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Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia – Naomi Osaka returned through the players’ tunnel after her Grand Slam return ended in a first-round loss, where her name is prominently displayed alongside prior Australian Open champions.
On Monday night, three matches into her return from 15 months off the tour and six months after the birth of her daughter, Shai, Osaka was defeated 6-4, 7-6 (2) by 16th-seeded Caroline Garcia in a tight match at Rod Laver Arena.
“The competitive side of me is really frustrated that I’m not winning these matches, of course,” Osaka said at a post-match press conference. “So I wouldn’t say, like, this comeback is how I thought because I’m delusional enough to think I could have won the tournament.”
She grinned before saying, “I think my delusion is what allows me to win the tournaments.”
Osaka won the U.SU.S.en in 2018 and 2020 and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. This was her first loss in the first round since her debut in Melbourne in 2016.
After losing in the first round of the French Open and the United States Open in 2022, she took a break from tennis to care for her health. For now, she has no plans to take any additional breaks.
Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
“Yeah, I think I just have to keep living day by day and training hard and playing a lot more matches,” she said. “And hopefully, my dreams will come true.”
The big-serving Garcia did not offer Osaka a chance at a breakpoint during the match. Most rallies were brief, with only three lasting more than nine strokes. The majority were less than four. Most of the service holds were comfortable, except Osaka’s one dropped game in the first set. That made all the difference.
“I have a lot of respect for Naomi as a person and as a player — 15 months she’s been away,” Garcia said. “I’m pleased to have her back. Six months after giving birth, she’s already playing well. We must exercise caution.”
Osaka was one of three former Australian Open champions who returned to Melbourne Park as mothers, including 2016 winner Angelique Kerber and 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki.
The Australian Open began on Sunday and will be played across 15 days for the first time, with the first round divided over three days to reduce late-finishing matches.
Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
Nonetheless, it was 1:39 a.m. local time when Felix Auger-Aliassime completed a 4-hour, 59-minute victory over 2020 U.SU.S.en winner Dominic Thiem, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 5-7, 6-3. A ball kid had to chase a bird off the court at Margaret Court Arena during the fourth set, which caused the audience to chuckle briefly. It then flew over the stadium briefly before play resumed.
Auger-Aliassime’s victory snapped a string of three consecutive first-round exits at majors.
Coco Gauff, the US U.S.en champion, defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3, 6-0 in the first match on Rod Laver Arena.
After receiving guidance from Andy Roddick, the 19-year-old Gauff, who won her maiden major at the U.S. U.S. in September, claimed she felt more confident in her serve.
Fourth-seeded Gauff only dropped one game on her serve in the second set and praised Roddick, adding, “He’s probably one of the best servers in history.”
Marketa Vondrousova, the Wimbledon winner, was eliminated in the first round after losing 6-1 and 6-2 to Dayana Yastremska while dealing with a hip issue.
Mirra Andreeva, a third 16-year-old, advanced to the second round after defeating 29-year-old Bernarda Pera 7-5, 6-2. She will face sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up.
Alina Korneeva and Brenda Fruhvirtova, both 16, advanced after winning their maiden Grand Slam main draw matches on Sunday.
“I’m reallyd for this,” Andreeva remarked, playing Jabeur. “I’ve said several times that she’s the player I admire. I absolutely enjoy the way she plays. I’m confident it’ll be a fantastic match.”
Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s newest top-10 player, advanced after former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic retired from their match. De Minaur was ahead 6-7 (6), 6-3, 2-0 when the big-serving Canadian quit injured.
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 and 2022 finalist at Melbourne Park, advanced after his opponent retired from their encounter.
Medvedev had lost the first set but was up 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, and 1-0 when 22-year-old Terence Atmane retired due to cramps.
“When I was feeling tired in the third set, I looked up the other end and saw he was cramping,” Medvedev told reporters. “The conditions were fine, but it has not been hot these seven days, and then it was hot today, so you get more stressed.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final last year, defeated Zizou Bergs 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to progress.
