US Open winner Stephens crashes out in first round

WUHAN: US Open winner Sloane Stephens suffered a shock defeat at the hands of China’s Wang Qiang in the first round of the Wuhan Open, hours after fellow Flushing Meadows finalist Madison Keys tumbled out. Stephens, the 14th seed, lost 6-2, 6-2 in her first WTA event since her surprise victory against Keys in New York.

EUROPE WIN LAVER CUP

PRAGUE: Roger Federer handed Team Europe the maiden Laver Cup title after beating Team World’s Nick Kyrgios in a super tie-break thriller in Prague. Federer won 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 11/9.

CAVANI SHUNS ‘OFFER’

NEWDELHI: Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has refused a payout of €1 million from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to let Neymar take penalties, according to a report in Spanish daily El Pais. The daily has claimed that the 30-year-old striker was offered the amount as bonus should he finish as leading scorer in the French top division. But Cavani rebuffed the offer.

FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

NEW DELHI: In-Joy Life Center is jointly organising a Delhi Football Festival from October 1 to 4 at Ambedkar Stadium. There will be matches between eight professional clubs of Delhi. Small football events will take place during the gap between two matches such as juggling competition, penalty shoot outs, 7X7 and 3X3 side matches for the audience. To promote football at the grassroot level, there will also be inter school matches in the morning andgirls matchesin the evening.

INDIA WIN THREE GOLD

NEWDELHI: India’s young paddlers crowned their terrific run in the Slovenia Junior and Cadet Open by finishing with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals late on Sunday night at Otocec. Seventeen-year-old Manav Thakkar led the charge on the last day of the tournament, winning the Junior Boys’ Singles and Junior Boys’ Doubles’ title in the company of Manush Shah to make it a grand gold double for himself.