Djokovic keeps Italian Open win in perspective
ROME — Novak Djokovic was not looking too far ahead after beating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Monday.
Having failed to reach the quarterfinals in six consecutive tournaments after a right elbow injury, the 12-time Grand Slam winner does not want to place too much pressure on himself — even though he is a four-time Rome champion.
“Today's match encourages me and gives me reason to believe that it can be a good week for me,” Djokovic said. “I would like to go all the way but at the same time, looking at my results, I have to be a little bit more modest with expectations.”
In the rankings released Monday, Djokovic fell to No. 18 — his lowest standing since 2006 when he was still a rising pro
On the women's side, former U.S. Open finalist Roberta Vinci bid fans an emotional farewell after the final match of her career.
Having already announced that this would be her final tournament, the 35-year-old Vinci was beaten by Serbian qualifier Aleksandra Krunic 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.
At the 2015 U.S. Open, Vinci upset Serena Williams in the semifinals to prevent the American from completing a calendar-year Grand Slam. Then in all-Italian final, Vinci lost to Flavia Pennetta.
PRO FOOTBALL Salt Lake City joins Alliance
Salt Lake City is the fourth franchise location for the Alliance of American Football.
The startup league already had announced Orlando, Atlanta and Memphis for team locales. The Salt Lake City entry will play at Rice Eccles Stadium, home of the Utah Utes of the Pac-12, and the site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The Alliance will feature eight teams playing a 10-week regular season beginning Feb. 9, 2019.
BASEBALL
9-run 4th inning powers Skeeters
Alberto Cordero’s three-run homer highlighted a nine-run fourth inning for the Skeeters in a 14-1 Atlantic League victory over Southern Maryland at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.
The Skeeters’ big inning also included a two-run single by Matt Chavez and a two-run double by Colin Walsh.
Mitch Talbot went seven innings, allowing three hits and no runs while striking out six and walking three.
SOCCER Peru’s captain hit with Cup ban
Peru captain Paolo Guerrero was banned from playing at the World Cup because of a positive doping test he said was caused by contaminated tea.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it upheld an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency to extend Guerrero's six-month FIFA ban, which expired this month.
Guerrero now will be banned for 14 months — an “appropriate sanction … in light of Mr. Guerrero's degree of fault” — until January, the court said in a statement.
Guerrero, 34, was set to captain Peru in Russia at its first World Cup appearance since 1982.
Guerrero tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, at a World Cup qualifying game against Argentina in October. In other news:
Issam al-Hadary is on his way to becoming the oldest person to play in a World Cup match. The 45-year-old goalkeeper was chosen by Egypt for the country’s 29-member preliminary World Cup squad. Al-Hadary is expected to eclipse the record set by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was 43 when he played at the last World Cup in Brazil.