Koepka rallies to win Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE – At the lowest points in an 18-month struggle with left knee and hip problems, Brooks Koepka wondered if he’d ever be back at all, let alone recapture the magic that carried him to four major championships.
“It’s been a wild ride for the last year and a half and very frustrating,” Koepka said. “I’ve had moments where I didn’t know if I was going to be the same, if I could even come back.”
He looked as good as ever on the back nine Sunday in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, rallying for a victory that didn’t seem possible not that long ago.
“I went through it mentally,” Koepka said. “I think that’s probably the toughest thing, where you don’t know if you’re ever going to be the same competitor that you were. You go through some real dark places, and it’s not a fun place to be.”
It was sunny and fun Sunday in the desert, especially on the 17th hole. That’s where he chipped in from 32 yards for his second eagle of the day to break a tie for the lead. A routine par on the 18th gave him a one-stroke victory.
Five strokes behind Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele entering the round, Koepka shot a 6-under 65 to finish at 19-under
ting used to it and everyone is just happy to be here.”
That includes the Williams sisters.
“Listen, this is amazing,” Serena said. “Last year was very scary for the world. To be able to do what I love and be able to come out and compete . . . it makes me appreciate the moment even more.”
Canadian Rebecca Marino, a former top-40 player competing in a Grand Slam event for the first time in eight years, beat wild-card entry Kimberly Birrell 6-0, 7-6 (9). Marino was sidelined by depression and a serious foot injury.
“I still have my big serve and big forehead. That hasn’t changed that much,” Marino said. “And I have a
confidence that I know I belong again.”
No. 23 Angelique Kerber, a three-time major champion and 2016 Australian Open winner, lost to American Bernarda Pera 6-0, 6-4.
In early men’s play, No. 10-seeded Gael Monfils lost a marathon against Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. No. 14 Milos Raonic defeated Federico Coria 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. American Reilly Opelka hit 18 aces and beat Lu Yen-hsun 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Serena Williams overpowered Siegemund, moved well and saved one of her best shots for the final game, racing forward to flip an off-balance backhand off her shoestrings for a cross-court winner.
For the past four years, Williams has been trying to equal Australian Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles. Williams’ most recent
Grand Slam championship
came at Melbourne in 2017.
“I’ve had a ton of pressure, and now I don’t feel it anymore,” she told ESPN after her first-round win. Osaka drew a potential tough opening opponent in Pavlyuchenkova, a Russian ranked 39th who reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne three of the past four years.
But Osaka breezed through the first set in 21 minutes and barely slowed after that. She finished with more winners than errors and lost only five points on her first serve.
Up to 30,000 fans – about 50% of capacity – will be allowed on the tournament site, but seats were mostly empty for the early matches on a cool day.
“I’m just really happy to see people in the stands,” Osaka said.