Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. Tyler Abramson Scores 5 Goals as U.S. Men, Women Open Worlds with Wins The American men and women each opened the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, with wins this week. The U.S. men’s team rolled to an 18-5 win over Kazakhstan to open Group A play. Tyler Abramson scored five goals in the win. Johnny Hooper added a hat trick, while Ryder Dodd, Ben Hallock and Hannes Daube scored twice each. Adrian Weinberg and Drew Holland combined for nine saves. The U.S. pitched a second-half shutout, outscoring Kazakhstan 9-0. Hallock scored both of his goals in the third quarter, and Abramson added two markers in the fourth. Dushan Markovich tallied a hat trick for Kazakhstan. The U.S. faces Australia on Tuesday before finishing the group against Greece. The Greeks topped Australia, 13-9. In the marquee battle of the day, reigning World Champion Spain downed the Tokyo Olympic champion Serbia, 16-14. A 7-0 run in the first half gave Spain a lead it wouldn’t relinquish, holding off Serbia down the stretch. Alvaro Granados scored five times for Spain. Felipe Perrone added four goals, and Blai Mallarach had a hat trick. Strahinja Rasovic led Serbia with six goals. On the women’s side, the U.S. weathered a slow start to rout China, 15-6. The Americans led just 1-0 after one quarter but pulled away to hold a 7-2 edge by halftime. Ten players scored for the Americans, led by four goals from Maddie Musselman. Rachel Fattal and Jordan Raney scored twice each. Ashleigh Johnson made 10 saves in goal. Australia is up next for the Americans on Tuesday. The Aussies topped France, 10-8, on Day 1. Day 1 saw three one-goal games on the women’s side. Netherlands topped Spain, 7-6, thanks to two Brigitte Sleeking goals in the fourth quarter. A 10-goal first quarter sent New Zealand and Japan flying toward a 17-16 decision, won by the Kiwis. Bernadette Doyle scored two of her five goals in a decisive 4-0 run for New Zealand in the fourth, and Emily Nicholson added four goals. It spoiled a five-goal day by Eruna Ura of Japan. Hungary had to dig deep, behind four goals from Rita Keszthelyi, to see off Canada, 11-10.