Adrian Mannarino defeated Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. Djokovic, a 10-time winner, is now the lone Australian champion in the men’s tournament.
Andy Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, fell to Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, and claimed it could be his last appearance in the season’s opening major.
SOURCE – (AP)
News
Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The sun released its largest flare in nearly two decades Tuesday, only days after strong solar storms battered Earth and caused stunning northern lights in unexpected places.
“Not finished yet!” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated in its update.
Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time
According to NOAA, it is the largest flare of this 11-year solar cycle, which is nearing its peak. The good news is that Earth should be safe this time since the flare erupted on a portion of the sun that rotates away from Earth.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught the dazzling flash of the X-ray flare. It was the strongest flare since 2005, with an X8.7 rating.
Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time
Bryan Brasher of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, believes it may have been much stronger after scientists gathered data from other sources.
It comes after nearly a week of coronal plasma flares and mass ejections that threatened to disrupt power and communications on Earth and in space. Brasher stated that an ejection connected with Tuesday’s flare appeared to be directed away from our planet, and further investigation is underway.
Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time
According to NASA, the weekend geomagnetic storm forced one of its environmental satellites to rotate unexpectedly due to reduced altitude from space weather and enter a precautionary slumber known as safe mode. The seven astronauts on the International Space Station were urged to stay in places with strong radiation shielding. The crew was never in danger, according to NASA.
SOURCE – (AP)
News
Over 6,000 Told to Evacuate as Fort McMurray Fire Rages
As a wildfire rages uncontrollably south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, over 6000 inhabitants have been told to evacuate their homes. The wildfire, which was discovered on Thursday around 25 kilometers southwest of the city, has expanded into an 11,000-hectare storm.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, it was approximately 7.5 kilometers from Fort McMurray’s dump and 6.5 kilometers from the intersection of Highways 63 and 881 according to Fort McMurray Today.
According to Alberta Wildfire spokesperson Josee St-Onge, the fire has grown in size and spread to the northeast since the last estimate.
She stated that the wind is driving it towards Fort McMurray. According to St-Onge, the fire is approximately 13.5 kilometers from the Fort McMurray landfill, but “smoke is impacting visibility” and making it difficult to identify actual distances.
“We’re seeing extreme fire behaviour,” she stated. “Smoke columns are developing.” Firefighters have been removed from the fire lines for their own safety, according to St-Onge, but the aerial onslaught continues.
“We understand that this is a very stressful time for the community.” We’re doing everything we can,” she explained.
People in the Abasand, Beacon Hill, Grayling Terrace, and Prairie Creek communities have been asked to leave. Abasand and Beacon Hill lost the majority of the 2,579 properties burned by the Horse River wildfire of 2016.
Rush to evacuate Fort McMurray
People in Fort McMurray have been urged to prepare for an evacuation since Friday afternoon, when the wildfire, known as MWF-017, reached 200 hectares. A same warning applies to Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, Saprae Creek, and the Fort McMurray First Nation.
“If you live in an area not subject to these evacuation orders, please allow these communities to evacuate first.” “It’s critical that we approach this in a safe, orderly, and respectful manner,” said Jody Butz, the RMWB’s regional fire chief and emergency director, at a press conference.
“It’s critical for me to understand that this fire activity is completely different from the 2016 Horse River wildfire. We have a plethora of resources and are well positioned to handle this crisis.”
Despite Butz’s warnings, many individuals from other communities clogged Highway 63 as they rushed to evacuate Fort McMurray. The Wood Buffalo RCMP stopped the route between route 881 and Highway 69, limiting transportation to persons in evacuation zones.
It will take awhile for emergency personnel to determine the real number of people that evacuated Fort McMurray.
High Winds Fueling the Fire
Butz stated at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that he is sure that no additional evacuation orders would be issued for the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region. He also stated that there are currently no signs that the wildfire would cross the Athabasca River.
