GYMNASTICS
BOSTON (AP) — Olympic champion Simone Biles easily won her fifth US womens gymnastics title, winning all four events as well as the all-around in a dominant performance that showcased the ever-widening chasm between Biles and the rest of her sport.
Biles won the vent in a personally designed teal leotard that was a tribute to the victims of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Biles was among the girls sexually abused by Nassar. Biles electric performance came hours after USA Gymnastics president Kerry Perry spent 22 minutes talking around the fallout of the Nassar scandal without offering much in the way of substance in her first extended public comments since taking over last December.
The 21-year-old posted a two-day total of 119.850, more than six points ahead of reigning world champion Morgan Hurd and a full seven points clear of Riley McCusker. Biles margin of victory was greater than the gap between Hurd and 11th-place finisher Jordan Chiles.
Biles is the second woman to win nationals five times, joining Clara Schroth Lomady, who won six between 1945 and 1952. Biles also became the first woman since three-time Olympian Dominique Dawes in 1994 to wind up first on floor exercise, balance beam, vault and uneven bars.
AUTO RACING
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — IndyCar driver Robert Wickens is being treated for injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine following an accident early in a race at Pocono
IndyCar said the Canadian sustained a pulmonary contusion Sunday and will undergo an MRI and probable surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest in Allentown.
The 29-year-old IndyCar rookie was attempting to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay when the two cars slightly touched. That caused Hunter-Reays car to careen into the wall and Wickens car was pulled along for the ride. Once Wickens car soared over Hunter-Reays and hit the fence, it spun round and round like a top.
The fencing was shredded and Wickens car was reduced to just the tub, which came to a rest on the track along an interior wall.
Medical workers calmly attended to Wickens, who was taken to an ambulance before he was transported to the helicopter. The impact of the wreck tore out a large section of fencing that needed almost two hours to repair.
TENNIS
MASON, Ohio (AP) — Novak Djokovic finally mastered the one tournament thats eluded him, beating nemesis Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 for his first Western & Southern Open championship.
He got the better of a nostalgic rematch — they hadnt played in two years because of injuries — and broke through in a tournament that Federer has won seven times, never losing a title match.
After Federers forehand sailed wide for the deciding point, Djokovic raised both arms and roared. Then he jumped and punched the air before giving his racket to a fan and tossing his sweatbands into the stands.
No need for mementos. That first Rookwood pottery trophy will be enough.
Djokovic is the first to claim all nine ATP Masters 1000 events since the series started in 1990. It had become his personal quest after he lost in the finals five times — three against Federer.
BASKETBALL
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Four Japanese basketball players were kicked off their Asian Games team and sent home Monday after delegation head Yasuhiro Yamashita said they “spent the night in a hotel with women.”
Yamashita told a news conference that the four players hooked up with the women after eating and drinking in an entertainment district and were easily identified by wearing Japan-emblazoned shirts.
“I met with the athletes and they deeply regret what they did,” Yamashita said. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart as the head of the delegation.”
The incident took place after Japans 82-71 win over Qatar in a group-stage game last Thursday.
Japanese Olympic officials said they learned of the incident after a newspaper published photographs of the players out on the town.
ESPORTS
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Dota 2s marquee event has broken its own record for the biggest prize pool in esports history with a purse approaching $25 million.
The International surpassed its 2017 total of $24,787,916 on Sunday night, marking the sixth straight year of increasing prize pools since the tournament moved to a crowd-funded format in 2013. Fans boost the tournament pot via in-game microtransactions, with Dota 2 developer Valve also supplying $1.6 million in prize money.
The tournaments main event is set to begin Monday, and the pool will be distributed to the final 18 teams. The five-person club that wins The International will earn $10.9 million. The finals are set for Saturday.
GYMNASTICS
BOSTON (AP) — Olympic champion Simone Biles easily won her fifth US womens gymnastics title, winning all four events as well as the all-around in a dominant performance that showcased the ever-widening chasm between Biles and the rest of her sport.
Biles won the vent in a personally designed teal leotard that was a tribute to the victims of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Biles was among the girls sexually abused by Nassar. Biles electric performance came hours after USA Gymnastics president Kerry Perry spent 22 minutes talking around the fallout of the Nassar scandal without offering much in the way of substance in her first extended public comments since taking over last December.
The 21-year-old posted a two-day total of 119.850, more than six points ahead of reigning world champion Morgan Hurd and a full seven points clear of Riley McCusker. Biles margin of victory was greater than the gap between Hurd and 11th-place finisher Jordan Chiles.
Biles is the second woman to win nationals five times, joining Clara Schroth Lomady, who won six between 1945 and 1952. Biles also became the first woman since three-time Olympian Dominique Dawes in 1994 to wind up first on floor exercise, balance beam, vault and uneven bars.
AUTO RACING
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — IndyCar driver Robert Wickens is being treated for injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine following an accident early in a race at Pocono
IndyCar said the Canadian sustained a pulmonary contusion Sunday and will undergo an MRI and probable surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest in Allentown.
The 29-year-old IndyCar rookie was attempting to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay when the two cars slightly touched. That caused Hunter-Reays car to careen into the wall and Wickens car was pulled along for the ride. Once Wickens car soared over Hunter-Reays and hit the fence, it spun round and round like a top.
The fencing was shredded and Wickens car was reduced to just the tub, which came to a rest on the track along an interior wall.
Medical workers calmly attended to Wickens, who was taken to an ambulance before he was transported to the helicopter. The impact of the wreck tore out a large section of fencing that needed almost two hours to repair.
TENNIS
MASON, Ohio (AP) — Novak Djokovic finally mastered the one tournament thats eluded him, beating nemesis Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 for his first Western & Southern Open championship.
He got the better of a nostalgic rematch — they hadnt played in two years because of injuries — and broke through in a tournament that Federer has won seven times, never losing a title match.
After Federers forehand sailed wide for the deciding point, Djokovic raised both arms and roared. Then he jumped and punched the air before giving his racket to a fan and tossing his sweatbands into the stands.
No need for mementos. That first Rookwood pottery trophy will be enough.
Djokovic is the first to claim all nine ATP Masters 1000 events since the series started in 1990. It had become his personal quest after he lost in the finals five times — three against Federer.
BASKETBALL
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Four Japanese basketball players were kicked off their Asian Games team and sent home Monday after delegation head Yasuhiro Yamashita said they “spent the night in a hotel with women.”
Yamashita told a news conference that the four players hooked up with the women after eating and drinking in an entertainment district and were easily identified by wearing Japan-emblazoned shirts.
“I met with the athletes and they deeply regret what they did,” Yamashita said. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart as the head of the delegation.”
The incident took place after Japans 82-71 win over Qatar in a group-stage game last Thursday.
Japanese Olympic officials said they learned of the incident after a newspaper published photographs of the players out on the town.
ESPORTS
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Dota 2s marquee event has broken its own record for the biggest prize pool in esports history with a purse approaching $25 million.
The International surpassed its 2017 total of $24,787,916 on Sunday night, marking the sixth straight year of increasing prize pools since the tournament moved to a crowd-funded format in 2013. Fans boost the tournament pot via in-game microtransactions, with Dota 2 developer Valve also supplying $1.6 million in prize money.
The tournaments main event is set to begin Monday, and the pool will be distributed to the final 18 teams. The five-person club that wins The International will earn $10.9 million. The finals are set for Saturday.
