Serena prevails at Hopman Cup
PERTH, Australia — Serena Williams overcame a sluggish start to power past Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the Hopman Cup on Monday in her first competitive match since melting down in the U.S. Open final.
The 37-year-old was rusty and down an early break but did enough to record a comfortable 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory in one hour and 44 minutes in the women’s singles match.
The result leveled the tie between the United States and Greece, but Williams and playing partner Frances Tiafoe lost the later mixed doubles match in three sets to Sakkari and
Stefanos Tsitsipas . Even though both her ankles were strapped and required medical attention during the change of sets, Williams moved freely and looked sharper as the match wore on.
“It was my first match back. I was making a lot of errors,” Williams said. “It was great to be back out on match day.”
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion lost an exhibition match against sister Venus in Abu Dhabi last week, but the Hopman Cup is her first competitive event since her controversial defeat to Japan’s
Naomi Osaka at Flushing Meadows in September.
It was an error-strewn start for Williams, who struggled to land her first serve and was broken in the third game. She could have been in a bigger hole if not for saving break points in her first and third service games.
In other tennis news: Fifth-ranked Juan Martin del Potro will miss the Australian Open as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
“I hope you have a great 2019. Recovery is going great and I will tell you later where I will be making my comeback,” the 30-year-old Argentine wrote on Twitter. “Unfortunately it won't happen in Australia … but I'm happy with my progress.”
The U.S. Open finalist fractured his right kneecap after a fall at the Shanghai Masters in October.
The Australian Open begins Jan. 14.
Winter Classic pits old rivals
The Winter Classic is going back to college — in South Bend, Ind., no less — and it’s bringing along two familiar foes.
Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks. Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins. Hockey at the home of Knute Rockne and Paul Hornung.
The 11th edition of the NHL’s annual New Year’s Day showcase features its fourth matchup of Original Six franchises — two teams with plenty of experience when it comes to playing outside, and prominent connections to each other and host Notre Dame.
Many fans are sick of the same group of teams playing in the NHL’s outdoor series — especially the Blackhawks, who are winless in three previous appearances in the Winter Classic — but it sounds as if it never gets old for Kane, Bergeron and Co.
“Very special. It’s always fun,” said Bergeron, who split his first two appearances in the Winter Classic, winning at Fenway Park in 2010 and losing at Gillette Stadium three years ago. “You know obviously the history behind this stadium is huge and goes way back.”
Kane, 30, said Notre Dame is popular in the Irish section of Buffalo where he grew up.
“Yeah, I mean Notre Dame, it’s so much history,” Kane said.