LONDON — Venus Williams wept at Wimbledon over the “devastation” of a fatal road accident for which she is facing legal action as Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal eased into the second round on Monday.

World number three Stan Wawrinka was the opening day’s biggest casualty, losing to Russian debutant Daniil Medvedev while there were emotional comeback wins for Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka.

Williams, the 37-year-old five-time champion, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her maiden appearance at the All England Club.

But that landmark has been overshadowed by her involvement last month in a road accident near her Florida home which resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man.

“There are really no words to describe, like, how devastating and — yeah. I’m completely speechless. It’s just…” Williams said in a news conference before breaking down and leaving to compose herself.

The family of Jerome Barson, who suffered a fractured spine and numerous internal injuries in the smash, said they intend to sue the US star.

When she was asked how she was coping mentally, Williams added: “I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. That’s all I
can say about it. That’s what I’ve learned.”

Despite the tragedy at home, Williams remained focused enough on Court One to clinch a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the first round.

Defending men’s champion Murray celebrated the news that he is about to become a father again by reaching the second round.

The top seed and world number one downed Kazakh lucky loser Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, showing little sign of the hip problem which plagued him in the build-up.

“I have felt OK the last few days and the adrenaline you feel by playing a match numbs any pain you may have,” said the British star after seeing off world number 134 Bublik.

Murray next faces Dustin Brown, the man who knocked out Nadal two years ago.

German world number 97 Brown came back from a set and a break down to beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4.

JOY FOR KVITOVA, AZARENKA
World number two and two-time champion Nadal secured his 850th career victory with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Australia’s John Millman.

Fresh from winning his 10th French Open title, Nadal goes on to face Donald Young for a place in the last 32.

“I haven’t had many matches on grass for the last few years, but I had some positive feelings,” said Nadal, who missed last year’s tournament with a wrist injury.

Swiss fifth seed and French Open runner-up Wawrinka was knocked out by Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

World number 49 Medvedev, making his Wimbledon debut, handed 33-year-old Wawrinka a sixth first round loss at the All England Club, although his efforts were hampered by a left knee injury which required an ice pack at the changeovers.

“I wasn’t feeling the way I wanted to feel. But I played against a great player who was confident,” said Wawrinka whose pain was eased slightly when girlfriend Donna Vekic won her opening match.

Medvedev, 21, kissed the Centre Court grass to celebrate his victory, his first at any Slam.

“A year ago I was ranked 250. If someone told me in one year I would win on Centre Court I would tell you, you are joking,” said the wirey Russian.

There was plenty of emotion too for 2011 and 2014 Kvitova as the popular Czech downed Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-3, 6-4.

Kvitova was playing just her eighth match since suffering a potentially career-ending hand injury fighting off a knife-wielding burglar at her home in December.

“I felt the energy from the crowd and it was amazing to be back here at Wimbledon and playing on the beautiful Centre Court,” the 27-year-old said.

Former world number one Azarenka defeated CiCi Bellis of the United States 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in her first Grand Slam since taking time off after last year’s French Open to have her first child Leo in December.

The two-time Australian Open champion made the semifinals at the All England Club in 2011 and 2012.

“I understand that I need to be patient but the competitor in me wants everything quick,” admitted Azarenka.

Nick Kyrgios, who beat Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014, will not get another opportunity to repeat that shock.

The combustible 20th seeded Australian was 6-3, 6-4 down to France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert when he called it quits after failing to shake off the hip injury which has plagued him in recent weeks.

Women’s second seed Simona Halep, blasted off court in the French Open final by Jelena Ostapenko, downed New Zealand qualifier Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-1.

Ostapenko, the 2014 Wimbledon junior champion, saw off Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 6-0, 1-6, 6-3. — AFP

KAYA FC-Makati makes a short turnaround as it heads south of the metro in Biñan to battle Stallion Laguna FC in midweek Philippines Football League (PFL) action today.

Played its last game on Sunday where it fought to a 2-2 draw with Global Cebu FC at the University of Makati, Kaya, currently at fifth place with a 3-2-3 record and 11 points, now focuses on Stallion (0-3-5) in their scheduled 4 p.m. game at the Biñan Football Stadium with the end view of getting the full three points with a win and pad its top four push in the newly created national football league.

In its previous game against Global that was rain-drenched, Kaya put itself in a position to win but just could not get the victory to the dock.

Kaya broke a 1-1 tie with Global in the 89th minute with a goal from Robert Mendy but the celebration proved to be short-lived as forward Sekou Sylla pulled Global even a minute later resulting in the stalemate.

The result left Kaya ruing the lost opportunity as it could have significantly helped its PFL cause, especially since it was near notching the win.

“For majority of the game, our defense played well, but split seconds of switching off can cost you a game. Our players performed well. It’s better to have one point rather than none in this game. I think our players held them well and we were able to score. But just a split second of switching off cost us,” said Kaya coach Noel Marcaida, whose wards ended a two-game losing streak with the draw.

LOOKING FOR BREAKTHROUGH
Stallion, for its part, is out to finally get its first-ever victory in the PFL in today’s game on its home turf.

While it has been competing, the breakthrough win it is angling for has yet to come in eight games so far.

In its previous match last Saturday, Laguna was on the raw end of a 5-2 victory by Ceres-Negros FC.

Stallion was rendered out early when it gave away four goals in the first half alone. It tried to rally back but Ceres would have none of that and stayed in control the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, also seeing action today are Global and Ceres, who will collide in a marquee match at the former’s home of Cebu Center Sports Complex at 7 p.m.

