Digest

TENNIS

Indian Wells tournament canceled over virus fears

This week's ATP and WTA tournament in Indian Wells, California, has been canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus, making it the first major sporting event in the US to be scrubbed due to the outbreak.

The tournament, one of the biggest outside the four Grand Slams, was called off just days before it was due to begin. Officials said in a news release on Sunday that they opted to cancel after the health department of California's Riverside County declared a public health emergency for the Coachella Valley－in the desert east of Los Angeles－after a confirmed case of COVID-19 locally.

No further details of the case were given. Days earlier, organizers had said the tournament would proceed as scheduled, with extra health measures in place such as hand-sanitizing stations, beefed-up cleaning protocols and gloves for ball kids, volunteers and food workers.

Kenin crowned champ after ending mini-slump

Newly crowned Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin grabbed her second title of 2020, winning the inaugural Lyon Open with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Anna-Lena Friedsam on Sunday.

The top seed bounced back from a poor run in Dubai and Doha, where she suffered two consecutive first-round exits, to clinch the fifth title of her career in the French city.

"I had two tough losses but I knew I needed to regroup, and I'm so happy that I won it," the 21-year-old American said.

The victory lifts Kenin to fourth place in the WTA rankings. But the week in Lyon was not easy for Kenin as four of her five matches turned out to be tough three-setters.

She saved a match point against Jaqueline Cristian in the second round and survived three tie-breaks in Saturday's semifinal against Alison Van Uytvanck.

"Every match was a close one and I had to really fight through, every player I played put up a tough fight against me, and I was able to play my game which was good," Kenin said.

"I'm happy that I came here to Lyon－it was a good decision from my side."

Svitolina off mark after epic Mexico thriller

Top seed Elina Svitolina prevailed in a three-hour thriller against Marie Bouzkova－7-5, 4-6, 6-4－to seize her first title of the season at the Monterrey Open in Mexico.

In a battle of perseverance, Bouzkova had seven break-point chances in the marathon opening game, finally converting on the seventh, which set the tone for the long battle ahead.

Svitolina would have to win five breaks of her own over the duration of the match to end a title drought of more than a year.

"It was an amazing battle," Ukraine's Svitolina said at the trophy presentation.

Czech No 9 seed Bouzkova refused to relent despite dropping the opening set. With the second set knotted at 3-3, Bouzkova took advantage of a pair of Svitolina miscues to move ahead before taking a commanding 5-3 on a break.

SOCCER

Boca title joy sealed with Maradona kiss

Carlos Tevez struck the goal that clinched Boca Juniors the Argentine Superliga title on a dramatic final day of the season－after planting a pre-match kiss on Diego Maradona, the coach of opposing side Gimnasia.

Boca entered the final round of matches trailing River Plate by a point, but its bitter Buenos Aires rival left the door ajar thanks to a 1-1 draw away to Atletico Tucuman.

Tevez blasted home the winner from the edge of the area on 72 minutes at La Bombonera as Boca secured a 1-0 victory on Saturday to earn a third league title in four years.

The well-traveled former Shanghai Shenhua striker credited his pre-match embrace with Argentina great Maradona for providing his stroke of fortune.

"I knew I had to kiss Diego, I was lucky that way. Sometimes you have to look for luck," Tevez told Argentine sports daily Ole.

The 36-year-old, a three-time English Premier League winner and twice Italian Serie A champion, said his latest title was one of the most memorable.

"It is something I can't explain. It hasn't sunk in yet, it's one of the greatest emotions I've had," said Tevez.

'Sad' Juve triumphs in empty stadium

Aaron Ramsey starred as Juventus beat title rival Inter Milan 2-0 on Sunday to reclaim top spot in Serie A in a game played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier in the day, Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora called for the league season to be put on hold.

His statement caused chaos at the early game between SPAL and Parma, with confused players sent back to the dressing rooms from the tunnel before eventually taking to the field 75 minutes after the scheduled kick-off.

Juve's game against Inter in Turin did go ahead, although in an empty Allianz Stadium, with the defending champion taking a one-point lead over Lazio at the top of the standings.

"It's all a little strange and sad to play football in these conditions, sad for the fans and the players," Juventus director Fabio Paratici told Sky Sport Italia.

"We trained in the empty stadium yesterday to get accustomed to the situation, but to be honest, I don't think we can ever really get used to it."

GOLF

Campillo's hot putter prevails in playoff

Spain's Jorge Campillo beat David Drysdale in a closely fought playoff on Sunday to win the Qatar Masters and secure a second European Tour title.

Scotsman Drysdale has now contested 498 European Tour events without a win and has finished as runner-up on four occasions.

Campillo had a two-shot lead ahead of the final two holes, but hit a double bogey on the 17th, meaning the victor was decided by extra holes for the second time in as many weeks.

"I'm just so proud right now of the way I played in the playoff," Campillo said. "I hardly missed a shot and I was able to make some putts.

"I hit some good shots in the middle of the round but you have to be patient, you have to try hard. I knew I was going to make some putts. It was a tough win but I'm glad I pulled it off.

"David was hitting some great shots into the hole and I had to make some putts. Three birdies out of six on 18 to win is something to be proud of."

Xinhua - Agencies