The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- US Open prepares for Hurricane Irene
- Australia's Metcalfe wins rainy Southwick National
- Calcavecchia eagles 18th, shares Boeing lead
| US Open prepares for Hurricane Irene Posted: 27 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP): As Hurricane Irene's first showers arrived, the site of the U.S. Open was quiet and nearly empty on Saturday, a stark contrast to the customary hustle and bustle two days before the Grand Slam tennis tournament's start. Normally, thousands of fans attend the celebrity-and-music-filled Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, but that event was cancelled on Friday because of worries about the approaching hurricane. And while dozens of players usually would be scattered around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, a light rain pushed them off the courts before noon. "Sure, it's somewhat scary, you know, because we don't know how hard it's going to hit us. I've got family. We're in New York City; it's not just a regular city. It's quite something with all the buildings," 16-time major champion Roger Federer said. "So it's unusual, but we'll follow the news closely." Maria Sharapova, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, shrugged her shoulders when asked about the hurricane. "Well, I'm a Florida girl, so I'm used to this stuff. I think everyone's a bit overreacting about everything, but of course you have to take precaution and all that. But, I mean, where are we going to go?" said Sharapova, who moved from Russia to the United States as a kid. "I just hope that our hotel is nice and tough and sturdy," she added with a chuckle. "That's all we can do, right?" She and Federer spoke at pre-tournament news conferences on Saturday; top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were originally scheduled to attend but did not. The last major of the year is scheduled to begin on Monday and finish on Sept. 11. Each of the past three years, rain disrupted the end of the tournament, pushing the men's final to Monday and sparking discussion about whether the USTA should put a roof over a court. This year, the bad weather is hitting at the start. Workers prepared on Saturday for the brunt of the storm by "taking away anything that was not secured to the ground," U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier said. That included wood benches, potted plants, banners and television equipment at the six courts from which matches are broadcast. The entire facility was being shut before 5 p.m. on Saturday, and will be closed to the public on Sunday. After the hurricane moves out of the area, the USTA will assess whatever damage there might be. Organisers will consider several factors before deciding whether to go ahead with play on Monday, including the condition of the entire facility, whether there is electrical power, and whether players, officials, tournament employees and spectators can reach it. The city's transit system was shut down on Saturday and won't reopen until at least Monday. "Based on the most recent forecasts, we're looking at winds in the 40 to 60 mph range. We know our structures are certainly capable of withstanding that. They're all structurally sound," said Daniel Zausner, managing director of the National Tennis Center. "If the forecasts are off, and things are significantly worse than that, then we're going to be in the same position as everyone else in the area." |
| Australia's Metcalfe wins rainy Southwick National Posted: 27 Aug 2011 05:54 PM PDT SOUTHWICK, Massachusetts (AP): Australia's Brett Metcalfe raced to his first 450 Class victory Saturday in the AMA Pro Motocross series' rainy Southwick National, finishing third in the first moto and second in the second. The Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider edged Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, who had 2-4 moto finishes. Suzuki's Ryan Dungey was third - finishing 1-7. Villopoto leads the season standings after 10 races, eight points ahead of Dungey. "I'm a winner now," Metcalfe said. "This career has been a roller coaster. After everything I've been through, to finally get a win after eight years just feels good. "The first moto was the worst I've ever rode at Southwick, but I still got third. We prepared my bike for the mud in the second moto and it rode like butter. It was perfect. I knew I had to beat Villopoto for the overall. I saw him ahead of me, dug deep, and passed him." Honda's Justin Barcia won the second moto after finishing 36th in the first. He ended up seventh overall. Earlier, South Africa's Tyla Rattray rode to his fourth 250 Class win of the summer, and Ashley Fiolek raced to her third Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women's Motocross Championship victory. |
| Calcavecchia eagles 18th, shares Boeing lead Posted: 27 Aug 2011 05:53 PM PDT SNOQUALMIE, Washington (AP): Mark Calcavecchia eagled the par-5 18th hole for a 5-under 67 and a share of the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tour's Boeing Classic. Calcavecchia, winless in 30 career starts in two seasons on the 50-and-over tour, matched Kenny Perry (68), Jeff Sluman (70) and Russ Cochran (71) at 7 under at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. Bob Gilder (69), Chip Beck (69) and Chien Soon Lu (69) were 5 under. Defending champion Bernhard Langer was 3 under after a 73. Fred Couples, the hometown star coming off a victory last weekend in New York in the Seniors Players Championship, shot a 69 to reach 2 under. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan