Waller was fined $30,000 and his teammates were docked $15,000 each for their actions at last week’s fundraiser for his foundation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the punishments weren’t announced by the league.
WNBA
AGELESS SUE
COVID-19
BIRD HAS
STORM ONEWIN AWAY FROM 4TH TITLE >> Sue Bird is playing some of her best basketball during this year’s WNBA playoffs as she nears a milestone birthday, joining the likes of Tom Brady and LeBron James of superstar athletes defying Father Time and still performing at a high level.
Bird, who will turn 40 next week, has Seattle one victory away from winning the franchise’s fourth WNBA title since the Storm drafted her No. 1 in 2002.
“Through my career, I’m lucky in a way,” Bird said. “My position and how I play it allows for longevity. I never really relied on my physical quickness or speed or size, obviously. So as long as I continue to add to my game from a mental perspective, I was always going to be able to stay on the floor. Assuming, again, the physical part stayed with me as well.”