Querrey defeats Nadal in Mexican Open final
Southern California Sam Querrey used a strong serve to beat Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in the Mexican Open final.
Querrey had 19 aces to win his ninth career title. He’s the first American champion in the history of the event.
The American had a great week beating favored players on the road to the championship. He ousted fifth-seeded David Goffin, fourth-seeded Dominic Thiem, sixth-seeded Nick Kyrgios and the secondseeded Nadal.
It was Querrey’s first title since Delray Beach in 2016.
Nadal, the tournament winner in 2005 and 2013, had won 14 straight matches in Mexico.
On the women’s side, Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko won her third career title, beating second-seed Kristina Mladenovic of France, 6-1, 7-5.
Tsurenko, the world’s 50th-ranked player, won her first title since Guangzhou in September 2016.
Andy Murray captured his first title of the year and became the first British man to win the Dubai Tennis Championships in its 25-year history when he defeated Fernando Verdasco, 6-3, 6-2.
This was Murray’s seventh final in his last eight tournaments, and 14th in his last 16 dating to last May in Madrid.
The only two tournaments he failed to make the final in that period were the 2016 U.S. Open and 2017 Australian Open.
“It’s been a great run. Can’t complain about much,” Murray said. Twelve American players, including Taylor Fritz of Rancho Santa Fe and Nicole Gibbs of Santa Monica, were granted wild-card entries into the BNP Paribas Open, which will begin this week at Indian Wells. Also receiving wild cards into the main draw were Frances Tiafoe, Reilly Opelka, Bjorn Fratangelo, Taylor Townsend and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who shared the 2016 BNP Paribas Open doubles championship with CoCo Vandeweghe. — Helene Elliott
After a bunch of close calls at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch found the winning touch in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Busch cruised to his second straight Atlanta victory in the second-tier series. With a helping hand from lapped cars, the pole-winner was able to hold off fellow Cup driver Brad Keselowski by 0.606 of a second.
Christopher Bell held off Matt Crafton on a restart with two laps to go and completed a dominating win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Bell started from the pole, took the first two 40lap stages and passed Crafton for the lead with 16 laps remaining. The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a threeyear contract extension with wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.
General Manager John Lynch lauded Kerley as a “true pro.” He said the team was “really impressed” with Kerley on the field and in the locker room, and that he’s seen as a “great fit for our scheme.”
The 27-year-old Kerley led the team with a careerhigh 64 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns. He appeared in all 16 games, starting 13.
He also was the primary punt returner, returning 21 for 158 yards. Kerley was acquired by the 49ers in a trade with the Detroit Lions before last season.
The No. 1 USC women’s water polo team tied the women’s record with the Trojans’ 46th consecutive victory, chalked up with a 14-3 win over No. 23 host Cal State Bakersfield in an MPSF match.