Zverev helps Europe bag Laver Cup title

CHICAGO: Europe retained their Laver Cup tennis crown as Alexander Zverev defeated Kevin Anderson to complete a 13-8 win over the World team. Germany’s Zverev came from a set down to complete a 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 10-7 win over Anderson as the Europeans defended the title won in Prague last year. American duo John Isner and Jack Sock fought off two match points to defeat Zverev and Roger Federer. Isner and Sock prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11/9 to give the World team an 8-7 lead with the three singles rubbers remaining. Europe responded superbly, with old Federer defeating Isner 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6), 10/7.

ADITI ENDS TIED 5TH

SITGES (SPAIN): Aditi Ashok shot a 6-under 65 to finish tied fifth, her best finish of the season, in the final round of the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open. The 20-year-old Bengaluru golfer rose to 16-under for her third Top-10 finish of the year but the first one in top-5. Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands won with 26-under.

INDIA HOLD IRAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Goalkeeper Niraj Kumar turned out to be the hero as India held Iran to a goalless draw in the AFC U-16 Championship, the first time in 33 years. The young custodian from Punjab blocked a 76th minute penalty to deny the fancied Iranians full points.

BHULLAR FINISHES 26TH

TOKYO: Gaganjeet Bhullar carded 2-under 69 to finish T-26th at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup. Bhullar signed rounds of 67, 72, 75 and 69 to be one-under 283.Rahil Gangjee (71) was Tied-48th and Ajeetesh Sandhu (75) was Tied-60th. Yuta Ikeda of Japan won the title.

INDIA WIN SANS ANAND

BATUMI (GEORGIA): Indian teams opened their campaigns in the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia with convincing wins on Monday despite playing without their top ranked players. The men’s team, without GM Viswanathan Anand, defeated lowly El Salvador 3.5-0.5. The women’s team, playing without Dronavalli Harika, was on its way to blanking New Zealand, having opened a convincing 3-0 lead.