Djokovic returns to No. 1; Kenin top American woman at No. 7
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA >> Novak Djokovic returned to No. 1 in the ATP rankings Monday after winning his eighth Australian Open title, while Sofia Kenin’s first Grand Slam trophy boosted her to a career-high No. 7 — and made her the leading American — on the WTA list. Djokovic’s 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dominic Thiem in the final at Melbourne Park on Sunday allowed the 32-year-old from Serbia to rise one spot and move back ahead of Rafael Nadal.
This is Djokovic’s 276th week leading the ATP, the third-most in the history of the computerized rankings, which began in the 1970s. Roger Federer holds the record of 310, followed by Pete Sampras with 286.
If Djokovic can stay at No. 1 until the first week of October, he will surpass Federer.
The 21-year-old Kenin, who lives in Florida, became the youngest woman to win the Australian Open since Maria Sharapova in 2008 by coming back to beat twotime major champion Garbiñe Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in Saturday’s final. FEDERER TO PLAY IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE HIS MOTHER WAS BORN >> Roger Federer shakes his head and sounds a bit embarrassed when he’s asked why he’s never played a tennis match in South Africa until now. It is, after all, where his mother was born. Federer, a 38-yearold from Switzerland, is planning to finally fill that gap on his rather full resume on Friday, when he and his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, are scheduled to play an exhibition match in Cape Town.
The hope is to generate more than $1 million for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports early childhood education in six African countries and
Switzerland.
But this wasn’t just about raising — or making — money, Federer said. He wanted to make sure the event was accessible for spectators, so 10,000 tickets were available for about $11 each. The aim is an attendance of 50,000, which would be the largest crowd on record for a tennis match.
Olympics
ABE BRUSHES ASIDE WORRIES OF VIRUS IMPACT ON TOKYO OLYMPICS >> Concern about the spreading coronavirus outbreak in China and its impact on this year’s Tokyo Olympics reached Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday.
Abe was asked about the virus by an opposition lawmaker but he brushed aside worries.
Japan has not reported any fatalities from the outbreak, while China has reported more than 300 deaths from the virus and more than 17,000 cases.
The Olympics open July 24.
College Basketball
BAYLOR STRENGTHENS HOLD ON NO. 1 IN AP TOP 25 POLL >> Baylor has strengthened its hold on No. 1 in The Associated
Press men’s poll.
The Bears received 49 first-place votes from the 65-member media panel in Monday’s poll to stay comfortably ahead of Gonzaga and Kansas. That was up from 44 first-place votes from the previous week, with the Bears securing a third straight week atop the rankings.
Nos. 1-4 remained unchanged a week after the top seven teams held their rankings from the previous week, continuing a stretch of stability there in what has been an unpredictable season with a record-tying seven different teams reaching No. 1. GAMECOCKS HOLD TIGHT AT NO. 1 IN AP TOP 25 WOMEN’S POLL >> South Carolina retained its firm grip on the top spot in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll.
The Gamecocks received 26 first-place votes from a 30-member media panel Monday after routing Mississippi in record fashion and beating thenNo. 22 Tennessee. Baylor remained No. 2, receiving three first-place votes. Oregon, UConn and Louisville rounded out the first five teams in the poll. The Cardinals got the other first-place vote.
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