Osaka loses first match since splitting from coach

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES » Naomi Osaka lost her first match since moving up to No. 1 in the WTA rankings — and first since splitting from her coach.

The two-time major champion had trouble with her serve and was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by 67th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic at the Dubai Championships in a little more than an hour on Tuesday.

Afterward, Osaka wiped away tears while speaking to reporters and discussing the difficulty of dealing with her new-found spot atop the sport.

“I don’t think I necessarily understand what position I’m in, in a way. Because last year, I wasn’t even anywhere close to this ranking. People didn’t pay attention to me — and that’s something that I’m comfortable with,” Osaka said.

Playing a second-round match after an opening bye as the tournament’s top seed, Osaka won only 5 of 27 second-serve points, just 19 percent, and barely half of her first-serve points, 12 of 22.

She was broken seven of the nine times she served.

Shiffrin locks up World Cup slalom title

STOCKHOLM » Mikaela Shiffrin wrapped up the seasonlong slalom World Cup title, three days after winning her record fourth straight world title in the discipline. And she matched yet another record in the process.

Shiffrin won a parallel city event, defeating Christina Geiger of Germany in both runs to win the final by 0.27 seconds.

The victory gave the American two-time overall champion an insurmountable 203-point lead in the season standings with two races remaining.

Barcelona’s attacking stars disappoint

LYON, FRANCE » On a scoreless night in the Champions League, not even Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez could find a way to get a goal.

Barcelona’s attacking stars were held in check by Lyon in a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, leaving the French side’s hopes of causing a big upset very much alive. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND » Bayern Munich still can’t find a way to score, let alone win at Liverpool. In their fourth visit to Anfield, the German champions drew 0-0 in the Champions League to go a fourth game at the stadium without finding the net.