Global (4-2-2) is currently at third place with 14 points while Ceres (4-1-1) is a hair down at fourth with 13 points. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

OWING to their impressive showing in the preseason and the retooling they did from last year, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates have many in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) noticing, installing them as a legit contender when Season 93 rolls out this weekend.

Coached by former Philippine Basketball Association player Topex Robinson, the Pirates will now feature transferee from Ateneo CJ Perez, who many consider as a potential game-changer for the team, joining some solid holdovers from Season 92, including big man Mike Harry Nzeusseu, as well as other newcomers.

The preparation and buildup Lyceum has done are seemingly making things happen for the Intramuros-based school with the Pirates finishing third and the second best NCAA team in the recent Premier Cup that had teams from the NCAA and University Athletic Association of the Philippines competing.

Lyceum’s spirited showing in the preseason has many believing that it may now finally shed its middling ways in the country’s longest standing collegiate league and go deep in the tournament.

“We all know we’re one of the smallest teams in the NCAA but we have a system that puts premium on speed and aggressiveness to neutralize our size disadvantage,” said Mr. Robinson of the kind of team they will be having in Season 93.

For rival teams in the NCAA, considering where Lyceum is coming from it is no doubt a “darkhorse” in the upcoming tournament, hosted this year by San Sebastian College and with a theme of “NCAA Strong @ Season 93.”

“Considering what they have done in the preseason and how Coach Topex has established a solid identity and system with the team, Lyceum is a team to contend with this year,” said comebacking NCAA coach Boyet Fernandez of defending champion San Beda College during the press conference for Season 93 last Monday.

He was seconded by coach Egay Macaraya of host San Sebastian, who lined up the Pirates among the top teams to give perennial favorites like San Beda and Arellano a tough challenge.

“Lyceum should be up there with the improvement it is showing and should challenge San Beda and Arellano,” the Stags coach said.

For Mr. Robinson, their newfound “weight” in the NCAA scheme of things is something they are embracing and taking on as a challenge.

“It has always been our vision to have a winning culture in Lyceum. We’re not yet there but we are on our way. We welcome the challenge as a darkhorse and we will control what we can control and let’s see where it leads us,” said Mr. Robinson, whose team has not finished better than sixth place since joining the league in 2011.

He went on to say that they are aiming for a Final Four spot and go deeper if possible.

“Who wouldn’t want to play in the Final Four and win a championship? But we can’t get ahead of ourselves and drown ourselves with a glass of water. We have to keep working harder to achieve it,” he said.

NCAA Season 93 kicks off on Saturday, July 8, at the Mall of Asia Arena. Games will be broadcast live over S+A and S+A HD and via livestreaming on sports.abs-cbn.com.

JUST a few days after being included in the Gilas team, Kobe Paras, the youngest member of the squad, is making a good impression.

Head coach Chot Reyes is beginning to take notice.

“His physical skills are very self-evident, but he has to understand first, how to play within this team, within this group of players. Secondly, how to adopt his game to the kind of offense that we’re running. I think the offense is tailor-fit for him,” Mr. Reyes told BusinessWorld.

Mr. Paras didn’t have much difficulty running the dribble drive offense of Mr. Reyes as it is similar to the ones they’ve been doing in his former college team, Creighton.

“It’s perfect, actually. Just because in my old college, Creighton, we run a lot.

I’m used to running. Me and Ray Parks did a bunch of dribble drive. It’s great because this has been Coach Chot’s system ever since. When I was watching Gilas before, I was able to see it,” added Mr. Paras, son of Benjie Paras, the only Rookie of the Year/Most Valuable Player awardee in the PBA.

As the youngest member of the squad at 19, the second generation cager was able to blend himself well with the more experienced players in the Gilas team composed of young players in the PBA.

Mr. Paras added that the experience of playing bigger, faster and more athletic players in the United States had really prepared his skill set, which he is now using while joining the national team program.

“It’s a great experience,” Mr. Paras said. “When I was in the States, I’ve been competing against top of the line players, so I got used to it. If you see high school players in the States, they’re bigger compared to our college players here. I became more comfortable with the banging and everything. But it’s a great feeling being part of the pool because I look up to these guys and now they’re my teammates.”

Ray Parks, who rejoined the national team program and also spent years playing in the United States, was also impressed to see the growth of Mr. Paras.

“It feels great to play with a great competition and talent. Kobe is definitely a talented player,” added Parks.

Seeing Messrs. Paras and Parks playing together was like bringing back the hands of time. Their dads — Benjie and Bobby — were teammates with Shell in the PBA and together they led the team to two championships. — Rey Joble

LOS ANGELES — Former world number one Tiger Woods says he has finished a program to help him manage his medications, following his arrest in May for impaired driving.

Woods said he would move forward with his next round of treatment to ease back pain and sleep issues with the help of his physician and relatives.

“I recently completed an out of state private intensive program,” the golfing icon wrote Monday on his Twitter account. “I will continue to tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends.

“I am so very thankful for all of the support I’ve received.”

Woods did not provide any details of the treatment or type of program and did not say when he expected to return to golf.
Woods was arrested May 29 near his Florida home for impaired driving.

A breathalyzer test showed no sign of alcohol but a police video showed Woods struggling to answer questions and he said later he did not realize how prescription drugs he was taking might interact.

Woods made a comeback from back surgery in December in the Bahamas but has played only twice this year, missing the cut at Torrey Pines and withdrawing from the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic in February.

In April, Woods announced he had undergone his fourth back operation since 2014 to ease back and leg pain and would miss the remainder of the season.

Woods, whose 79 career PGA Tour wins are three shy of Sam Snead’s all-time record, has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open and has not won any event since the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational. — AFP