Miami Herald

Dolphins CB Howard goes on COVID-19 reserve list

- From Miami Herald Wire Services — ADAM H. BEASLEY

The roadblocks to return for Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard keep mounting. Already on the physically unable to perform list with a lingering knee issue, Howard on Tuesday was placed on the league's reserve/COVID-19 list.

That designatio­n bars him from entering the team facility — where he has been rehabbing his 2019 knee surgery — until he passes the necessary protocols to return.

The NFL prohibits teams from disclosing whether players actually test positive for COVID-19. Players who go on IR/COVID-19 either test positive or come in close contact with someone who has.

Howard's news comes on the eve of the team's first practice of training camp. He hasn't played in a game since Week 8 of the 2019 season, a span of nearly 10 months. The Dolphins last fall had hoped his undisclose­d knee injury would improve without surgery, but ultimately he went under the knife some weeks later.

ETC.

Tennis: Serena Williams won the hard way in her comeback following a six-month layoff, rallying to beat unseeded American Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Top Seed Open. Aiming to return to form following the break caused by the coronaviru­s pandemic, the 23-time Grand Slam champion labored to avoid her 14th loss to an opponent ranked outside the top 50. No. 9 Williams fell off quickly from a good start as Pera, ranked No. 60, broke her at love in the fifth game on the way to a first-set victory. Williams advanced to a second-round showdown on Thursday against older sister Venus, who dispatched Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-2. The two will meet for the 31st time. … Top-seeded Simona Halep had to fight hard to advance to the second round of the Prague Open in beating unseeded Polana Hercog 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (3). Second-seeded Petra Martic, who reached the semifinals in Palermo last week, overcame Varvara Gracheva 7-6 (2), 6-3 and will face Kristyna Pliskova in the second round. …

The Internatio­nal Tennis

Federation has dropped a doping violation charge against American player

Maksim Tikhomirov because of a lack of evidence.

Soccer: A late header from Lucas Ocampos gave Sevilla a 1-0 win over Wolverhamp­ton and a place in the Europa League semifinals. The loss ended Wolves’ best European run since reaching the UEFA Cup final in 1972 and its chances of qualifying for the Champions League. … Shakhtar Donetsk routed Basel 4-1 to set up a Europa League semifinal against Inter Milan. Four Brazilians scored for the Ukrainian side before Ricky van Wolfswinke­l netted a consolatio­n goal for the Swiss side. … Tottenham has signed midfielder

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampto­n as the club’s first signing of the summer transfer window. … Seen as an example for the rest of Europe, Portugal successful­ly controlled the coronaviru­s pandemic — Portugal will take the center stage from Wednesday when eight of Europe’s best teams start fighting for the coveted Champions League title amid strict health protocols.

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