Winds are moving the wildfire northeast toward Fort McMurray. Current forecasts indicate that winds will begin to carry the blaze west and northwest around 8 p.m. However, Butz also stated that the weather has shifted from beneficial to combative for firefighters fighting the wildfire.
“The previous days’ forecast was highly good. The favorable winds carried the fire and smoke away from the neighborhood. There were also projections for precipitation. That has changed, and they are factors over which we have no influence,” Butz explained.
Butz expressed “a high, high level of confidence” that firefighters will succeed in keeping the wildfire away of Fort McMurray. Butz mentioned benefits that firemen now have that did not exist in 2016, during the press conference, earlier interviews, and a council meeting.
There are less fuel sources for the fire because the 2016 Horse River wildfire burnt through dead and dry vegetation that had accumulated over time. The fire is now burning through dead grass and burned trees from 2016.
In the past eight years, wildfire combat strategies and methods have also improved. In comparison to 2016, there are more fire guards closer to Fort McMurray and more workers fighting the blaze.
Many emergency management leaders are veterans of the 2016 wildfire. People also have more experience dealing with evacuations.
“This fire is much different than 2016,” Butz added, expressing hope that reentry will be “quite quick.” “We are far more prepared and we have definitely reduced the impact of welfare on our communities.”
The Fort McMurray municipality advises people to:
- Follow rmwb.ca/alerts for evacuation information
- Be aware and stay informed by following official and trusted channels such as alberta.ca/wildfire-status
- Download the Alberta Emergency Alerts App
- Check road updates at 511.alberta.ca
- Follow local media sources
- Arrange with neighbours to advise one another of an emergency notification
- Prepare an emergency kit for your household
- Make an emergency plan for your household
- Evacuees should register online. Anyone needing accommodation or support should report to the Parkland One registration centre in Lac La Biche.
Wildfires in Fort Nelson BC Expands to 17 Square Miles Forcing Evacuations
Wildfires in Fort Nelson BC Expands to 17 Square Miles Forcing Evacuations
News
Jimmie Johnson To Attempt His Own Version Of Indy 500 & NASCAR Doubleheader
Indianapolis — Jimmie Johnson will attempt his version of “The Double” by becoming the first driver to join the Indianapolis 500 broadcast crew hours before competing in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600.
Jimmie, who will race in the Indy 500 in 2022, worked in the NBC Sports broadcast booth in 2021, when he only competed on the road and street circuits on the IndyCar season. He added ovals to his second and final season of American open-wheel racing.
Jimmie Johnson To Attempt His Own Version Of Indy 500 & NASCAR Doubleheader
Jimmie will join NBC’s broadcast team for the May 26 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the network said on Tuesday. This will be Jimmie’s first regular analyst opportunity with the network this year.
“To have the opportunity to experience ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ once again is such an honor,” Jimmie stated. “Being a member of the NBC broadcast team in 2021 just increased my desire to make my childhood dream of competing in the Indianapolis 500 a reality. Competing in this event as a driver was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so being able to relive the pageantry is quite special.”
Jimmie will fly to Charlotte, North Carolina, following the Indy 500 to compete in NASCAR’s longest race. The Hall of Famer won the Coca-Cola 600 four times during his full-time NASCAR career. Johnson now races a limited schedule as a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club.
Jimmie Johnson To Attempt His Own Version Of Indy 500 & NASCAR Doubleheader
Johnson will also be an analyst for NBC later this season at NASCAR events in Daytona and Talladega, as well as races in which he is scheduled to compete.
“Any time you can add one of the greatest drivers of all time and an icon of the sport, you jump at the opportunity,” said Sam Flood, NBC Sports’ motorsports lead producer. “We are thrilled to be working with Jimmie and adding his unique perspective on every race he covers, as well as having him become the first person ever to do the ‘Double’ — history awaits.”
Jimmie Johnson To Attempt His Own Version Of Indy 500 & NASCAR Doubleheader
SOURCE – (AP)
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